Q: My sweetshrub's flowers have absolutely no scent! What's wrong with it? — Susan Brooks, Decatur
A: I've never smelled one with an appreciable scent. Maybe our noses are impaired? The yellow-flowered variety 'Athens' is said to be reliably fragrant. I enjoy the pretty flowers on mine and try not to be jealous of gardeners who wax rhapsodic about their plant's fragrance.
Q: On Good Friday, I planted collard plants. I have just noticed they are going to seed. What have I done wrong? — Rev. Council, Clayton County
A: Bolting (producing flowers rather than more leaves) is usually caused by fluctuations in air temperature when a collard plant is small to medium-sized. After bolting begins, the plant will not grow larger. The leaves will not taste good. Harvest and eat your collards now. Consider planting seeds in fall rather than spring, taking advantage of cooler autumn weather.
Q: I have been having an issue with crabgrass in my vegetable garden. Can you recommend any tricks that can help me win this fight? — Chris Stith, email
A: Since crabgrass is an annual, killing the top will kill the whole plant. Consider using a propane-powered flame weeder, available at hardware stores or online. Of course, don't use it if there is mulch around your plants. Or you could choose to use an organic weed killer. I have a list at bit.ly/organicweed.
Q: I am completely new to gardening. We purchased a Bonfire peach tree in a pot. Can I plant this tree in the ground? — Matt Kuhn, Cobb County
A: Yes, plant it; the peach will be lots happier in the ground. Use a shovel to thoroughly break up the soil in a 5-foot diameter circle. Take the peach out of the pot and untangle the roots as best you can. Plant it in the center of the area, making sure the top major root is only an inch below the soil surface. 'Bonfire' peach is admired for its purple leaves and pretty flowers. The small fruit is edible but not very tasty.
Q: Can you recommend plants that will grow in extremely wet conditions? The water table in my backyard is about an inch below the surface. Can I just plant bunches of stuff there to sop up all the water? — Diane Floyd, Inman Park
A: Plants won't "sop up" soil moisture. Some are just able to tolerate wet conditions better than most. Your best bet is to install a subsurface drain system to take the water to a better place. Landscape architects are trained to do exactly that; perhaps you can get someone to design the system and let you install it at your own pace.
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