Q: How are plants damaged by cold? Beth Sisson, Canton
A: Plants experience cold damage due to ice forming in their cells. Hardy plants have strategies to reduce freeze damage. They do it by increasing cell wall elasticity, by lowering the freezing temperature of the liquid in the cells, or by allowing cells to lose moisture, thereby making less liquid available to freeze inside. Plants are less susceptible to freezing if they've been gradually exposed to cold as opposed to being exposed to one sharp drop in temperature. The best way to keep plants healthy in freezing weather is to water them before the cold arrives.
Q: Is there a school where I can study for a career in garden design/landscaping? I'm 37 years old and I don't have a college degree but I'd like to be a foreman or designer or open my own contractor business. Do you know what the starting salary would be? Ryan Flanagan, email
A: Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Director of the Georgia Urban Ag Council says there are a great variety of employment options available. There are excellent programs at Gwinnett Tech, Chattahoochee Tech, Lanier Tech, Southern Crescent Tech and other schools in the metro Atlanta area.
A lot depends on your area of concentration and work experience prior to and during your school time. Students with a little experience are getting jobs as a foreman or front-line supervisor level when they graduate. Others who work in the industry for several years while going to school are receiving offers in mid-level management. Positions accepted this year by students from local schools include assistant superintendent, landscape foreman, landscape maintenance supervisor, sales representative, greenhouse assistant manager, garden center manager, landscape designer, florist assistant and full time florist. Starting salaries generally range from mid 20’s to high 30’s, depending upon internship and work experience. For a list of landscape careers visit bit.ly/landjobs.
Q: Will silver tip Christmas trees grow in my area? Gary Davis, Dallas
A: Silver tip fir, Abies magnifica, will not grow here. It can't tolerate summer heat, preferring the mountains of Oregon and Northern California instead. It makes an attractive Christmas tree because needles on its branch tips are silver-gray, in contrast to the green inner needles. The stiff branches hold multiple ornaments nicely. If you like the look, cut trees are available at local nurseries.
Q: Five years ago I planted mondo grass adjacent to my zoysia lawn. Even though I put a metal sheet barrier between the lawn and the mondo grass, zoysia crept over. I'd like to eliminate the invading zoysia. John Kligora, email
A: Several years ago I discovered that chameleon plant, Houttuynia cordata, had invaded my daylily bed. There was no way to selectively eliminate the pink-leaved invader from my lilies. I dug out the entire bed onto a tarp and laboriously separated the roots. I put new, enriched soil in the planting area and replanted the cleaned daylilies. Grab a shovel: I think that's your only solution, too.
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