Thinning important to improve yield of fruit trees
Here are some questions I encountered this past week.
Q: My apricot tree is so loaded with fruit and the limbs are breaking. What do I do to prevent the breakage?
A: Thinning is a very emotional chore for some gardeners, but you need to thin apricots to reduce the weight on the branches. You'll also get larger fruit. Mother Nature does thin out some fruit, so there's nothing wrong when you see fruit dropping.
Here is a tip if thinning stresses you too much: Have a friend thin out the fruit. Give instructions on how much space you want between each fruit and then have excess fruit cleaned up so you don't pass out when you see all the fruit on the ground.
Q: We have a very aggressive water sucker coming from the base of our flowering plum with rich lush green leaves rather than purple. What's going on?
A: The sucker is coming from below the bud union and reverting to the root stock variety. Remove the sucker or it will consume your purple plum.
Q: Why do my opening rosebuds look rotten and the petals tarnished?
A: "It is a combination of wind and thrips," said Richard Jackson of the Las Vegas Rose Society. "You can't do much about the wind except water more. A tiny insect called thrips tarnishes the petals just as they unfold. Notice they tarnish lighter-colored roses more than darker varieties," he said. Use garlic spray to chase them away.
Q: What is scarring the skin on my new oranges?
A: A little bug called citrus thrips causes it. They feed on the new fruit, causing scars to form.
Q: Can I break up caliche and add compost to it to grow a garden?
A: Attempting to break up the caliche is a huge undertaking and inhibits drainage, causing your vegetables to suffer. Stop wasting your time and go directly to building a raised bed and put in a highly organically manufactured soil. You'll be amazed at the beautiful vegetables you'll grow.
Q: Our petite oleander froze to the ground and I'm wondering if it's dead?
A: Hang in there. You'll soon see new growth coming from the plant's base and it will come back quickly because of its active root system. You'll get blooms a little later this year.
Q: I have a 4-year-old sweet acacia tree that lost its leaves because of the frost. How do I tell if it's dead or alive?
A: This beautiful tree can take temperatures down to 10 degrees, so I doubt if you lost it. If the twigs are supple and not brittle, the tree is probably OK.
Q: What is the white powdery stuff on my rose and euonymus?
A: It's powdery mildew and it loves these two plants. It also affects some vegetables, grapes and weeds. The spores do not require moisture to get started. The mildew blocks out the sun so the plant can't photosynthesize. You'll find it worse in shaded areas. The best control is adequate sunlight and good air circulation. You can use dusting sulfur for control until it gets above 85 degrees.
Q: We are from Florida and want a St. Augustine lawn. Does it grow here?
A: Yes, but garden centers don't stock it. They'll order the sod for you. It is shade tolerant, so use it in shaded areas.
Q: Can you give me a name of a reliable landscape contractor?
A: The Southern Nevada Water Authority certifies landscape contractors with an emphasis on water-conserving plants and installing irrigation systems. Go to snwa.com, and under "Find a Water-Smart Contractor," select a contractor.
FLOWER SHOW
The Sunset Garden Club is holding its annual flower show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. The theme is "Around The World In No Time Flat." You'll see numerous floral designs and plants adapted to the valley.
NATIVE PLANT SALE
The Nevada Division of Forestry State Tree Nursery at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs is having its Arbor Day plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Experts will be on hand to answer your technical questions about the locally adapted species. Use them to conserve water, as windbreaks, for soil erosion control and improving wildlife habitats. The nursery accepts only cash or checks. For more information, call 486 5123.
Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.
