Q My triple-bloom amaryllis fell over during the night. The flower stalk broke, but there is another one sprouting I think. Is the bulb still OK? If so, what is needed and how can I prevent this from happening again?
A This is not an unusual occurrence on amaryllis. The flowers are large and come with three to five blooms per stalk, so the plants are often top-heavy and fall over if left unsupported. Cut off the flower stalk and use it as a cut flower. The foliage should be emerging, and you may even be lucky and have another flower spike. Let the foliage grow. Give it a sunny window and regular water. Once spring arrives, move the plant outdoors, fertilize every month or two through August, then let the foliage die back. It should start the bloom cycle over again next fall/winter. The bulb is most likely not damaged, just the flower stalk; and these bulbs can live for many years. If another bloom spike does emerge, turn the plant periodically to keep it from leaning too far toward the light, and consider weighting the pot a bit to keep it stable, or provide a stake. I had one that toppled a few years ago, taking an art glass bowl with it, so I feel your pain.
Q Our apple tree has a series of circles, each about the size of a dime or smaller running around the circumference of the trunk. The bark in the circle is missing but the wood appears undamaged. Sap is running from the wounds. There are several areas where the damage has healed. How do I deal with this?
A The damage is caused by sapsuckers. These birds feed on the sap of the tree. They find a favorite host tree and return again and again to feed on it. They drill what look like measured, small holes in rows up and down the tree and return to feed on the sap that oozes out. They also feed on insects that are attracted to the sap. You can discourage them by wrapping the trunk loosely with a tree wrap or burlap, or hang a scare device in the tree. Usually the damage looks worse than it is for the tree, but yours is looking pretty bad. If the tree is attacked annually with new rows of holes drilled closer and closer together, it could girdle part of the tree and lead to permanent damage.
Q Does dry pine straw repel ticks? I walk on pine straw for exercise and I hate ticks.
A Pine straw does not repel ticks, and some people believe that it actually attracts them. I would not go that far, but think of where ticks reside -- you can usually find ticks where the animals they feed on live, which includes wooded or grassy areas under shrubs and trees in the mulched areas. An adult tick positions itself in wait for a passing animal to come by so it can have the next blood meal. Ticks thrive in damp environments and are less active in hot, dry, exposed sites. That is why you get them when walking in the woods, but not walking along the beach.
Q My Knock Out roses were still blooming when the hard freezes hit a few weeks ago. The leaves are burned and brown but still attached to the branches. Should I hand-pick the leaves to make them drop? I know they are supposed to be deciduous, but it was so warm so late that they didn't know it was winter until too late. When should I prune them?
A Many roses were still blooming when the arctic weather came in. I would not hand-pick the leaves. It would be a tedious job and totally unnecessary. The plants may look a bit ugly with their shriveled brown leaves but in time those should fall off. The remaining old foliage could help protect the plant from any winter damage. You will need to prune back your Knock Out roses to within 18 inches of the ground in late February to early March. That should remove all foliage, if any remains.
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 12/31/2016