Q: We own property in Suches. This spring we have mountain laurel, flame azalea, Carolina allspice, fox grapes and lady slippers blooming in profusion. They have never bloomed in the five years we have owned this property. Why? — Cheryl Cruickshank, email
A: I think many plants in North Georgia got just what they needed in the past couple of years. Rain, sunshine and winter temperatures were just right. Accordingly, acorns came in abundance. Pine pollen was exceptionally profuse. Little pine seedlings were everywhere in April. Enjoy the floral fireworks! You may not have the same conditions again for several years.
Q: I am growing pumpkins this year for the first time. Right now, my pumpkin sprouts look great. Each hill has three to five plants coming up. Do I need to thin them? — Chris Dunagan, Cumming
A: Yes, thin the seedlings so there are two or three plants per hill. Simply clip the unwanted seedlings with scissors, don't try to pull them out. Don't forget that pumpkins are heavy feeders. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer now and again in four weeks. Four weeks later, switch to a fertilizer product that has high second and third numbers (phosphorus and potassium) compared with the first number (nitrogen) of the fertilizer analysis. Keep an eye on water needs as well. Those big leaves can emit more than a gallon of water per day.
Q: Underneath our large flowering cherry, lots of shoots sprout up from exposed roots. How can we control these long-term? I've heard you can stop it by spraying the cut off roots with diesel fuel. — Daniel Grentz, email
A: No diesel! You'll damage the roots beyond repair. It's difficult to stop the sprouts, but you could try applying a sprout inhibitor (Bonide Sucker Punch, etc.). Otherwise, you'll just have to cut the sprouts at ground level each year.
Q: Is it too late to prune azaleas? You've said now is the time. Just wondering when "now" becomes "too late." — Josh Mann, email
A: It's too late when the plants start making flower buds on branch tips. I think you're safe to prune until mid-June.
Q: There is a bank of red dirt near my barn. There are hundreds of holes in the bank with bees coming in and out. They look like honey bees, but smaller. — D.P. Singleton, email
A: You have a colony of mining bees. These are good guys since they are such great pollinators. I'd leave them alone and let them go about their important work. They are not aggressive and rarely sting.
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