Question:
My Crepe Myrtle tree used to bear beautiful pink flowers, but several years ago, it stopped after the tree broke in half. What must I do to get it to bloom again? Also, the foliage is a red color. What do you think happened to this tree?Answer:
- Crape Myrtles do not stop blooming just because the tree's structure has been damaged.
- They bloom only on the terminal ends of the new growth that formed each spring.
- The trees are so colorful because all the flowers are at the end of the vegetation and, in many cases, cover the foliage.
- You'll never find any flowers in the interior area of the canopy. Once it finishes flowering, seed pods develop. The pods are green, turning brown. The mature pod will shatter, distributing sterile seeds. These pods are pruned off annually.
- When Crape Myrtles produce little growth, you get little to no flowers. To stimulate the growth, fertilize in March and late May with an organic all-purpose fruit and shade tree fertilizer.
- I'd apply half a pound of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter measured two feet off the ground. It should be distributed around the drip line of the tree.
- The first application could be made earlier after the tree has been pruned. The red foliage indicates other problems influencing growth, but I'm unsure what they might be.
- The red color should only be seen in the fall before leaf drop. I'd have an arborist evaluate the situation to determine what other problems are occurring.
Question:
Is it okay to plant bulbs in containers/planters instead of the ground? If so, when is the best time to plant bulbs? This is all new to me.Answer:
- It's perfectly okay to plant bulbs in containers of all sizes and shapes.
- The best time to plant bulbs in the ground is from the end of October through the end of the year, while with a container, any time from October on is okay to plant.
- This is when the days are getting shorter and cooler. In addition, you should purchase your bulbs early for the best selection.
- Tulips and Hyacinths need to be chilled for six weeks before planting in a refrigerator and remove any fruit. The naturally releasing ethylene gas from the fruit will damage the immature flowers.
- The remaining bulbs can be stored in the garage or any other dry location until you are ready to plant.
- Depending on the size of the container, you can double or triple-deck different bulbs in one container. When you are ready to plant, add Bulb Food to the soil mix. Depending on the size of the bulb, add a teaspoon or tablespoon of Bulb Food under each one.
- Finally, add some seasonal color like Pansies so they are immediately colorful. It's a bit late for Tulips, but it's okay for Daffodils.