Q&A – Ask Neil: May 12, 2022
When I began this new section three weeks ago I didn’t know what to expect. The results were humbling, with almost 100 questions posted in the first 18 hours. It’s taken me three weeks to work my way through them, but I think I’ve answered almost all of them – except for the duplicates and those who didn’t tell me their city.
To keep things more current, I have asked my webmaster and chief template maker to fix us a meter that will allow 25 questions to be posted at a time. At that point it will close the gate until I can see if I will need more. As much as I’d like to answer all questions here, with 80,000 subscribers, it just isn’t possible.
Click here to send your question and photo.
So let’s try this for a couple of weeks and see how it works. We will open things up as we distribute e-gardens at 6 p.m. each Thursday. Thanks for understanding.
• Each week I choose 8-10 of your questions to answer the following Thursday evening. I start with those submitted first, so it pays to read e-gardens as soon as it distributes.
• Please give me a first name or initials so I can refer others to your question when needed.
• I must have your city to consider your question. Texas is a very large state, and I need it to give an accurate reply.
• I will select questions of greatest general reader interest. (Plant IDs will rarely make the cut.)
• Questions accompanied by one clear, medium-resolution photograph will be given high consideration.
Question 1
HOW MUCH IMIDICLOPRID TO APPLY TO CRAPE MYRTLES
Dear Neil: I’ve read your information about applying Imidacloprid systemic insecticide as a soil drench to prevent crape myrtle bark scale. How do I determine the amount to use? Cheryl, Gordon (Palo Pinto Co.)
Question 2
HOW TO GET RID OF HORSETAIL
Dear Neil: Horsetail started in the compost pile. I thought I had killed it there, but this year it has come back with a vengeance and it is spreading out into the lawn and landscape. I’m mowing it, but how can I kill it? C.S., Carrollton.
Question 3
WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY OAK LEAVES?
Dear Neil: What is going on with my Shumard red oak’s leaves? What can I do to correct it? E.W., Bowie.
Question 4
WHY IS MONDOGRASS NOT GROWING?
Dear Neil: What is going wrong with my mondograss that it’s not growing? Tips are turning brown and some plants have died altogether. L.H., Watauga.
Question 5
WHY NO FALL COLOR ON MY CHINESE PISTACHIO?
Dear Neil: After reading how great the red fall color of Chinese pistachios is I bought one four years ago. So far, no color at all. Not one hint of red. I wrapped its trunk to protect against sun scald as you suggested. I think I followed all the guidelines. I’m very disappointed. P., Cleburne.
Question 6
CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO HELP THIS CUT LIMB HEAL?
Dear Neil: Is there anything I should do to help this cut branch heal any better? T. Cisco.
Question 7
WHY WOULD ANTHONY WATERER SPIRAEAS DIE THIS YEAR?
Dear Neil: We have four Anthony Waterer spiraeas that are six years old. Each winter I cut them back by half and they have done fine. This year, however, some of them have died. Would it be a bad idea to plant more of them in the voids? N., Arlington.