IN THE GARDEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Flower Illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Flower Illustration

Q I have petu-nias planted in a container on the front porch, which gets afternoon sun. They have already become leggy, and the top where I pour water on them looks smashed down. There are still a few blooms. I deadhead them. Do I need to "cut them back" some way? Will they become "bushy" again with lots of flowers? Or do I just need to consider their time spent and get new ones to plant?

photo

Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Sassafras is a native tree with a long taproot, meaning it’s not easy to transplant.

photo

Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Spurweed makes it impossible to walk barefoot on the lawn.

A Most of the newer varieties of petunias should bloom all summer without the benefit of deadheading, but they are heavy feeders. Since yours are already leggy, I would do two things. I would cut back the existing plants, and I would add a new one to the pot. Then fertilize weekly and keep them watered, and they should stay full and bushy and bloom all summer.

Q What is this sticker-weed that's got into about one-third of my south-side lawn, and what will kill it?

A It is a winter annual weed called spurweed. We had a bumper crop of winter weeds this year that started early and stayed late. The problem with this weed is that the seeds that are formed to replenish it next fall are stickers, making it painful to walk on in bare feet or for dogs to walk on. Pre-emergent controls next fall can help prevent it, but also look for signs of it in December and January and pull them out or spray them with a 2,4-D product to kill the weed before it blooms and sets stickers. There is nothing to do this late except try to rake it up or get the grass to grow enough to buffer the stickers.

Q I'm trying to decide if [the tree in the photo I am sending] is one to save or destroy. We are replacing a fence, and it is in the way. Do I destroy it or try to transplant it?

A The tree in question is sassafras, a great small tree. It is one of two species of native trees that has three different leaf shapes on the same tree. The other tree that shares the leaf variability is the common mulberry. Sassafras trees form a taproot, which can make transplanting difficult, but give it a try. It will wilt badly for a while with the shock of transplant, but keep it watered and hope for the best.

Q My neighbor gave me two large pots of hydrangeas, but she forgot to water them for the two days I was away. The large blue blooms are what I consider to be dead. They're completely brown and are just hanging there. Should I cut all of the dead blooms off and still plant them? Will the plants grow once they're planted in the ground? Or should I just throw them away?

A I would plant them in the ground. If they are the old-fashioned, big-leafed Hydrangea macrophylla, they set flower buds in the late summer/early fall and bloom in early summer. If they are the reblooming "Endless Summer" type, they can set more flower buds as long as they are putting on new growth. Plant them where they get full morning sun and afternoon shade.

Q I have a white waxy growth on my azaleas. It doesn't seem to affect the plants much, because we had great blooms this year, but this is the third year we have noticed these mutated leaves. What should we do?

A The deformed, waxy leaves are caused by a disease called azalea leaf gall. It looks worse than it is. When we have a cool, wet spring, we see the problem. If it is mild and warm, we don't. Just snap the damaged leaves off and dispose of them -- not on the ground, as they have spores that can infect the plants next year. No sprays are needed.

Q I bought a bougainvillea about one month ago. It was beautiful. However, all of the "bracts" have fallen off. I attempted to research info about this flowering plant online but wasn't very successful. I found several videos on YouTube but all show the plants really big and fully grown, taking over trees. There is some new growth on my plant. It may be in a pot that's a little too small for it to grow out and up. What do I do? Just let it grow and wrap the stems around the trellis in the pot? Do I "cut back" the stems? Will it flower again this summer or just remain green?

A Bougainvillea plants tend to bloom best if they are slightly pot-bound and in full sun. If you have them planted in a large container, they often put on rampant new growth and are slow to start flowering. I would fertilize every two weeks, put it in the sun and wait for more flowers. I would not cut it back now when it is in its flowering season. If you are wrapping the stems around the trellis, beware of the thorns.

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 05/28/2016

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