Caring for Christmas trees and other holiday plants:

• Don’t ever let your stand run out of water.
• Keep trees away from heater vents, fireplaces, etc.
• Avoid spaces with breezes by doors.
• Remember poinsetta’s are tropical plants and need constant warm and bright spaces.

Texts From a Listener:

• Do they need to cover their baby palm trees to protect them from the frost?

Recommendation – It depends on the type of palm tree it is.  Jay talks through the varieties and which to be concerned about.

• His landlord cut down a tree, but left the stump. Now shoots are sprouting up. What should he be doing to keep it from coming back?

Recommendation – Jay would make a fresh cut, drill into the stump and put undiluted roundup into the holes.

Caller:

• Bob – His pine tree has browning needles and he wants to know if he should cut back the branches, remove the tree or what other option he has.

Recommendation – It really would take an expert eye from someone like John Eisenhower with Integrity Tree Service.  Older allepo pines have been dying back in the valley lately and they’re not sure why. It can be expensive to remove one, so we’d get an expert out right away to set him up with a gameplan.

*We also discuss pruning an olive tree this time of year. (Not recommended)

• Russ – His Christmas tree stopped taking in water about a week ago and he’s heard a few tips to get it “drinking” again. What do we think?

Recommendation – It really helps picking the freshest tree to start with. Rosie’s only had luck with one method; soaking it completely in the pool for a day. Jay’s advice on getting it to “drink” again, unfortunately involves making a fresh cut at the bottom of the tree again.

• Randy – He has a mature grapefruit tree in his backyard that’s been overwhelmed by his tipu tree. He’s run the drain from his evaporative cooler and is concerned that he’s over watering. What do we think?

Recommendation – The overflow water from his evap cooler is full of salt and could be a big part of his problem. Add some gypsym or soil sulfur (Even Hickman’s from above) then give it a slow drip watering to flush the system. Jay also has some advice for next spring.

• Joan – Can she use the silt from her rain gutters as part of her compost or on her lawn?

Recommendation – Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with that.

Text From a Listener:

• They just removed a stump in their yard. What should they use to fill it back in?

Recommendation – Fill dirt or top soil is easily accessible and available throughout the valley. It’s not good to use mulch because it won’t compact enought.

• Is now a good time to plant a chinese orchid tree?

Recommendation – Now is not ideal. Mid-February would be better after the frost threat is gone.

• Is now a good time to plant a pomegranite tree?

Recommendation – This IS a great time for deciduous fruit trees.  Get to digging!

• Jay covers some final “To Do List” items for this time of year.

Thanks to Jay for the great advice and remember Harper’s Nursery & Landscaping Company for great holiday gift ideas!