Q: Can azaleas be planted in containers instead of in the ground? I've never seen them in containers. Marcia Rabb, Cobb County
A: Smaller azaleas do fine in containers. Read the plant label to find out their mature size. The Encore azalea experts list several of their small varieties, such as Autumn Coral and Autumn Angel, at www.encoreazalea.com. Additionally, Satsuki type azaleas are generally low-growing and they flower in May, extending the azalea bloom season.
Q: I recently had a large tree cut down in my back yard. The tree service damaged a lot of healthy trees carrying out the logs. They swore that the best treatment to these scars was chain oil, which they rubbed on each bruise. What do you think? Mark Warner, email
A: I think the claim is baseless. Several studies show that applying tar, paint or oil to a tree wound only inhibits healing.
Q: I noticed the flowers of a mimosa tree above the canopy of the woods behind my house. I'm guessing it's sixty feet tall. Is that unusual? Tim Rogers, Johns Creek
A: It's unusual, and it may be the biggest in the state, but it won't get much recognition. Scott Griffin at the Georgia Forestry Commission says they made a conscious decision not to include mimosa and other non-native invasive trees in their Georgia Champion Tree program. They do include a few non-native trees, such as sawtooth oak and dawn redwood, but Chinese tallowtree and mimosa are flora non grata. You can get details on champion tree programs in Georgia and Atlanta at xrl.us/championtree.
Q: I'm moving from Florida to Athens and I'm interested in putting in a thyme lawn. Do you have any tips to help it be more successful? Taia Nicodemus
A: I don't see why thyme wouldn't work if you have full sunshine. I have a patch of creeping thyme, Thymus serpyllum, between patio stones that has thrived despite searing heat in summer. My feeling is that thyme suffers when water sits around its roots, as might happen in heavy clay soil. Make sure your planting area is perfectly level or a bit higher in the middle. Consider covering the area with an inch of soil amendment and an inch of gritty river sand or granite sand and working it six inches deep before planting. Site the plants 12 inches apart. Thyme won't endure much walking traffic so use stepping stones where folks commonly traverse the area. One gardener warns that bees love thyme when it blooms so it's not a good idea to walk on it barefoot.
Q: My heirloom Brandywine tomatoes have somewhat low production. Are there any tomato varieties native to Georgia? Stella Massey, Decatur
A: The tomato is actually native to South America and was first cultivated in Georgia in the early 1700s. Several common garden plants are not native to the U.S., including okra (South Asia), asparagus (Mediterranean area), apple (Central Asia) and cucumber (India). Many landscape plants are not native here, including fescue (Europe), zoysia grass (Korea), bermuda grass (Asia) and centipede grass (China). While yaupon holly and American holly are natives, ‘Burford’ holly (China) and ‘Convexa’ holly (Japan) are not. Gardeners get to pick plants from a wide palette of natives as well as non-natives to make our gardens and landscapes more attractive.
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.
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