Armadillos can be deterred

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: Can you please tell me how to get rid of these armadillo digging machines? There are holes all over my yard!

Enlarge photo

David Funderburk Armadillos root through leaves and garden beds looking for insects.

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-- Marie Hughes, e-mail

A: After I described on radio how to trap armadillos, I found a great article on how to deter them with a simple electric fence. You can get descriptions of both methods at xrl.us/armadillo.

Q: What is leaf mold? It is one of the items suggested for bonsai soil.

-- Jim Stimmel, Lawrenceville

A: Leaf mold is just composted leaves. This is in contrast to "compost," which has had green things added to the mix to speed up decomposition. Leaf mold is mostly used as a soil conditioner, to improve drainage. Compost is used to increase drainage AND enrich the soil.

Q: I'm from Canada and have recently moved to Atlanta. How do I tell if I have Bermuda or fescue grass? We’re desperate to have a nice lawn in a very nice neighborhood. We're not in Toronto anymore.

-- Jan Macaulay, Alpharetta

A: Welcome South! I know you’re missing your poutine, peameal sandwiches and Pablum, but our grits, barbecue and okra will soon make you forget Tim Hortons! You likely have a Bermuda lawn. Both Bermuda grass and zoysia grass are brown in winter, but Bermuda grass is most commonly used in metro subdivision lawns. The biggest chore right now is to apply a pre-emergent to prevent summer weeds. You can begin fertilizing when your lawn is 50 percent green. I have tips on how to determine what lawn grass you have at xrl.us/grassid. I’ve also collected care calendars for each lawn grass at xrl.us/lawncalendar.

Q: I am a beginner at gardening, and I want to start growing my own veggies this spring. I want to start a hugelkultur bed. Any tips?

-- D'Andre LaCroix, Stone Mountain

A: Hugelkultur is the process of piling limbs and woody material in a trench, then covering it with rich soil. As the wood deteriorates, it makes an excellent rooting area for squash, melons, tomatoes and peas. All you have to do is pile up the woody material, stomp it down tight, cover with amended soil, then plant. Gardeners who have tried it advise adding a bit of extra fertilizer the first two years to compensate for that used in decomposing the wood, but the nutrients will be released back to your garden plants in years to come.

Q: Would you agree with my hypothesis that the increase in mistletoe in trees is because we haven't had many ice storms?

-- Herb Bastin, Decatur

A: I don't know if ice storms have had an effect, but I sure seem to see lots more mistletoe these days. Its scientific name, Phoradendron, translates to “tree thief,” because it thrives using the sap from the tree on which it lives. University of Georgia tree expert Kim Coder notes that mistletoe-infested trees are more likely to die from drought stress. This parasitic plant does weaken limbs as it roots into the bark and stem. It’s a good idea to prune out limbs that carry mistletoe.

Listen to Walter Reeves 6-10 a.m. Saturdays on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.