Metro Atlanta and Georgia gardening news

Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to www.gardeningingeorgia .com for details on his TV show or visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com.

Bulbs need room to bloom
Q: If I dig up my gladiolus now, should I store them until spring or replant immediately? — James GordonA: Gladiolus corms (bulbs) are usually winter-hardy if left in the ground, but it’s a good idea to dig them up every couple of years.
Cannas should bloom after move
Q: I have cannas near my window that are tall and unsightly. Can I transplant them now without harming their blooming next summer? — Jody Cohen, Sandy SpringsA: This is a great time to dig and transplant canna roots. Cut off the stalks at ground level.
Straw should be OK to stay
Q: How long should I leave down the straw I put out to protect fescue seed after my annual planting? — Debra Carpenter, west Cobb CountyA: If you used one bale of wheat straw per 1,000 square feet, the mulch is laid so lightly that it rots quickly and doesn’t need removing.
Keep dogs from mushrooms
Q: Is there something to spray on an area to kill mushrooms? I’m worried about my daughter’s dog. — Clara Ann SavoA: There is no anti-mushroom product.Mushrooms emerge when a fungus, which is decomposing underground organic material (tree roots, thatch, etc.
Variety of milkweeds grow here
Q: On a recent trip to Massachusetts I saw milkweed pods ready to burst. Is it possible to grow milkweed down here? — John Ferreira, OcillaA: Garden designer Shannon Pable (www.shannonpable.com) pointed me to the Web site of Monarchs Across Georgia, which boasts a list of 23 milkweeds that grow here (xrl.