Gardening Tips

PLUMCOTS, APRIUMS What's a plumcot or an aprium? Both are fruit varieties produced by crossing plums with apricots, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. They're available on a very limited scale from fruit-tree mail-order catalogs or at specialty nurseries. They're reported to be sweet and juicy.

POTBOUND When you buy container-grown nursery stock, check the root ball, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. Make sure it's not bound too tightly. A mass of circling roots will stay that way even after it's in the ground.

DIVIDE PERENNIALS Divide spring- and early-summerflowering perennials after the blooms fade, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. Instead of severing the clump in half, try jiggling the roots apart with two sharp spading forks. This takes more time, but damages fewer roots than cutting the clump apart.

DRINK A PLANT Water makes up 98.5 percent of the lettuce plant, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. The Irish potato has 70 percent water. If water is lacking, all other things tend to back up.

SHADY FLOWERS Impatiens is the best annual to put in shady areas, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. Begonias, coleus, ageratum, salvia and Vinca prefer light shade (five to six hours of sunlight).

SHARP EDGES Keep a sharp edge on spades, hoes and other cutting tools, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. This makes cutting through weed roots and sod much easier.

SHREDDED LAWNS A brown or grayish cast over lawns can be caused by dull or improperly adjusted mower blades, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. Such blades shred grass rather than cut it.