LIFESTYLE
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2019 • PAGE 19
EXTENSION SERVICE
Advice about plants and cold, camellias and
plants that bloom during the holidays
BY SARAH E. BRODD
DeKalb Cooperative Extension
answers home and garden questions
in many different ways. Call
(404) 298-4080 Monday through
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or
leave a voicemail message after
hours. E-mail gardening questions
to dekalbmastergardener@
dekalbcountyga.gov and all others
to ugel089@uga.edu. The website
is www.ugaextension.com/dekalb.
Here is a sampling of recent
questions:
Q. With the freezes overnight
lately, what should I do to protect
some of my newly planted plants?
A. If you can, we recommend
covering any tender plants you may
have such as annuals or perennials.
Bulbs should be okay but try to
make sure the area they are planted
in is mulched well. If you have any
newly planted grass such as fescue,
it should be okay. If it is a small
yard or area, you can try to cover
it with a sheet. Be sure to remove
any covers the following day so the
plants can breathe and get sunshine.
Also, cold winds are very drying
so young plants will probably need
water.
Q. What are the shrubs that are
blooming now with bright red or
pink flowers?
A. You are most likely seeing
camellias right now. Some varieties
bloom anytime between late
October to mid-March. There
are many different varieties of
camellias. They have bright blooms
that have a nice pop of color during
the winter months. If you would like
to add a camellia to your landscape,
they prefer shade to part shade,
with well-drained soil with organic
matter. They are a Southern staple
in landscapes.
Q. I want to grow an amaryllis
or paper whites for the holidays,
when should I plant these so they
are blooming in time?
A. You will find amaryllis and paper
white kits available now. You can
wait a bit for the paper whites, but
I would go ahead and plant the
amaryllis bulbs. They take a little
longer to bloom. Be sure to plant
them with roots down in organic-
rich soil that drains. Place them
inside in a sunny spot. You will
start to see the stem come up and
continue to grow to be ready closer
to the holidays in December. These
also make great presents.
