Dallas Morning News – March 2, 2017
Q. My 5 year old bougainvillea hanging basket didn’t bloom much this summer. I use turkey fertilizer and dried coffee grounds for a little fertilizer and watered when it is dry. When/how do I prune it? It has grown leggy but has a few blooms on it now, hanging inside by a South facing window. B.S. Lipan, TX
A. You can prune as hard as you need to. It responds well to heavy pruning but make sure it has full sun as much of the day as possible. Water well but let the top few inches of soil dry out between waterings. Bougainvillea does not like to be kept constantly moist.
Q. My two possumhaw (deciduous yaupon) holly trees have strange knots (from which spring sprouts all growing season) around the bases of both trees. Is this is a normal condition for this wonderful tree? J. J. Irving, TX
A. These are cankers or burls that are simply deformed growths. They can be cause by insects, diseases, stress in general, physical damage or just genetics. I would probably expose the flares more and apply the Sick Tree Treatments but I don’t think they anything to worry about too much. Exposing the base well will probably also reduce the suckering.
Q. I have had problems with squirrels on my pecan trees. I found suggestion about using an inverted funnel type piece of sheet metal on the trunk of the tree. They worked great and could probably be used in conjunction with a trunk covering at the base. These devices were used years ago on piers of the old houses to keep mice and rats from climbing the piers and entering the house. I made my own but they can be purchased
. Purchase tree baffle
. M. G. Dallas, TX
A. Thanks – that’s a good tip for squirrels and other animal pests on trees. Nothing is fool proof but the baffles are certainly worth trying.
Q. Our chickens are free range and they have been roosting in my Texas age. Limbs are broken and bent and I was wondering if we could trim it back some to prevent the chickens from having a ‘comfortable” roosting place. I listen to you every Sunday morning on WBAP and enjoy your show very much. So, can we trim back the sage without hurting it, or do we just need to eat more chicken? Thank you. P. G. Cleburne, TX
A. I haven’t been on WBAP for over 10 years. Hope you aren’t listening to the “chemical guy.” I’m on 660 the Answer. Trimming sage is ok if you don’t do too much. Most of the foliage is at the tips of branches so it’s easy to end up with totally bare limbs and that stresses the plants. Eat more chicken might be the answer! Or plant some tougher plants like hollies, viburnums and abelias. The chickens will most likely prefer these tougher plants.
Q. We have live oaks that line our driveway. Several of them have bore holes in them. Can we get rid of the bugs and save the trees? Thank you for your help. K. C. Ennis, TX
A. If the holes are in straight rows or columns, they aren’t being caused by insects. Sapsuckers birds are doing that damage but they are not looking for bugs. They are after the sugars that are contracted in certain areas because the trees are in stress. The stress can be the result of several factors but the solution is almost always the same. Stop using synthetic fertilizer and expose the roots flares. The birds will go find other trees.
Q. What is your take on TDA’s plan to poison wild pigs? C.C. Waxahachie, TX
A. The current plan I have read about scares me a lot. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller plans to use the pesticide Warfarin to try to control wild pigs. These feral hogs are a huge problem in Texas and growing but there has to be a better way. The use of proper trapping and the much lower toxicity product sodium nitrate are a couple of examples. I will have Mr. Miller on my radio show soon. My opinion is that the Warfarin plan is inhumane, dangerous to livestock, wildlife and people. Maybe we can help him come up with a better plan.
Q. You mention orange oil often as a useful part of gardening. My question is can you use essential oils of orange or do you recommend the orange oils that are on the market? I use essential oils often for our family and orange oil is something that we put in our baths. We also use grapefruit and lime essential oils for bathing. Would those have any use in a gardening situation? C. C. Bryn Mawr, PN
A. Any essential oils used strong enough will kill insects if that is your question. Orange oil is just more available and cost effective at this time.
Q. Is it too late to plant the cool season vegetables since we’re having such an early spring? G. P. Dallas, TX
A. I hope not, since I’m also running behind this year. Depending on the weather from here forward of course, it should still be fine for planting cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, onions, etc. For sure it’s still OK to plant potatoes, asparagus, carrots, radishes and turnips.
Q. Most blackstrap molasses seems to be sold unsulfured. Do you recommend a product? Must it be sulfured? Also you’ve mentioned American Rio lava sand but I do not seem to be able to find it. Are there are several other lava sand brands available. C. C. Denton, TX
A. Any molasses is fine to use. It’s the sugar we are looking for. The most common one is agricultural molasses that’s available in garden centers and feed stores. American Rio lava sand will hopefully be available soon but there are others. GreenSense is a source for black strap molasses and lava sand for now.