Question:
We purchased a great looking “Knock Out” Rose Bush. Due to soil condition and availability of sun light in our yard we would like to plant it in a whiskey barrel. Is this okay?
Answer:
It will be fine in the container. Just remember that you can keep it trimmed if it gets too big for where you put it, The rose bush should be cut back to about 12 inches in the early spring each year to keep it full and somewhat compact.

Question:
My live oak has a hole where leaves and twigs have started to accumulate. I can wash things out by hosing it but should I try to fill this hole?
Answer:
There is no need to try to fill the hole. It is the opinion of the experts that these holes are best left open to the air so that they can heal. Periodically cleaning the debris from the hole is good.

Question:
I have a mail order catalog that states they have something called Ultimate Seed for grass lawns. Have you ever heard of it and if so would it grow down here? They say it will grow anywhere, shade, sun, etc.
Answer:
I have no idea what the grass is that they are selling. However, you know the old saying “if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.” The only permanent turfs that can be established from seed in the San Antonio area are bermuda and buffalo. I do not recommend buffalo as a turfgrass so that leaves only bermuda which must have full sun.

Question:
How far apart do I plant the Esperanza?
Answer:
It depends on what you want them to do. If you want a hedge, I would space them about 4 feet apart. If you want the specimen effect, then space them about 8 feet apart.

Question:
I planted my tomato plants among the garlic and onions that I had planted in the fall. I am worried that the garlic and onions will taint the flavor of the tomatoes. Should I remove the plants in close proximity to the tomato plants, and, if so, how much clear space should I give the tomatoes?
Answer:
The onions and garlic will not affect the taste of the tomatoes in any way.

Question:
I was told to plant two Kieffer Pear trees together for cross pollination. If I do need to plants two pear trees together, how far apart should the trees be planted from each other? Does it matter on the average wind direction for planting consideration?
Answer:
The Kieffer pear trees will produce some fruit without cross-pollination but will bear a much heavier crop with cross-pollination. However, for cross pollination a variety other than the Kieffer that blooms at the same time is required. Any other pear tree that is in your neighborhood (within the block) should be sufficient. Most of the pollen transfer is done by bees and not by the wind.

Question:
I have a Mexican Lime tree that I suspect was impacted by the cold weather over the winter. The tree looks dead but I do see some new growth near the bottom of the tree. How far down the tree should I prune the dead branches?
Answer:
If the tree was grafted onto a different root stock and the new growth is coming from below the graft union (you should be able to see this), the new growth is not from the lime. It is most likely sour orange or another inedible fruit. The Mexican Lime must be protected from freezing temperatures well above what we had. It should be pruned until you find green wood, but I fear that you have lost your Mexican Lime.

Question:
How do you know when to harvest the fruit on my egg plant?
Answer:
The fruits are edible at any size but are best when harvested at about two thirds of their full size. The skin should be nice and shiny. If you leave them on too long the skin will become dull, the seed will be hard and the flesh will be tough and bitter. You can compare the size of yours with those in the grocery stores and pick them accordingly.

Question:
I have red-tipped photinias which I have been battling a fungus disease for several years. After this very wet/cold winter, one section of my photinias has completely defoliated (about 4 bushes, each one is over 6 feet tall). This problem is leaving a gaping hole in my backyard. Since my whole yard is enclosed with photinias is there anything I can do to save these plants?
Answer:
Once a photinia plant is infested with the Entomosporium fungus it becomes a losing battle. The photinias that have lost their leaves completely were stressed by the disease and the combination of the cold has probably meant their demise. I know of no way to rejuvenate them.

Question:
Does the old mulch from last season need to be removed prior to putting fresh mulch down for this year? And what kind of mulch do you recommend for flower beds?
Answer:
No, the old mulch does not need to be removed as long as you are not trying to start plants from seed. The decomposition of the old mulch is going to provide some nutrients to the soil, thus forming compost. The choice of what to use is entirely up to you. Anything that covers the surface of the soil: helps to reduce the evaporation of moisture, keeps the soil from getting hot, and prevents the germination of the weed seed, can be considered mulch. Some mulch is more decorative than others but serve the same purpose.

Question:
We purchased 5 plumbago plants last year. They did very well in our front garden despite the over 100 degree days we had. But after this winter, since we got down into the teens in temperature, so far they haven’t come up yet. Did the temperature get entirely too cold for them? Are they dead? Please let us know. I have looked this up in books and can’t find the answer.
Answer:
Once plumbago is well established, it will come back from its roots. However, if those were not planted early enough last year to get their root system well established, they may not come back. Don’t give up on them yet as the ground hasn’t had a chance to get really warm. If you haven’t seen any new growth from the roots by June 1, they probably aren’t coming back.

Question:
I have three native Texas pecan trees. I would like to start an Iris garden near these trees. Do pecans produce a chemical in the soil like walnuts that prevent other plants from growing near them?
Answer:
No the pecan does not produce Juglone as does the walnut. The shade on the pecan tree is very dense and you should consider this when selecting the location of the iris bed.

Question:
On the south side of my house, I have very little sunlight. Last summer I laid St. Augustine grass and I have now lost a lot of it. The rest of the grass appears to be struggling to survive. What can I do?
Answer:
If the shade is too dense to support the growth of St. Augustine, no other turfgrass available for the San Antonio area will grow there either. Your alternatives are ground cover plants that will grow in shady areas such as Asian Jasmine, English Ivy, Mondo Grass, Liriope and others; perennials that will grow in the shade include Firespike, Turk’s Cap, Elephant Ears, Mexican Petunia, Blue Plumbago, Shrimp Plant, Purple Heart and others; or the use of hardscape such as decorative mulch, flagstone or others; or a combination of all of these.

Question:
I’m finding Purslane plants available right now at most retail outlets. However, none of them seem to be blooming, and I was shopping on a cloudless, sunny warm day. Is it too early for this plant to be in full bloom? And is it possible to tell what color the blooms will be by inspecting the plant? I want to plant a lot of it as border bedding for my garden, but I want to make sure it is not all one color.
Answer:
It is not too early but the transplants that you have seen may not have been old enough to have blossoms. There is no way to know what the color is going to be unless the grower has tagged them.