October Garden Questions & Answers

Q. Last year I planted a dwarf crape myrtle in a half-barrel container (drilled drainage holes atthe bottom). Problem is that from the time I planted the tree, many of the leaves dry out, curl up and die. Water comes from my sprinkling system that sprays the tree in the early morning. Any advice would be appreciated.

A. It sounds like your crape myrtle simply is not getting sufficient "deep" watering. While crape myrtles are drought tolerant, dried and curled leaves is a sign of either overfertilizing or lack of water. Since you didn't mention fertilizing, but did mention your sprinkling system, I believe watering is the culprit. I would hand water every other day in hot weather and twice a week in normal or warm weather. Your sprinkling system is doing just that: sprinkling. Your crape myrtle is being stressed due to a lack of an extensive root system to support the top growth during hot weather. Despite the automatic sprinklers, its roots have not had enough time to grow and establish a large, extensive network.

Q. This is my second year for calla lillies, last year, they bloomed and bloomed in pots on the deck. After the season, I dried and stored the bulbs correctly. This year I got one bloom! Wondering if they only bloom every other year or what. Any advice? A. Callas need a rest in order to grow and bloom properly. There is a natural resting period that callas go through in the fall when the leaves wither and dry up. Come spring when new leaves appear, try repotting in fresh, rich potting soil (4 to 6-inch deep rhizomes). Resume feeding and watering with a complete fertilizer, such as 8-8-8. I hope this does the trick!

Q. My camellias are covered with scale. Can I apply the same oil that the fruit growers here use on trees?

A. Your neighboring orchardists have probably been applying dormant oil, which has long been an effective way to kill overwintering mites and insects. Traditionally, this oil can only be applied when trees are dormant and leafless since they contain sulfur and other residues that can damage foliage. However, modern technology has come up with a new class of horticultural oils that have been refined to remove these impurities. Brands include Sunspray, Scalecide and

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