Suckers near tree may be sumac seeds sprouting

Suckers, a leaning saguaro and carefree plants are among the topics I fielded questions about this past week.

Question: Why is our 10-year-old African sumac sending up suckers from beneath the tree's canopy, and is there a way to stop the sprouts without injuring the tree?

Answer: Are you certain they are from the roots, or are they sumac seeds sprouting? It's most likely seeds sprouting, as sumacs are prolific seed producers. Pull or dig them up. If the suckers are at the base of the tree, they are coming from the roots. Dig down to where they attach to the roots and remove them.

Q: Why is my saguaro cactus starting to lean?

A: How often and how long are you watering it? Saguaros do well on rainfall alone and occasional supplemental waterings. If you overwater them, it may cause root rot, hence the possible leaning. They do not require fertilizer, as they are tough desert plants.

Has any trenching, construction or other damaging factors happened around it? Investigate the root system, where I suspect your problem is.

Q: We are building a swimming pool. If there is a list of carefree plants we can select from to landscape around it?

A: The University of Arizona has a list of poolside plants on its website. Go to cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1058.pdf. Google the suggested plants to help make your selection.

Q: Why is the top of my pecan tree leafless while the side branches have healthy leaves on them? It's growing in our lawn.

A: This is a classic example watering pecans incorrectly. They have deep taproots, and I suspect the soil deep down dried out, causing the top to die. The shallow roots in the lawn are supplying water to those side branches. Give the tree deep waterings and you might revive it.

Q: We are new to Las Vegas and want to plant the Mr. Lincoln rose. Is it OK to plant now or do we wait until spring?

A: One thing about potted roses, you can plant them anytime except through the hot weather. Mr. Lincoln is an excellent red rose and quite fragrant. You'll do major pruning in January and fertilizing in February. As new growth appears, watch for aphids feeding on the flowering buds. Wash them off with a strong jet of water.

Q: How much water do I give my newly planted ocotillo? And how do I care for my ocotillo once it's established?

A: Ocotillos do best when planted during the cooler weather. They are very slow to produce root hairs, so it'll take a long time for them to become established. Avoid planting this bush near other bushes where it will get excessive moisture.

If you plant ocotillos during the heat, cactus expert Dave Turner said to place misters up in the plants and moisten the entire bush often throughout the day until roots become established.

Once the ocotillo is established, water it rarely unless we have a prolonged dry season. You'll swear the plant looks dead as the leaves drop. If the wands remain flexible, they are still alive. Do not fertilize it because it's well adapted to our desert conditions.

Its beautiful flowers become a knockout in the spring. They'll bloom without a single visible leaf on the wands or with leaves thickly covering the wands if the soil is moist. But if the soil becomes too wet, root rot sets in. Hummingbirds love its blossoms.

To recap, do not mulch, fertilize or overwater ocotillos. They are naturally leafless most of the year until rain stimulates new leaves. They soon drop as moisture becomes scarce.

Q: Can we grow weeping bottle bushes here?

A: Yes, they do well unless we have a major freeze. They prefer full sun and tolerate reflected heat. They get 10 feet or higher, but you can control the size by pruning. It can get by on a limited water supply. If you see new growth yellowing, it's a good indication you are overwatering it.

PRESS FLOWERS
AND FLORAL DESIGNING

Nevada Garden President Kristi Liveri will show you how to press flowers and make floral designs at noon Tuesday at the Paseo Verde Library at 280 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. The Sunset Garden Club is sponsoring this event and it's open to the public. For more information about this club, visit www.sunsetgardenclubofnv.org.

Linn Mills' garden column appears on Sundays. He can be reached at linnmillslv@gmail.com or call him at 702-526-1495.