Phylloxera galls on pecan tree leaves are harmless
Published 5:10 am Thursday, May 10, 2018
- PECAN PHYLLOXERA galls on these leaves do not harm the tree.
Dear Neil: I have a large pecan tree that is dropping leaves. Many of them have swollen growths on their blades. What are those, and how can I stop them from damaging any more of the leaves?
A: Those are pecan phylloxera galls and they’re basically harmless to the tree overall. They’ll knock some of the leaves off, but the tree will move on just fine. Dormant (horticultural) oil spray applied in January will loll a good number of them in their over-wintering form, but there is nothing you can do about them at this point.
NO WEEDKILLER
Dear Neil: My bluebonnet patch has spread into the crushed granite path in our front yard. I don’t mind having them there, because as they go to seed I gather the seeds and replant them elsewhere. However, weeds come up with them. Is there any kind of weedkiller I can use that wall eliminate the weeds without hurting the bluebonnets?
A: There is no weedkiller that is that selective. Probably your best bet is to draw a dividing line and just define where you want the bluebonnets and where they won’t be allowed to grow. That way you’ll be able to keep weeds out of your walk and keep things looking a lot better groomed.
NELLIE R. STEVENS HOLLY
Dear Neil: There is a two-story building behind ray house. I would like to plant a fast-growing shrub or tree that would grow to 15 to 18 feet tall. The space I have is about 8 to 12 feet wide. The depth of the space is 2 to 3 feet.
A: I’d suggest Nellie R. Stevens holly planted on 8-foot centers. It’s not the fastest-growing shrub around, but fast growth really isn’t an asset if it’s going to mean that the plant will become unruly or difficult to trim. Oakland or Mary Nell hollies would be two other choices. Teddy Bear magnolias would be nice, but they really are slow-growing. Waxleaf ligustrums would fall short of your needed height. Redtip photinias are disastrous choices due to Entomosporium fungal leaf spot, so don’t let anyone talk you into them. Yaupon hollies would be excellent, but I fear they would spread too wide.
FIREMAN’S CAP
Dear Neil: Our friend has this plant growing in her yard in South Texas. What is it, and what care advice does she need to have to maintain it?
A: This is a fairly uncommon plant called fireman’s cap or coral bean (Erythrina x bidwillii). It’s a small tropical tree or large shrub or a tender perennial that’s noted for these unusual flowers. Its stems have very sharp spines, so advise her to work around it with extreme caution. (She probably has already learned that lesson.) She should give it full or nearly full sun.
FASCIATION
Dear Neil: What is going on with our sago palm? It’s growing in this bizarre way with at least a dozen new heads. What should I do?
A: This is called “fasciation,” where cells divide in two planes instead of in all directions. You’re used to seeing it in the garden flower called cockscomb, and you may have noticed it on new growth of Texas mountain laurel. If you collect succulents, there are many euphorbias that develop this growth. It’s much less common with sago palms. My best advice is just to let it go ahead and play out. It will get more and more interesting, but it will end up destroying the plant.
ENCROACHING SEA WATER
Dear Neil: I’m trying to improve the gardens around a beach home we bought a year ago. We’ve had ocean water come into the backyard twice and it has deposited sand over some of my plantings (hosta, lavender, tiger lily, carpeting phlox, etc.). I’m wondering what suggestions you might have.
A: That’s a fun, but very specialized question that I’m going to try to answer. However, I’m also going to refer you to a retail nursery in your immediate area. I’m surprised to hear of hostas and lavender surviving the heat and humidity along the Texas Gulf Coast, if that’s even where your house is. Salt water is very damaging to many species, and you’ll want to concentrate on plants that do well in it. Most of the Texas coast was impacted terribly by Hurricane Harvey, so we hope that this was a unique occurrence. If you are only getting marginal deposits of sand from high tides, perhaps raising the beds would help, or growing plants in large pots to get them above the tide line could be of help, or perhaps moving your back boundary closer to your house might bring it a few feet farther above sea level. I know my answers are vague, but there’s a lot I can’t tell without more details.
PRETTY PLANT
Dear Neil: A friend offered me a start of variegated cane. Is it as invasive as golden bamboo?
A: No. Not even close. It’s a handsome large grass if you have a spacious perennial garden where you can plant it in the back. I’d still contain it in some way, but it’s a very pretty plant. My observation has been that it does revert to the green form. You want to dig the green growth out or it will overtake your variegated planting.
USE DEET
Dear Neil: What can I use to keep my grandkids from being chewed up with chiggers when they visit?
A: It’s a lot more practical to apply one of the DEET repellents to our legs, shoes, socks, cuffs, arms and sleeves than it is to try to spray the entire environment. If you have mosquito problems as well, the DEET will also protect them from those, too.
Have a question you’d like Neil to consider? Mail it to him in care of this newspaper or email him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com. Neil regrets that he cannot reply to questions individually.