Question:
I have a Clematis vine planted along a south-facing fence. The new growth is on the top three to four inches of a seven-foot-long, pencil-thin stem that’s burned, too. Should I cut it back really short and hope for the best next spring?Answer:
- Don't worry too much about the burnt foliage. It should fall off as the plant goes dormant. While dormant, I recommend pruning all basal growth. You can do this now or in March; please choose whichever is more convenient for you.
- Most Clematis varieties are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves and produce new growth from the base in spring. However, there are two evergreen varieties, Armandi and Avalanche, which have white flowers. These are pruned in spring to shape the plants.
- Clematis prefers a southern exposure as long as its roots remain cool, moist, and insulated from the afternoon sun, from June through September. The roots should be shaded during the hottest part of the day, but it’s okay for the foliage to be in the afternoon sun.
- A two-inch layer of mulch helps protect surface roots and should be spread evenly from the trunk to beyond the drip line, especially when temperatures exceed eighty-five degrees.
- Last year’s scorched or burnt stems and foliage were likely caused by this lack of shading, along with the exposure of stems to the sun during hot days.
- An organic, balanced fertilizer supplies essential nutrients for growth throughout the season. I think you should apply it after pruning and repeating periodically.
- You might need to transplant the Clematis if the current spot isn’t suitable, which can also be done in March or earlier.
- Clematis needs watering three times a week, or more often when temperatures exceed 85 degrees. Unlike other vines, they don’t develop large, thick stems—pencil-thin stems are typical.
- The main advantage of deciduous plants over evergreens is that they shed all the old growth from the previous year, giving you a fresh start each year.
Question:
Why don't people plant pistachio trees and harvest the nuts as we do with almonds and walnuts?Answer:
- If you're patient, you can grow your own pistachios.
- Pistachio trees prefer a hot, dry climate with cold winters. Therefore, inland areas away from the coast are ideal. These are large, tall trees that can be problematic in poorly drained, clay soils.
- Pistache trees don't produce male and female flowers on the same tree, so you'll need two trees to get a crop. Very few yards are big enough to support two large trees.
- Typically, pistachio trees begin to bear fruit around eight years old, and a full harvest might not happen until the tree is fifteen years old. In contrast, almonds and walnuts are harvested after two to three years.
- Harvesting the nuts can be tricky when there's other vegetation under and around the tree canopy.
- Unless you have plenty of space, it's just not the kind of tree you should plant in most gardens.