Home Living in North Georgia

HOME Living in North Georgia

August | 2018

Fall yard planning When to prune your shrubs

Keeping your tools clean

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Plant trees, shrubs and spring-blooming bulbs

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August 2018 Getting ready for fall Forever Green

Editor

6 Putting evergreens into

Michelle Boaen Jameson

your landscape adds color and texture.

General Manager

Norman Baggs

Winter interest

10 Several plants offer

Advertising Sales

berries during the winter to feed the birds.

Leah Nelson

HOME Magazine, a division of:

Planting bulbs

14 Spring blooms are

best planted in the fall.

Master Expo

HOME Living in North Georgia

Getting plants greenhouse ready

20 Fall expo for Hall

32

County Master Gardeners is coming up soon.

The Times Gainesville, GA

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Pruning time

28 Now is the time for

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Living in North Georgia

pruning and trimming shrubbery.

October | 2017

Tooling up

Little Big Town’s Kim Schlapman

30 Keep yard tools and

pruning shears clean and ready.

Plant trees in the fall

26

On the Cover Hall County couple Jim and Eleanor Casteel have been building up their award-winning garden since 1995.

PAGE 20

4 | HOME | August 2018

Cornelia’s country star shares her new cookbook and fondest memories

Education issue: Learning for a lifetime

School leaders discuss classroom goals Museums, libraries, adult classes and more

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Everlasting Adding texture and variety to your landscape

By Layne Saliba

6 | HOME | August 2018

g color

M

any plants thrive with the summer sun, showers and warm weather. But those plants quickly disappear as fall approaches and winter weather draws near. There is one type of plant that doesn’t have that problem, though.

Evergreen plants thrive year-round and add the full, green color many homeowners want. Nathan Wilson, manager and lead horticulturist at Lanier Nursery and Gardens in Flowery Branch, said evergreens are the “foundation for all the other plants” in the landscape.

“In the dead of winter when there are little signs of life, it’s cold, it’s gray, it’s like the evergreens provide you with a hope,” Nathan said. “Like a hope of the coming spring. Spring is coming, warmer days are around the bend and sunshine and warmth are just on the way.”

There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing evergreen plants for landscape. Nathan said some of the obvious choices are things like hollies. There are dwarf hollies, which are small and work well close to the home. One of the native choices is the Yaupon holly. There are larger hollies like the Foster holly and Nellie R. Stevens holly, too, both of which work best farther from the home.

“People like simplicity,” said Joshua Presley, Hall County’s agriculture and natural resources extension agent. “So I think when they can get something, like an evergreen, that's going to solve something for the entire year, that’s one of the most ideal characteristics.”

Conifers, which produce needlelike leaves, are a popular option for evergreen planting, too. Nathan said

August 2018 | HOME | 7

There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing evergreen plants for landscape.

Nathan said some of the obvious choices are plants like hollies.

Nathan said gardenias are a good choice because of the fragrant blooms in the summer and the year-round greenery.

8 | HOME | August 2018

the best way to plant conifers is to pair things like the Gold Mop cypress or Dwarf Japanese cedar, which have a “fine leaf texture” with hollies, which have broad leaves. Doing so adds texture to the landscape.

“Some people don’t think about texture in the garden, but in the wintertime when you don’t have a lot going on, if you have a broadleaf evergreen, and then some of this coniferous evergreen … together they can bring a great display,” Nathan said.

Smaller evergreen plants can be used for a lot of reasons. While Joshua said they’re not as “showy” as some other plants, lowgrowing shrubs like Blue Rug juniper are a good choice.

“A lot of people use them on banks, like on slopes because it spreads across the ground and really makes a thick canopy,” Joshua said. “You get a really nice green canopy, like a low-growing carpet of an evergreen shrub that can help shield from erosion and things of that nature.”

Some of those more showy plants are blooming evergreens. They’re a popular choice because of the color they add amongst all of the green in the landscape. Nathan suggested the abelia plant because of its variation. He said some varieties have leaves that are dark green but some have variegated leaves, which have both green and non-green parts to them. They also bloom with small white or pink bell-shaped flowers in the summer.

Nathan said gardenias are a good choice because of the fragrant flowers they bloom. Camellias are a popular choice, too, because they’re fairly large plants and bloom in the winter “when nobody else is blooming.”

One of the choices homeowners might not think about when it comes to evergreens are evergreen vines. Nathan said one of the natives in the area is the Carolina jessamine.

“It’s great because it’s evergreen and it’s going to climb and provide shade if it’s over a pergola or some kind of arbor,” Nathan said. “But then in the springtime, it’s going to bloom this yellow trumpet-like flower.”

There are other evergreen vines like Confederate jasmine and creeping fig. Nathan said these plants can climb walls, giving the landscape height One of the choices by covering something like homeowners might a brick or concrete wall, not think about when softening it, giving it a more it comes to evergreens formal or antique look and are evergreen vines, providing a more appealing like Confederate view.

Jasmine.

“A lot of people like to antique their furniture,” Nathan said. “I’d say if you’re wanting to antique your garden, one way to do it is adding creeping fig to the wall because it actually clings to the material, whether it’s brick or stone or wood, it actually clings to it.”

At the end of the day, Nathan said there are lots of choices for evergreen plants. It’s important to use them as a backdrop and enjoy them year-round, even when other plants in the landscape aren’t in season.

“Evergreens just provide that connection to nature, especially in the winter, because they have a presence when other deciduous things don’t,” Nathan said.

August 2018 | HOME | 9

Nandina domestica

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Adding winter interest Brighten Your Landscape with Berries

By Pamela A. Keene Plants that bloom outdoors in winter may seem like an oxymoron, but think again. While nurseries across the country are grooming poinsettias and Christmas cactus for retail sale, you can have your very own blossoms to brighten up landscape.

“Hellebores, also known as lenten roses, are one of the few things that bloom outdoors in the winter,” says Mary Wenger who has been 10 | HOME | August 2018

growing them for years in her Hall County garden. “They’re evergreen and bloom in the winter and early spring. They got their nickname, lenten roses, because they look a bit like roses and they bloom in the first quarter of the year, starting in January and stay beautiful into May.” Planted in summer shade under deciduous trees, they require little ongoing care to produce their 2-inch nodding flowers that range from white and pink to soft purple and rose.

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When trees are bare in the winter, they get enough sun to produce their blossoms.

“Hellebores are also drought and deerresistant, so that’s good news for gardeners in Northeast Georgia,” she says. “And, other than in the extreme summer heat, they can be planted almost anytime, although fall is best.”

Hellebores are perennials, meaning they return year after year. They are also selfseeding and produce smaller plants each spring that can be transplanted.

“If you want to cultivate the baby plants, gently dig them up and then replant them at last 8 inches apart,” Mary says. “From a seedling to first bloom usually takes about four years, but with their beauty and easy care, they’re so worth the wait.”

Specialty nurseries and online gardening sites often offer them for sale. Usually there are some for sale at the Hall County Master Gardeners spring and fall expos at Chicopee Woods.

Camellias are another reliable winter bloomer. They’re a standard in Southern gardens and are available in many shapes, forms and colors. Two types, sasanqua and japonica, are the most common; their growing habits are similar, but sasanquas are more sun-

Hardy Hellebore tolerant and tend to be less compact than the japonicas.

“People most often think of camellias as a Southern flower, but they actually were brought from China and Asia,” says

Celeste Richard, executive director of the American Camellia Society, which is based in Fort Valley, Georgia. It is also site of the 9-acre Massee Lane Gardens, a “garden of excellence” that showcases many camellia

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Camellias range in color from pure white and light pink to deep red and variegated blossoms.

A number of camellias have been named for Georgians, including the recently developed pure white double-formal japonica named for Mrs. Sandra Deal, the large scarlet-red singleform spring bloomer named for Vince Dooley, the delicate pink formal double rose form Rosalynn Carter, named for former President Jimmy Carter’s wife, and the longstanding Betty Foy Sanders, a white semi-double japonica with flecked, splotched and rose-red spots, named for renowned artist and wife of former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders.

Camellias can be easy to grow if they’re planted properly and in the right location. Fall is the best time to plant them to allow the plants to become established before spring. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and add organic amendment to the hole. Mix the soil together well. Gently untangle any roots that appear pot-bound, and then place the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball even with the ground or lightly higher. Water thoroughly, and then continue

Beauty Berry Bush

to water at least once a week, even through the winter.

Here are some other plants that will add winter interest to your landscape.

Many of them will also make you a life-long friend of winter wildlife: Winterberry, a variety of holly that loses its foliage in the fall and leaves behind bright-red berries birds love.

Cotoneaster, various varieties with different growth habits, has clusters of red berries.

Pyracantha with its deep orange berries on cascading

stems.

Nandina, also called heavenly bamboo, offer clusters of red berries.

Beautyberries, mostly purple in several varieties, but there’s also a pink-berry variety.

Ask your local nurseryman about what you can plant for winter interest or browse the online catalogues. Just be sure to select plants that are suitable for Northeast Georgia, which is in hardiness zones 7 and/or 8.

Plant them in the fall and you — and your feathered friends — will be rewarded on those cold, dreary winter days.

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Harbingers of Spring: Plant Carefree Bulbs Now

By Pamela A. Keene The spectacular show of millions of blooming daffodils at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground is one of the biggest attractions each spring in North Georgia. They’re naturalized under tall hardwoods, along the roadsides and beside pathways on the rolling hills of the 220-acre world-class residential public garden.

Jim Gibbs knew what he was doing when he chose to plant the bulbs a decade before he opened the gardens to the public.

“Daffodils are so reliable for spring color,

much better than tulips that don’t perform well in our climate,” says Suzanne Brosche, owner of Art of Stone Gardening in Northeast Georgia. “They’re affordable and easy to plant, and the best part is that they will multiply on their own and come back year after year.”

Spring bulbs, like daffodils, grape hyacinths, anemone, allium (onion blossoms), crocus, snowdrops and scilla should be planted in the fall, typically October through late November.

One of the first signals of spring, yellow,

blue and white crocuses peak through the earth in late February to early March. The bulbs are small and frequently are sold in bulk.

“Mix them with Spanish bluebells that are available in white, blue and pink for sustained color.”

“The best way to plant bulbs is to naturalize them,” Suzanne says. “Take a handful and toss them into the air and plant them where they land. It will look much more natural this way. Or you can dig curved trenches and place them at the proper depth

Daffodils Tulips Irises

14 | HOME | August 2018

and cover them. Just don’t plant them in straight lines or deliberate rigid shapes.”

Plant bulbs at a depth that’s two to two-and-a-half times as deep as the bulb itself, pointy end up.

You can find sacks of bulbs at garden centers and box retailers this fall. Often sold in bulk, they can be a really affordable way to add early spring color to your landscape.

When choosing bulbs, look for well-formed firm ones. If they are squishy or small, stay away from them. Daffodils are available in many varieties and colors that range from white to yellow and orange, with orange, pink and even green embellishments.

“For the greatest effect, select some that bloom early, some that bloom mid-season and some that blossom late,” Suzanne says. “It’s OK to mix them in the same area for as much as six weeks of blooms each spring.”

Many online catalogues offer a wide range of spring bulbs that are shipped in the fall. “Just be careful not to get lured in by the pretty pictures,” she says. “We’re in climate zone 7 with a bit of 8, so make sure you’re purchasing the right bulbs for our area. Look for special mixtures for the South or choose the bulk packaging that offers 50 or 100, a blend of different flowers, colors and bloom times.

“Typically, I don’t recommend tulips if you’re counting on them coming back year after year,” she says. “They are very beautiful, and you can certainly force them to bloom indoors in the late fall and winter for a single year, but they will not rebloom with the same vigor if they are planted outdoors. It just doesn’t get cold enough long enough here for them to return. If you’re willing to pay the price to treat them like annuals, you can plant them in the fall in containers with violas and pansies for a dramatic and elegant show.”

Daffodils are deer-resistant. And to improve the show each year, add new bulbs to your planted area each fall.

“They require little care. Be sure to allow the foliage to die back naturally, because that’s how they produce the energy for the bulbs to bloom next year,” Suzanne says. “They typically fade in six weeks to two months. Then you can mulch over them.”

Daffodils make excellent cut flowers. “Cut them early in the day and put them in a vase with fresh water,” she says. “They’ll brighten up a dreary spring day and last for four to five days.”

Alliums are becoming popular as well because they have huge globe-shaped blossoms that last a long time. They are beautiful cut flowers and they are deer-resistant. “Our clients love the dramatic huge blooms,” she says. “And for a twist, you can spray-paint the cut blossoms when you bring them indoors.”

File photos of 2017 Fall Expo

Ask a Master Gardener: Hall County Volunteers Serve the Community

By Pamela A. Keene From working with teachers and students in school gardens to presenting two plant sale expos each year, Hall County Master Gardeners are among the community’s leading volunteer groups.

Under the direction of the University of Georgia Extension, the organization’s nearly 150 members log more than 15,000 hours of service each year.

“It’s our mission to assist the UGA Extension with educating the public about gardening, horticulture and best-practices,” says Patti Lewis, president of the group that was founded more than two decades ago.

“Our public outreach and our community service are the hallmarks of our organization, and we promote beautification through 16 | HOME | August 2018

education.”

The group will be conducting its next intern training in early 2019, and people who are interested are asked to peruse the group’s website at www.hallmastergardneers.com and call the Hall County Extension at 770-5353791 for more information.

The training program includes a series of classes from January through March taught by experts from across the state, plus 50 hours of required volunteer service in the first year.

To maintain membership in good standing, members are asked to volunteer a minimum of 25 hours in each subsequent year. Each intern works one-on-one with a mentor in the first year so help them assimilate into the group.

“There are many ways to volunteer, from working on our community projects,

to assisting with a Junior Master Gardener program, speaking to community groups and garden clubs and serving on our committees,” she says. “Our members staff the extension office to answer phone and walk-in questions about gardening and landscaping, and we love to share our experience to cultivate even more people who want to know about gardening.”

Major programs include the Junior Master Gardener program, with projects in nearly a dozen elementary and middle schools, Gardens on Green’s youth educational gardens at the Hall County Board of Education, spring and fall plant sales, a biennial garden walk with tours of private gardens around the county, and numerous service in community gardens.

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Master Gardeners help manage the annual Wilshire Park Butterfly release each spring and work there throughout the year. They also volunteer at the Northeast Georgia History Center’s Victory Garden, Elachee Nature Center, The Redbud Project at Linwood Nature Preserve, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden/Gainesville. Members also educate new Habitat for Humanity homeowners about how to maintain their lawns and gardens.

The group’s newest undertaking is Cherokee Bluffs in South Hall in cooperation with Hall County Parks and Leisure Services. “We’ve been asked by the county to contribute our expertise to landscape the project and assist with other work there,” Patti says. “This is just another example of how we work together with various organizations to serve.”

The group hosts monthly meetings with speakers and two major social events for master gardeners and their significant others each year.

Master gardeners form life-long friendships with other members, plus they become part of a larger network of Master Gardeners in Georgia. There are Master Gardener programs in every state, so if a member moves, it’s most likely that there will be a Master Gardener group in their new home.

“We’re brought together by our love of gardening,” Patti says, “but by being Master Gardeners, we all form strong bonds of friendship and support. In addition to our volunteer work, we have plenty of social time and fun events for our members. We hope that people will look into applying for our new class of interns, which will start in the first quarter of 2019. If you love gardening, we’d love to hear from you.”

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Moles, voles and gophers: How burrowing wildlife can damage your lawn and garden

Soft, spongy lawns may be indicative of various problems underfoot that occur relatively sight unseen. Barring a septic system backup or considerable flooding, insects or animals may be to blame.

In many areas, burrowing wildlife can wreak havoc on landscapes. Identifying which critter is causing the damage helps homeowners develop the most effective solutions to issues involving wildlife.

Moles Moles will spend much of their lives underground, rarely coming up to the surface. They spend their days digging long tunnels from their dens in search of grubs, earthworms and tuber plants all year long.

Moles can be gray, black, brown, or gold and will be between 6 and 8 inches in length. Their wide front feet are designed for excavating, and moles have very small eyes and angular snouts.

Many times moles are to blame for zigzagging lines across a yard. Channels are typically dug between five to eight inches below the surface of the soil, according to the 18 | HOME | August 2018

home and garden resource site Hunker. The tunnels are only about 1.5 inches in diameter and one may see small molehills of excavated soil in areas around the yard. Mole tunnels can be followed through the yard thanks to the appearance of elevated ridges on the surface of the soil.

Voles Even though their name is similar, voles look nothing like moles. They are also known by the name meadow mice and look more like mice than they do moles or gophers. Voles are small as well and primarily feed on foliage and plant roots. It can take a trained eye to differentiate between holes created by moles and voles, but foliage eaten around an entry or exit hole suggests the presence of voles.

Unlike moles, voles don’t create soil masses on the surfaces of landscapes, which can make recognizing infestations more difficult.

Groundhogs, gophers, prairie dogs Groundhogs, gophers and prairie dogs also are burrowing rodents. These rodents are larger than moles and voles. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are the largest of the

group, followed by prairie dogs and gophers.

Prairie dogs tend to be more social than groundhogs and gophers and may be seen congregating together. Gophers tend to stay below ground and will pull food into their burrows, says the Florida-based A Wildlife Whisperer. Groundhogs often stretch their subterranean tunnels to dens, which they may like to set up under backyard sheds or other protected areas. Groundhogs’ size and desire to forage and eat their fill above-ground often make them easy to spot.

Once the animal doing the burrowing has been identified, homeowners can begin removing food sources and altering conditions to make their yards less critterfriendly. In the instance of moles, using a grub-killer can diminish their numbers. Wire mesh fences buried underground can deter digging into garden beds. Homeowners who are vigilant about disrupting burrows and tunnels may encourage rodents to relocate.

If burrowing wildlife prove problematic, homeowners can work with professional exterminators to assess the situation.

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yard of the year

By Amber Tyner Photos by Scott Rogers

Since 1995, Flowery Branch residents Jim and Eleanor Casteel have thriftily added to the garden on their nearly 5-acre land.

“You don’t have to have a lot of money to have a nice yard,” Eleanor said. “It just takes a little time.”

20 | HOME | August 2018

Jim and Eleanor Casteel's garden at their Flowery Branch home has won the Hall County residential beautification award this year given by the Chamber of Commerce and Jackson EMC. August 2018 | HOME | 21

The 85-year-old man and 83-year-old woman have lived in their home for 23 years, and they haven’t spent much money on the surrounding landscape throughout that time.

“We make do with what we’ve got,” she said. “We don’t buy things that could really improve this (garden). We don’t spend hardly any money on this at all.”

But looking at their yard begs to differ.

The Casteels recently won the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Residential Beautification Award for Hall County, which is given every spring to promote landscaping, enhancement and restoration.

“I was impressed at the size of their garden,” said Robin Halstead,

vice president of community development at Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “You can tell that they really enjoy being outside.”

The Casteels’ garden is full of plants from azaleas and ferns to hostas and Confederate roses. It even has a small pond in the center.

“At first we said we’re just going to leave it all natural—nothing but leaves and trees,” Eleanor said. “It started with the pond, and then we just wanted to make things look nice around (it).”

While the landscape now has too many plants to count, it’s not from buying hundreds of flowers.

“A lot of the plants we have out here were given to us,” Jim said.

“Things have happened like that where people just give us these plants and they didn’t cost us anything except the time to put them in the

Jim and Eleanor Casteel's garden at their Flowery Branch home has won the Hall County residential beautification award this year given by the Chamber of Commerce and Jackson EMC. The garden is predominantly shaded but features hydrangeas of varying colors around the garden's sunny edges.

22 | HOME | August 2018

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24 | HOME | August 2018

Jim and Eleanor Casteel's garden is filled with hostas of many varieties collected throughout the years. Jim and Eleanor Casteel’s garden at their Flowery Branch home has won the Hall County residential beautification award this year given by the Chamber of Commerce and Jackson EMC. The garden is predominately shaded but features hydrangeas of varying colors around the garden’s sunny edges.

ground and then take care of them after (we) planted them.”

And according to Eleanor, many of the plants in their garden just reseed themselves.

“I started off with four of these and I never bought another one,” she said about their hellebores, which total around 500 in all.

“Another name for them are lenten roses, but if I tell people I’ve got lenten roses they think they’re roses. To me, it’s one of the better pieces of shrubbery you can have for a yard.”

Their azaleas have also provided plenty more bushes than they originally bought, and they now have more than 242 of them.

“These azaleas take root,” she said, pointing to a bush. “Then Jim takes them up and he has a place he puts them until they grow more then we put them where we want them.”

And as if those plants aren’t enough, the Casteels’ yard is also full of a variety of hosta.

“In 1995, they started a ‘hosta of the year,’” Eleanor said about the American Hosta Society.

“Everybody would vote on the best hosta and name that the hosta of the year. So I’ve got all of them except I think (from) 2007. I don’t have this year’s or next year’s. I can’t find (them), but I will.”

Halstead said the hostas were her favorite part of the garden.

“I loved (their) hosta garden,” she said. “I thought that was fascinating and definitely unique. They have a beautiful piece of property and it’s just stunning.”

But with all these plants comes maintenance, which the couple gladly do themselves.

“We don’t have anything else to do, and we’re not going to sit down and do nothing,” Eleanor said. “Jim does all the planting. I (do) most of the designing. We work well together.”

And now that their garden has expanded so much, the Casteels are gifting their plants to other people.

“We’ve given numbers of stuff away to people and try to give more away,” Jim said. “But people are not interested in the work it takes to plant them I guess.”

While the couple don’t have any specific plans for the future of their garden, that doesn’t mean it won’t keep growing in size.

“It’s just a spur-of-the-moment thing,” he said. “If we see something we like, we buy it and we find a place for it. That’s just the way it is.”

August 2018 | HOME | 25

By Pamela A. Keene Although people flock to nurseries and box retailers every spring to dress up their landscapes, fall and winter are the best times to plant trees and shrubs.

“You stand a better chance of success if you plant when trees and shrubs are entering the cool season and dormancy,” says Allen Graham, arborist with Arbor One Tree Specialist in Buford. “The tree’s nutrients and sugars are slowing down, and so it won’t be as much of a shock to them in the fall and winter. Also, with cooler temperatures, the need to protect them from the hot sun and provide constant watering is reduced.”

Allen says the best time to plant is from mid-October to January, when the temperatures are cool or even cold, as long as the ground is not frozen.

“Choose trees and shrubs that look healthy and observe the branching habits to select the best specimens,” he says. “Having a good shape for the plant is important. And when you’re purchasing trees, have a place in mind in your landscape. Read the tag to see whether to plant in sun or shade and to have information about the mature size.”

Select trees and shrubs that thrive in our milder winters and hot summers, and there are plenty of choices. Flowering trees, such as ornamental cherries, like Yoshino and Kwanzan, native dogwoods and blooming shrubs like gardenias, native or hybrid azaleas or winter-blooming camellias can provide color and interest.

“Stay away from the flowering Bradford Pears,” he says. “They may look pretty in the spring, but because the limbs grow to close together, they’re more susceptible to disease, storm and ice damage.”

Plant trees in the fall 26 | HOME | August 2018

Consider adding a fruitingtree orchard — two to four blueberry bushes, apples or pears, each with at least two varieties, or several pecan trees — so you’ll have food from your efforts.

Foliage trees can add a good foundation or accents in the landscape as well. Maples, from the smaller Japanese maples to the newer hybrids, like Autumn Flame or October Glory, can provide stunning color in the fall; they will lose their leaves in the late fall and winter. Consider evergreens like hollies that produce berries that will feed the birds through the winter.

“Mix textures and colors when making your selections,” he says. “And look those that have varying heights at maturity. Combine some deciduous plants and shrubs with those that keep their foliage all year.”

Once you’ve chosen your plants and where to put them, proper planting techniques will help ensure a long life.

“Prepare the proper location correctly,” he says. “The guideline is to dig the hole based on the diameter of the trunk. If the tree has a

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3-inch diameter, dig the hole three feet wide.

This will help encourage the roots to spread out and grow more quickly.

You can also base the size of the hole on the diameter of its pot, but be mindful that many potted trees and shrubs may be root-bound. “If the roots are twisted around themselves or are cramped, take the time to gently spread them out and untangle them before you plant,” Allen says. “Often they’ve been in their pots a long time at the nursery or retailer. Opening up the root ball will also give it a better chance of survival and to establish more quickly.”

You can loosen the soil slightly deeper than the soil line in the pot, but then backfill so that the installed tree is planted at the same depth as it was in the pot. To allow for settling, you can even set the plant a couple of inches above ground level, then mound soil around it.

“Amend the planting site with organic material and garden soil, mixing these with the original soil to refill the hole,” Allen says.

“Gently tamp down the site, then water thoroughly and deeply.”

The new plants will need to be watered at least once a week, even through the winter, to ensure that they become established.

An application of a slow-release fertilizer, such as Milorganite, in the spring will give them a boost.

“If you’ve selected the right trees or plants for the site and have done the proper preparation and planting, you’ll have amazing additions to your landscape that you can enjoy for years,” he says. “Just remember that in the South, everything seems to grow bigger and faster than you expect. Give yourself some extra space.”

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Heading into fall is the best time to shape shrubbery and prune trees.

Making the Cut:

Prune, Shape Now to Rehab Shrubs

By Pamela A. Keene You still have time this month and into early September to prune and shape shrubs and trees in your landscape. But for those that flower in the spring, time is running out.

“If it blooms in the spring, you’ve almost missed your window,” says Nathan Wilson, owner of Lanier Nursery and Gardens in Flowery Branch. “Many of these plants, like forsythia and azaleas, set their buds and bloom on old growth. However, you can do some rehabilitation pruning to cut out dead branches or those that are gangly or struggling to produce good growth.”

He urges caution for any pruning after early to mid-September. “You’re creating a wound to the plant that can be more 28 | HOME | August 2018

susceptible to disease, plus you’re stimulating tender new growth right as we go into the fall and winter. An early frost can damage new growth and cause more harm than good. You need to give the plant’s new growth time to ‘harden off ’ before the first frost, which in our area can be as early as October 15.”

There are several ways to cut a plant back.

“Heading a plant creates a look that’s more formal, whereas thinning will give you a more natural and wispy look,” he says. “Many people head, or hedge, plants by just cutting off the branches to form a shape, such as a ball or square. And frankly, some plants are not meant to be hedged.”

The more preferred way to cut back plants is to thin the branches. “Prune down inside

the plant and cut branches at varying heights.

This will help with air circulation and it will let in more light,” he says. “And when a plant gets more light, it increases its photosynthesis to produce more leaves and, in the case of those that flower, more blossoms.”

Plants that benefit from thinning range from forsythia and azaleas to camellias, viburnum and loropetalum, plus foundation plants like Otto Luyken laurel, gardenias, abelia, nandina, barberry, spirea and some junipers. Those that can be hedged include boxwoods, hollies and Indian Hawthorne.

“For spring bloomers, it’s really better to prune them in the spring right after they’ve bloomed,” he says. “That way, you won’t be removing next year’s blossoms, which are

produced on this year’s growth.”

Plants that bloom in the summer can be pruned right after they’ve finished blooming as well. “For instance, remove spent blossoms on mop-head hydrangeas, the blue and pink ones, at the end of the summer,” he says.

“They will set their buds on new growth and you’ll be rewarded next year with plentiful blossoms if you prune them in the late summer.”

Sterilization during pruning is a good practice to prevent the spread of diseases.

“Whether you’re heading a plant or thinning, it’s a good idea to clean your pruners or loppers between each cut,” Nathan says. “It’s pretty easy to mix up a bucket of one part bleach to 10 parts water, then dip your pruners after each cut. If you have diseases you’re cutting out, this is especially important to prevent infection of other plants.”

He also says to properly dispose of trimmings, particularly if they are diseased.

“Cut them, bag them and haul them away.

Please don’t leave them underneath the plants, even if they’re not diseased, because as they decompose they can create a good environment for disease.”

The trimmings from leafy, soft-stemmed, non-diseased trimmings can be added to your

compost pile. Over the winter, they will help move the composting process along.

If you’re planning to do heavy pruning this fall, Nathan says a good rule of thumb

is to take no more than one-third of the plant. Then apply a slow-release fertilizer according to the package directions and water thoroughly.

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Caring for yard 30 | HOME | August 2018

d tools

By Pamela A. Keene Gardeners know that there’s a proper tool for every task. If you’re pruning or heading plants or trees, select the best tool for the purpose: Hand pruners, also called pruning shears or clippers, are available as bypass pruners or anvil pruners. Bypass pruners work like scissors. The blades cross each other during the process and work well for green and growing stems. The anvil type has a straight blade that splits the branch and is preferred for dead branches and stems.

Loppers are used to cut branches that are too big for hand pruners. With their long handles, they make it easier to reach tall branches, plus the longer handles give your more leverage for thicker branches. Some have adjustable-length handles.

You can choose either bypass or anvil styles.

Pruning saws, many with long handles, can tackle thicker branches. You’ll need some elbow grease for the manual ones.

Hedge shears are available in manual and electric/battery operated versions. The long-flat blades can cut larger sections in one clip or motion. Use caution with the electric/battery versions that look like sawfishes with teeth on both sides of the long blade. It’s easy to overdo the hedging.

Pruning shears should be kept clean between uses

32 | HOME | August 2018

Regular Care To keep your tools ready for any job, clean them after each use. Use a warm water with a mild dish soap or powdered cleanser like Comet or Soft Scrub to remove dirt, plant sap and debris. You can use a stiff brush.

Dry them thoroughly before storing them. Old socks or towels work great.

If they start to show rust, burnish with steel wool.

Periodically spray them or wipe them down with cooking oil or motor oil, then wipe then clean.

Avoid WD40 because it tends to create dirt-attracting buildup.

Keep them sharp by using a steel sharpening tool, a whet stone or a flat file. Sharpen both edges of one blade with anvil pruners. With bypass pruners, only one side of the cutting blade should be sharpened.

You can also take them to your local hardware store or gardening center, especially if you have power tools.

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Overwinter Tropicals,

Citrus to Enjoy Next Spring

By Pamela A. Keene Keep the beauty of your favorite outdoor tropical plants for next year by overwintering them indoors. According to Georgia Gardener Walter Reeves, www.walterreeves.com, plants like tropical hibiscus, allamanda, mandevilla and even citrus trees can be grown outdoors in the summer, then brought inside before the first frost and maintained until next spring.

“Tropical plants are pretty by the pool or on your patio, and it’s pretty easy to bring them indoors to protect them from the cold,” Walter says. “If you’ve invested in an expensive plant, like a good-sized hibiscus or mandevilla, it’s worth it to overwinter them, rather than toss them out and buy new ones next season.”

The transition from outdoors to inside should take place in late September through the day before the night-time predicted temperatures reach 45 degrees.

“Plan ahead for bringing them in,” he says.

“If they’re in pots, move them into a rather shady place several weeks before you think you’ll be shifting them indoors. Let them get accustomed to having less light outdoors, and keep them watered.”

You can dig up those that are planted in the ground and set them in fresh soil and nicesized pots.

When it’s time, bring them to a bright space inside away from drafts and direct sunlight. You may need to prune off straggling limbs or shoots, but severe pruning is not suggested or necessary. Turn the pots a quarter-turn every week or so as they begin to lean to the light source.

Other popular plants that do well in an indoor/summer-outdoor/winter environment

34 | HOME | August 2018

Overwinter plants in greenhouses and sheds.

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Wash pots before repotting plants

include the exotic Night-Blooming Cereus, various succulents like Christmas cacti, and citrus trees.

“My Meyer lemons make the trip inside each fall and back out in the spring,” he says.

“Their natural bloom time in the wild is January, and you may get blooms while they’re inside. If so, you’ll need to manually pollinate them if you want to have fruit. I’ve found that sometimes mine will rebloom again in April and be pollinated naturally by the bees. Either way, growing citrus is very fun and rewarding but it can be a lot of work.”

He says that people with citrus trees indoors need to be on regular look-out for spider mites. “If the leaves get yellow speckles and start to drop, spider mites are the most likely culprits. They’re controlled outdoors because of natural predators, but not inside,” he says. “If you have spider mites, treat them with insecticidal oils, but always read the labels for proper application.”

Proper watering throughout their time indoors is important. “The biggest risk is overwatering, but each of us has our own digital water meter – our pointer finger – to gauge when the plant is dry,” he says.

“Stick your forefinger about a half-inch into the soil; if it’s dry, water the plant. If not, walk away and check it in the next day or so.”

Place plants indoors on saucers or plant trays to protect your furniture and floors. Don’t allow the pots to sit in standing water. If 36 | HOME | August 2018

they get too soggy, allow them to drain for a couple of days above the saucer.

“It’s our choice to put plants on a saucer with rocks in the bottom,” Walter says. “Some people say that it helps keep them humidified, but humidity is a whole-house issue. A little regular misting will help but it’s not necessary.”

Cuttings of prized plants If you have a frost-tender plant you just love but it’s too large to bring indoors, consider taking cuttings to root this winter. Prime candidates are angel trumpets and Confederate roses. You can also experiment with gardenias by cutting a 4- to 6-inch stem and removing all but the top two leaves. Place them in a jar half-full of water in a sunny spot with a little rooting hormone and keep an eye on the water level.

Christmas cactus can also be rooted by placing leaves onto moist soil in a shallow pot or saucer. For fun, try rooting tender annuals or herbs, such as coleus, mint, begonias or impatiens. Once they have roots, plant them in 4-inch pots until it’s time to transplant them outdoors in the spring.

You may consider repotting when your plants are indoors for the season. “If you get bored at the first of the year and you need a garden fix, that’s a good time,” he says. “Then, when you’re ready to move them back outside after the night temperatures are warmer than 55 degrees, they will be ready with new soil in bigger pots.”

As a life-long gardener, Walter is a bit pragmatic about what plants to bring in as the temperatures drop. When asked about ferns, he was matter-of-fact. “Boston ferns and others will be on sale at box retailers next spring and they’re not that expensive,” he says. “And when you bring them indoors in the winter, they make a big mess. Frankly, they’re not worth the trouble.”

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EVENTS CALENDAR

August 15th Big E Festival & Elvis Tribute Artists Competition. 7-10 p.m. Aug. 3 and 1-4 p.m. Aug. 4. Rabun County Civic Center, 201 W. Savannah St., Clayton. 706-201-8232, elvisqueen@ windstream.net. $20-25.

“Trains, Trucks & Tractors.” Exhibits.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3-5. Southeastern Railway Museum, 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth. 770-476-2013. $8-10.

Knit One, Crochet Too! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville.

770-532-3311, ext. 114, gkoecher@ hallcountylibrary.org. Free.

Back in Time Band. Part of The Arts Council’s Summer MusicFest. 8-10 p.m.

Aug. 4. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville.

770-534-2787, nairika@theartscouncil. net.

Lego Club. 5-6 p.m. Aug. 6 and Sept. 10. Hall County Library System, Murrayville Branch, 4796 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. 770-532-3311, ext. 171, bhood@hallcountylibrary.org.

Free.

Coloring Week for Adults. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 and 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 7-8 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 10-11. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311, ext. 114, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.org. Free.

Art Unsuspected. Art project. 4-6 p.m. Aug. 13. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-5362575, paula@qvac.org. $150-175.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Drawing class. 1-2 p.m. Aug. 14 and Oct. 9. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-5362575, paula@qvac.org. $150-175.

Hand Building Basics. 6-8:30 p.m.

Aug. 15 and Oct. 10. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $150175.

Swingin’ Medallions. Part of The Arts Council’s Summer MusicFest. 8-10 p.m. Aug. 18. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. 770-534-2787, nairika@ theartscouncil.net.

38 | HOME | August 2018

Greeting Card Workshop: Beat the Heat. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 11. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville.

770-532-3311, ext. 114, gkoecher@ hallcountylibrary.org. Free.

Art Unsuspected. Art project.

4-6 p.m. Aug. 13. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $150175.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Drawing class. 1-2 p.m. Aug. 14 and Oct. 9. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $150-175.

Hand Building Basics. 6-8:30 p.m.

Aug. 15 and Oct. 10. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, paula@ qvac.org. $150-175.

11th annual Gala for Hope and Healing. Presented by Children’s Center for Hope and Healing. 6:30-10 p.m. Aug. 18. Chattahoochee Country Club, 3000 Club Drive, Gainesville. 770-532-6530, cwilson@hopeandhealingga.org. $75.

Jail House Rock. Outdoor concert.

7-9 p.m. Aug. 18. Banks County Historic Jail House, 108 Old Jail St., Homer. 678-971-9390, tabormccoy@ rocketmail.com. Free.

Swingin’ Medallions. Part of The Arts Council’s Summer MusicFest.

8-10 p.m. Aug. 18. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. 770-534-2787, nairika@theartscouncil.net.

Beginners Acrylic. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 22 and Oct. 10. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $120145.

Beginners Drawing. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 23.

Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $120-145.

Painting Techniques for the Beginning Painter. 9-10 a.m. Aug. 23 and Oct. 11. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-5362575, paula@qvac.org. $120-145.

Beginners Drawing. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 23 and Oct. 11. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $120145.

Painting Techniques for the

Beginning Painter. 9-10 a.m. Aug. 23 and Oct. 11. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $120145.

Studio Painting for Intermediate and Advanced. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Aug. 23 and Oct. 11. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, paula@ qvac.org. $120-145.

Gridlife South. 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 24-26. Road Atlanta, 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton. 800-849-7223, info@roadatlanta.com. $40-95.

Crush Fest Wine and Food Festival. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 25.

Yonah Mountain Vineyards, 1717 Ga. 255 S, Cleveland. 706-878-5522, info@ yonahmountainvineyards.com. $25-40.

Pooches in the Park. Dog and family activities, contests, food, music and shopping. 1-7 p.m. Aug. 25.

Braselton Town Green, 9924 Davis St., Braselton. 706-684-0369, apinnell@ braselton.net. Free.

Be The Colorful Landscape.

Painting workshop. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Aug. 28. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $375-400.

Square Dancing Basics. 6-7 p.m. Aug. 30. Hall County Library System, Murrayville Branch, 4796 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville.

770-532-3311, ext. 171, bhood@ hallcountylibrary.org. Free.

Accent Light Shade Stained Glass.

1-3 p.m. Aug. 31. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $200225.

From Pastel to Pan Pastel. 2-4 p.m.

Sept. 4 and Oct 23. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $150175.

Portraiture: An Innovative Approach. 2-4 p.m. Sept. 5 and Oct. 24.

Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, paula@qvac.org. $150-175.

$250 OFF* Braces or

FREE Consultation with X-rays *Just bring this coupon or show us a photo of it! *New patients only. May not be combined with any other offer or discount.

Some restrictions may apply.

Clermont • Cleveland • Dahlonega Dawsonville • Flowery Branch • Gainesville

770-536-0882

WilsonBraces.com

Ron Wilson, DMD Dana Fender, DMD

Same Day Braces 0% Interest Se habla Español

Owned and operated by Dana Fender DMD | Dana Fender PC.