Q: Our home is on a community lake and I would like to add some water lilies to our shoreline. But I've been told that they are very invasive. True? — Peggy Sant, Wetumpka, Ala.
A: DO NOT plant water lilies! They will definitely become a big problem for the lake ecosystem. The water lily reproduces both by seeds and by rhizomes. One source says that one planted rhizome will cover a 15-foot diameter circle in five years. They are terribly hard to remove from a lake. If you like the beautiful flowers of this plant, visit Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground (gibbsgardens.com). Five ponds located there display more than 140 varieties of this plant from summer through early fall.
Q: We are under contract to buy a 7-acre property just outside the Perimeter. It has a nice house and a horse barn with different sections of fencing for livestock. We want to make this an after-school/camp/birthday party/farm-styled kind of place to showcase animals and gardening to city folk. Do you have advice? — Chadwick Peck, email
A: Your first job is to make sure your property is properly zoned for the activities you plan. I wouldn't spend much money until zoning is assured. After that, call your local extension office at 1-800-ASKUGA1 and ask for University of Georgia resources. Also, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office (bit.ly/GANRCS) for soil protection advice. I have information about horse management at bit.ly/GAhorse.
Q: I'm planning on scalping my newly installed Bermuda lawn next spring. I've let it grow 4 inches tall. Is it OK to cut 2 to 3 inches off the grass then? — Josh Flood, email
A: It's fine to remove the dead grass leaves as long as you don't scrape the ground with your mower blade. I recommend doing the chore when you see the barest hint of green in the lawn, typically in late March. Scalping is far safer than burning. Lower the mowing height to approximately 1 inch high. Your lawn will thus green up a bit quicker, as the soil is exposed to more sunlight.
Q: There is a big hackberry tree in my backyard that provides welcome shade to our deck; we tolerate the leaves it also drops. This fall, the deck was covered with a sticky, saplike substance that turned a bright green umbrella black. It could also be seen on the leaves of nearby plants. — Nancy Okula, Atlanta
A: You likely have a population of aphids in the tree. Aphids suck sap from leaves and secrete a sticky liquid called honeydew. Honeydew coats everything below and makes great food for sooty mold fungus. It's hard to control the aphids organically, but in most years natural predators like lady beetles, yellowjackets, and wasps do a pretty good job. If the mold really bothers you, consider applying a systemic insecticidal drench to the tree root area next spring.
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