Gardening Q&A

Q:I had such a hard time keeping the grass out of my garden this year. To prevent the same thing next year, can I spray the whole area with a grass killer and destroy all that grass?

Answer: You can. However, if the weedy grass was crabgrass, it will die on its own with the first frost anyway. The issue you'll have to deal with next spring will result from the seeds that crabgrass has been dropping for the past month or so.

On the other hand, if the weedy grass was wiregrass, it's a perennial and treating it with a grass herbicide would have been more effective had you treated it in early to mid-September while the weeds were still growing. A herbicide like glyphosate would kill the grass, but it only works if the grass is actively growing.

A good option in either case would be to cultivate the garden this fall and allow the remains of the weeds to be exposed to the cold of winter. Crabgrass seeds will survive regardless of the cold, but it is possible to kill some wiregrass roots by exposing them to freezing temperatures. As the season progresses next year, try to keep the soil cultivated as much as possible to prevent the weeds from gaining on you.

Q:What's going on with our more than 20-year-old kousa dogwoods? I don't recall their bark peeling off like this before.

Answer: The symptoms you've described on the bark of your kousa dogwood is quite common on mature specimens. The mottled appearance and the flaking bark are typical of older trees like this.

Q:We have a space in front of our house that is in need of some more substantial foundation plantings. It is an area that is now planted with a very healthy bed of liriope, but we need some height. We'd like something perhaps no more than 3 feet. It is a relatively small area, roughly 8-10 feet in length and 4-5 feet wide. It faces south and receives sun most of the day. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: There are a few plants I like that fit the area you've described. English boxwood is slow growing and will take years to exceed the height you mentioned. Also, helleri holly is a more spreading evergreen that rarely ever grows taller than 3 feet. Another choice is compacta holly, a more dwarf variety. Any of the newer blue hollies would also fit your space and provide interesting color for your foundation. All of these are hardy and relatively pest free.

Q:I have four mature abelia plants that I would like to transplant. I was hoping to transplant them this fall. Will they tolerate it or should I leave them alone?

Answer: Fall is a great time to transplant abelia. You said they are mature, so one issue might be the size root ball you'll have to move. Assuming you're prepared to handle a large root ball, moving them in the fall will allow them to get acclimated to their new site without having to deal with summer's heat and dry weather. You can cut them back when you move them, which should make them easier to handle. Also, have the new holes ready before you move the plants. This will reduce the amount of handling that loosens the soil from the root system. Your plants should leaf-out fine next spring.

Richard Nunnally is a freelance writer and host of WCVE's monthly gardening show, "Virginia Home Grown." He can be contacted at .