Q. My honeysuckle is pretty wild looking. Dare I cut it down this time of year, or should I just grin and bear it? — Jean Phillips, Lafayette, Ind. A. You won’t kill it if you prune it now, but the cuts are areas that could dry out during winter. It’s best to wait until spring, just before it leafs out, if you’re going to do drastic pruning. If you just want to tip it back a […]
Q. My husband and I planted gallon-sized azalea plants last spring. Should they be pruned this year? If so, when and how much? We understand that they are an acid-loving plant. Since sulfur is acidic, can that be used? Thank you. — Deanna Freeman A. Typically, newly planted shrubs do not need much pruning except to cut out dead wood, which you can do at any time during the year. Improper pruning can cause a lack of […]
Q. An insect is killing my schefflera. It gets white, fuzzy-looking places on it that feel soft, and you cannot see the insect that is working on it. Finally, it will kill the leaf if not removed. I wash the leaves from time to time with soap and water, and last time a little bleach. It works for a while. I even tried a fungus product and worked it in the soil after giving the plant […]
Q. I read your article on fire blight. We have a bad case of fire blight on one of our pear trees. You spoke of doing a pruning of the diseased parts, and we were wondering when would be the best time to do the pruning–spring or fall? — Linda Am Rhein, Scipio, Ind. A. Fire blight-infected limbs and branches should be pruned during late winter when there is much less chance of spreading fire-blight bacteria on […]
Q. Each year, including this past one, some of the new growth on my pear trees turns black and wilts. This year is the worst ever. What causes this and what can I do about it? – Ann Hunt, West Lafayette, Ind. A. Fireblight causes young twigs and flower blossoms to wilt, blacken and die. Often the tips of blighted twigs become crooked, resembling a shepherd’s staff. Fireblight affects apples, pears and certain ornamentals, including crab apples, […]