Heavy pruning forces plants to develop full coverage

August 2, 2014|Tom MacCubbin, IN THE GARDEN

Question: My Indian hawthorn is green on the top but bare of leaves on the bottom. Want can I do to make the plant full again?

Answer: There is only one way to force plants to fill their lower portions with stems and foliage – give them a heavy pruning. Healthy plants should respond with new shoots and leaves below where you make the cuts. A general rule is to prune the plants back to a foot above where you want the new growths to begin. With needle-leaf evergreens you cannot prune back past where leaves are present on the stems or the branches are likely to die. Plants with broad leaves like Indian hawthorns can be trimmed back to bare stems but if a few leaves are left the recovery is often faster.

Q: Our ficus tree has what appears to be a white dust that I am told is mealy bugs. Is there a home treatment for this pest?

A: Often a soapy water wash is all you need to get mealy bugs under control. You may need an old toothbrush to loosen the white bugs and egg mass during the washing. Another trick some gardeners use is to daub the mealy bug clusters with rubbing alcohol. If this sounds like lots of work or the plant is quite large, try an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil spray. Some make these at home from kitchen products but it is usually best to buy them at garden centers. Purchased products have been tested and are less likely to affect your plants.

Q: I have several 12-year-old crown of thorns plants in their original pots that have become tall and leggy. Can they be cut back to make them more compact?

A: Most gardeners choose early to mid spring as the best time to trim their crown of thorns plants. This way the plants have plenty of time to regrow and flower during the warmer weather. But you can perform needed pruning any time it is warm. Try to make your cuts back to an angle where the stems branch or where you have leaves or buds emerging. New stems and leaves then form from below these cuts. Portions removed can be rooted after the cuts air dry for a day or two.

Crown of thorns plants don't mind growing root bound in their containers, but after 12 years it may be time for a new pot and soil. Select one an inch or two larger to give your plants a little more root room. Use loose, well-drained potting soil to avoid overwatering and root rot problems.

Q: With all the rain the lawn is growing out of control. Does it hurt to mow the grass more than once a week?

A: When the grass grows an inch or two above the normal mowing height whether it's once, twice or more times a week, it's mowing time. The general rule is to remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade at each mowing. So when a standard St. Augustine or bahia lawn reaches 5 to 6 inches high and a zoysia lawn about 3 inches, it is mowing time. And remember to leave the clippings on the lawn as they decompose to return nutrients for turf growth.

Q: I have moved my orchids outdoors for the summer in the shade of a tree. What care do they need to grow and flower again?

A: Water and fertilizer are all most orchids need during the summer months. Frequent rains normally take care of the watering. Should the rains fail to moisten the plants every two to three days, you had better do the watering. Orchids do like their fertilizer. You can apply a liquid orchid food or an all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer every other week during the summer through early fall months. Some growers are switching to a slow-release fertilizer. Consult the label for the amount needed and place it in a porous bag to set within the plant.

Q: My pineapple fruit is so large it can't stand upright so I built a support. When will it be ripe and how do I tell? Will the plant survive after fruiting?

A: Homegrown pineapple fruits can become quite large. Most that lean over are left to rest on their sides to ripen but sometimes these suffer sunscald that damages the fruit. Home gardens usually produce a fruit or two this time of the year, so it's a good idea to build a support or add a cover when needed.

Pineapples let you know when they are ready to pick. Fruits change color from deep green to yellow or orange. You should also start noticing the familiar pineapple fragrance. Fruits left to ripen on the plant are very sweet and juicy.

About now, or shortly after harvest, you should notice shoots forming from the older plant. These can grow into new fruiting plants. Leave at least one or two to continue growth and replace the original plant. Then remove others to plant in the garden and create a pineapple patch.

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