Q: I have a young pecan tree. Over the last week we have found small limbs on the ground and the cut ends look like [they've been] chewed by a beaver. -- David Kirkland, Macon
A: You have an infestation of hickory twig girdler. This beetle attacks pecan, hickory and oak trees in the fall. The female beetle lays eggs in small branches and then chews almost through the twig. A strong breeze breaks off the twig and the protected eggs fall to the ground, where they develop under the bark. The easiest way to control this insect is to pick up and destroy the branches when found.
Q: Two months ago a white dove came to live on our porch. We’ve been feeding him and giving him water. Now that it is getting colder I worry that he will freeze. He is very friendly, walking with me to get mail, etc. What can we do? -- Tanis Williams , email
A: Georgann Schmaltz (birdingadventuresinc.com) said this likely is a rock pigeon -- or possibly a homing pigeon -- that was hand raised and either flew away or was homing and got lost. In either case, no need to worry. These birds do fine in cold weather, eating seeds and other scraps. If you want to do anything for the bird, keep some birdseed like milo, millet or corn in a flat feeder or on a surface close to the ground but not on the ground. The bird is not in any danger from cold or rainy weather. It's definitely accustomed to people and is simply taking advantage of the shelter and free food you provide.
Q: I followed your recommendation to get my lawn soil tested. The results say I need to add 90 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet. Is there a difference in pelletized lime and fast-acting lime? -- David Martin, Marietta
A: University of Georgia soil scientist David Kissel said pelletized lime is made by granulating finely ground limestone. Fast-acting lime is limestone that has been ground to be super fine, so it dissolves in the soil faster. However, university soil test results are based on the homeowner using coarse agricultural lime, which has some particles that react slowly and some so large that they don't react at all. This means you can use less pelletized or fast-acting lime than the soil test recommends. Instead of 90 pounds per 1000 square feet, 60 to 65 pounds of the finely ground lime should be sufficient. Retest in two years.
Q: Our fall tomato crop has been great! They made it through the hot summer and we cut them back, thinking they were done. They started growing and blooming again! -- Sylvia and Terry Gilbreath, email
A: Your experience is the same as mine. I’ve discovered that if you can keep them alive in summer, tomatoes do great in fall. Much credit goes to lower day and night temperatures. Blooms stay on longer and are more apt to be pollinated. Cool temperatures also aid tomato ripening. If you still have green ones when a frost approaches, pick them and store in crumpled newspaper. Bring a few out every week to ripen on a sunny windowsill.
Q: I have a lovely Japanese loquat tree. Will it survive the winter here? -- Donna Reid, Loganville
A: I know of several loquats that grow in sheltered locations inside the Perimeter in northeast Atlanta. They occasionally get winter damage but don't die from it. As you know, this small tree flowers in fall and begins forming fruit in December. January cold will prevent you from getting anything edible, except when we have a very mild winter.
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.
