Q: I have some old iris in my pine bed. Most of the leaves stay green all winter but have some brown edges. Should I trim the leaves or is it too late? Tena Stevens, e-mail
A: I don't think you should ever trim the leaves unless they are dead.
Trimming green leaves just reduces photosynthesis. Use scissors to cut out the brown part out of each leaf. To get the best blooms, feed with a slow-release fertilizer (Milorganite, Osmocote, Dynamite) now and again in mid-summer.
Q: I have been impatiently waiting to fertilize until my zoysia grass has greened 75-100 percent. Why must I do this, other than because you say so? Spencer Duckett, Baldwin
A: You're a smart person to always be asking “Why?” in the garden. The reason to delay zoysia fertilization is that it can’t use fertilizer until it has an active root system. It won't have an active root system until it has green shoot growth AND soil temperatures are above 65 degrees. Because zoysia doesn't have a lot of stored reserves from winter, all it takes to severely weaken it is an early fertilization combined with a late freeze. The easiest way to describe when conditions are right for feeding zoysia is to say "Wait until it is 75% -- 100% green." That's when you know the grass can use fertilizer appropriately.
Q: Why don’t we kill fire ants with a bait in sugar syrup? You could even inject it into individual mounds. Thomas Baglin, email
A: Fire ant expert Wayne Gardner says fire ants will eat proteins, fats, and sugars but they are not as attracted to sweets as are Argentine ants. Baits are better for control than contact poisons because there can be so many fire ant colonies in one area that a contact poison would never get them all. An effective bait must have delayed toxicity so that the active ingredient is transported to the colony before causing immediate death. Successful fire ant baits are based on protein-filled oils, like soybean oil, soaked onto an inert carrier, like ground corn cobs.
Q: I am a scientist at heart, so I read with great interest planting recommendations based on soil temperature. I am unclear on which soil temperature to use: 2 inch, 4 inch or 8 inch? Jim Hendrickson, email
A: I use the 2″ depth for my garden timing. This is where most weed seed live, so it makes sense for timing pre-emergent application. It’s also where garden transplants and seeds have most of their roots. Track soil temperatures at www.georgiaweather.net.
Q: I’m interested in night-blooming flowers and found Dutchman’s pipe online. Is that something I could grow successfully? Tim Marier, Douglas County
A: Dutchman's pipe, Aristolochia macrophylla, will grow very well as a perennial deciduous vine. The flowers are insignificant. However, those of its annual cousin, calico vine, Aristolochia elegans, also called Dutchman's pipe, are a dramatic checkered purple. Both are quite vigorous, so give either one an arbor at least eight feet tall and wide.
Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM from 6 to 10. Go to www.yoursoutherngarden.com for details on his TV show or visit his website, www.walterreeves.com.
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