Stay patient with tabebuia
Question: Some yellow tabebuia trees are still in bloom. Is there anything I can do culturally to have my new tree bloom longer next year?
Answer: Reluctant bloomers, slow bloomers and short time bloomers seem to improve with age. Young trees are inconsistent bloomers but as they mature they open their flowers over a longer period of time. Your tree is going to give a much better flower display but it may need some time.
Most tabebuia trees are grown from seed which makes them subject to genetic variation when it comes to growth habits and flowering. Several species of yellow tabebuia are planted locally and these flower at different times during the late winter and spring months. Then you have weather conditions that can delay or extend flowering for several weeks. Each year is going to be different but those yellow blooms are worth waiting for even if you only get a week of color.
Q: I am a bit behind in planting my spring garden. Is it too late to plant okra seeds?
A: Spring through summer is okra planting time. This crop seems to love the heat and from seed to harvest can occur in about 60 days this time of the year. Here is the only problem with okra plantings – they are nematode bait. These microscopic round worms, often found in garden sites, cause root damage and there is no reliable control.
Try to find a spot for new okra plantings where root knot nematodes have not affected previous crops. Then add lots of organic matter that seems to help reduce nematode activity. Other crops that won’t mind the summer heat and humidity include cherry tomatoes, southern peas, chayote squash, calabaza squash and sweet potatoes.
Q: We are seeing moths flying around in our landscape. Is this a sign the sod webworms have returned?
A: Maybe they returned or maybe they never went away. Supposedly cold weather causes sod webworms to totally decline in home lawns but what happens during a warm winter? Moths have been noticed sooner than expected this year, with some spotted in early May. Maybe one of their life stages of a moth, larva or pupa overwintered to start the next infestation.
Most likely you too are seeing the moth stage of sod webworms in the landscape and they could be laying eggs to produce the caterpillars, also known as the larva, to affect your turf. But there is no rush to control the larva until you see chewing damage, as many are controlled by beneficial insects associated with your lawn.
Some years you do not need a control even with lots of moths in the area. And if you are wondering, there is no control for the moths except fly swatters and butterfly nets. When a control is needed for the larva stage, select an insecticide from your garden center for sod webworms and follow the label.
Q: Our sunflowers opened a couple of blooms that declined but several more are now forming. Do I cut the old ones off and how else should I care for the plants?
A: Enjoy as many opening sunflowers as you can. These are annual plants that soon die after the flower set and mature their seeds. Some sunflowers produce one large flower head and others produce many smaller ones. If you don’t like the declining plant look, you can remove the maturing flower portions and let the new ones continue the display of color. Keep the soil moist but it is probably not worth applying fertilizer as the plants are going to shortly decline. Many like to keep the flower heads that fill with seeds on the plants to feed wildlife or harvest and prepare for eating.
Q: I miss the birch trees from northern landscapes. Can we grow one of the trees here?
A: Clusters of white birch trees are familiar accents in northern landscapes but regretfully they do not grow in our warmer landscapes. There is good news as we can grow the river birch. You have to settle for a cream to tan bark, but as the trees age they still give the peeling papery bark look. The river birch does like a moist site but they do not have to be planted along a river. When planted in local landscapes, keep the soil moist during the dry times to bring back memories of your northern favorites.
Q: I was away for two weeks and the hibiscus plants did not get water and now they have brown leaves. Can I save them?
A: Let’s hope the stems are still plump with buds and ready to renew the growth when you provide the needed water. As long as the stems are green and moist you can expect the plants to make a full recovery. Dig in the ground around the plants to make sure water is penetrating 6 inches or more to thoroughly wetting the root systems. Also delay feedings until the plants make an inch or two of new growth.