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Hello gardengirl, do you know a source in the Atlanta area for the lettuce leaf begonia, Begonia Bunchii?

HI, Kelly,
No, I'm afraid I don't know a source for this begonia. It's not that humidity tolerant as a rule, so it is probably not offered that much in Atlanta, and there are few begonias to be found at this time of year, since the season is drawing to a close. The foliage on this heirloom variety is interesting, the curly leaves are terrific. Here is a source, but I do not have experience with this nursery: http://fantasticgardens.com/trop-b.html - remember, it's not hardy, so it will need to overwinter in a greenhouse or windowsill.
 
Here's a begonia for you that's not so hard to find or to care for: Hardy Begonia grandis. It's blooming now in many shade gardens in the Atlanta area, with tall ( up to 20 inches) jointed stalks of pink bloom, and attractive red-tinged foliage. The undersides of the leaves, exposing the deep red veining, are expecially pretty when the light shines through them. This begoina is the only one to overwinter, and will spread happily by  seed and can be divided in spring. Have a look on our home page at www.gardeningforlove.com to see a photo!
 
Help my hydrangea, gardengirl,

My Annabelle Hydrangea is starting to bloom now, and has very small blooms this year. It is about 5 years old and looks otherwise healthy. What's wrong?

Hydrangea Help! This is not a problem. There is nothing to do about your small blooms this year, but in the future, all you have to do at the right time is prune. This Hydrangea blooms on new wood, not old wood like the traditional mophead and lacecap varieties. So, when it starts to warm up, around the last average frost date in your area, cut your Annabelle back by about a foot or more on each stem, and new growth with big blooms will be coming your way! Enjoy!

gardengirl,

I have a beautiful crape myrtle that was planted about 4 years ago.  She has reached maturity and is starting to shed her bark. Her leaves look healthy, she is blooming, but there are 2 relatively large branches in the center of the tree that are dead, without any new growth on them.  I see no insects, however the branches are split the entire length of each branch.  The crape myrtle is planted in full sun on the south side of my house.  She sits on a berm that she shares with 2 Japanese holly bushes and 4 tufts of creeping phlox.  Her soil is well drained and she gets a daily watering with the in ground sprinkler system.  Is this a normal stage of growth for my crape myrtle, or could she have a disease?  Should I worry?

Dianna
 gg answers:I think your Crepe Myrtle sounds fine. Just cut out the branches in the center of the tree and you probably won't have any more problems. As Crepe Myrtles age, the center branches sometimes do die back, much like a aging perennial. I do think watering every day is not a good idea. A good soaking once or twice a week is all the plants that you have described need. Crepe Myrtles are drought tolerant, and don't need daily watering, which can lead to powdery mildew on the leaves.

Dear GardenGirl,
I have a lovely Dogwood that I planted in my yard around 7 years ago this Spring.  It flowered for the first time last Spring, but only on one branch which is at the bottom of the trunk (maybe 10-15 blooms total on that branch).  This year, I only had 2-5 blooms, and I'm not sure if they were on the same branch or one just below it (same side of the tree though).  The tree seems to be very healthy otherwise and has grown a couple of feet in height and width each year.  Any thoughts on what might be going on or how I could help my sweet Dogwood?  I long for her to be able to flower like other Dogwoods nearby!
Thanks,
Helen
P.s.- My mom wonders if maybe my little dogwood was grafted and perhaps that's why she's never really produced blooms.  Thoughts?

Helen,
I think that if the bark does not look different, not darker, or mottled with dark or white patches, which would indicate Dogwood Anthracnose, then it might be a grafting issue, since the branch that blooms is down low. If you think this might be the case, the standard proceedure would be to lop off the rest of the tree, and leave the blooming part! It's very drastic, and it might leave you with an ill-shaped tree as it re-grew. If it is possible to dig it up, you could return it to the place you purchased it, which seems drastic, too, though most nurseries and garden centers would take it back. If you replace it, you could buy one that was fullly in bloom, which insures that you like the coloring as well. Sounds very frustrating - sorry! (If you suspect Dogwood Anthracnose, see the website for more info.)
Gardengirl,

My once-beautiful dogwood trees are looking awful now. They are half-dead and half alive. Last year, only two looked that way, but now, they all have dead bits. Please tell me how I can cure them and what is wrong! Sincerely yours, Deaddogwood

Dear Deaddogwood,

You are not alone in  your problem. So many gardeners, all across the US have this problem, called Dogwood Anthacnose. It started in the 70's, entering the US simulataneously from both coasts. Interestingly, it has not been found in any other country. Leaves on the trees will show cankers, oozing and general nastiness. The lower branches will often die and break off easily. Cut off the dead parts of your tree. They will never come back, and you need to get as much infected matter away from your trees as possible. Clean up all fallen leaves, especially in fall, and keep you tree healthy - mulch, but not too close to the trunk. Water, fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer in spring. You may also use fungicides labeled for this disease. To read more, and for a more definative diaganosis, click here for the Cornell University factsheet about Dogwood Anthracnose. 

Hello GG!
I left my large dahlia roots as well as my small shrub type dahlia roots in the ground through the winter. I live in Peachtree City. How or when will I know they survived?
gg answers: A very good question. Dahlia tubers are very sensitive to two things: rot and freezing. Dahlias are native to Mexico, where it is of course, quite hot, but does have cool nights. Our experience with leaving Dahlia in the ground over the winter is that about half survive. Don't water them much until you see green shoots unless you have a very long hot and dry spell. Like many other tuberous summer bloomers, they want to have warm soil before they get going in the spring, so wait till mid-May to decide that they are goners. The good news is, there are so many neat Dahlias to try. For more on DAHLIA CARE,click here.

You may also start Dahlia from seed, and if you start them indoors now, you should have just enough time to have them ready to plant out in your garden in April. For a great selection of seeds, try Thompson and Morgan. (For our PLANT SOURCES page, click here.)

Gardengirl, I have no idea what is wrong with my wood chip mulch, but it looks creepy. It has white moldy stuff all over it - yuck!

gg answers: Fear not, my child, you have a lovely crop of MICROZIAL FUNGI. Lucky you! Soil microbes interact toaffect plant fitness and environmental health, and the white stuff you see forming under or on your mulch is just nature doing its stuff. Believe it or not, some people pay for this stuff. And, this is the sort of important interaction that environmentally unfriendly chemicals eliminate. So, go along your merry way and let nature get on - no worries.

Dear gardengirl - help! I just did not get the garden gene. But I really do like flowers. I can't pay for a garden design company. How can I get started?

gg asnswers:Don't worry - there is something for everyone in the gardening world. I would start with planted pots. It's manageable and hard to goof up. Click here for container gardening ideas!