Question: I want to use chrysanthemums in my landscape, but I’ve noticed that they don’t bloom very long. How can I make it last longer?
Answer: Extend the length of time chrysanthemums, also known as mums, remain in the landscape by purchasing plants with relatively firm buds. The wider the flower opens, the shorter its lifespan as a decoration in the home or landscape. Also, choose a cooler time of year to plant your plants on your patio or landscape stand. Although very clean, it is probably not cost effective to fill the beds with mothers. They usually need to be replaced after a month or so, especially during warmer months. After flowering, you can cut the viper back to remove faded flowers and the plant should bloom again, but not as much as when you bought the plant.
Q. A weed with shiny, thin leaves is growing mainly in the mulched area of my garden. The plants are connected underground and produce branched brownish flower heads. Should I keep pulling them up to gain control?
A. Let’s dig up and pull a purple nut edge plant from my vegetable garden together. You gave a great description of these weeds that are also visible in the email photo. Individual plants grow from nutlets that sprout underground to form other plants. Carex plants often consist of multiple plants connected to each other. Therefore, if you pull one out, only that plant will be removed, and the other plants will continue to grow. Digging and pulling them out of your garden or mulched area is one way to control them. This is the only way to effectively remove plants from edible plantings such as vegetable gardens. Non-selective weed control products can be used in areas covered with mulch. Some can be used near ornamental plants according to label directions. Nutsedge insecticide is also available from garden centers and can be used on most lawns. If needed, check out information on grass types and how best to use them.
Q. I have a fig tree that has been in the ground for over 6 years. It started losing its leaves rapidly and now only the side closest to the wall of the house and the crown part have minimal growth. Can it be saved?
A. Unfortunately, this description of your tree does not make a good impression. It appears that there is a problem with the trunk or roots and the tree is currently in decline. In your email you mentioned that this is also a very important tree to you. Perhaps you could try taking some 8- to 10-inch cuttings and rooting them in a container of potting soil. Store cuttings in a moist, shady place. Otherwise, cut out the dead material and give the tree regular care to see if it recovers.
Botanist: It’s never too late to plant sunflowers in your garden
Q. This is my first time gardening in the fall, but I would like to grow sweet potatoes, corn, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. Is this the right time to plant?
A. Remove sweet potatoes, corn, and tomatoes from the fall and winter planting list. It’s a warm season vegetable, but we’ve just entered the cooler season. But don’t let that prevent you from planting your fall garden. There are many vegetables that are suitable for growing, including lettuce and onions, as well as broccoli, carrots, collards, beets, and cabbage. In fact, more vegetables and herbs are planted in the garden during the cooler months than at any other time of the year. Contact your local University of Florida Extension office to receive a free copy of the Vegetable Gardening Guide, which lists all crops and planting times for the year.
Q. We are newcomers from the north. Are there any trees you can plant to add color to the fall?
A. Fall weather arrives in Central Florida in November and December, and most leaves change color. Perhaps not as dynamic as we enjoyed in the northern landscapes. Trees that exhibit moderate fall color include sagebrush, crape myrtle, dogwood, persimmon, red bud, red maple, red maple, sumard oak, sweetgum, plane tree, and elm. Learn about your tree before planting, as it may have specific site requirements for optimal growth. Also note the expected size to ensure there is space for the tree in the landscape.
Q. My white Bird of Paradise leaves have a series of small holes evenly spaced on the surface. Why is it so uniform within the leaf?
A. Remember when you made snowflakes or paper dolls by folding paper and making cuts to determine the shape? When unfolded, the holes and shapes were continuous and very similar to the others. Well, this is what beetles, caterpillars, or similar insects do. I folded the leaves and the insects started chewing. When the leaf was unfolded, it had a series of uniform holes. It’s kind of neat! By the time you notice the damage, the insects are gone. Some damage like this must be tolerated. If you see a lot of continuous feeding activity, you can use a common insecticide for houseplants according to label directions, but this is usually not necessary.
Q. A large insect is eating my tomato seedlings. I’ve picked a few, but there’s more to come. Are there better controls?
A. The large creature, about the size of your index finger, is the larva of the hawk moth, which is a type of sphinx moth and is also called a hornworm. The name comes from the horn-like structure on the rear end of the larva. They have a very similar relative called the tobacco hornworm. Hornworms feed on large amounts of food, and as they grow large, they can consume the leaves of more than one tomato stem per day. It may be hard to see because it blends in with the tomato leaves. Still, patiently searching for hornworms and picking them from plants is one of the best ways to control them. If there are too many plants to pick, you can apply insecticides or natural control insecticides, including spinosad. Follow label directions for proper application and repeat spraying as needed.
Tom McCubbin is an emeritus urban horticulturist for the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write to Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, FL 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com.
Central Florida gardens in October
