Pike Nurseries answers your gardening questions - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Got a problem growing bananas? Double Hibiscus? Pike Nurseries assistant manager, Melodie McDanal, joined Good Day Atlanta on Friday to answer some of your gardening questions!

If you have a question about taking care of your lawn, garden, or shrubbery, send it to goodday@myfoxatlanta.com and it just might be answered on Good Day Atlanta next Friday!

Website: www.pikenursery.com  

Question 1
My question is regarding the best way to treat a Double Hibiscus for white flies in warm weather and spider mites during the winter. This is a potted plant that is on my deck in warm weather, but indoors during cooler months. It is a prolific bloomer, but not very lush now due to having to cut it back severely last winter.

While outdoors, white flies are profuse and during the winter, even though indoors, it becomes covered in small spider webs.  I looked at liquid systemic treatments, but they all indicated ‘not for use in container plants.'

Answer 1
If you already have the bugs on the plant, systemics are not the best items to use, especially for a container plant.  At that point you will have to use a contact spray to get rid of them.  There are many choices on the market to use, but always check the label to make sure it is labeled for the specific type of bug that you are trying to get of. You can start to use granular systemic in the winter so that it starts to build up in the plants before the bugs arrive. Your best option for your troubles right now is Bonide Eight.

Question 2
Is it true that tomatoes will not set fruit at temperatures above 90 degrees?

Answer 2
That is a myth. Tomatoes can set fruit in any temperature, and hot areas like California are still able to grow tomatoes. The biggest key to success with tomatoes is keeping them on a consistent water schedule so that the soil never completely dries out.

Question 3
I asked my lawn man to trim back my butterfly bush last week because it was about eight feet tall. I told him I didn't want it cut down as I wanted it to still bloom. One of his workers misunderstood and cut it down to about three feet tall. The owner apologized and assured me it would be in bloom again in about three weeks. We have had a lot of rain since then and there is no sign of any new leaves. Do you think it will bloom again this season? I don't believe it will.

Answer 3
Butterfly bushes form their flowers on the end of a limb so it may take a while before you see blooms. We are only half-way through summer so there is a good chance that your butterfly bush will have enough time to leaf out and produce new blooms. You can encourage new growth and blooms by fertilizing your butterfly bush. You can try with EB Stone Ultra Bloom, a granular fertilizer or a water soluble fertilizer like Super Bloom.

Question 4
Pike, hi, I have a banana tree in my yard, they are really small bananas on it, they seem to remain small, this the second season having bananas on it. Do you think they will mature to a larger size, & is it edible? I live in Gwinnett co. zone 7.

Answer 4
Typically, Banana trees won't overwinter in Georgia and should be brought inside before the first frost. However, we had an exceptionally warm winter which may be why your banana tree survived.

The bananas will probably not get as large as the bananas you see at the grocery store. However, the small bananas should be safe to eat.