Keep size in mind when cutting back crape myrtles
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006
Question: My crape myrtle looks dead. Will it come back if I cut it to the ground?
Answer: Yes, it will come back if you cut it to the ground, but is that the kind of shrub you want? Crape myrtle is a warm season bush, and it comes out later than others such as forsythia and spirea. Trim it as you would like it to grow. Cut a few branches to the ground, and trim the others lightly if you must. If your bush is a dwarf variety, cutting it to the ground is the best way to keep it small.
Question: What is a catkin?
Answer: No, a catkin is not a relative to a feline. A catkin is a spike of flowers, deciduous, as the male flowers of willow, birch, beech and oak. These are the little things that aggravate allergies at this time of year. Not much can be done short of cutting down all trees.
Question: I have a peach tree in my yard, and the peaches have worms in them. When shouId I spray it?
Answer: You are just a few months too late. Spraying of fruit trees begins in late winter and continues until time to harvest. The University of Arkansas Extension Office has spray schedules to follow. They are free for the asking.
Question: I have a young magnolia tree that just doesn’t look healthy. Have you any suggestions as to special care for it?
Answer: If there is no sign of insect damage or disease, there are some possibilities that precede a problem. Magnolias prefer an acid soil, so give the tree a dose of acid fertilizer according to the package instructions. Another possibility is overwatering with poor drainage. Check the drainage time after watering. Water less often if the water seems to drain slowly.
Question: I have planted a dwarf apricot. Can you tell me how to care for it?
Answer: Treat your apricot like any other fruit tree. They require a certain amount of chilling time to produce fruit. The apricot has a short chilling time before bloom. In warmer areas, the apricots bloom and are often killed by a late frost. If you will notice, not many apricots are grown here in Northwest Arkansas. The chance for a crop are slim, but you might have an attractive tree.
Question: Is Knockout rose resistant to Japanese beetles?
Answer: A rose is a rose as far as Japanese beetles’ appetites go. The good news is that Knockout renews itself quickly after the attack of beetles.
Question: The branches of my juniper hedge have yellow tips. What is wrong, and how can I fix it?
Answer: When the tips of shrubs such as juniper turn yellow, it is a sign of too much fertilizer, too little water or both. Be sure your shrubs are getting water and supplement when rain is not sufficient. The yellow tips of the branches will not heal; snip them off. Fertilizer is not necessary for estab lished ornamental bushes.
Question: The leaves of my boxwood have holes all over them. How can I stop this?
Answer: Boxwood is susceptible to leaf miners. These maggotlike pests make tunnels in the leaves in the spring and fall. The affected plants are less vigorous and look unhealthy. The adults lay eggs on nearby boxwood foliage, and the larvae turn into tiny flies in late spring. This is the best time to spray the foliage with a contact insecticide such as Diazinon or to apply a systemic insecticide such as Orthene. Our best advice is to replace the common boxwood with a Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphyilla) or edging boxwood (B. sempervirens " Suffruticosa"). Both are less susceptible to an invasion of leaf miners.
Question: There is henbit all over my lawn. I know I can kill it with Roundup, but how can I keep it from coming back next year?
Answer: Henbit is a broad-leaved weed; however, if you apply an herbicide now, it will affect the grass. In September, apply a preemergence herbicide. Read the label of the product you choose because herbicides can be affected by temperature and rainfall. A second application may be necessary.
Question: Can I plant leeks now?
Answer: Plant leek seeds in early spring. They can also be started in a hot house during January and transplanted the same as onion transplants. The University of Arkansas Extension Office has free growing instructions for leek. Contact information is provided below.
Send gardening and landscaping questions and tips to Washington County Master Gardeners, 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704; or call 444-1755.
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