Callers:

• James – He wants advice on growing an avacodo tree he just picked up.

Recommendation – The only succesful avacado trees Jay has seen that were succesful are in lawn areas, irrigated, surrounded by citrus trees. It needs some shade from the summer afternoon sun too. Their natural environment has humidity, so try to recreate those conditions.

*Avacado questions are popular and we discuss the different varieties and the plans to make them more tolerant for the Arizona climate.

• Randy – He cut his roses back and fertilized them already. Does he need to fertilize again and when should he do it?

Recommendation – Fertilize them once a month during the spring and summer.  Let them get some new growth before he adds the 1st treatment.

*We give tickets away to a lucky winner who’ll take in a ASU Basketball game.

Callers:

• Her Palo Verde tree is losing its bark and there are holes under the bark too.

Recommendation – It sounds like the palo verde borers to Jay. They can do serious damage to the tree and she can treat them to get rid of it.  Listen for a description on what to do and what can happen if you don’t treat the area for them.

• Connie – She wants to add a type of palm she describes and how does she take care of it. (A cute little one)

Recommendation – She sounds like she is describing a prickly pear and there are different varities.  She’ll need to make sure that it’s small variety so it won’t take over her yard. They do well in pots too.

Email From Listeners:

• Jeremy – What is this fungus growing in my lawn and how can I get rid of it? His dog keeps eating it and wants to get rid of it.

Recommendation – It looks like an old tree might’ve been there and the old root/trunk turn into a fungus. It needs to stay dry. Make sure you’re irrigation is not on it too. Remove the fungus and then let it dry out.

• Fred – Can I fix this split in my mesquite tree?

Recommendation – It’s too big of a trunk to just cut it off. He can drill it and bolt it together to try to save it. Make sure you listen to Jay describe this before you do it and then apply pruning sealer over it.

Letter From Listeners:

• CJ – Is this peeling bark on my ficus tree a sign of problems. Do we think it is still salvageable?

Recommendation – It does look pretty bad. A few years ago we froze and then we had extreme summer, plus it looks like it has sooty canker.  It looks like it should just be replaced. We talk about a few replacements he could use.

• Ann – Is there a good variety of tree that doesn’t get too big, but provides shade for a patio. They want it to be part of a zeroscape too.

Recommendation – Texas ebony or a mastic tree are both great choices for her situation.

• Devin – His garden is covered in white flies. What can he do to get rid of them?

Recommendation – Because of the mild winter, they are more prevalant. He can treat it with neem oil based product (it’s good for edible gardens) He’ll need to treat under the leaves and it needs to happen every few days until they are gone.

If you’re in the valley, stop in at Harper’s Nursery & Landscaping Company to pick up the plants you need and to get the best advice for your yard!