Q: What are these enormous white-flowered hydrangea shrubs I see around town? They must be 10 feet tall! — Erika Beck, Decatur
A: I'll bet you are seeing Chinese snowball viburnum, not one of the white-flowered hydrangeas. It's an easy mistake to make because the flowers on the two shrubs look almost identical. To keep the confusion level high, there are actually four kinds of "snowball" viburnums! I have a key to distinguish them at bit.ly/GAsnowball.
Q: How do I control carpenter ants? I see them wandering around in my kitchen. — Theresa Rodriguez, email
A: Carpenter ants can have nests inside or outside the home. Usually the dwellings are in moisture-damaged wood around chimneys and skylights, under bathtubs, behind dishwashers, and in eaves damaged by moisture. In general, rotten wood will attract carpenter ants and be used by them as nest sites because damp wood is easier for the ants to chew than sound, dry wood. Commercial ant bait stations work well for their control.
Q: For the first time in 30 years, I’m planting a vegetable garden. I’m excited! How far apart should my rows be? — Jesse Atkins
A: I think 30 inches is the minimum but I like a 36-inch spacing so I can easily walk between rows and pull weeds. I have a list of excellent University of Georgia gardening publications, plus a suggested small garden layout at bit.ly/UGAgardening.
Q: Each year my Confederate jasmine dies back a bit and I prune it and it comes back just fine. It didn’t survive this winter. Is there a tougher vine that we could put where this one is? — Gene Brannon, email
A: Despite your loss, I think you should consider planting another Confederate jasmine. You may again get several mild winters in a row to enjoy it. Look particularly for the variety ‘Madison’, which is reputed to be more cold-hardy than the regular species plant. This is my choice this spring. Plant expert Ashton Ritchie lives in Serenbe and planted ‘Madison’ a few years ago. He said his vine expired in their extreme cold weather so he substituted evergreen clematis on his arbor.
Q: My fig tree has not put out any leaves or even any little buds yet. Did this past winter kill it? — Liz Boyer, email
A: I’m on the edge of my seat trying to decide the same question about my mother’s figs which, like yours, seem to have little life in the branches. I see tiny buds beginning to show green growth but healthy fig plants should have big leaves by now. It’s possible the tiny new buds will die as freeze damage moves through the thicker parts of the limb. But it’s also possible the buds will slowly open and produce leaves by the end of the month. I think you should be open to both possibilities. Don’t prune yet.
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