Q: We've grown cucumbers for several years. Some years they were plentiful, but the last couple of seasons have not been productive. Any suggestions on how to have a better crop? — Vickie Phillips, email
A: My bet is that you need better pollination. Wild honeybee colonies are in decline, so anything you do to attract other pollinators results in better yields for cucumbers, squash and melons. The key is to have pollinator-friendly plants growing in your garden throughout the summer. I have a list of good pollinator-friendly plants at bit.ly/GAbeeplants.
Q: What are your thoughts on switching from chemical fertilizers and weed killers to organic products on a lawn? I'd like to hire an organic lawn contractor to do this. — Doug Pierce, Fulton County
A: I think healthy lawns can be managed safely with either synthetic or organic products. There are environmental costs to both systems, but I have no beef with folks who choose one or the other. That said, the emphasis in either maintenance system needs to be focused on maintaining the grass's vigor. Weed control is easier when you have healthy grass plants working with you to choke out the bad guys. Fertilization should be done based on a soil test and scheduled appropriately. In addition, you must match the grass to the spot. Trying to grow Bermuda grass under oak trees or fescue in baking summer sunlight is a recipe for failure. When you find an organic landscape contractor, ask them to give you addresses of some of their current properties and go check them out before making a commitment.
Q: I read online that you can use sugar for lawn fertilizer. It said it's cheaper and is much better than using commercial stuff. What are your thoughts on this? — Henry Marbutt, email
A: Not many garden questions cause me to stare at the computer screen and say "What???!!" But yours did!
Sugar has been touted as a weed killer because it theoretically reduces nitrogen in the soil, thereby reducing the nutrients weeds need. But your lawn grass also needs nitrogen in order to grow. I can’t find any information that reconciles these two statements. You can try it if you’ve a mind to, but I predict sugar will be no benefit to a lawn.
Q: Are Knock Out rose petals poisonous? I'm not planning to make a meal of them, but I'd like to decorate desserts with the petals. — Kim Shupenia, email
A: I'm not aware of anything detrimental in the petals, as long as no pesticides have been sprayed on them.
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