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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January of this year. Scroll to the bottom of
this page to navigate to other Gardening Q&As. Please contact
Rett via e-mail with questions
or
comments in regard to this column.
Answer:
All pampas grasses will eventually bloom if they are planted in
full sun. Female plants have the showy blooms. Most all pampas grass
is propagated by division. Daughter plants are usually removed from the
'mother' in March. Those plants that come from division will flower
earlier and will almost always be female. The blooms from the male are
not very attractive. Sometimes pampas grass can be derived from seed.
Your plants could have come from seed and just need more time to
mature. Unfortunately you may have some male plants and after all this
wait you may still be disappointed in what appears.
Question:
I have watched mistletoe growing in a nearby oak tree. Each
year it seems to be spreading. Will it eventually kill the tree?
Answer:
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant. Therefore it does derive its
water and nutrients from it's host plant. They have been known to cause
damage to trees especially in the west and southwest. However the
species that grows here, Phoradendron serotinum, seldom kills its host.
Mistletoe is not considered a serious pest nor one you should worry
about. Throughout history mankind has been fascinated with this plant.
It has been revered as a medicinal herb and religious symbol. There is
a lot of folklore associated with this plant too. It makes an
interesting plant to learn more about. It has only been in the last few
years that it has become politically incorrect to have it in the
workplace. I rarely see it in homes. Perhaps it is removed before I
arrive. Mistletoe is spread by birds. The fluid that surrounds the
seed is sticky. When birds eat the berries they take their beaks and
try to wipe the sticky material off against a branch with their beaks.
As a result the seed is often wiped off into the crevices of the bark
where it germinates. I have never observed this behavior personally but
I was taught this years ago by a very noted botanist. The seed is also
passed through the birds digestive tract unharmed and deposited on the
bark. Regardless of how it gets started, birds are the culprit. The
berries are poisonous and should be removed from the plant if you have
children or pets in the house. A fresh sprig sits atop my computer
monitor as I write this article.
Question:
Now that all my Bradford pears have departed my property I am
ready to replant something else. What are the best replacements for
Bradford pears?
Answer:
Few trees will rival Bradford pears. Bradfords are known for
lovely spring flowers (although the stink), great fall color, and for
being so versatile. They will grow where other trees suffer. They can
handle poorly drained soils and thrive in limited space. In addition
they were an ideal size for backyards, driveways, and as street trees.
They were almost pest free. Unfortunately few people knew or took the
time to learn how to prune and care for them. It is not a tree that you
plant and can walk away from. They are still fruit trees that require
training and limb positioning in their formative years. As for
replacements there are many medium size trees that do best in full sun.
A few that come to mind are Yoshino cherry, Japanese apricot,
crapemyrtles, crabapples (persistent fruited culitvars only),
serviceberry, Chinese pistache, and Japanese stewartia.
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If you have any horticultural questions, please direct them to Rett Davis