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| Q. How do you straighten
a leaning tree?
A. Part of the answer is how the tree is leaning--is
the trunk just bent a little bit? If so, put a stake in the opposite
side and gradually pull it up into place. Sometimes you'll notice
that it'll bend a little bit, and then it hits a point where you
feel like maybe it's going to break if you pull any further. Just
wait there, and later on, you can tighten up the strands a little
more of the wire that’s holding it, so that it eventually
straightens it.
If you've had a storm that's caused the tree to blow over, and
it's a young tree and not a large tree, you want to excavate any
soil underneath the root balls. Sometimes as they lean over, soil
will wash in during the rainstorm that brought on the problem, so
bring some soil out of there, so when you lift it up, you don't
create a fulcrum that may cause roots to break. Straighten it into
place, firm the soil back in around it, and then hold that for about
six months, to give it some time to put new roots in. It may take
a little longer. Don't allow the wires to cut into the trunk or
branches, check them periodically. And once it can hold on it's
own, it should be fine.
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past Questions of the Week
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|  'Mutabilis'
Rose
Old garden roses have the reputation of being able to not
only survive, but thrive despite the stresses of pests, diseases
and our Central Texas climate and soils.
When it comes to foolproof resilience, few can compare to
Mutabilis.
Originating prior to 1894, this China rose produces single
blooms all season that start out sulfur yellow, changing with
time to orange, pink and finally crimson. In full bloom the
bush looks like it is covered with multicolored butterflies,
earning it the nickname of "The Butterfly Rose."
Bronze colored new growth is also very attractive. Mutabilis
is very disease resistant and can be grown without protective
sprays. Give it full sun for best results although unlike
most roses it will take some shade. Allow plenty of room to
grow, since Mutabilis will reach 6 feet in height and width,
forming a beautiful shrub worthy of its place in the landscape.
Don't be afraid to shear it back often to promote full growth
and a new flush of blooms.
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past Plants of the Week
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- All our cool season vegetables need to go
in. You want to make sure and get them off to a good, fast start
so water them in with a dilute fertilizer solution to get them
moving.
- All of the great naturalizing bulbs, many of which are blooming
here in the late summer and fall, like the oxblood lily, the lycoris,
and others, can be planted now. All perennial flowers can go in
now.
- Start cuttings of tender plants you might have—things
that may not last over winter that you want to make sure and hold
onto. This includes specimens like the desert trumpet vine that's
semi-tender.
- And if you have any spring and summer blooming perennials, go
ahead and divide those now as well. This is the season where you
can dig them up, make the divisions, and reset them, and they'll
be ready to go for next year.
- Finally, October is the time to give the last fertilization
of the year that helps it go into the winter strong.
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Planting Tips
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