Question: Something is cutting a semicircle at the edge of my rose leaf. What is it, and do I need control?
Answer: The semicircle of leaf sections from roses and other leaves that have been properly cut and removed are works of bees cutting the leaves, sometimes called leaf cutter bees. Most of the time, you’ve never seen them see them at work, but reportedly 63 species of these bees live in Florida. Once the leaf mass is removed, the bees are stuffed into the stems and limbs of the plant that will grow the next generation. The bees also contain pollen cakes that young people can use when they mature. Bees that cut the leaves cause minimal damage and help pollinate plants in your garden and landscape. It is best to ignore cut leaves as there is no control.
Q. My roses are taller with long stems with flowers on them and have new shoots from the base. Do you want to cut them out at this point?
A. Many roses struggle throughout the summer, but they manage to get new shoots and flowers. Many gardeners display long flower stems indoors to reduce the size of the plants. Enthusiasts hoping for roses for display or competition in autumn give the plant the end of summer trimming. They return the plants to thick stems and reward them with new growth and large flowers. Pruning as you think is the best, but if it’s coming from above the graft, leave a new shoot from the base. They may be necessary to replace old stems in February, which is the usual main pruning time for many types of roses.
Q. The tips of the small branches seem to be cut from my 30 year old oak tree. What causes this damage?
A. Look for squirrels as creatures that cause small limb cropping, as shown in the photo in the email. Some of these small animals seem to have nothing to do other than cutting the edges from small finger-sized branches. Damage is usually minimal and may help to promote the required branching. Squirrels have a lot of trimming on Chinese elm trees such as Variety Drake in late summer or early autumn. Again, despite the many small branch edges on the ground, damage is minimal.
Plant Doctor: Why are Torenia plants called Wishbone Flowers?
Q. I have a wheelbarrow and half of the excess soil I plan to use to fill in the blanks when the stump is removed. Should I load it up or do I have another use until I’m ready?
A. A little extra soil is always good to fill the oppression of the grass, developing ruts, and in your case, the expected hole. If you use soil, store it in the mountains immediately and make sure you keep the weeds free. Soil that is not needed for a while can spread into the garden. It raises the height of the garden a little, but can be used in the landscape by skimming from the top if necessary.
Q. To eradicate Alexandergrass, we regenerated a part of the lawn with St. Augustine, but it is now said to be growing in another realm and must be regenerated. What else can I do?
A. Unfortunately, it’s a repetition about the only way to deal with the growth of Alexandergrass, also known as the creeping sound. But here is the idea – it resembles your St. Augustine, so you may tolerate it until autumn. Alexandergrass is the year that he dies in late autumn and winter. You can remove any unnecessary greens now or wait for death on its own. After that, once a new grass is established, prepare a pre-occurring herbicide (often called crabgrass prevention) to stop seed germination in early March as directed on the label. If you grow it in autumn, frequently mow to prevent sowing, and the beginning of a new invasion will be in spring.
Q. The sweet potato planted about two months ago fills my garden with grape grapes. Can you know when the roots are harvested?
A. Now your garden is wrapped in grapes from several sweet potato grafts set on the ground, but you are on the way to produce crops. Sweet potatoes take approximately 120 days to fill the underground roots that are harvested to eat. Harvest is produced at the roots of the original transplant. As the time for harvest approaches, feel the ground near the base and plants. If you can feel the potatoes forming, dig deeper. When they are the size of a regular store, it’s time to dig. Potatoes should be dried in a warm, shady, humid place. Store in a dark, cool area after a few weeks until indoor consumption.
Q. My crepe myrtle drops a lot of leaves and drops. What’s the problem?
A. Debate this midsummer fallen leaves, perhaps a lack of nitrogen. The fungal disease, Cercospora Leaf Spot, is active during rainy summer weather. It can cause yellow to gold to dark leaf spots and final leaf drops. Deficiency of nitrogen fertilizer during the growth season can be susceptible to falling leaves. Once you notice the illness, it’s too late to control the fungicide. Also, this disease usually does not cause loss of shana leaf leaves. If you have the right fertilizer in Crape Myrtles, you can produce new leaves to replace the old ones. It is best to embrace the fungus and wear fallen leaves that add to the compost pile. Next, make sure Crape Myrtles receive landscape-type slow release fertilizer in March, May and August when they are permitted.
Tom Maccubbin is an honorary urban gardener at the University of Florida Cooperative Expansion Services. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, Florida. 32802. email: tomac1996@aol.com.
August in the gardens in Central Florida
