In the garden

— Janet Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at P.O. Box 391, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail her at jcarson@arkansasonline.com

Q. I have plum and peach trees, mayhaw bushes and a curly willow in my backyard. I would like to put bark mulch around them to discourage grass in order to make it easier to mow.

What kind of bark would be best to use that would not be harmful to any of the plants?

A. Any mulch would work, but shredded hardwood tends to stay in place, as do pine needles. Try to get rid ofany grass or weeds, and avoid piling the mulch next to the trunks of the trees.

You will also need some type of edging to separate lawn from mulched bed.

Q. We have a lot of plants in pots that will have tobe moved inside soon. What is the best way to get rid of bugs on the plants and in the soil before bringing them inside? I have noticed lots of bugs in the soil.

Also, can ferns be planted outsideduring the winter, and will they return in the spring?

A. Now is the time to begin moving plants indoors.

Clean the containers with soap and water on the outside. Lightly spray or hose down the foliage. If you see insects in the pots, water them first, then use an insecticidal soap solution to water with again. Move them indoors and watch for anysigns of problems. If you see bugs, isolate that plant until the problem is under control.

It depends on what type of ferns you are growing as to whether they are winter hardy. The large Boston ferns are not, but there are numerous ferns available at local garden centers that can come back year after year.

Q. We had difficulty controlling whiteflies on our hydrangea bushes this summer. We sprayed with Malathion but it did not totally control the infestation.

At times we had to spray daily or three times a week, yet we never did get rid of all of the whiteflies. Does cool weather end the problem or do we need to take further action? What do we need to do to prevent reoccurrence next season?

A. Whiteflies can be difficult to control, especially with a contact spray such as Malathion. Rake up and destroy the leaves of your hydrangeas as they fall, as the insects often lay eggs on the underside of the lower leaves.

If you get this problem annually, try Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insecticide inMarch or April. Mix it according to the label directions and then pour it on the soil at the drip line. It should give you a full season of coverage with one application.

Q. I have black spots on one of my azalea bushes. What should I do?

A. I would do nothing this late in the season. Make sure you water if it gets dry, keep mulch around the plants and wait for spring.

Watch the new leaves as they appear. If you see any spots, you might take action. Azaleas have been through the gamut this season with late frosts and fluctuating temperatures; the miserable weather in August didn't help either.

Many of the plants have some discolored or damaged leaves, which we won't be able to get rid of now.

Q. In my garden there are several okra pods that were overlooked when I was harvesting. They have become too large to be edible.

If I wanted to use them for seed purposes, should I leave them on the plants until they dry out or remove them and open the pods so the seeds will dry?

A. Let them turn brown before harvesting and the seeds should be fully ripe.

Make sure you harvest them before the seed pods split or you may lose some of the seeds.

Q. A friend rooted a rosebush for me. It is in an outside pot and it has a beautiful bloom. When can I plant the rosebush outside? I live in southeast Arkansas.

A. I would get it planted as soon as possible.

The sooner it is in the ground, the sooner the root system can get established.

Mulch the soil area and pay attention to winter weather, in moisture levels and temperatures. If it gets too dry, water it even in the winter, and add extra mulch around it in case we have a cold winter.

TREE-RAISING IN MAUMELLE

Six trees will be planted on the north shore of Lake Willastein in Maumelle at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 as part of the city's first Arbor Day event sponsored by the Maumelle Tree Board. The board was created by ordinance earlier this summer to serve as an advisory group on public tree issues including care, protection and planting along city rights of way, parks and public grounds. One of the board's goals is to have Maumelle certified as a Tree City U.S.A. by the National Arbor Day Foundation. For more information visit www.arbor day.org.

HomeStyle, Pages 43, 45 on 10/27/2007

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