Q: The label on my bag of daffodils recommends they be planted 8 inches deep. I think this is too deep. Do you have a preference? — Bill McNiff, Ball Ground
A: In typical heavy Georgia soil, planting daffodils so that the top is buried under a couple of inches of soil works fine. If we had more severe winters, planting deeper would make sense, but I don't think you need to do that. The University of Georgia has an excellent publication about growing bulbs in Georgia at bit.ly/UGAbulbs.
Q: Can you cut off the top of tomato plants when they get too tall? I had some Better Boys that were 12 feet high! — Skip Gardiner, Midtown
A: It's good practice to prune tomato vines before they get too tall. Remember that there are two types of tomato plants: determinate tomatoes grow to a pre-determined size and produce tomatoes all at once; indeterminate tomatoes like 'Better Boy' grow continuously and can become unmanageably tall. The plant label will usually say which growth habit a tomato has. The time to start pruning is when the tomato is 12 to 24 inches tall. Use your thumbnail to pinch the growing tip out of the main vine. This single pinch will usually result in a plant 6 feet tall with multiple stems. I also usually pinch the tip out of suckers (the leafy stems between main stem and main branches) to keep the plant bushy while providing protection from the sun to the fruit.
Q: A U.S. Navy captain's hat has gold oak leaves on the bill. What kind of oak leaves are these? — Walter Buchanan, email
A: I think the oak leaves used for Navy insignia are stylized versions of leaves from the live oak, Quercus virginiana. Live oak was invaluable in the construction of U.S. warships in the 1700s-1800s. Live oak wood is very dense and damage resistant. The USS Constitution was called "Old Ironsides" because of the strength of its live oak construction. The U.S. government went so far as to buy large plantations of live oak trees to make sure the wood would always be available for shipbuilding. The tree keeps its green leaves most of the year, causing some folks to call it evergreen, but it does drop older leaves each year as new young leaves appear. The old live oaks in Savannah are beautiful examples of this tree.
Q: I read your recent article about water lilies and how invasive they are. Do you have suggestions on how to get rid of water lilies already growing in a one-acre private pond? — Gail Keys, Paulding County
A: It's very difficult to control pond weeds on your own. Different mechanical methods and chemicals are required for different plants. You'll get better results by hiring a professional. I have pond management resources and guides at bit.ly/GAponds.
