Q. I am planning to grow blueberries in my yard and around my house. What is your advice and can I find good plants locally?
A. Start this fruit production project by having your soil tested at your local University of Florida Extension office. Take several samples to be tested from the various areas where you would like to add the plantings. Blueberries need a very low soil acidity in the 4.5 to 5.2 pH range. If the soil acidity is inappropriate, you are not going to be successful. You might be able to alter the pH if needed or bring in an acid compost to grow your plantings.
Plants can be obtained locally but be sure to purchase the varieties for Central Florida. Some of the good producers include Sharpeblue, Emerald, Jewel, Windsor, Springhigh and Star. It is best to plant two or more of these varieties for best fruiting. Local independent garden centers should have the blueberry plants you need this spring.
Q. Our ten-year-old oak tree has developed lumps at the ends of the branches which we are told are galls. They form even though the tree has been sprayed. Can the tree be saved?
A. Oak trees are often full of lumps, furry balls and leaf-like growths sprouting from their leaves, stems and trunks. According to the University of Florida about 60 percent of the known galls occur on oak trees. Most are caused by small aphids, psyllids, midges and wasps which are seldom seen affecting the trees.
Galls do raise concern but even though unsightly cause little harm. As you found, it is probably impractical to apply sprays as you would have to time them to the presence of the insects which can be throughout much of the warmer months. You may see a little stem decline from galls and this can be pruned out when noted. Most gardeners ignore galls as they rarely cause severe damage to oak trees.
Q. My bananas were damaged by the cold but the plants are now putting out new growths. What are my chances of getting bananas this year?
A. Yes, there is going to be bananas this year unless we get a late cold snap. So keep your fingers crossed and give your plantings good care. This should include keeping the soil moist and maintaining a 2- to 3-inch mulch over the root systems. Feed the plantings lightly but monthly to encourage growth and fruiting. Usually bananas need about 15 months of reasonable growth to produce a crop -- we may just get it this year.
Q. My crape myrtles have berries on the ends of the stems and some appear to be getting new leaves. What should I do?
A. Observation of the whacking and hacking around town says there are many options when it comes to the care of crape myrtles. You are also going to find that many gardeners choose to do nothing and let the shrubs or small trees grow naturally and they do just fine. Others like to prune off the old fruit capsules which you refer to as berries. These are cut back to a point on the stems about the diameter of your finger.
Gardeners who do light pruning often also remove some of the twiggy growths and shoots that compete with each other plus excess stems from the base of the plants. This is the kindest pruning and you are still going to get good growth and flowering. Then there are pruners who insist on cutting their crape myrtles way back. No one seems to really know why such harsh pruning is needed as it produces an atypical shrub or tree often with delayed flowering. No matter what you plan to do, now is the time to do the pruning.
Q. We need to grind out a large pindo palm stump and we are told the company can go 12 inches deep. We would like to plant a roebelenii palm on top of this area. Would this work?
A. Palms have an extensive root system and grinding down of the stump is going to leave a lot of the palm behind. It's likely not what you want to do, but the remaining stump portion after the grinding is best dug out. Otherwise, the new palm is going to have to compete with the remaining root portions and eventually rotting palm portions.
Q. Our bahia lawn is eight months old and has a few patchy weeds. What would be a good fertilizer and weed control program?
A. Bahia lawns are preparing for spring growth so now would be a good time to apply the fertilizer and control the weeds. You could apply a weed and feed product but if you only have a few weeds it might be an over application of chemicals. Why not apply a quality lawn fertilizer any time between now and the middle of March? Then you can treat the weeds with a liquid herbicide made for your lawn type. You could spot spray the weeds when noted and make repeat application if needed following label instructions. Additional fertilizer can be spread in early summer and again in September. Also keep an iron only product handy to apply if yellowing is noted in the lawn.
Q. I have two azaleas I want move. Is now a good time?
A. Now is still a good time to make the move but hurry. Transplanting of shrubs is best done during the cooler weather and hot spring days should arrive soon. Make sure the soil is thoroughly moist before the move and gather a large intact ball of soil. Then may sure the plants stay moist after the move. Proper watering is the secret to successful transplanting