106°F
weather icon Clear

Sensitive loquat requires sun protection

Question: I planted a 5-gallon loquat in my front yard three months ago in April. It seemed to be taking just fine at first. A few weeks ago, I noticed the older leaves were beginning to turn brown, and the newer leaves seem to be shriveling up. When I purchased it, I was told it was OK to plant in full sun. During this heat, I drip water it every two days. I estimate it receives about 6 gallons per watering. I check the soil regularly to make sure the soil is not drying out. Any thoughts?

As you found out, loquat will not like it in rock mulch in full sun. It will do all right in full sun in a mixed planting with lots of other greenery around, but it will actually do better in a more protected location. If you can put it in an area with protection from late-afternoon sun and surround by other plants, it will perform better. Loquat does tend to get borers easily if heat-stressed and in a hot part of the yard in full sunlight.

Bob Morris is a professor emeritus in horticulture with the University of Nevada and can be reached at extremehort@aol.com. Visit his blog at
xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com.

MOST READ
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
The sun sets on my days as RJ’s gardening columnist

Thanks to everyone who has supported my journey into journalism by reading my gardening column over the years and contributing questions.

What’s ailing my mature pine trees?

When native pine trees are grown on their own they will develop taproots or sinker roots for stability and to secure enough water.

Gaining control over this annual weed is not easy to do

To make sure it doesn’t return you have to interrupt the seed-to-flowering-plant cycle at least for a couple of years and fill the voids with something competitive.

Why did my bird of paradise plants quit blooming?

They were in bloom when we planted them five or six years ago, and they bloomed the following year as well. But they have not bloomed again.

MORE STORIES