Q: I am top-dressing my perennial flower beds with a combination of soil conditioner, mushroom compost, and steer manure dug in around my plants. Should I add lime or cottonseed meal? Jean Dudley, Cartersville
A: It's a fact of garden life that even the softest soil hardens eventually. This is combated by spreading a layer of rich organic material, like the combination you're using, around plants in the fall. Another garden fact is that soil gradually becomes acidic, and an occasional application of lime counteracts that. I'd mix a cup of lime and a cup of cottonseed meal (for long-term plant nutrition) with every two cubic feet of topdressing you use.
Q: I heard that birds that eat poisoned rats could be killed by the toxin. Is this true? Ann Genovese, Pine Lake
A: Like a lot of situations, it depends — on the chemical the rat consumed. Many poisons, but not all, are anti-coagulants. Some require a single dose to kill a rat and others need multiple feedings. To further complicate things, some chemicals are more toxic to birds than they are to mammals, like dogs and cats, that might find a weakened rat. Fortunately, the National Pesticide Information Center sorts it all out in the fact sheet at bit.ly/ratpoison
Q: I have two large angel trumpet plants that I usually move into the garage during winter. They are getting too big and heavy to move. What are my chances of keeping the plants alive if I plant them outside? Wilma Howard, Duluth
A: I think your instincts are correct. Plant them in a protected area near the house. For insurance, cut four 16-inch sections of the plant stems and stand them upright in a tall vase, with the lower half of each stem in submerged in water. Put the vase in a warm, sunny window. The stems will root in the water and you can plant them into eight-inch pots in January.
Q: I've never heard a caution about how toxic the sap from a fig bush can be. In my case, I pruned a bush without a shirt on and got the sap all over me. When the sap gets on the skin, it will photo-sensitize the skin and the sun can cause a real burn. Gerald McDaniel, email
A: You're exactly right! Several common plants can cause a skin reaction, including euphorbia, Confederate jasmine and evergreen passion vine. Take care to avoid contact with sap when pruning these plants.
Q: Eight months ago, I cut down a dead pine sapling that had a gigantic hairy poison ivy vine on it. I have rented a chipper to chip branches. Does the poison ivy vine still contain its poisonous oil or does it lose its toxicity? Cindy Patton, email
A: Although the allergic oil in a poison ivy vine eventually decomposes, I can't guarantee that someone who is highly reactive wouldn't get the itchy bumps if you spread chips that contain poison ivy pieces in spots where pets or humans congregate. Life is full of choices, though. If you are not very allergic and promise to keep the chips away from people and pets, I could see a situation where chipping the ivy would be okay.
Q: Is it too late to plant fescue sod? Elaine Russell, Cobb County
A: Anytime between now and March would be fine. Fescue is a cool-season grass and does much of its growth between fall and late spring. Once the sod is laid, water often enough to keep it moist but never soggy. The sod should root rapidly and you'll have a nice lawn next year.
