Back

January - 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:
Mr. Rodriguez, is this true that Texas Cooperative Extension has changed their name?
Answer:
Yes, many of us remember that for many years we were called Texas Agricultural Extension Service which then changed to Texas Cooperative Extension. Going forward in 2008 and beyond the new name change will be Texas AgriLife Extension Service. This still will be part of the educational outreach arm of Texas A&M University. The Bexar County Master Gardeners will still be the trained and recertified volunteer support group of the Extension Horticulture Programs.

Question:
David, doesn't purple leaf plum require acid soil?
Answer:
The Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerasifera) prefers acidic soil and will exhibit iron chlorosis if planted in our alkaline soil.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, can I change the location of Loquat tree which is 12 feet high in my front yard. I bought the house and I do not like the existing location for the tree. It needs pruning quite often to avoid touching the building.
Answer:
You can move the Loquat and this is a good time of the year to do it. You should cut it back severely before you attempt to move it. Then get as large a rootball as you can and try to move it without breaking up this rootball. Have the new hole ready to put it in before you dig it. Move it and water it good, then just keep it moist but not saturated. It should put out new growth in the spring.

Question:
I have an area of native grass and weeds in my backyard that I want to plant grass in the spring. The rest of my yard is zoysia El Toro. What do I need to do to prepare the area? Does the native grass / weeds need to be killed and removed prior to laying sod? Does zoysia El Toro make seeds that can be planted instead of laying sod?
Answer:
You should kill all the existing vegetation with one of the glyphosate herbicides such as RoundUp and rake out as much of the dead vegetation as you can prior to laying the sod. Unfortunately, there is no seed available for El Toro or any of the common varieties of zoysia.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, my Turk's cap plants grow tall and lanky and don't seem to be able to support themselves in height, they bend and fall over. Can the Turk's cap plants be trimmed to fill out more and not get so tall? Do they need to be cut down before winter?
Answer:
You can cut them as severely as you wish at any time and they should be cut to the ground each year in the early spring before new growth commences; mid February is good.

Question:
Should I wrap and mulch my blackberry plants for freezing weather? Thanks to the rainy summer this is the first time I ever had a bush last this long.
Answer:
There is no need for protection. The plant is hardy to any temperature we reach in this area.

Question:
Am looking for a Japanese maple that will tolerate near full sun. I would like one in the 8-12 ft range. I have shallow black clay alkaline soil with the white rock outcroppings.
Answer:
I know of no Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) that will be happy in your highly alkaline clay soil, especially in the full sun.

Question:
I purchased a potted Norfolk Island pine tree during the Holiday Season. It has several trees growing out of the same pot and they are approximately 5 feet in height. Will they grow well in my area; will they survive if I separate them and plant them out doors; will the root shock be too much for them; and are they shade or sun trees?
Answer:
The Norfolk Island pine is not a good choice for a landscape tree for this area. While there are a few planted outside in local landscapes, they are in very sheltered locations where they are protected from severe freezing weather. They are used primarily as indoor houseplants. Keeping them in a container will inhibit their growth somewhat, but over time they invariably outgrow their allotted space.

Question:
What is the best way to root a Christmas cactus?
Answer:
While it would be best to wait until spring to do your propagating, it can be done now, if you have a place where the cuttings can get bottom heat. Just break (or cut) the leaves off at one of the segmented junctions, allow it to air dry for a day or two, and then stick the bottom end of the leaf in perlite, sand or a good quality potting mix that is moist but not overly saturated. The cuttings should root in several weeks.

Question:
I am looking for hardy plants that will provide winter color. I would prefer flowers but bright leaves and berries are okay too. My biggest problems are the deer that come right up to the house and are even eating the snapdragons and pansies that were allowed to live in past years. Do you have any suggestions for me? I would prefer plants that don't grow taller than three to five feet if possible.
Answer:
The list of evergreen plants that the deer will leave alone is short, if not non-existent. The foliage of the Nandina, which comes in multiple sizes, is not preferred by the deer but the bucks love to mutilate it during rut. The Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) has proven to be pretty much deer proof but may suffer cold damage. The same holds true for Rosemary.

Question:
I live in a small trailer community. There is a disagreement about the burning of oleander. How dangerous would burning be, after the burn ban is lifted? Also, could the leaves be shredded and safely used as mulch or would it be dangerous to pets and would the oleander compost be safe?
Answer:
Questions and their answers about the toxicity of oleander and its burning or use as compost or mulch are controversial and one can find what ever answer he/she wants. In my opinion, the use of shredded oleander as a mulch has no danger to man nor beast as hopefully man or animal has better sense than to eat it just as they don't normally eat the growing plant. Likewise, its used as a material for composting and the subsequent use of that compost as a soil additive poses no toxic danger. The question of the safety of burning brings an element of concern as, like with poison ivy, the volatile oils containing the toxicity of the plant could become attached to the smoke particles and if breathed, cause respiratory problems.

Question:
Mr. Rodriguez, I have planted plumbago and esperanza in my garden and need to know if I should cut them back to the ground now or leave alone. They have both gotten very large since last spring.
Answer:
You can just ignore both of them at this time. In mid-February, you should cut them back to the ground. The above ground portion will probably have frozen but regardless I recommend cutting them back each year.

Question:
I'd like to buy a tree for a friend in the San Antonio area as a gift and was wondering when the typical tree/shrub planting season is in San Antonio.
Answer:
While fall is the best time of the year for planting, availability many times is the deciding factor. The best selection of trees is during the early spring but nurseries have some inventory at all times and our climate allows planting year around.

Question:
David, two years ago this month, I planted a small five-gallon Shantung maple in my front yard. I now realize that it is almost directly over the sewer line from the house to the street. Although I could move the tree a foot or two closer to the driveway, there is really no other place in my yard where it will fit. Even though it has grown slowly so far about two feet in height, I really love this tree. Should I take it out?
Answer:
Unless the sewer line is of the old red clay pipe, I doubt that there is any real danger of it causing any problem. If the sewer line is PVC, it would only damage it if there was a leak that allowed small feeder roots to enter.

Question:
The gas line on my tiller leaked out two-to-three cups of gas while preparing a 4 x 20 ft area for a vegetable garden. I didn't realize it until it was all tilled in and I ran out of gas. I was planning to plant onions at the end of Jan or beginning of Feb. What should I do to make sure my veggies will grow and that they aren't contaminated?
Answer:
There is no danger of them being contaminated. If this small amount leaked out over a wide area (not all in one spot), I doubt that it is going to have any significant effect.

Extension educational programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.