Cold, pruning may prevent blooming

: I have a lemon tree that is seven years old. Each year the flowers get fewer and the lemons get smaller. The tree looks healthy and is growing well. I prune it very little and fertilize it with Miracle-Gro once on Valentine’s Day and again in the middle of September. I don’t care about the fruit so much but I miss the flowering and sweet fragrance that fills the backyard. Is there something you can suggest to give me less growth and more flowering?

A: There really is no reason why you should not be getting blooms unless your lemon tree has been getting hit by freezing temperatures every spring or you are doing some light pruning on all the branches. For flowering to occur on many citrus trees, the wood has to be a certain age.

If pruning accidentally removes this older wood each year, you might have little or no flowering or fruit. But, you indicate you aren’t pruning much. Try not to prune it at all or just remove a few branches that are crossing, broken or damaged.

The other possibility is pruning via the weather. If your tree is in a spot that gets pretty cold, it is possible it could be damaged enough to prevent flowering. This easily could have happened these past two winters.

A third thing you could try is not applying any fertilizer this coming year, or, if you do, do not apply it until after flowering and fruit set. Focus more on high-phosphorus fertilizers lower in nitrogen. Nitrogen (the first of three numbers that designate a fertilizer) is more important for leaf and stem growth while phosphorus (the second number) focuses more on flower production.

Q: Is it too late in the year to overseed Bermuda grass with perennial rye grass so my lawn stays green during the winter?

A: Yes, it is too late to overseed a Bermuda grass lawn this time of year.

The only way you could do it now would be to prepare the area for overseeding and then cover it in clear plastic for a week to warm the soil. After one week, remove the plastic and overseed during a warm day. Cover it with clear plastic as soon as you are done with the overseeding. Leave the plastic on long enough for the seed to germinate and grow tall enough to mow. Hope that you do not have any strong winds or the plastic will be gone if it is not secured well.

The other option you have is to paint or dye the brown grass with turf dye, paint or colorant. There are several products out there that do a very realistic job of colorizing a lawn. They are frequently used to touch up turf areas on golf courses for tournaments appearing on television. Make sure it is not the green colorant used for marking turf.

Q: From November to February I refrain from watering in-ground cactus plants. Does this rule apply to cactus plants in containers? Previously, I have watered the containers sparingly during this time. I am not sure if this caused the loss of a few smaller plants.

A: Not watering during the winter might work on some cacti but not all. If these are native to dry desert regions and it has worked for you in the past, then you are probably fine. However, get to know as much as you can about the cacti you have and their watering requirements.

Cacti will live off of stored water during times of drought. You can get a sense of whether a cactus is losing moisture by its appearance. When the cactus is losing water it will have a shriveled appearance or lose thickness in its pads or stems.

Cacti in containers will do the same, but the soil in the containers will dry out more quickly so they may need water more often.

The bottom line is to watch the cacti closely. If you see these slight changes in the appearance of the plants, you might consider watering. Smaller plants that are not as well-established will suffer first and you can lose them with a prolonged drought. They just don’t have as much stored water to survive.

Q: So, with winter cold right around the corner, how should I protect my sagos this year? Last year was a disaster for me and my plants; this year I would like to be a little more careful and prepared.

A: Make sure your sago palms are well watered going into a particularly cold night such as below about 25 F. Cover them with a blanket as the sun goes down to try to trap as much heat under the blanket as you can. Remove the blanket the next morning after the sun is up. It is usually the coldest just before dawn.

Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Direct gardening questions to the master gardener hot line at 257-5555 or contact Morris by e-mail at extremehort@aol.com.