Q: My deceased mother lived in Brunswick. She had a plant in a nursery pot called a tulip tree. This past spring, it had pinkish/purple tuliplike flowers. Could I move that plant up here? -- Monte Freeman, Tucker
A: Your flower description tells me that you have a saucer magnolia, Magnolia x soulangiana, otherwise known as tulip tree. This is one of several Asian magnolias that bloom in early spring and are deciduous, unlike our common evergreen Southern magnolia that blooms in summer. The tulip tree will do fine here, probably better than in Brunswick, since it needs winter chilling in order to bloom its best.
Q: We have a beautiful walkway with steps of large Georgia creek rocks. They are getting moss on them and are slippery. What can I use to kill the moss without killing the plants that grow between the stones? -- Jeanette Crissey, Marietta
A: Moss is a plant after all, so killing moss while protecting nearby plants is tough. One option is to use strips of cardboard to protect plants at the edges of your stones and spray ammoniated soaps of fatty acids (Lilly Miller Moss Out! for Roofs and Walks) on the moss. Another option is to use a foam paintbrush to apply bleach diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio onto the moss. Both methods should kill moss within a few hours. The stones can then be washed off with lots of water to avoid hurting nearby plants.
Q: Does it matter whether the water I use for my houseplants is cold or at room temperature? -- Jerry Berman, Atlanta
A: Like many garden responses, the correct answer here is "It depends." Researchers say that plants consistently given water below 50 degrees have reduced leaf size, leaf drop and lower vigor. The water temperature at your kitchen tap is close to the soil temperature outdoors 8 inches deep. The lowest soil temperatures of the year are usually hit only a few weeks in January, when they reach the mid-40-degree range in Atlanta. The rest of the year, I would expect tap water temperatures to be above that, rising to the 70s and 80s in July. Some plants, like African violet and peace lily, are known to be very sensitive to cold water on their roots. Others, like Christmas cactus and pothos, seem to be unaffected. My advice? Fill a gallon jug with water and keep it under your sink for use on your houseplants.
Q: I've heard that nothing will grow where shells from pistachio nuts were thrown. What do you know about that? -- Hugh Waddy, Jonesboro
A: I can't find any confirmation for what you heard. It's true that black walnut roots, wood and shells inhibit the growth of some (but not all) plants nearby. Some folks are very allergic to raw pistachio and cashew nut meats. My guess is that information about pistachio allergens got mixed up with pistachio allelopathy, resulting in the rumor you heard.
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 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.
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