Wood ashes can be beneficial for plants

is more than an atplanting starter fertilizer application needed to obtain a good crop.

As I was moving, I discovered vegetable and flower seeds in my refrigerator and some were five years old. Are these capable of germinating?

Most likely, a portion of each type of seed is viable if they have been kept cool and in a sealed container or plastic bag. It is amazing how long seeds can last. If any are seeds normally sown directly in the ground, test a few by placing them between layers of moist paper towels and keeping them in a plastic bag in a warm location. After a few days, you can check for germination to help you decide whether or not to sow the seeds.

Seeds to sow for transplants can be started in shallow containers of potting soil or germination mix. Scatter the seeds and cover lightly with one of these mixtures. Keep them moist, and in a few days to a week, you may find seedlings to grow on as transplants.

One of our viburnum hedges has grown too tall for the landscape. Can it be pruned way back now or should I wait until spring?

Most of our common hedge plants — including viburnum, ligustrum, anise and podocarpus — are cold-resistant, but every so often, they are affected by freezes. Most gardeners would take a chance and prune them to the desired size even as winter approaches. But, if you want to be safe, enjoy the green foliage a little longer and around mid-February give the planting the needed pruning.

Weeds have taken over a number of small areas in our lawn. If we remove the weeds, do we still have time to add new St. Augustine sod?

Remove the weeds, till the soil and then add the new sod. We install sod year-round, but fall and spring are the best times, as you control the water to help prevent rot problems. Also, pests are fewer during the color times. The only risk at this time of the year would be a winter freeze, so you might avoid midDecember through early February. March through early May is also the best time to add new sod.

I have an old lantana planting that during summer the insides of the plants turned into dead twigs and the outsides have minimal amounts of leaves and flowers. Should I cut them back?

Lantana are tough durable plants, but periodically, they do need trimming. You noted the planting has lots of dead-looking twigs. These may be leafless, but the stems are green inside and simply need cutting back. Perhaps the real question is when to do the trimming.

Pruning can occur at any time of the year, but don’t expect much growth during late fall and winter months. You might consider enjoying the few blooms still present and wait until mid-February to do the trimming. Also, lantana can be damaged by cold, so by waiting, you could do all the pruning at one time. When pruning time does arrive, feel free to cut the plants back to within 6-8 inches of the ground to give them a fresh start.