Q: I’m looking for a variety of poppy that will bloom on November 11th, to honor the 100th anniversary of the First World War. In late summer I traveled around France and was surprised to see a field of wild blooming poppies. Mark Lamb, Lilburn
A: Corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas, blooms mostly in spring but it's common for it to bloom in late summer if conditions are right. To my knowledge there are no poppies that bloom in November. Pansy, snapdragon and possibly chrysanthemum will be blooming in November. In my view, any flower can be a symbol of courage, memory and rebirth.
Q: Can you cut boxwoods down to the base of the trunk like holly bushes? When's the best time? Neel McMaster, Avondale Estates
A: If the boxwood is in good health, you can cut it back to 12″ tall in February and it will start making new growth in March. It will look ratty the first year but will be an attractive shrub by year two. If the boxwood is marginally healthy, cut off the top 12″ to allow light into the plant. Fertilize in April and June to force new growth in the interior. When new growth is eight inches long, the surrounding limbs can be cut away to allow the shrub to recover its vigor and form.
Q: We’re in a big drought and I have to water my big oak and pecan trees. Is it necessary to move the water hose/sprinkler around the tree or is it okay to leave the hose on just one side of the tree at the drip line? Paula Chessher, Kountze, TX
A: The method by which water moves from the roots up to the top of a tree differs among species. On oaks, water you apply to one side of the root system will only benefit that side. On maples, water applied to one side benefits the whole tree. I really like soaker hoses for tree watering. Get details on how much to apply at xrl.us/wateringtrees.
Q: What is a “half runner” pinto bean? Shyla Crenshaw, e-mail
A: Half-runner beans have a growth habit mid-way between bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans make short sprouts barely a foot long. Half-runners make sprouts around three feet long. Pole beans make runners five to eight feet long. Even though half-runner beans can grow fine without trellising, you'll get more beans if you make a low net trellis they can climb; otherwise they make a tangled mess.
Q: What variety of grapes for wine will grow well in a small yard? Paul Johnson, Snellville
A: The University of Georgia recommends ‘Aurora', ‘Delaware' and ‘Norton' for wine making in our area. The words "small yard" worry me. A very vigorous vine might yield 4 bottles of wine. You need 10 feet of row per vine and rows should be 10 feet apart. So basically you might get 4 bottles of wine per 100 square feet of area. The spot must be in full sun and the soil in the entire planting area must be sandy loam. Don't expect to harvest many grapes for the first three years. I don't mean to dissuade you., I’m just letting you know up front what you face in your oenophilic quest.
Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.
