Dear Neil: About three weeks ago our crape myrtles started dropping leaves. We性视界传媒檝e lived here 20 years and we性视界传媒檝e never seen them do this before. They were watered weekly. Any idea what the problem might be?
Lovely landscape. Lovely crape myrtles. Without watching your plants operate during that time, I性视界传媒檓 going to have to give it an educated guess. It still is likely that they got a bit dry. Crape myrtles all across Texas started shedding leaves early this year due to the prolonged heat and late summer dry spell. That性视界传媒檚 compared to a relatively wet spring where the plants put on succulent new growth. So that性视界传媒檚 one factor. I also wonder if there性视界传媒檚 any chance of shallow soil beneath these trees, perhaps with a rocky outcropping. It does happen here in Texas! They性视界传媒檙e a bit 性视界传媒渂oxed in性视界传媒 by the concrete walls on two sides. If they were in shallow soil that would further restrict their access to soil moisture.
When people mention premature leaf drop on crape myrtles, I always look first for evidence of either crape myrtle bark scale or crape myrtle aphids, but I see little evidence that either might have been involved. They both leave a shiny, sticky honeydew residue on the leaf and stem tissues (I see none), and that honeydew in turn gives rise to growth of black sooty mold. I do wonder if there might be a bit of mold on the largest trunks, but it性视界传媒檚 certainly not very serious and it may not even be current.
Finally, perhaps it性视界传媒檚 just the time of day when you took the photo, but it appears that large trees may have grown out and over the crape myrtles. It appears that they性视界传媒檙e in a good bit of shade. That can cause them to bloom less prolifically, and it can also cause them to drop leaves prematurely.
Dear Neil: As the years have gone by, I性视界传媒檝e started using pots for growing okra, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc. Do I need to throw the entire contents (soil) out every year and start fresh with new soil? Or, can I add about half a pot of new potting soil, peat moss, etc.?
I have 30 or 40 large patio pots I use for growing color plants in our landscape. My color plants translate almost exactly to your vegetables. I find it easier and quicker to change out large pots than to rework beds all the time. I do have a sort of pecking order in how I reuse the old potting soil. I certainly do not throw it away. For my most special color plants I start completely anew with fresh potting soil each year. That would include everything from pansies to caladiums. When they have used it for a year, I take the old soil out at the end of the season and re-mix it with more organic matter so that I can plant tougher types like lantanas, coleus, and moss rose into the refurbished mix. After that I dump it all into my large flowerbeds and vegetable gardens and rototill it all in.
My concern on your behalf would be that all three crops you specifically called out are subject to nematodes, the microscopic soil-borne worms that sting those crops性视界传媒 roots and cause abnormal galls. They weaken the plants, often killing them. Their populations will build in the soil, which means that starting with fresh soil would be a good idea. I性视界传媒檓 also concerned about the productivity of okra in pots since it性视界传媒檚 such a large plant in the garden. I would think it would be much less productive in containers. But it sounds like it性视界传媒檚 working for you so I性视界传媒檒l not go there. Have you considered the raised bed options. There are some very nice pre-fabricated styles on the market today.
Dear Neil: Neighbors have a large bed of purpleheart groundcover they planted this spring. They性视界传媒檝e been told it will freeze to the ground, but that it will sprout back again next spring. That means all the tops will freeze. Could they be harvested for use as cuttings this fall? When and how can I grow them?
That性视界传媒檚 how it性视界传媒檚 propagated. It性视界传媒檚 a sensational perennial groundcover, and what they性视界传媒檝e been told is exactly correct. The plants性视界传媒 roots even survived the extreme cold temperatures of February 2021 (below 0 in several parts of North Texas) and came sprouting right back out the following April.
Take cuttings as soon as the neighbors are willing to let you. You can easily remove 5-inch pieces from the ends of many shoots without it even being noticeable. They will all freeze to the ground anyway, although it would be better if you did not wait until the night of the first freeze to take the cuttings. While we still have several weeks of comparatively warm weather, take the cuttings and insert them into 4- or 5-inch pots filled with loose, highly organic potting soil. Snug the pots into flats so you can lift them into (and then out of) the garage the first few frosty nights. Often those nights are followed by several more weeks of warm, sunny weather.
Purpleheart is a sister to wandering Jews, and as a result, it性视界传媒檚 ultimately easy to root. Once rooted, all you性视界传媒檒l have to do is keep it warm and bright over the winter. Plant them out into your garden next April.
