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February - 2008 Questions &Answers Compiled by David Rodriguez County Extension Agent-Horticulture Bexar County

Special thanks to Forrest W. Appleton and volunteers of the "Master Gardener Hotline" in support of the weekly gardening questions and answers.

Question:
I have chiltepin and bell pepper chilies in a container. They have finished their production and the leaves are starting to yellow and drop off. I want to bring the container indoors and overwinter them. Do I prune them, if so, how much and what method of pruning should I use?
Answer:
The chiltepin is a perennial which will die to the ground if subjected to freezing temperatures and can be cut to the ground. If it hasn't already frozen, you can take it into any protected location and ignore it. The bell pepper is an annual plant that, even if it survives the winter, it is not going to provide good production next year. I recommend that you just let it be killed by the winter and purchase a new transplant next spring. It will be much more productive.

Question:
We have photinia bushes in beds that only leaf out on top. They are about 3.5 ft. tall. We were told that they cannot be pruned anymore and that they should be replaced. The bottom branches seem to still be alive. Please advice.
Answer:
If these are old photinia that have been kept pruned that small, I feel sure that replacement is the best solution. These shrubs get 15-to-20 feet tall at maturity and do not respond well to such severe pruning. I recommend that you replace them with something that will be much smaller at maturity if that is the preferred height.

Question:
I have a large vegetable garden (30' x 30') in my backyard that I have been raising vegetables in for several years. I was wondering if it is possible to shade the garden with a shade material to help keep the plants from "burning up?" Maybe I'm just being a little selfish as well because this would make it cooler working the garden (weeding, etc.). What would you advise for the San Antonio area?
Answer:
Next to moisture and food, sunlight is the most important ingredient for a vegetable garden. Take your comfort in mind when scheduling your time out there. Weeding can be greatly reduced by using mulch around your vegetable plants. This will also help conserve water and keep the soil temperature moderated. My favorite mulch is live oak leaves which are very plentiful at the time needed. A layer four-to-six inches deep around the plants will keep the weeds from germinating. Then your time will be mostly spent inspecting for signs of disease or insect infestation and you can quickly treat to eliminate those you find. This leaves the rest of your time for harvesting which is best done in the cool of the morning. No, I do not recommend the use of shade cloth in the vegetable garden. Remember that commercial growers do not use it.

Question:
David, since today is Valentine's Day and roses are the traditional flower to give and I want to give plants instead of cut flowers. Which two plants would you recommend?
Answer:
Two of the prettiest and hardiest landscape roses with spectacular long-lasting flowers would be the Belinda's Dream Pink Rose and the newest released Grandma's Yellow Rose. Both of these roses would provide many years of enjoyment for that special lady in your life.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, I have three large dogs which have ruined my St. Augustinegrass simply by running, rolling, etc. The yard is pretty shady in the summer but gets some dappled light. Would Zoysia japonica work? I've tried crushed granite in the pups' favorite spots, but they have even worn that down. Help!!
Answer:
Turf grass and large dogs are not a good match regardless of the grass variety. And in shady areas where the grass is going to be weaker because of the lack of sunlight, it is going to be even worse as you have already found out. Zoysiagrass is even less tolerant of the shade than St. Augustinegrass. I cannot give you a good solution. The last time I suggested to someone that they needed to divide the yard into "yours and theirs" by putting in a dog run with some impervious flooring such as concrete, I was treated as if I was the worst person on earth.

Question:
Can I prune my Barbados cherry bush and still get blooms on it this spring? I do not know if it blooms on old wood or new. It is the bush variety.
Answer:
You can prune it as hard as you want and it will still bloom next spring.

Question:
David, when should I trim the dead portions of plants that have already been frozen? I have lantana, purple fountain grass, vinca and others. Should I go ahead and cut them back now, or leave the dead part on until spring to protect the base?
Answer:
You can go ahead and cut them back to the ground now. The vinca, if it is the bedding plant periwinkle, can be pulled up and put in your compost or the garbage as it is an annual plant and will not come back from its roots.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, we recently had a tree trimming service from the local power company that came through our property. After that we had an Oak tree die. The leaves are green and dried; and the veins are not yellowed. I worry about oak wilt or oak decline. They cut the tree down to the ground and cut up the wood. I am worried about burning the wood for fear of spreading any disease.
Answer:
There is no danger from burning the wood, especially if it is from a live oak. Oak wilt cannot be spread in this way. Uncured wood from an infected red oak can be a source of the fungal spores and can be transmitted to other trees by the sap beetle that is the vector for oak wilt but it does not spread from the smoke by burning. More in depth information may be found at: http://www.texasoakwilt.org/.

Question:
David, how close can I plant a red bud tree to my driveway, home or septic tank?
Answer:
I would not plant it closer than 10 feet from any of them. If the septic tank is in good repair with no leaks, it should not cause any problem.

Question:
I cut back my wife's 'Lady Banks' rose bush pretty severely. There is only about 6 inches of stem left on the root stock. The root is about 5-6 years old and I'm concerned that I may have cut them back too much for them to come back in the spring. The plant had 6-8' long stems or runners sticking out all over the place (had never been trimmed). Any suggestions on how to keep this alive would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
If the rose is growing on its own roots (not grafted) as I suspect it is, there should be no problem and it should put out new growth in the spring. If it was a grafted rose and you cut it above the graft there should be no problem. If it was a grafted rose and you cut it below the graft, it will put out growth but this growth will not be the 'Lady Banks' rose, but it will be whatever the root stock is. Just ensure that it gets some moisture in this extremely dry fall & winter that we are having but do not over water.

Question:
I forgot to bring in two rooted basil (variegated) cuttings last night. I brought them in this a.m. at 53 degrees. After reading a complaint about young plants' bolting, I wonder exactly what it takes to cause a young basil plant/cutting to bolt. Any ideas?
Answer:
Bolting (in plants) means to produce flowers and seed prematurely. This can be caused by changes in day length, temperature, or stress. Keeping the flower buds pinched out before they bloom is recommended in all basil. Since basil is a short lived perennial normally grown as an annual, it is best to start with new plants (from seed) each year.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, will I get a tree that produces fruit if I plant a seed of a lemon, an orange, etc and have the good fortune of getting them to grow? I love growing things and have got about 20 small trees started. What are the chances they will ever produce and will they produce sour oranges or what?
Answer:
The chances are good, since all citrus comes true from seed, if you have the patience to wait the approximately seven years that it is going to take for citrus tree to reach maturity. Of course this requires keeping them alive and healthy for that length of time.

Question:
David, what type of treated wood can I use in the garden without causing damage to my plants or myself?
Answer:
The best wood for garden construction is wood pressure treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA). It will not damage plants and will last many years in the garden. When using it for garden seating, such as in picnic tables, check the surface for CCA salt residues, which will look like a dusting of white crystals. If they are present, wash the wood off before using it. If you want to use wood on a short term basis, perhaps for a year or so in a flower box, plain untreated pine is the most inexpensive wood to use. Structures lined with plastic and having proper drainage holes will last somewhat longer than unprotected pine, but not as long as pressure treated wood.

Question:
Can you use a hose end sprayer to apply dormant oil to fruit trees or must you use a pressure sprayer. Several of my fruit trees are a bit large to reach the top with a pressure sprayer even on a ladder. Thanks for your help.
Answer:
It is best to not use a hose on sprayer to apply dormant oil because of the possibility of concentrating the oil in one location. Dormant oil requires good agitation with water to keep it in solution so it does not become concentrated in one area. Such oil concentrations will normally cause damage to the tree. You might try experimenting with the hose on sprayer and oil to see how it will apply the mixture. Spray something like a fence which won't be damaged and see what kind of pattern you get. If it is similar to the pattern you get when you use a pressure sprayer, then I would say it is safe to go ahead and use it. If you do not have problems with scale or phylloxera, then you can get by without applying the oil.

Question:
When is the best time to plant blackberries and raspberries?
Answer:
The best time to plant berries is in January and/or February. Blackberries are best started from root cuttings, but you will need plants to establish raspberries. The best blackberries for your area are Brazos, Rosborough, and Shawnee. There are two thornless blackberry selections you may want to try, Navajo and Arapaho. The only raspberry which will survive in your area is Dorman Red. Although it does not have the quality that the northern raspberries have, it is a raspberry plant which will grow in the south. The only significant problem you may encounter is iron chlorosis caused by high pH soils. You will probably need to apply iron chelates if your soil pH is above 7.5.

Special Thanks to Forrest W. Appleton, the http://www.PLANTanswers.com "Answer Man" and all the Master Gardeners of the "Hotline" in support of the weekly gardening questions and answers.

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