Gardening Q&A

Q:Please tell me why some landscapers and new-tree owners seem to leave the plastic and wire bands and ties around new trees for years. I realize that some trees need to stay secured for support during their first few years. But I've seen such bands on new trees eventually girdle the trees and kill them.

Answer: Good landscapers know that they need to be removed, but frequently, the company that installs the plants isn't responsible for maintenance.

Obviously, the purpose of staking young trees is to get their roots established. In most cases, one good growing season should provide enough stability so that the cables and wires can be removed.

Q:I live in Chesterfield County and have a purple-leaf plum tree in my backyard. For years, it bloomed beautifully every spring, but for the past four or five years, the flowers have been sparse. The tree appears to be healthy. Any ideas what might be the problem?

Answer: It's hard to tell for sure, but here are a couple of thoughts. First, when a tree is growing well vegetatively, it is often slow to make blooms. The plant can make more food for its roots by producing lots of leaves rather than flowers. Blooms actually rob nutrients from a plant's root system. One thing you can do is make sure it isn't getting too much nitrogen. In particular, lawn fertilizer applied within its drip line could be stimulating excess growth.

Also, is it still getting plenty of sunlight? Since it bloomed for years, could the other trees have grown to the size that they are casting too much shade on the plum tree? Even the flowering plum would like six to eight hours of sunlight daily for optimum flowering.

Another thought is that we've had two drought summers in a row. Spring-flowering trees, such as your plum, set their buds in late summer for the next season's blooms. If yours was under drought stress, that would have an impact on bloom production.

Q:I have three crape myrtles that need a trim. How late can I cut them back and still get flowering this year? Also, how much can I prune them?

Answer: Prune them soon -- before they start to make new growth. Since crape myrtles bloom on new growth, you'll get flowers this summer.

As for how far, I prefer thinning the canopy by selectively removing limbs or branches to open up the plant. If they need to be reduced in size, I'd suggest doing it gradually, so you still maintain the natural shape.

Richard Nunnally is a freelance writer and host of WCVE's monthly gardening show, "Virginia Home Grown." He can be contacted at .