Remove borer-infested wood to save plum plant

Here are some questions I dealt with this past week.

Question: My Santa Rosa plum is infested with borers, how do I get rid of them?

Answer: Dennis Swartzell from Horticulture Consultants said to remove the infested wood. Paint the now newly exposed limbs with a water-based latex paint to prevent more bark sunburning and deter further borer infestation. I find sunburned bark becomes an open invitation for borers to enter your tree. Save as many of the lower branches as possible to prevent more trunk sunburning.

Plums are also prone to iron deficiency. Examine the new growth. Small yellowish leaves and twig dieback are strong indicators your tree needs more iron. This can be another invitation for the borers to invade the tree.

Q: Why does my Red Bird of Paradise shrub, which freezes down every winter, only get about 20 inches tall? Others in town are tall and full of blooms.

A: Swartzell said the plant is stressing for nutrients and water. He upped the nutrients and irrigation on his bush and its now 8 feet tall.

Q: Will kudzu grow here without watering?

A: Swartzell, a Georgia transplant, wonders why anyone would want to grow kudzu. It's very invasive. "I came 2,300 miles west to get away from it," he says. But to answer your question: Because of our low rainfalls, high temperatures and constant winds, all plants need water for them to survive.

Q: My watermelon and cantaloupe vines are spreading all over the garden. Can I pinch them back?

A: Yes, but more stems will emerge creating more vines. Your question suggests you are overfeeding or overwatering and your vines may not be getting enough sunlight. Stop feeding them and cut back to once-a-week deep irrigations. Finally, vine crops need eight to 10 hours of direct sun daily.

Q: We want to plant an Anna apple tree and want to know more about it?

A: For 30 years, I've had an Anna and Dorsett Golden apple and love them. Anna is self-pollinating, but I still like two varieties to ensure a good set of fruit. They both have a very low winter chilling requirement, which is a must in our valley, so I get lots of apples.

Q: What's causing pencil-size holes in our peppers? We can't find any insects.

A: Birds are probably pecking at your peppers. Cover them with bird netting to stop the pecking.

Q: Can we prune our Texas Bird of Paradise bush now?

A: Yes, if you want a compact bush, but you'll be removing potential flower buds. It is really best to do your major pruning early next spring while the bush is still dormant. Never shear the plant, as it thickens growth and significantly reduce flower bud formation. Also, remove any dead or diseased limbs any time they appear.

For those of you not familiar with Texas Bird of Paradise, it's similar to orange bird of paradise bushes with a little more yellow in the blooms.

Q: Why would my cantaloupe plants suddenly die?

A: Plants suddenly collapsing suggests a root rot problem. There are several soil diseases, and poor drainage sets a fire to these rots. Examine the roots; they may be on the mushy side.

Q: Why is my apple tree blossoming now? I had a large harvest in May.

A: Anytime I see fruit trees blooming this time of year, it indicates water may have been withheld from the plant. Give your tree deep irrigations to help it through its crisis. Iron and nitrogen deficiency may also be a problem.

Q: We are new to the valley and wondering when is the optimum time to plant strawberries?

A: Fall (September or October) is the best time to plant them. This gives them the winter to develop, and you'll enjoy a bountiful crop next spring.

Q: Why are the leaves on my Japanese blueberry turning brown and falling off?

A: There is nothing wrong; it's an evergreen shrub shedding last year's leaves. Watch the growing points, if they are growing, your plant is OK.

Q: Why are the tips of my newly planted organ pipe cactus drying and cracking? We've since covered it with cheesecloth.

A: Covering the plant was the right thing to do to prevent further sunburn. But you also need to water more often. Remember, it hasn't had a chance to develop a strong root system yet.

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