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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Burlington Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January 1998. 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.
Question:
I plan to plant a lot of oak trees on my property this month to
provide acorns for wildlife. I was told that it may take 30 to
40 years before they begin to produce acorns. Is there anything
I can do to speed up this process?
Answer:
The word 'maturity' is used to define when a
tree leaves behind its juvenile status and is capable of sexual
reproduction. Maturity is when the tree first produces flowers.
For just about every oak that you may be planting including
white, northern red, southern red, black, and scarlet, will
mature in about 20 years. This is an average and it can vary
depending on growing conditions, competition from other trees,
and the overall health of the tree. The sawtooth oak is an
exception. This oak will begin producing acorns around 5 years
of age. The sawtooth oak produces about the largest acorn of all
the oaks. It can be almost 1 inch in length. This oak is widely
planted for wildlife because of its nutritional value and early
maturity.
Question:
I would like to transplant some small cedars
from a field to my property to serve as a screen. When would be
the best time to do this and how should I prepare the ground?
Answer:
Small cedars that are less than waist high are
fairly easy to move by one individual. January is one of the
best months to transplant trees from one location to another.
The trees are dormant now and not under drought stress. You can
get a better rootball while the soil is wet. I would recommend
planting the dug trees the same day you dig them. Also plant
them at the same soil level they were growing at in the field.
Do not add any soil amendments or fertilizer to the new planting
hole. Water them after planting if you can. I would space them
at least 10 feet apart.
Question:
When should I start my broccoli, cabbage, and
cauliflower seed for transplants?
Answer:
The cole crops can take from 5 to 7 weeks after
seeding before they are ready for transplanting. We recommend
that the transplants be put in the garden around mid-March. You
can start seeds indoors, in a cold frame, or in a greenhouse.
Good seed will produce 75% to 90% germination. If you need more
information on growing transplants call me for our publication on
'Producing Commercial Vegetable Transplants'.
Question:
We had planned a major renovation of our
landscape for this past fall. However because of the drought we
postponed this project until more favorable weather returned.
Shouldn't we wait until we get closer to spring?
Answer:
I would have this project started as soon as
possible. This is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs.
Usually after 4 to 5 days of no rain, the soil should be
workable. I do not recommend planting in the mud or standing
water. Evergreen plants should be watered soon after planting
and again if we go for weeks without rainfall. Deciduous trees
just need watering at planting. Advise your landscaper not to
use heavy equipment or drive over the lawn if at all possible to
avoid rutting. Sometimes it just can't be helped. Other than
that, I would give them the green light to start.
Herb Meeting
Thymes To-Gather will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 7 pm in the Agricultural Building.
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If you have any horticultural questions, please direct them to Rett Davis