Question:
I planted an Angel trumpet root cutting that I purchased this spring. I would like to know if my plant will flower this year. It’s about two feet tall with lots of leaves.
Answer:
Yes, it will, but it may be fall before it does.

Question:
Our Chinese pistache tree is growing tall and doing very well, but we have just noticed that the bark is peeling on the trunk. Is this normal, is it being caused by insects, is it drought-related or what?
Answer:
Since you say that the tree is doing well otherwise, I believe this is just normal flaking of old scaly bark.

Question:
What do I need to do to keep a Blue plumbago a perennial in North Texas?
Answer:
Blue Plumbago should be a root hardy perennial in North Texas. You should cut it to the ground following the first killing freeze and it will come back from its roots in the spring.

Question:
I am going to build a 8’x 10′ arbor with wire for the top. I would like the name of a climbing vine to cover the top and be as thick as possible. Also, would like it to be an annual and being deer resistant is a must.
Answer:
Deer resistant vines are a rare commodity. I’m hoping that you mean that you want it to be perennial (living more than one year). There are a few that you might try but all should have protection from the deer until they have reached higher than the deer can get to their foliage. This protection can be a regular (monthly) spraying using a product called “Liquid Fence.” The vines are: Butterfly Vine (Mascagnia macroptera), Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) or Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

Question:
I recently planted several Vitex plants. The leaves on all of the plants are turning black, curling up and falling off. This starts at the tip of each leaf and gradually spreads throughout the entire leaf.
Answer:
This sounds like a water problem (too little or too much). If the soil you planted them in doesn’t drain well, it could be that you are keeping it constantly saturated and the Vitex does not like that. Check your watering and only water when the soil feels dry to the touch when you stick your finger into the root ball about 2 inches deep.

Question:
We purchased two hanging baskets on Sunday. Plants were hung on the West side of house which receives intense late afternoon sun. By Monday, the plants were crispy critters. They have been taken down and we are trying to salvage them, but don’t know if they got wind-burned? Any suggestions?
Answer:
I feel sure that the hot, dry wind had its part but would suspect that you did not water them enough. Those baskets, as big as the plants are, will dry out quickly and will probably need daily watering. Put them in a semi-shady location, water well and keep the soil barely moist while they put on new foliage.

Question:
Can you suggest a desert-type plant with very low water demands that grows in shade. I have yucca and spineless cactus and desert willow in sunny areas, but would like to expand to shaded areas. There would be very little water in these spots.
Answer:
You do realize that in the desert there is very little shade. Some low water plants that might work for you are Powis Castle Artemisia, Gray Santolina, Blue or White Plumbago, Salvia Greggii, Fire Spike, and Jerusalem Sage.

Question:
When is it considered safe to prune limbs on a very large, old Live oak tree? Should pruning be postponed until winter dormancy?
Answer:
It is best to prune Live oak trees in the coldest part of the winter or the hottest part of the summer. During both of these times the vector (sap beetle) that transmits the oak wilt disease will be less active. It is fine to do the pruning now. However, you should paint, or have painted, every pruning wound with a tree pruning paint or any latex paint as soon as possible following the cut.

Question:
Where can you get summer oil and what is it made of?
Answer:
Most horticultural oils, including those sold as summer oil, are petroleum based products that are used to suffocate insects. Basically any of the horticultural oils (which all nurseries/garden centers carry) can be used as a summer application at a diluted rate which will be explained on the product label. All should be applied with caution in the summer as they can cause burning in the hot sun.

Question:
My St. Augustine grass is suffering badly from the extreme heat and lack of water. I am living by the watering rules at once per week but we are about to go into Stage 3. I’m considering over seeding one section of the lawn in particular with common Bermuda grass seed. The St. Augustine grass was planted 15 years ago on two-to-three inches of soil without any amendments. In other words it was planted almost directly on limestone.
Answer:
Right now I would not do anything other than try to keep what grass you have alive. Certainly it is not the time to try to start Bermuda from seed. Unless you are willing to bring in enough top soil to bring the average depth up to about 6 inches, you should consider plants or hardscape like mulch other than grass.