Fall best time to plant fruit

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: When is the best time to plant a pomegranate bush? Cheryl Williams, email

A: The best time for planting all fruit plants is fall. These shrubs, vines and trees are able to begin developing a good root system long before summer heat appears. Pomegranates need a spot in full sunshine plus regular feeding in spring and summer. Besides the tasty fruit, pomegranate features beautiful orange flowers in early summer.

Q: I laid 500 square feet of bermuda sod on July 1 in a very sunny area. I watered deep twice a week all summer. The grass is very thin; how do I get it plush and full? Conner Poe, email

A: I think you overwatered after the first two weeks. In my experience, it takes about fourteen days for bermuda grass to start rooting firmly. After that you have to start weaning the irrigation back to one inch of water per week, applied in one session. This allows the soil to dry out between waterings, which is vital for turfgrass. Constantly moist soil causes grass to thin out and die. Stop watering now and let the lawn go dormant. Apply a weed preventer if you haven’t already. If you water and fertilize correctly next year it will recover.

Q: My home has azaleas as foundation plants that are overgrown, totally covering the windows. Visitors tell me ‘I'd better do something about those azaleas'. What is the best thing to do? D. E. Kata, Vidalia

A: The best option is to cut them back to 24 inches high in November and then transplant them all to a better spot. Otherwise you'll be back to the same overgrown state in a few years. Consider planting satsuki hybrid azaleas or one of the low-growing Encore ™ varieties. Be sure to add lots of organic matter to the soil before planting.

Q: Regular water removes only the lightest salt deposits on my clay pots. Is there a better way of cleaning pots? Carole Webb, email

A: White salt deposits are common on clay pots. The crusty stuff is the remnants of fertilizer you applied in years past. Soak the pots in a solution of one cup of vinegar to three cups water. The acetic acid in the vinegar will dissolve the salts.

Q: Some reference books say to wait until spring to plant gladiolus bulbs and some say to do it now. Which is best? Gene Lawrence, Lawrenceville

A: Gladiolus is usually hardy in Georgia, but last winter’s prolonged cold and damp proved that this is not always true. I recommend planting in spring. In fall, dig the corms after the leaves have yellowed and store them in a cool room in a box filled with crumpled newspaper.

Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB from 6 to 10. Go to www.yoursoutherngarden.com for details on his TV show or visit his website, www.walterreeves.com.