Try to save cold-damaged azaleas with pruning

Q: I have azaleas that are not doing well, as the plants have dead portions, and there is a gray crust on the stems. Can they be saved?

A:

Make an effort to save these azaleas by first pruning out all dead portions back to healthy stems or to the ground. Then apply a copper fungicide following label instructions. The gray, crusty portions attached to stems are lichens. These are harmless, but let you know the plants have lost their vigor. The application of the copper fungicide can help reduce lichen growth and control diseases that might affect other stem portions. Keep your plants as vigorous as possible by checking the soil acidity and adjusting to an acid condition. Follow soil test recommendations. Make a fertilizer application now and again in May using an azalea or general landscape slow-release product. Then, keep the soil moist and maintain a two-inch mulch over the root systems.

Q: Tumor-like galls are forming on our oak tree stems. What are they, and should they be controlled? A:

You are correct that these are galls forming cancerous growths along the stems. The type pictured in an email photo appears to be gouty galls caused by a wasp. The wasp lays eggs that stimulate stem growth into hard, round woody balls. Oaks are hosts to lots of gall insects, and like this one, may look bad or strange but cause little harm. They may cause the ends of small limbs to decline, but the trees normally continue to make good growth. No treatments are recommended except pruning them out if it would make the tree look better.

Q: Our tall pine tree appears to be healthy except for a lower branch that is full of dead needles. Do I need to take action? A:

Pines periodically lose and drop lower limbs that are shaded by upper branches as the trees grow larger. If the loss is only one or two limbs, there is usually no concern. If the limb is small and capable of being removed with a pole pruner, you might consider cutting it back to the trunk yourself. Otherwise, it may be time to call a professional to do the needed trimming and assess the overall health of the tree.

Q: Our cordylines were almost twelve feet tall, so I cut them back to between six and eight feet. Can I cut them back further?

A:

You have my permission to do the extra pruning. Cordylines, also known as Ti plants, have very colorful but cold-sensitive foliage. One of the common ones is a variety Red Sister, but there are many variations marketed. When growing outdoors, the plants are also susceptible to leaf diseases during moist cooler weather. Plantings can grow tall and leggy, so pruning may become an annual event before spring growth. Feel free to prune them back as desired. New growth should sprout from buds just below a pruning cut. The further back the cut, the longer it may take the buds to begin growth.

Q: I noticed a neighbor spreading sand on his lawn. What does this accomplish?

A:

Sanding lawns is usually a last-ditch effort to save the turf. Normally the need for sand indicates the lawn has become lush and spongy due to excessive growth from too much water and fertilizer. Often these lawns present a challenge to the normal maintenance of pushing a mower through the grass. Sanding is also used to establish a new layer for root growth in nematode-infested lawns. Adding up to one inch of sand is usually a temporary fix for the nematode problem, but it can give a year or two of renewed growth. Sanding can help reestablish a firm new lawn when the turf has become spongy. In this latter case, the watering and feeding programs should also be readjusted to reduce vigorous growth.

Q: My orange bird of paradise bush is full of dead leaves and few blooms. What is needed to make it healthy again?

A:

Undertake a renovation program to remove the dead and renew the growth. Remove all dead leaves and old stems. Then prune out leaves that are full of leaf spots or dead portions. Also, remove any weedy growths or other shrub portions that may be competing with your bird of paradise plant. Continue good care by keeping the soil moist and maintaining a two to threeinch mulch layer over the root system. Apply a general slow-release landscape fertilizer in March, May and, if allowed, in August, following label instructions. If the foliage has filled with leaf spots, apply a fungicide labeled for such diseases of ornamentals following label instructions.

Q: I’ve had a vegetable garden for several years,

and the tomatoes grow rather small. What could be the problem?

A:

Small fruits might be good for salads, but you want the big slicers when you are ready to make a sandwich. Start producing the whoppers by making sure the garden is in a sunny location. Then time the plantings for either the first of March or the middle of August. Also, select the large-fruited varieties for planting that include Better Boy, Park’s Whopper, Big Beef, Beefsteak and Champion. Try to improve sandy soils with organic matter and work in composted manure when the plants are set in the ground. Keep tomatoes growing by maintaining moist soil and a three to four-inch layer of mulch. Train the vines to a trellis, wire ring or similar support, as the largefruited types are usually tall growers. Feed the plantings every three to four weeks with a general garden fertilizer. You do have to remain alert for pests but most can be hand-picked from plants or treated with natural sprays if needed.