Question: I noticed there are many fascinating plantings of wax begonia. How well do they do during the hot, wet summer?
Answer: All begonias like hot summer weather. They also do their best to find a shade filtered sun location. Wax begonias are not constantly wet. Therefore, if you are doing planting, find it in an area where the sun and air movements are good during the day. Given good condition, the plant can last until summer and in autumn. The begonia, similar to the angel wings, is not too loud, but prefers filtered sun, and everything grows very well in the container.
Q. My 10-year-old avocado, grown from seeds, produced two great fruits last year. There have been a lot of growth this year, but no flowers. Are you still getting fruit this year?
A. You have work patience. As one priest once told me, Job didn’t have many options, but you do. Many growers would have removed the tree a few years ago. Seedlings are not a reliable producer and can take years to reach maturity. It appears your tree has finally reached a time when good fruition may begin. It looks like your tree will only continue to grow this year, but next year could be different. Keep moist soils in place and continue to pay close attention by applying citrus avocado fertilizer in March, May, August and early October. Hopefully this will boost production and will provide you with the fruit you remember next year.
Q. I have a hibiscus that is very tall and has almost stopped blooming. Is this a good time to do the necessary pruning?
A. Prunes into this bush if necessary. If the hibiscus is in the period of growth but there are few flowers, it will be a good time to thin out the old stems and reduce the height and width. We hope to apply fertilizer by the end of May to promote growth and flowering. Moisten the soil and maintain a 2-3-inch mulch layer, encouraging more flowers by the end of summer.
Plant Doctor: Dry and hot conditions can wreak havoc on young bush daisy plants
Q. The soil is being prepared for the new St. Augustine lawn. How often do I need to water the grass after it’s installed?
A. Summer is the perfect time to install a new lawn. Because Mother Nature may help with watering. Still, you need to make sure the soil remains consistently moist, at least during the first month. This means watering well, so the grass and the soil beneath have a wet feeling. Usually, you need half to three-thirds of water each time the grass is wet. To revive the wilt, you may only need fog. After the grass is installed, there is water every day during the first week. If the weather is hot and very dry, this is twice a day. The second week of watering can usually be reduced twice a week, and every three days in three weeks. In the fourth week, watering is done twice a week. Don’t constantly flood new grasses, especially as shady spots can lead to problems with rot. The weather may be hot and dry and additional watering may be required.
Q. There is an Asian jasmine bed filled with Bermudagrass. For years I’ve been pulling it out, but it just breaks. Is there another way to get it out?
A. It’s not fun to pull unnecessary grass from decorative planting. It’s amazing that they have been tolerating this issue for several years. Fortunately, at least one herbicide is applied to invasive plants that can be used among decorative plants that list Asian jasmine on the label. Over the top II glass controls of decorative fertilizer can be found in separate garden centres. Follow the label for the appropriate application and the possibility of repetitive treatments required. Control may be required several weeks after application.
June in the gardens in Central Florida
Q. Our mature banana plants are not fruiting, they produce puppies from the base. Should I remove the original plant?
A. Give your mature banana plants time to increase productivity. Planting in most homes takes more than a year to grow large enough for flowers and fruits. Bananas are affected by cool to cold winter temperatures. In some locations, the plant may require more growth time. Keep your puppies and split the cluster if necessary. Provide monthly fertilizer applications in warm months, moisten the soil, maintaining 2-3 inch mulch layers for best production.
Q. One of my Camellia Bushes is almost dying from above. How can you make it healthy and grow?
A. Make sure the plant has sufficient moisture and start the revival process. Dig into the ground into the root zone. If the soil is dry or barely wet, you may have found the cause of the decline, and more frequent watering may be the treatment. Camellias ingest stem diseases that can cause a decrease. Return dead or decaying stem parts to healthy wood. Next, apply the copper sterilizer as directed on the label. Also, after pruning, fertilize again and again in autumn.
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.
