Q: Is there any trick to maintaining birdseed from arising in beds beneath my feeders? I’m uninterested in all of the grass germinating.
A: That’s in all probability millet, a typical ingredient in some commonplace seed mixes. Birds regularly kick it out of their methods as they go for seed sorts they like.
You would possibly attempt switching to a special sort of seed or seed combine to keep away from the millet. Black, oil-type sunflower seeds are highly regarded with many kinds of birds. If any of these drops to the soil, the bottom feeders will gobble them up rapidly. The seedlings are also simple to hoe off whereas they’re younger, or you may blow the seeds out of the way in which earlier than they germinate.
Some birding shops promote compressed seed mixes in cylinders. Birds peck away on the cylinders one seed at a time with little or no mess.
Peppervine shouldn’t be thought of an asset to the panorama, so it’s best to take away it to make means for different plantings.
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Q: Is that this ivy one thing I ought to save or take away?
A: It appears like peppervine (Ampelopsis arborea) to me. Though considerably enticing, it isn’t a landscaping asset. You’ll need to take away it and rework the mattress to prepare for plantings to observe.
Q: I’m enthusiastic about planting a Thuja Inexperienced Large on the west facet of my home to shade a bed room window. Wouldn’t it do nicely there?
A: I don’t imagine so. I’ve seen scores of them, and virtually none of them survive our warmth and summer season solar. Plus, they’re very inclined to spider mites as nicely.
If I knew how giant a plant you have been wanting, I might recommend an alternate. I recommend you discover a Texas Grasp Licensed Nursery Skilled at a neighborhood unbiased retail backyard middle that’s a member of the Texas Nursery and Panorama Affiliation. These are the true professionals who know their crops and their native communities.
I’ll say, nonetheless, that we’ve got few actually reliable conifers right here in Texas since Leyland and Arizona cypresses have developed such severe issues with the deadly Seiridium canker. When you want one thing 10 to fifteen toes tall, I’d recommend Nellie R. Stevens holly. For an evergreen that may be considerably taller, Little Gem southern magnolia is good-looking. Each of these, nonetheless, will want deep, moist soil.
Spider lilies’ flowers are adopted by foliage
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Q: A buddy gave me spider lily bulbs. They bloomed a month in the past, however now they’ve leaves 10 inches tall. Is it regular for them to have leaves this time of yr?
A: Sure. A number of of the fall-flowering bulbs, together with spider lilies, oxblood lilies and fall crocus, produce flowers earlier than their leaves emerge. Then as soon as the flowers wither and dry, the leaves sprout out and begin rising. They survive the complete winter, not dying again till late spring. Go away them in place all winter. They’re vital because the bulbs manufacture and retailer meals for subsequent yr’s blooming.
Q: Is cabling a tree a good suggestion? Doesn’t drilling into the trunk of a tree open up a wound that would decay?
A: There are occasions when it is vitally good follow to make use of one giant department to assist and counter-brace one other smaller department on the opposite facet of the tree. Nonetheless, that is virtually at all times a job that needs to be left to the expertise and expertise of a licensed arborist.
Relating to the opening of a wound, that’s a great concern, however when the arborist drives the all-thread eye bolt by means of the outlet she or he has drilled, it can fill the void and seal out moisture that may be wanted to trigger decay. Let the arborist information you. That is one thing they in all probability have executed many instances earlier than.
Q: My hackberry’s leaves had 1000’s of the little galls you wrote about earlier this yr. Ought to I not use these leaves in my compost?
A: Use them. There are hundreds of thousands of galls to go round, and whether or not you employ these leaves gained’t matter one bit. Actually, they aren’t particularly dangerous. Operating them by means of the mower and composting them will in all probability destroy the insect larvae anyway.
Q: How excessive ought to I mow my St. Augustine going into the winter?
A: Mow on the similar top as you’ve been doing the remainder of the yr. Tall grass quickly turns into weaker, and that enables weeds to maneuver in. No modifications are wanted.
Italian cypress, a sufferer of the February 2021 freeze, may very well be changed with Scarlet’s Peak yaupon holly.
Courtesy pictureQ: Our Italian cypress was a sufferer of the February 2021 freeze. I labored with our arborist to attempt to reserve it, nevertheless it must be changed. What would you recommend?
A: You want one thing columnar to suit into that area, however I might guess that it wouldn’t should be that tall.
Scarlet’s Peak yaupon holly can be pretty, though it’s a bit onerous to seek out. You might need to ask a full-service retail backyard middle to order it in for you with a cargo of crops early subsequent spring. A number of the South Texas, Gulf Coast and California growers produce it. It’s much more reliable than both Will Fleming or Sky Pencil hollies. In any other case, you would possibly think about Oakland holly, though its look gained’t be an ideal match.
Columnar junipers have their very own units of illnesses, and one other Italian cypress, whereas in all probability capable of survive many winters with out chilly harm, would nonetheless be inclined to the Seiridium canker.
Electronic mail questions for Neil Sperry to [email protected].
