Bob Morris is a horticulture expert living in Las Vegas and professor emeritus for the University of Nevada. Visit his blog at xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com. Send questions to Extremehort@aol.com.
Question: My grapevines are not growing as usual. I have had them for seven years. They always give me nice big leaves, but this year, they are very small and brown like they are dying or lacking something.
Question: I would love to plant op-a-la-ah (not sure of spelling) cactus, the kind that looks like Mickey Mouse ears and grows red cactus pears, also known as prickly pears. Several of my neighbors have them. The problem is the tiny stickers on the fruit. I have heard that there is a variety that does not have stickers. Please advise me what they are called.
Question: I planted a five gallon loquat in my front yard three months ago in April. It seemed to be taking just fine at first. A few weeks ago, I noticed the older leaves were beginning to turn brown, and the newer leaves seem to be shriveling up. When I purchased it, I was told it was OK to plant in full sun. During this heat, I drip water it every two days. I estimate it receives about six gallons per watering. I check the soil regularly to make sure the soil is not drying out. Any thoughts?
Question: This picture I sent to you shows my chewed Genovese basil. If you enlarge the picture you will see small insects resembling those who ate the leaves of the plant. What can I do without poisoning my basil?
Question: Last fall, we planted an olive tree that was certified to be nonfruit blooming. Now, it is full of olives! I just want it to grow. So, should we pluck the little olives off the tree so it can put its energy into growth?
Question: I have a pear tree which is about 10 years old. Up until this year, it has been pretty healthy. This spring, it got a disease. I am hoping you can identify it for me and tell me what I can do to treat it so that it won’t be a problem in the future.
Question: I often enjoy your pieces, and your suggestion of replacing rock mulch with wood chips caught my attention. I have an 18-year-old velvet ash in a small (20 feet by 20 feet), rock-covered front yard. Does this tree do better with rock or wood chips around its trunk?
Question: I am having a serious problem with my grapevine. It seems to have stopped growing and is losing leaves. I used a lot of bone meal on the plants, and I am wondering if I have over-fertilized it? The ground is never dry; the flower bed it’s in is on the same drippers as prior years.
Question: What can be done to keep birds from eating all the fruit in an orchard? My brother has an orchard in southern Utah. There are about 100 trees, mostly dwarf and semi dwarf. Last year, birds got 90 percent of the fruit. He has tried scarecrows, but that didn’t work. He has also tried aluminum foil pie tins, but that only worked temporarily. Is there any solution for him other than buying netting to cover the trees?
Question: I have a huge ash tree that I want to either stop from seeding or kill. I heard about a product that can stop seeding, but I am told due to the size of the tree, it is impossible to spray the blooms. This tree is at least 50 feet tall. It is a real nuisance.
Question: I am in the process of ordering a couple of fruit trees online. What are the chill hours for Sun City Anthem in Henderson? I thought it was 300 hours or less. A couple of apricot trees you have recommended have been 400 and 500 hours (Blenheim and Royal Rosa), and I am wondering if that is too many.
Question: Last year, we planted a yellow bells plant. It appears to have died over winter. Do we need to trim it back to bring it back to life or just be patient and wait?
Question: Inspired by you, I have planted a tree from your recommended tree list and another that I don’t think is in there, a Meyer lemon. I planted a lemon after seeing other people in the valley having success with it. I would like to know what precautions I should take growing a lemon tree here.
