Dear Neil: Our neighbor has a large magnolia tree that casts very heavy shade into our yard. It has left us with a large bare area, and we性视界传媒檝e been unable to grow either turfgrass or hostas there. What groundcover would have the best chance of succeeding? The branches are up off the ground.
My personal choice for most of Texas would be regular mondograss (not dwarf). Liriope is an excellent choice if you want something a little taller. Many people plant English ivy and it, too, should be considered. Ask your favorite independent garden center manager to show you the options and suggest the best for your specific situation.
Dear Neil: The city is going to be doing some water line replacements in the parkway in front of our sidewalk. I have a couple of weeks lead time. If I dig the bermudagrass sod out this time of year, is there any chance it would survive being replanted 3 or 4 days later (their estimate of how long they性视界传媒檒l need)?
With bermuda, yes. St. Augustine and zoysia would be much less likely. Bermuda is simply a really tough grass. Hopefully the ground is moist but not soggy. Use a square-bladed nursery spade (also known by plumbers as a 性视界传媒渢ile spade性视界传媒) to dig the sod out. Lay the spade almost flat on the ground to slice the sod with about 1 inch of good topsoil along with roots of the sod. Cut it into 12 x 18-inch pieces and set them over onto an out-of-the-way place on your front walk. You might need to water them lightly if it takes the city longer than expected. Once they are through and have filled the hole, rototill lightly to a depth of 1 to 2 inches and rake to a smooth planting bed. Take the pieces of sod and carefully lay them back in place If they extend above the surrounding grade by a couple of inches, don性视界传媒檛 worry. The filled area will settle and compact until it all levels out. Water immediately after replanting. You may also want to roll the area lightly to smooth it after a week or two, once you can begin to see if they are lumps, humps, and bumps.
Dear Neil: I have broccoli plants that I planted last fall. They have made it through the winter and still provided us with some florets right before the last couple of cold spells. Is there any chance the plants could rebound and be productive this spring?
Even if there were, it wouldn性视界传媒檛 be worth dedicating valuable garden space to them. Replace them with healthy, vigorous new transplants. Even if your old plants were to produce a few new florets, the new ones would run circles around them.
Dear Neil: Is it normal for ornamental grasses to thin out or even die out given time? What can I do to slow that decline? I have Mexican feathergrass and maidengrass.
Most types of ornamental grasses, notably the two you mentioned, do play out after several years. The clumps thin and die until you may have a large bed with no active plants left. That性视界传媒檚 why it性视界传媒檚 been my contention for many years that we should use the grasses as accents, not as replacements for standard perennials and landscaping shrubs. Other than dividing and replanting with more of the types that you have, I don性视界传媒檛 know of any way to slow the thinning.
Dear Neil: I want to have my lawn aerated this year. When is the best time?
I性视界传媒檓 curious why you feel the need. The only times I recommend it are when there has been significant compaction due to pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Kids playing football or people parking off the driveway are good examples. Of, if your lawn has built up a significant accumulation of thatch. That性视界传媒檚 the layer of undecomposed organic matter that forms between the top of the soil and the runners (as opposed to the dead stubble browned by the freezes). Other than those two very specific issues, there性视界传媒檚 normally not much reason to be putting a lawn through the agonies of core aeration. If you do need to have it done, however, late March or April would probably be the best time. Pull the plugs on top of the turf, run the mower across the lawn, and perhaps apply your first lawn feeding of the season.
Dear Neil: I have a planting of abelias that is probably as old as my house (60 years). They性视界传媒檙e alongside my driveway, and they性视界传媒檝e become tall and lanky. Can I prune them back to get them to thicken up?
Yes. Use lopping shears to trim away the long shoots one at a time. That way you won性视界传媒檛 end up with a butchered looking shrub that you性视界传媒檇 get with a gasoline-powered hedge trimmer. Start with the branches that have been cut repeatedly and that have knobby ends. Leave as many of the straight stems as you can since they性视界传媒檒l have a more normal look to them. You性视界传媒檒l be able to thin the plants out, and you性视界传媒檒l also be able to get rid of all the disfigurements. Finish it up with an application of an all-nitrogen fertilizer about the time new growth begins in March. Give it a deep soaking at the same time. Your plants should take off hastily.
