Pruning, canes may keep roses from blooming
Here are answers to questions I encountered this week.
Q: Why didn't my rosebush bloom this year?
A: Rosarian Richard Jackson said there are three possibilities:
■ Some bushes produce "blind stem" or no rosebuds, but never the entire bush. Thin out the bush to start it blooming again.
■ You may have pruned late and removed the developing buds.
■ Now the most likely reason, canes coming from below the bud union on rootstock resistant to our soil-borne diseases. Remove them before they consume your bush.
Q: What roses can I plant for more garden fragrance?
A: Jackson suggested for a red rose, Mr. Lincoln; for a white rose, John F. Kennedy, if you can find one; for a pink rose, New Zealand; for an orange-red rose, fragrant cloud; for a lavender rose, angel face; and for yellow roses, honey perfume or radiant perfume.
Jackson said plant breeders became caught up in developing new varieties for improved traits and forgot about fragrance. They are now breeding fragrance back into America's flower.
Q: How do I keep birds out of my strawberries?
A: Place a netted tent over your plants. Make sure the netting reaches the ground so birds can't get under it.
This is also true with grapes and fruit. Close the netting under your plants so birds can't get inside. It's sad when birds become disturbed while feasting on fruit and can't get out.
Q: Why won't my tomato plants set fruit?
A: Our nights have been below 60 degrees, preventing fruit from setting on. With that predicament about over, daytime temperatures are now approaching 95 so they'll stop setting fruit again. We have only a small window for setting fruit. This is why you're encouraged to plant early so when that narrow window opens, setting takes place. During those colder nights, I used Tomato and Pepper Fruit Set to set my fruit.
Q: Why won't my globe artichokes size up like my mother's in Salinas, Calif.?
A: Our hot temperatures cause artichokes to grow fast, resulting in smaller buds. There is one bright spot: Artichokes make beautiful ornamental bushes.
Q: I want a tree in my lawn to provide shade and privacy and not attract bees.
A: You're asking for trouble. Both compete for nutrients and lawns usually win. Consider taller and denser evergreens such as Greek myrtle, twisted myrtle, sweet bay laurel, sugar bush, Arizona rosewood or Japanese blueberry. All plants flower so expect some insects during that period.
Q: Do we have to remove last year's seedpods on our chaste tree?
A: You can leave the seedpods on, they won't harm the tree.
Q: You advised us to thin apples but it broke my heart doing it!
A: Overloaded fruit this year usually won't produce much fruit next year. Once fruit sets seeds, they release a hormone inhibiting development of next year's fruiting buds. This causes alternate bearing, or lots of fruit one year and very little the next. Removing the excess fruit restores balance to the tree.
Q: How can I spruce up my shaggy looking Bermuda lawn?
A: Bermuda lawns build thatch, a dead zone below the grass. As the thatch thickens, it repels water, resulting in a shabby lawn. To check for thatch, take an inch-wide plug from the lawn and examine the area between the soil and green growth; if it's more than a half-inch thick, dethatch. Remove it using a rented dethatcher. Don't be alarmed with the damaged lawn; it soon becomes a beautiful emerald green.
Next, aerate your lawn. An aerator removes half-inch-wide plugs from your lawn and soil. These openings allow water to penetrate deeper, making wiser use of your water.
Q: Is there a smaller tree we can fit between our condominiums?
A: Consider yellow bird of paradise or Texas olive. Both get about 10 feet tall. The bird of paradise comes with yellow flowers, and the olive with crisp white flowers.
Q: We planted a pomegranate tree last spring and are wondering why it hasn't bloomed?
A: It takes three to four yeas to begin setting fruit.
LANDSCAPE AWARD CONTEST
The Southern Nevada Water Authority Landscape Awards program recognizes those who have created water-smart landscapes in Southern Nevada. Consider entering your yard in this year's competition. For an application and more information about the contest, visit www.snwa.com or call 258-7283. While on the Web, browse through previous years' winners. May 7 is the deadline to enter.
Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at
linn.mills@springspreserve.org
or call him at 822-7754.
