Question: Pink rain lilies are growing in some of our neighborhoods. I’ll add them to my garden. What is the best place for a light bulb?
Answer: Choose a perfect sun location from the lightly shady sun for rain lily planting. Pink rain lilies don’t seem to mind growing in our well-drained sandy soil. Adding organic matter to the site can help moisten the soil and provide nutrients for months to a year. The organic matter then decomposes and grows in the sand. Pink, yellow and white are a selection of rain lilies that are popular with local plantings. When the rainy season returns, the pink will open first. The remaining lilies open from summer to autumn. Moisten and fertilize everything in March, May, and early October.
Q. I have a Podocalpas hedge about 6 feet tall and it cannot easily reach the top due to pruning. I want to keep it at 5 feet. Does that mean I have to bring it back to 4 feet and grow it to 5 feet?
A. Re-renew the Podocarpas hedge about 1 foot below the desired height. In this case, it decreases to about 4 feet. Grow it to the desired height of 5 feet each time you produce 6 inches of growth. This creates densely branched stems. It doesn’t seem like he cares that at 5 feet the Podocarpas will be reduced to the same height with each pruning. You can also use this opportunity to reduce the width of hedges slightly and make care easier.
Q. The ligustrum tree planted in 1994 appears to be decreasing. There are open growth and some dead parts. Can I make you healthy again?
A. Unfortunately, after about 30 years, Rigastrum could begin to decline. Many rely on care, but in the average neighborhood, many old Rigastrums have dead limbs and decline. What you see in your email photo had lots of lichens and minimal leaves on the trunk. Ligustrum is not worried, but it can show that it is not causing normal growth. Check your fertilizer schedule to rejuvenate your Rigastrum and make sure you apply landscape products with slow releases in March, May and early October. It also moistens the soil and maintains a 2-3-inch mulch layer on the root system within a few feet of the trunk.
Plant Doctor: Leave plenty of growth rooms for the gorgeous Poinciana trees
Q. Something seems to like my tomato leaves. The leaves developed white streaks. What should I do?
A. If you are growing tomatoes, there is almost guarantee that leaf miners will invade. These are very small, fly-like insects that lay eggs on leaves hatching on leaves. They can reduce the vitality of the leaves, but they may not be that serious. It can often be ignored if the leaf miner damage is minimal. Predatory hornets can help control leaf mining larvae, reducing population and damage. When leaf miners attack small plants or cause damage to the leaves, natural insecticides, including spinosad, provide effective control. Typically, some brands found in independent garden centres have this as the main ingredient in pesticides. Follow the instructions on the label.
Q. My citrus tree has aphids on its leaves with crocodile-like insects nearby. What are they and which controls should I apply?
A. Crocodiles are threatening, but this creature about your citrus leaves is a beneficial immature stage of the feces that helps to control aphids. If you feast on aphids, you probably don’t even need to think about control. If you look closely at these leaves, you can also see plump, dark aphids. These may be parasitized by wasps, which also help with control. I think you can read a good gardening book and forget about control this time.
Q. The agapanthus was beautiful this year, but now there are tall stems left from the flowers. Do you want to remove these stems?
A. If a seed pod can trace the flowers and want to grow more, it can be matured. Gradually, the seed pods become browner. The seeds are likely to be sown from agapanthus, also known as the Nile lily, so that the stems that have completed flowering can be cut out in the leaves. This allows the plant to use more stem and leaves to grow energy to flower in the next spring.
July in the gardens of Central Florida
Q. I notice that the koont that was pruned into the ground has returned well during spring. Is this something I should do for me?
A. Native Koont plants can be an addition to durable landscapes that grow from shade to full sun, dry, moist soil. The plant is slightly variable with leaf-like leaves of bright green to dark green colour. There is no reason to prun a yearly basis unless the koont plant grows or suffers damage. Removing all leaves can store stored food from the plant, which can hinder recovery. Such heavy pruning is generally not a recommendation to practice plant care.
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.
