Pruning Help on the Web
Southern gardeners are fortunate to have two outstanding web sites from the University of Georgia Extension Service to guide us in our pruning activities. Basic Principles of Pruning Woody Plants is a great resource for teaching the basics of pruning and plant responses to various types of cuts. Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscape provides plant specific guidance. Both have helpful diagrams to make the concepts clear and easy to understand.
Clever Gardening Technique
Heat Lamp Protection for Seedling Flats
In a pinch, if you don't have one of the nice heating mats for starting seeds, a heat lamp oriented from below the flats works quite well. Place two or three flats on a wire mesh surface, and then put a heat lamp below the flats at least 18 inches away. The heat will warm the base of the flats and the soil, providing protection from a cold night and promoting faster growth. Set the lamp on a timer so that it comes on when temperatures start to drop at the end of the day and goes off as the sun comes out, unless the days are going to be very cold. Experiment with the optimal distance from the lamp to the base of the flats.