IN THE GARDEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Holly Illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Holly Illustration

Q I probably have tea scale on some of my holly bushes. When would be a good time to treat them? Also, they need trimming. When is a good time for that?

A During the winter there is very little active growth, which the systemic insecticides used to fight scale require to be effective. The best time to use the systemic insecticides is in spring to early summer. If you have blooming hollies (those that set berries), wait until after their blooms have finished to make sure bees won't be exposed to residue. Most of the products have been labeled as safe to use around bees, but timing can be important. Light trimming can be done any time, but severe pruning (more than one-third of the bush) should be done from late February through April to allow ample time for recovery.

Q I wanted to give blooming bulbs as gifts for Christmas, so I potted up several hyacinths and paperwhite narcissus. The paperwhites all came up and are blooming nicely and have been given as gifts. I see nothing from the hyacinths. They were all planted at the same time and given the same care. What happened?

A Paperwhite narcissus is the only bulb in the spring-blooming category that does not need "chilling hours." Chilling hours are the number of hours a plant or, in this case, a bulb must be exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees (but above freezing) before it will sprout. Hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and crocuses need at least 10 to 12 weeks below 50 degrees before they grow. If you did not buy pre-chilled hyacinth bulbs, you won't see any movement until after you chill them. Left unchilled your hyacinths will sprout eventually, but the flowers will never get taller than an inch or so. Try planting them outside now or move the pots into a refrigerator to chill them.

Q I rescued a kalanchoe plant that my mother-in-law tried to drown by watering it every day. It has done well in the house under a lamp but is growing tall and spindly with leaves only at the top and no sign of blooming again. The stems are starting to fall over from top-heavy leaves. What should I do?

A The kalanchoe is a succulent plant and has thick, fleshy leaves. Overwatering can be a death knell, so you were wise to rescue it from daily watering. They are also considered short-day plants, which means they initiate flowers when the natural day length shortens in the late fall and winter. A plant that is getting artificial light year-round will not set flowers. If you have a window that has bright sunlight during the day and total darkness at night, that would be a great place to put the plant; and it should set flowers. While it's in bloom you can move it to a more visible part of the house. Since it is top-heavy, try cutting the top off the plant and rooting the stems you remove. The base should sprout, put on leaves and fill back in. At this time of the year, you will not see a quick rebound in growth, but be patient and don't overwater. To root the part you remove, fill a container with moist, not wet, soil. Push the cuttings inside. Enclose the cuttings -- pot and all -- in a clear plastic bag. Put it in a bright window and leave it alone for the winter. When you gradually open it in the spring the stems should have rooted, and you will have two pots of kalanchoe.

Q We are trying to find a narrow-growing tree that doesn't get too tall and possibly has nice flowers in spring and colors in fall for a corner of our backyard. Water runs through this area during big rains, but it empties fairly quickly afterward. Existing bermuda grass has washed out because it was shaded and sparse. We're having the area re-sodded and old, misshapen oak trees that shaded the area have been removed. Do you have any suggestions? We are in Bentonville.

A One of the new trends in trees is fastigiate trees -- they are bred to grow much narrower than their standard relations. I think the reason for this trend is we are seeing huge houses going in with small yards or narrow planting areas that need height but not spread. Many species are now sold in the fastigiated form, from columnar oaks, slender silhouette sweet gums, fastigiate hornbeams and gingkoes, elms and tulip poplar all have fastigiate forms. Many have great fall color. For blooms there are a few crab apple and cherry varieties with the fastigiate form. You might also try a sourwood tree. It is a beautiful tree with white flowers in late spring and outstanding fall color. Its natural growth habit is fairly narrow, and it grows to 30 or 35 feet tall.

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at

jcarson@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 12/24/2016

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