Q: I have orange, viney stuff, about the size of spaghetti, wrapping itself around my coreopsis and vinca. It does not seem to have roots. Any ideas what it is? — Barbara in Ellijay
A: It’s the parasitic plant named dodder, also known as devil’s hair. I recently saw it blooming while it wrapped around raspberry canes near Asheville, N.C. The seeds drop to the ground and sprout in late April. The tendril that emerges looks for a nearby plant to wrap around. Once it is tightly coiled, roots grow from the dodder into the parasitized plant stem. The dodder’s connection to the ground then shrivels away.
Control of dodder is difficult. Pull and destroy all infected plants. Make a note to keep a sharp eye on your flower bed next year and do not let dodder become established.
Q: I have three African violets that bloom often and seem to be very happy. However, they are each showing a long stem at the soil line. I know that can’t be right. — Carri Illies, e-mail
A: It’s common for the lower leaves on an African violet to shrivel and drop off. When this happens for more than a year, the lower main stem of the plant becomes bare. African violet experts recommend repotting a plant every six months: Remove a half-inch of soil off the bottom of the root ball, put the root ball back in the pot and add soil around the stem beneath the lowest leaves. This covers the exposed stem, which will send roots into the new soil.
Q: I have two arborvitae that are getting so big they are obstructing the security lights and part of my garage door. I need to take one of them down at least 6 feet. Will it recover from such a severe pruning? — Mary Holloway, Lawrenceville
A: Needled shrubs like juniper, arborvitae and false cypress are not very forgiving of severe pruning. Once you prune back beyond the green needles, little regrowth occurs. My advice is to choose a boxwood or holly that can be pruned to shape if needed.
Q: Every August, I hear a distinct buzzing sound when I go outside in the early morning. It sounds like bees of some sort, from the air above me. What could these critters be? — Marc L., Carroll County
A: I think the buzzing comes from May beetles, Phyllophaga spp., feeding in the trees. You’re probably familiar with the C-shaped white grubs that live in soil and attack grass roots in early summer. These grubs come from several species of beetle, including Japanese beetle. Different species emerge from the soil at different times, and May beetles, despite their name, emerge in August.
Take a strong flashlight with you and see if you can spot them feeding on leaves of oak, hickory, poplar and crabapple. Grub control details at xrl.us/whitegrub.
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 a.m. Saturdays on AM 750 and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB. Go to www .gardeningingeorgia.com for details on his TV show or visit www.walterreeves.com.
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