Consumer Q&A: Spring Garden

Q: Beautiful, large, yellow butterflies are all over my flowers. They are an almost solid pale yellow. They are not as large as tiger swallowtails. Do you know what they are? What can I plant to attract more?

A: They sound like cloudless sulphurs. Some entomologists call them cloudless giant sulphurs. Sulphur is an older spelling of sulfur, the mineral that's color is a perfect match to these butterflies. There are other species of sulphurs, but the cloudless sulphur is one of the largest. It is called “cloudless” because some of the other common sulphurs have gray patterns or markings on their wings. Cloudless sulphurs are more abundant in Georgia gardens in late summer and fall. They are beautiful butterflies, and are one of the few species that will migrate south for the winter.

Planting or protecting the larval plants (plants the adults lay eggs on and that the caterpillars eat) along with planting some of the nectar plants the adults feed on are the best ways to attract any butterfly.

Adult cloudless sulphurs prefer to feed on the nectar of many of the flowers that hummingbirds do. Among their favorites are pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans), firecracker vine (Manettia cordifolia), Turk’s cap mallow or wax-mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii), anisacanthus (Anisacanthus wrightii), Texas or tropical sage (Salvia coccinea), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and single-flowered zinnias. They also like native asters, goldenrods and blazing stars (Liatris spp.).

Caterpillars of cloudless sulphurs feed on partridge pea, clovers, Argentine senna (Cassia corymbosa), wild senna (Cassia marilandica) and other legumes, especially sennas (Cassia spp.).

Q: What are some tips for succeeding with pansies?

A: Prepare the bed beforehand by adding compost, especially if you have heavy clay or sandy soil. If planting in containers, use high-quality potting soil and the largest containers possible. Make sure the containers have a drainage hole at the bottom. Plant the pansies where they will receive at least four hours of unfiltered sunlight each day. Provide morning sun if possible. To fertilize, use a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 and follow directions on the label. It is always better to under-fertilize than to use too much. Water your plants, especially those in containers, before a hard freeze. Keep the old flowers pinched off so they don’t produce seeds. This is called deadheading and encourages the production of more blooms.

Q: I had five huge holly bushes cut down as they were getting too large for me to take care of. They were 10 to 12 feet high and seven feet across. Is there a simpler way to remove the stumps than having them dug up? I cannot do it myself or get to them with a truck and a chain.

A: Digging up the stumps is the fastest and surest way to get rid of them, but it will be an arduous task because the bushes were large with a large root system. An easier, although much slower, option is to cut the bushes down as close to the ground as possible and remove every shoot as soon as it sprouts until the stump eventually dies along with the root system. You must be persistent in keeping the sprouts removed or the hollies will come back. You may want to spray or paint some brush killer on the stump and on the sprouts as they appear. Be careful not to let the herbicide get on any other plants. Follow all label instructions when using any herbicide.

Q: What are some vegetables I can grow in pots on my deck?

A: Almost any vegetable can be grown in a container if you keep it watered. Due to the limited root space, the plants are going to dry out more quickly than those planted in the ground. They will probably also need more fertilizer. The best options for growing in containers are vegetables with smaller fruits or those that have a smaller stature and don’t spread out much. Some good possibilities include leaf lettuce, radish, eggplant, garlic, carrot (round or short-root varieties), tomato (determinate varieties will stay shorter), hot and sweet peppers and bush varieties of summer squash and cucumber. Use the largest containers possible as they will provide more root-room and make the plants less vulnerable to drying out or getting blown over.

Q: Can we grow dahlias in Georgia? We had them as a child and I miss them.

 

A: Dahlias thrive where days are warm but nights are cool. That is why they are favorites farther north. However, we can grow many dahlias here in Georgia. Keys to success include selecting heat-tolerant varieties, preparing the soil with plenty of compost and mulching them well.

 

Look at the website of the Dahlia Society of Georgia at www.dahliasocietyofgeorgia.com. It is a wealth of information and includes a dahlia growing guide for Southern gardens and old newsletters with photographs that will inspire you. If possible, visit the society’s display garden at Stone Mountain State Park to see different varieties in bloom and judge how they perform.

 

Q: How much sunlight should a vegetable garden receive?

 

A: All vegetables need sunlight, generally the more, the better. The garden site should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. A minimum of eight to 10 hours each day is even better.

 

Therefore, vegetables should be planted away from buildings, trees and shrubs shading the area. The roots of trees and shrubs will also compete for nutrients and water.

 

Got a question? Visit our website, write to us at 19 MLK Jr. Drive, Room 128, Atlanta, GA 30334, or email arty.schronce@agr.georgia.gov.