Walter Reeves: Pecan is not native to Georgia

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: We saw a television program that mentioned the first pecan tree planted in Georgia. Being from South Georgia, I thought pecans were native to this area. -- Elizabeth Neace, Dacula

A: The pecan, Carya illinoinensis, is native to North America, specifically the Midwest. Native Americans enjoyed the nut and used it for trade with Europeans. The scientific name was given by Friedrich Wangenheim, a Hessian soldier who studied the flora of North America in his leisure time during the American Revolution. Georgia is the top pecan-producing state in the U.S. The 2009 crop was worth more than $170 million to our farmers.

Q: I planted perennial ryegrass four weeks ago, and it is so beautiful. Is there any way I could keep it coming back every year? -- Ean Traylor, Carrollton

A: Perennial ryegrass is perennial in areas where summer temperatures don’t go much over 80 degrees. It is not perennial in Georgia because our summers are too hot and humid. If you use it to protect the soil from erosion in winter, it’s best to kill it with glyphosate (Roundup, etc.) in May and plant grasses that are perennial, such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass or centipedegrass, in its stead.

Q: We saved the seeds from our Halloween pumpkin. Is there anything special to do to keep them for planting next year? -- Joey Stiers, e-mail

A: If the seeds are plump, not flat and unviable, they are easy to save. Just dry them for a week on a paper towel, remove any adhering pulp and store in a cool place. Since we have no idea where the pollen that made these seeds came from, there is no guarantee that the pumpkin you produce next year will look like its parent. Plant in June or July and let’s see what happens!

Q: My recently seeded fescue lawn is now lush, green and growing very tall. Is it time to cut the lawn now and during winter? -- Matt Ruben, DeKalb County

A: Yes, your fescue needs to be mowed when it becomes unkempt. Three inches tall is the recommended mowing height. Since the ground is often soggy in winter, don't use the same mowing pattern time after time: You'll get ruts and compact the soil where the wheels travel. Vary the pattern between your normal route, perpendicular to that route and at a 45 degree angle to that route.

Q: I can get horse manure and shavings from the stalls at a horse farm. Is there any special way to compost this mixture? -- Marc Ferguson, Douglas County

A: Basically, you just pile it up until it decomposes enough for the shavings to disappear. If it smells “earthy” and not like ammonia, it can safely be used as a soil amendment in a garden or landscape.

Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings 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.