Q: What are the names of the two ferns you recommended on radio that will "grow anywhere, sun or shade"? — Dot Branscomb, email
A: I love autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora, and Southern shield fern, Thelypteris kunthii. Autumn fern is evergreen. It sends up beautiful purple fiddleheads each spring to replace the fronds that were tattered by winter weather. Southern shield fern is amazingly drought resistant, but it does go brown back to the ground after the first frost. The Perimeter College Ferns of the World Garden in south DeKalb County has an amazing collection of ferns and native plants. They have regular fern and native plant sales. Details at bit.ly/ferngarden.
Q: We just bought a farm and found we have a nice asparagus patch under lots of weeds. How would you clean this up? The ground is like cement! — Debbie Kennerly, Hartwell
A: I'd soak the area with water two days in a row, wait a day for the soil to soften, then carefully dig up the spot with a spading fork. You should be able to separate the thick ropy asparagus roots away from the weed roots. Keep the roots moist and cool while you thoroughly till a new asparagus-growing spot, then plant the crowns a couple of inches deep. I have more details on how to grow and harvest asparagus at bit.ly/georgiaasparagus.
Q: Is it too late to prune back my Limelights? — Charles Craig, email
A: It's not too late but you'd better get started soon. 'Limelight' hydrangea is a variety that blooms in late summer from buds that form in late spring. Pruning each spring to keep it in bounds won't hurt it.
Q: We have several wild blueberry bushes in our woods. Each year they produce lots of berries but they never turn blue. What can we do to help them ripen? — Cathy Sparks, Lumpkin County
A: "Ripening" for any fruit involves sunshine. Plants use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and soil nutrients into sugar. If your berries are not ripening, I'd guess they are not getting enough sunlight. Maybe you could trim or remove nearby small trees. If that's not possible, buy and plant some native rabbiteye blueberries in a sunny spot in your landscape.
Q: I am seeing large groupings of dead Indian hawthorns near where I work. The leaves are light brown and crisp to the touch. — John Hamachek, Johns Creek
A: Indian hawthorn is another plant that has confounded me with its behavior after January's severe cold. Like you, I've seen large plantings that were wiped out. But I also have seen Indian hawthorn shrubs that were completely unfazed. My best guess is that a combination of microclimate conditions, species/variety and health before the freeze caused the wide variability. Frankly, I think the winter-killed shrubs should be replaced with yedda hawthorn, Rhaphiolepis umbellata, which originated in the colder parts of Japan and Korea. Avoid Rhaphiolepis indica shrubs, which I suspect are less cold-tolerant.
