Question:
What are those massive clusters of pink lilies without leaves that I see blooming? Are they a new type of Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus?Answer:
- The pink flowering lilies are not a species of Agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile. There are no pink varieties of Agapanthus; they only come in blue, deep blue, and white.
- The pink lilies are a type of summer-blooming Amaryllis, commonly known as Amaryllis Belladonna or Belladonna Lily. It is also called the Naked Lady because it blooms without any leaves.
- Naked Ladies are native to South Africa and produce fragrant, rosy pink flowers on stems that are over two feet long in August.
- They are large, drought-tolerant bulbs that can grow in a wide range of soils and require minimal care. In late winter or early spring, the bulbs send out long, strap-like leaves that dry up and disappear in July before the red flowering stems emerge. Each stem bears six to twelve fragrant, lily-shaped flowers.
- You can find Amaryllis Belladonna at your favorite garden centers in late fall and winter, along with other spring and summer flowering bulbs.
Question:
I have three small apple trees. Each year, I get very few apples to eat because pests infest or damage the fruit. Mostly spiders, I think. I'm wondering if there's a way I can control these pests. The trees are now full of apples, and as they ripen, I want to protect them from the pests.Answer:
- First off, the spiders pose no threat to ripening apples or any other edible crop. Yes, there are poisonous ones, but they are not found out in the open. The webbing they constantly spin is a nuisance, and it is very difficult to stop. But it does have a positive side, as it helps control the insect population.
- So what then is the problem? Wormy apples and skin blemishes or blotches are the main summer problems on maturing apples. However, you're too late to control them this year.
- Wormy apples are controlled during the blooming period by setting out Coddling Moth Traps and applying Beneficial Nematodes.
- Beneficial Nematodes are applied to the ground under the drip line and target overwintering pupae, while the Coddling Moth Traps monitor the flying adults. Once you trap six or more adults, spray the tree with Captain Jack Dead Bug Brew, three applications a week apart.
- While spring is the primary time for infestations, secondary ones can occur, so keep the traps out all season and check them weekly.
- The skin blemishes or blotches can result from pecking birds, fruits rubbing together, or sunburn on hot days. Once you trap six or more adults, spray the tree with Captain Jack Dead Bug Brew, three applications a week apart.
- Hanging colored tape or aluminum strips in the tree will deter the birds.
- Fertilizing in spring with an organic all-purpose or fruit tree fertilizer encourages the new growth necessary to shade the maturing crop. Thinning the apple clusters will help prevent the fruits from rubbing against each other.
- Everything is not lost, as the apples are still edible, and the damaged areas can be cut out.