Question:
When is the ideal time to plant a maple tree in San Antonio?
Answer:
There is no ideal time to plant maples in San Antonio as they do not like our alkaline soil. If you must plant a maple, seek out the Shantung Maple (Acer truncatum). Now would be a good time to plant it.

Question:
Can I plant a plum (pluot) seed? If so, when is the best time and other instructions?
Answer:
The pluot is a hybrid cross between a plum and an apricot so plants grown from the seed of this plant will not produce a fruit that is the same as the parent tree. If this is the tree (fruit) you want, you should buy one rather than trying to propagate a seed.

Question:
I have a large vegetable garden (40′ x 40′) in my backyard that I have been raising vegetables in for quite a few 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 self-centered as well because this would make it cooler working the garden (weeding, etc.). What would you recommend for the San Antonio area?
Answer:
No, I do not recommend the use of shade cloth in the vegetable garden. Remember that commercial growers do not use it. Next to moisture and food, sunlight is the most important constituent 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.

Question:
I want to plant cactus along a low fence to keep animals away. Do I lay the cactus flat and cover them with soil or place them half way up vertically in the soil?
Answer:
I assume that you are talking about prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). Either planting technique as mentioned will work. However, I recommend that you stand them up and just bury enough of the pad to keep them standing. Initially, water the pads in thoroughly, and then ignore them.

Question:
Is there such a thing as a four-leaf clover? If so, would you describe it as a mutant, over fertilized plant, or something inherited? Also, what are the chances of finding one? What kind of plant would be the best place to start?
Answer:
Clover (Trifolium spp.) is a genus of some 240 species. These plants commonly have a three-palmate leaf which means that the 3 lobes/leaflets arise from a common point. While I have never personally witnessed one, surely the 4 leaf variants exist. It seems that they are most commonly found in fields of the Trifolium repens (Shamrock/White Clover). It is purported that the odds of finding one is one in ten thousand. So where would you look for one – in a field of clover, not to be confused with a common weed called Wood Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata).

Question:
How does the Vitex tree or shrub handle frost?
Answer:
The Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus, will do fine here. It is deciduous so it will lose its leaves each winter. Even if you have a severe winter, it would be root hardy.

Question:
I have heard that applying sugar to the soil when planting a garden will take care of nematodes. Is this a true statement?
Answer:
I have never heard of this being a cure for root knot nematodes. I found several mentions of it on the internet but none of these were accompanied by any substantiating research.

Question:
I planted Surefire tomatoes in October. The plants had lots of green tomatoes, some quite large; however, there were no red tomatoes. Is that normal or should I be doing something else with them?
Answer:
The tomatoes must have heat to turn red. If they are mature, you can pick them green and bring them into a warm area and let them ripen there. However, if you did not plant your tomatoes until October, I doubt if they are mature enough to ripen.

Question:
Why do some Spanish Oak trees keep brown leaves on all winter long instead of them dropping?
Answer:
Unfortunately I cannot give you a good answer other than it is in the genes of the individual trees. I can only guess that these trees are the result of some hybridizing that causes the leaves to continue into the winter and produce good fall color. And I can tell you that this is the way it will always be for those particular trees as they are not going to change.

Question:
I’m looking for a drought tolerant, fast growing attractive, evergreen shrub to use as a privacy screen against my wrought iron fence. I’d like something that will grow to six feet or taller and is easy to care for.
Answer:
Choose from among Sandankwa Viburnum (Viburnum suspensum), Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’), and Waxleaf Ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum).

Question:
I received for Christmas a five-gal container of Purple Fountain Grass from a nursery. According to what I’ve read, I can plant it in January or February, but does this mean to wait for any cold snaps? What happens if it freezes afterwards? Also, can I divide the plant to make separate plantings in the landscape?
Answer:
I would recommend that you keep it in the container, protected from freezing temperatures until about March 1 and plant it then. Purple Fountain Grass is not real cold hardy and if you planted it now a freeze could kill it before it gets well established. I have had one in the ground that has survived for more than five years but we haven’t had a real cold weather during that period. You can cut the plant in two, three or four parts before you plant it. Just use a saw or large knife to cut the root ball.

Question:
I have a Dracaena marginata plant in my office. The plant is doing well but the tips of the leaves are all turning brown. I make sure the plant is well watered. Any advice?
Answer:
The most common reason for tip burn in house plants is a build up of salts in the potting mix from the fertilizer that is applied. This is the reason that when watered, they should receive sufficient water to drain out the bottom into a saucer. This will flush out these salts. You should take your plant outside or to the shower or tub and let water run through it for several minutes.

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.