Question: We have a camellia bush that is about five or six feet tall and wish to trim it some, but don't know the best time for trimming. It has already bloomed and the blooms have fallen off. Can you help?
Anne Clapp: You may trim it after February 1st. Sasanqua camellias that bloomed this fall have not gone completely dormant and will not do so until we have had several hard freezes – usually after January 15.
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Question: Anne, My azaleas leafs are turning yellow in the Fall. They seem to do good all summer, but for some reason in the fall the leafs start turning yellow. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Byron
Anne Clapp: It is usual for azaleas to lose leaves in the fall and in the spring. About 1/3 of the leaves turn yellow and fall off each year. They turn yellow just as deciduous trees such as maple, oak etc. do before they fall. As long as the leaves that turn yellow are the leaves further back on the stems there usually is nothing to be concerned about.
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Question: We have a new dog this year and she wants to eat the fruit that is produced from our Bradford Pear Tree. Is it poisonous to her ? Thank You, Pattie
Anne Clapp: Bradford pears are not poisonous but eating too many of them may cause intestinal problems.
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Question: I know it's time to fertilize my fescue grass and I would like to do it over the Thanksgiving weekend. I have some Pennington fertilizer, 5-5-25. I'm pretty sure it's slow release. It's what I used when I started my lawn in Sept. If I water the grass an inch each week, will it be safe to go ahead and fertilize? Thanks.
Anne Clapp: It should be safe to fertilize newly planted grass now. There is nothing wrong with the fertilizer from Pennington.
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Question: Hi! What is the name of the additive you recommended a few weeks ago for soil building. It was something that I think helps keep it loose. Thanks. Jim D., Lillington
Anne Clapp: It was probably Permatil for breaking up clay particles. It is a shale rock product mined in North Carolina.
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Question: I just bought an amaryllis growing kit from Walmart yesterday. After I open the box and found an amaryllis had already grown about 5 inches long and bended to one side instead of upright. How do I fix an amaryllis to have it stand upright again? Thanks, Tracy
Anne Clapp: It won't stand up as well as it should but if you put it in good light and turn the plant a quarter of a revolution every few days it should straighten up some. The stalk will grow toward the light so by turning the pot every day or so you are forcing the stem to grow toward the light. That will straighten it some, but it will remain crooked.
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Question: I have 2 pomegranate bushes. They are 3 years old. They have never beared fruit. How do you get them to grow and bear fruit. Thanks Ron T., Cottageville, SC
Anne Clapp: They are probably not old enough to bear fruit yet. It may take as many as seven years. The plant needs full sun for the best fruit production.
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Question: Hi, I live in Jacksonville, FL, and the ligustrum that was planted during the late spring is now dropping leaves and yellowing in places. I water it adequately; is there anything that you can suggest that I check? The tree is growing in partial shade. Thanks!
Anne Clapp: Ligustrum will grow in partial shade and is reasonably drought tolerant. They will be affected by saltwater spray but that damage is usually grey dry leaves. They do loose about 1/3 of their leaves each fall. If the leaves that are yellowing and falling off are not the leaves on the tips of the branches there should not be anything to worry about.
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Question: Dear Anne, I live in Indianapolis, IN and had a holidy cactus sitting outside. A sudden drop to below freezing froze the plant. I brought it into an area of the entry way yesterday and within a few hours, it seems to have wilted. Have I killed the cactus or is there something I should do? Thanks, Judy
Anne Clapp: Holiday cactus is a tropical succulent that cannot stand freezing weather. If the leaves turn to mush it is killed.
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Question: What can be done with scraggly rhododendrons that have grown to 7' or so? Can they be cut back to a more manageable size (sacrificing blooms next spring, of course) or would it be better to simply replace them? Thanks.
Anne Clapp: If the rhodies survive the drought this year you may want to prune them and reduce the number of blooms from the plant to conserve the plant's food resources. I have cut several back during the late winter and have been pleased with their recovery. You can cut them back to a manageable size by cutting back 1/3 of the main stems this year, 1/3 next year etc. This will give you some bloom each year. It is much easier to cut back the plants than replace them.
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Question: Hi! We live in the gold rush country of Northern California and own a house that dates back to that time. There's a beautiful Wysteria vine that encircles the porch that must be as old as the house! It's trunk by the front door must be about 1' in diameter and the two main branches travel about 20' from the trunk around the porch. Our problem is the last 8' of one branch died and we're worried the whole vine/tree might be ailing. What do we do to stop this and keep our beauty healthy? Thanx, Shaws in California
Anne Clapp: It is not unusual for portions of a wisteria to die. Prune the dead portion off the plant down to an adjoining stem so the plant can grow a new stem. In North Carolina wisteria will develop trunks the diameter of yours but they are not usually that long lived. Sometimes a little selective pruning on older plants will increase their longevity. You may want to do a little pruning of some of the older stems to reduce the canopy of the vine so the roots don't have to feed quite as much top growth.
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Question: Hi Anne: My lawn was aerated, seeded and strawed about 3 weeks ago. Some of the new grass came out and some didn't make it. Someone told me that leaving the straw too long on the grass will damage the lawn in the winter. I'm not sure whether this is truth. I would be appreciated if you could help me out with this question. Thank you, Tracy
Anne Clapp: There is no reason to remove straw from the lawn if it was a light covering. In fact, it is difficult to remove a straw covering without damaging the roots of the grass. It breaks down over the winter and nourishes the lawn. There is still time for additional seed to germinate so I would leave the lawn alone.
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Question: Hello, I need to move two 9 foot leyland cypress's. I am not sure how or when. We live in Charlotte NC and have already had a frost, which is odd for this area. Warmer days are coming before winter sets in for good. Thank you for any advice you can provide.
Anne Clapp: You are going to have a very hard time transplanting a 9 foot Leyland cypress without the service of a tree spade. The root ball and plant will be several hundred ponds, too much weight and bulk for an individual to manage with shovels etc. The ideal time to transplant is when the plants are dormant in late December and January.
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Question: I live on the South Carolina coast. It is nearly mid November and my Hibiscus bushes are still green and even blooming. How can I know if they are annuals or perennials? If they are perennials, should I prune them back a little after the leaves fall? Also, I read that Bone Meal is a good product to give them once or twice a year. Thank you. Robbie N.
Anne Clapp: Most annual hibiscus have yellow flowers. Tropical hibiscus shrubs have very shiny leaves. Hardy hibiscus shrubs have dull finished leaves. With the warm temperatures continuing into November a lot of hibiscus are still blooming and will do so until temperatures get below 40 degrees on a regular basis. Most of us do not trim hibiscus back until new growth starts in the spring. Some of the hardy hibiscus have hollow stems and if water gets in them they will freeze and be killed. Any plant food for blooming plants will provide good nutrition for hibiscus.
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Question: I accidentally sprayed malathion on my tropical hibiscus. The leaves are turning yellow will it survive?
Anne Clapp: Malathion is usually safe to use on hibiscus. Several insects on hibiscus are sprayed with malathion. The yellowing may be from old leaves, moisture problems or low soil fertility, At this time of year leaves usually turn yellow and fall off as the plant goes into winter dormancy.
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Question: Hi Anne, My dwarft Alberta Spruce has some white material on its branches. It is in a large pot and gets plenty of sun and water. It is about three years old, also how can I tell if it is male or female?
Anne Clapp: Occasionally a white cottony scale insect gets on Alberta Spruce. Spraying with horticultural oil sprays will control the insect. Albert spruce do not occur as separate male and female trees.
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Question: Hello Anne, I have 2 large Yucca's in my front yard, I don't know anything about them but love the look of them. They are covered in little black bugs, and also the color seems to be fading. Please tell me what to do to keep them healthy. Thanks, Diane
Anne Clapp: Yucca is actually a member of the lily family. They need full sun and a rich, fibrous, quick draining soil. You might take a sample of the bug to a local nursery to see if they can identify it. It could be one of a dozen or so insects. The color could be fading because of poor light, poor soil fertility or chemical damage. Controlling the insect problem and fertilizing next spring will probably help.
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Question: When do you prune double blooming cherry trees in Charlotte, NC? Thank you very much. Marie
Anne Clapp: Prune cherry trees that bloom twice a year after they produce their first bloom of the year.
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Question: I have a large 100 yr old camellia bush the state of fl just moved this bush 11/4/05 because of road work they moved it with a back hoe getting a verylarge dirt ball it was only moved about 10 feet and care was taken to position it back with the same side faceing north only two small limbs suffered any damage I have put a large dam around it and watering twice a day Is this to much water? should i put any type ferelitzer or any thing on it should it be cut back it is loaded with blooms what chance do you give it to survive I live in north florida thanks any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
Anne Clapp: I would not fertilize the camellia for at least a year after such a severe move. I would not prune back any of the green growth on the plant as the green leaves will produce the food the plant needs to make new roots. When I moved a large camellia several years ago I did remove most of the buds so it did not use energy opening blooms. After a week of twice a day watering you should be able to cut back to once a day watering. You do not want water standing around the plant and the soil should not hold too much water around the roots of the plant. Gradually start cutting back on the watering in December so that by January you are watering once a week. For the next year continue to water weekly unless you have enough rain to provide an inch of water a week.
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Question: When is the best time to prune red tip bushes in central Georgia? Thanks, Charlie
Anne Clapp: The best time to prune red tip photinia in the south is in February for a good display of new red growth but they can be pruned from December until June without problems.
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Question: Dear Anne, I came across your column from Google. I live in St. Petersburg, FL. We bought a house with a large Hibiscus plant, almost a tree... When is the best time to trim? Thank you, Janie E.
Anne Clapp: It is usually recommended that hibiscus growing outdoors do not get pruned when there is a danger of new growth getting hurt by frost. In your part of the world that usually means they may be pruned from March through October.
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Question: Help!!! I have 2 yucca rostratas, 1 Needle Palm, & 2 Trachycarpus Fortunei that I bought in late summer 2005 They are planted in my yard. They have leaf spots on the leaves. I believe the leaf spots came from some Honey Suckle vines that are infested with leaf spots. A small amount of them the leaves on the Yuccas I have been easily able to pull out from the crown. I believe it was starting show signs of crown rot. I spoke with the nursery I bought them from and was told it was probably from too much watering. In NJ we have had a horribly wet fall so far because of the hurricane season. I placed some Sulfur Fungicide mixed with Wilt Pruf to help the Sulfur stay on the leaves longer and to help run off the excess water from the crown. Any other suggestions on how to help the trees. They are planted in a raised bed with great drainage. 1 part fine sand, 1 part pebble gravel, and 1 part soil from my garden.
Also what kind of fertilizer could I use for the Yuccas in the spring? I know they don't need too much fertilizer but I want to be able to make sure they get established well.
Thank You, Khalif
Anne Clapp: Very good drainage and lots of sun are required for the plants you have. If you think the leaf spot problem is coming from the honeysuckle make sure you control the leaf spot on the honeysuckle first. You should probably take a sample of the leaf from the yucca to the nursery and ask them to identify the problem as your diagnosis may be wrong. As for fertilizing, check the nursery for a low nitrogen product recommended for yucca. There are several organic fertilizers that will work.
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Question: Hello, Thank you for providing your site for help. We just bought a "Little Gem Magnolia". It is already 10ft. We dug double width of the container and as deep as we could before hitting rock, which fit the container size perfectly. I have been searching for growing information, but am a little confused and wondered if you could help.
We bought the tree at "The Home Depot" and they say it is called "Little Gem Southern" magnolia. Isn't the Southern Magnolia bigger than the Little Gem or is there a combination of the two now???
I need help with caring for it now and am unsure. It's planted in partial to full sun. I was told by an associate that Miracle Grow for flowering plants and trees would replace any use for mulch, fertilizer, etc. Is this true? Do I need to do anything more than water it? How often and how much water does it need? Since it is already 10 ft. and staked, will it be more hardy than if it were a younger tree.
I need a care guide and am getting frustrated with all of the searches that give me different information. I would sincerely appreciate your help.
Many regards, Leslie from Atlanta
Anne Clapp: Little Gem is a cultivar of Magnolia grandiflora, the southern magnolia or large flowered bull bay. The Little Gem was selected for propagation because it has smaller flowers and leaves and can be kept pruned at shorter heights although it can get as tall as other cultivars of Magnolia grandiflora such as Brown Bess or Pride of the South. The plant also has a longer blooming period than most other cultivars. I would never use Miracle Grow on a magnolia. The plant does not need much fertilizer and would really appreciate a good organic mulch about three inches deep over its root system. For the first year or so it is in the ground you may want to fertilize lightly in March with a slow release granular fertilizer for trees. It is very important that the tree gets watered until the root system is established. This usually means watering the plant during the fall and winter of the first year it is in the ground. If you do not have measurable rain or snow during the week water the plant. If there is a drought next summer the plant will also need to be watered.
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Question: Can I use Sevendust to spray on plants before bringing them in for the winter? Thanks!
Anne Clapp: I prefer not to bring Sevin dust into the house although it is labeled for use on pets. It can be messy. You might try an insecticidal soap to take care of insect problems on houseplants.
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Question: While walking with my niece and her German Shepherd, I was appalled that she lets her big dog urinate on shrubbery in my neighborhood. I told her this might damage the shrubbery, but she dismissed it saying she checked with a horticulturist who told her dog urine cannot harm shrubbery, trees, etc. What do you say? Karen
Anne Clapp: The horticulturist was wrong. Dog urine does harm plants. The concentration of ammonia will kill grass in a lawn and will burn limbs of shrubs enough to kill branches and in some cases an entire plant. It would not harm the bark on a mature tree.
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Question: Dear Anne, I live in Johnston County and my babysitter is going to give me a tree for my yard. She thinks its called a China Berry or China Ball tree. I was wondering if its okay to transplant this tree during the fall? Its almost two feet in height. She has a clay type soil and I have a yard that used to be a cow pasture. Do I need to add anything to the planting spot to help its growth and root structure during the fall and winter. Thank you, Robbie C.
Anne Clapp: After the tree has dropped its leaves you should be able to transplant one that small. Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball of the China Berry tree. Break up the soil in the bottom of the hoe so roots can go down a bit into the soil. The tree should be at the same level in the ground as it was in its first home. Keep the plant watered so roots can develop over the winter. The general rule of thums is that if we do not have rain during the week the plant should be watered.
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Question: I planted about 45 Leyland Cypress out of 1 gallon pots last Dec 1st. The nursery they came from gave me a deal because they had been stored too close together. They grew tall with no lower limbs. I am wondering if the root system could be deformed because almost a year later they still are not producing lower limbs. I have fertilized and lightly trimmed. Do you have any suggestions on how to make these look like a normal Leyland Cypress? Thank you, Mike
Anne Clapp: Now you know why you got a deal on the plants. They stretched for the sun and didn't develop the lower limbs. They never will but as the plants get tall and the lower limbs they have get longer the limbs may bend down enough to cover the bare spot near ground level.
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Question: Dear Anne, I have an Easter Cactus that I received as a gift in the spring. The cactus has expanded in size dramatically. I've noticed recently there is mushroom growth in the soil inside the cactus pot. Why is this happening? Will it harm the cactus? If so, how do I get rid of the mushrooms and prevent it from happening again? J. Kennedy
Anne Clapp: Just pull the mushrooms out so they don't set more spores. Many potting mixes include mushroom compost for organic material and fertilizer so it is not unusual to find small fungi growing in pots.
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Question: I recieved a trailing gardenia from my mother for my birthday, the leaves turn a soft yellow and the tips turn black and then they fall off. Can you please give me some info on how to take care of it, I heard its a beutiful plant. I live in Northeast Iowa. Thank you Tricia
Anne Clapp: I am presuming your trailing gardenia is in a pot. The problems you describe are usually associated with poor drainage which may be caused by bad potting soil or overwatering – or a combination of both. If you can see roots growing out of the bottom of the pot it should be potted in a larger pot. You might also slip the plant out of the pot to see if the roots at the edge of the pot are white and healthy, if not you probably need to repot in new soil. Keep the plant watered on a regular basis so the soil is evenly moist but do not allow the plant to stand in water. It does need full sun. Luckily I live in an area of the world where trailing gardenias are an outdoor plant where Mother Nature takes care of their watering and I can enjoy their fragrance all summer.
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Question: Dear Ann, I purchased a beautiful confederate rose and it is thriving. The problem is something is eating holes in the leaves and now in the buds too. have blooms, which are gorgeous, and I have some which only began to open and died, and then I have the buds with a distinct hole in it. These eventually turn brown and drop. What is causing this? There are no white flies or any other pests that I can see on examination. I need help!!! Thank you, Sharon
Anne Clapp: There are several beetles and caterpillars that attack hibiscus in the fall. Spraying with Sevin will help control the problem.
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Question: Hi, Anne: I just came across your web site. I live in Tucson, Az and let the lantana get way out of hand this summer. As I was pruning it in October I noticed that the leaves were all half eaten. These plants are up to five feet high and I essentially cut them even with the ground. I wish I could dig them all up. If I could dig them all up do I treat the soil for the culprits. (I do not see anything but then the entire yard is pebbles and stones...we live in the desert, of course.) If I do not treat the soil, once I dig up the lantana what could I safely plant in their place? Thanks, Lucille
Anne Clapp: The culprit is probably some insect such as a beetle that eats plants in the dark. If you want to dig up your Lantana you have my permission to do so. There is no reason not to plant whatever you want to in its place. Some of the plant nurseries in your area would have better suggestions than I. My preference would be for people in Arizona to plant native drought tolerant plants to conserve water which is becoming much more scarce in that area.
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Question: I want to grow strawberries in my small raised bed garden. I notice that the strawberry fields around us are already planted. The information I'm finding says to plant strawberries in the early spring. Can you give me some planting advice and also where to find good strawberry plants. Thanks, Pat
Anne Clapp: If you can find strawberry plants there is still time to get them in the ground for fall and winter growth. Many independent garden centers and farm supply stores in the Carolinas will stock the plants for fall planting. Plants are also available in the spring but the fruit set for the first season will not be as full as it would be on plants set in the fall. |
