Home and Garden

Question: We have a question about our 5 to 6 year old naval orange tree. For the past 2 to 3 years, we left the fruit on the tree until the weather man said freezing temperatures were coming. But with just cold nights, the fruit seems to dry out. Can we pick the fruit early and let the oranges ripen in the house?

Question: I have “burlap” growing between the fronds at the trunk of my 4-year-old male date palm. They look awful and are difficult to manage. Please advise.

Question: For many years, my family has had access to wild, abandoned quince bushes in the east San Francisco Bay area. We have since moved from there and see that you list this fruit as a tree that may survive here in the Las Vegas area with the proper soil.

Question: Can you recommend a good, small indoor tree for my living room that will grow almost up to the cathedral ceiling?

Question: Regarding using house water for plants: Is it safe to use reverse osmosis water as compared to tap water?

Question: Our Meyer lime is full of blooms. In previous years, it has yielded lots of fruit. However, last year, the blooms were abundant, but all of the bloom fell off, and we had a crop of one lime. What happened?

Question: A pine tree in my front yard appears to have had two open wounds for some time, judging by the amount of sap around them.

Question: We have two fan Texas Ash trees that are 15 years old. They are spreading out too far. How far can we cut them back without killing them?

Question: I have a large fig tree that gives me small green figs, and that is all I get. I think the problem is not enough water, as you said. I also saw the picture of cuttings to grow another tree. Can I do that, or should I buy a second tree? What about pruning? Is this a good time?

I found some mystery pods in the garden when doing some clean up. One of the pods is closed, and the second is open and with what appears to be small black seeds. Any idea what this is?