Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
In the garden
QI have a quick couple of questions about a holly. We planted one several years ago near Lake Ouachita, and it has done extremely well and is now about 5 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter.
And of course we have done nothing to it, but it is very healthy and loaded with berries every fall. But now I would like to start shaping it into a Christmas tree shape. So my questions are, first, have we waited too late to start shaping, and if not, how aggressive should I be on the first pruning (like should this a two-, three- or four-year process?). The other is, is this the time of year to prune hollies?
AHollies are very forgiving plants usually, and you can prune hard and expect them to leaf back out. This is the prime time to do severe pruning — especially if you plan to remove more than a third of the plant. I hope you realize that once you prune it into the desired shape, it will not stay that way. It will be a yearly pruning chore to keep it in the Christmas-tree form. Prune it now, and then do whatever pruning is needed after the burst of spring growth. I will also warn you that you may not have as many berries, if any, if you do severe pruning. If you want to assure yourself of berries, wait to do your necessary shaping until the holly is blooming or has finished blooming. That way you can see where the berries will be. Probably for the initial pruning, you will have to sacrifice
fruit, but in future years, you can salvage many of the berries.
QThis fall we had to remove a 60-foot sweet gum tree. It was close to the house, and I was concerned about the roots getting into the foundation and driveway. When we bought the house eight years ago, it was a fairly small tree. I am wanting to replace this tree, and I was told a dogwood would do well in this area.
I am concerned about the location as it gets full sun from the west at least eight hours per day. Everything I have read says they need some shade. The nursery where I bought it assured me it would do well in this location. I bought it but it has not been planted yet. Have I set myself up for failure? I wanted something that the birds and bees would come to. We live in Fayetteville.
AIn the wild, you will usually find dogwoods growing as understory trees. They will not bloom in
deep shade but do best with dappled sunlight or morning sun and afternoon shade. You will see dogwood trees growing in full afternoon sun, and they can survive with proper care; but they would be happier with a little protection from hot afternoon sun. The farther north you live, the easier a location in full sun will be on the tree; but the foliage still could suffer sunburn when we have a miserable summer. Dogwoods are shallow-rooted trees, which tend to need more water; and plants in full sun also need more water to thrive. Keep in mind when planting any tree that you need to consider maximum size — not just height, but also spread. Mature dogwoods can be almost as wide as they are tall, so give the canopy room to grow on all sides. Don’t plant too close to the house. Some other trees to consider that would take full sun are redbuds, crabapples, fringe tree and tulip magnolia.
QMy croton is suddenly dropping lots of its older leaves. It has done very well all winter in the same spot that it is in now. What do you think is going on with it? [The reader sent a photo.]
ASome leaf shed can be normal as they sluff off older leaves. The more sunlight a croton gets, the more colorful the foliage will be. The leaves will turn greener if the light intensity is not as bright, but they will take on shades of bright red, orange and yellow in full sun. Crotons have fairly thick leaves and are quite
drought tolerant. Make sure you are not overwatering. From the picture, it looks like your plant is fairly old, and you may end up with woody stalks with the balance of the foliage at the top, since the older leaves will fall from the bottom usually. When you move it outdoors this summer, you may want to cut every other limb back severely to get new growth at the base as well as at the top. Indoor conditions are not the best for tropical plants. Heat inside the house is very drying, and lack of humidity, lower light and a more constant temperature can take a toll. I think your plant will survive until you move it back outdoors.
Retired after 38 years with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Janet Carson ranks among Arkansas’ bestknown horticulture experts. Her blog is at arkansasonline.com/ planitjanet. Write to her at P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203 or email