Scraps In The Herb Garden, Scale, Transplanting Trees & Roses, Purple Martin House

Q. Instead of using a compost heap or tilling my orange and lemon rinds into the soil I toss rinds, banana peels, lettuce and onion scraps straight onto my herb garden. Is there any benefit to this at all or am I wasting my time? ’– A.P., Ovilla, TX

A. That’s fine unless the wild animals get it all and none of the organic matter and nutrients get into the soil. It would be best to compost the material first.

Q. My Nellie R. Stevens and Carissa hollies have scale. Is there an organic solution to combat this problem? ’– D.H., Dallas

A. Scale insects are one of those pests that are actually trying to help you. They are the clear signal that your plants aren’t happy. Plants that aren’t happy are in stress. Stressed plants send out signals that attract insect pests and disease pathogens like a magnet. That’s Mother Nature’s balancing act. Get rid of the sick and ill-adapted plants ’– survival of the fittest ’– improvement of the gene pool. I understand that you are strumming your fingers on the table wondering when I’m going to tell you how to kill these little beasts.  But, if you don’t address the real problem, the pests will be back. That makes the pest control product people happy but doesn’t solve your problem. The real problem? Plants planted too low, too much water, too little water, too much fertilizer, wrong kind of fertilizer, toxic chemicals in the soil, too much shade, circling or girdling root system or something else. Whether you’re using toxic chemicals or organic techniques, there’s something about the situation that the plants don’t like.

Q. Our town is having a tree dig and I am wanting to know what type of trees do well in transplanting? We were wanting to try some oaks that could be clumped together. What are the guidelines in doing this? Also, I am wanting to plant a cypress in an area that holds a little water. It is within 15-20 feet on our neighbor’s house. Do I need to be concerned about the root system being too close to the house? ’– R.B., Flower Mound, TX

A. The cypress will be fine there and will not hurt the foundation. Most of the native trees will transplant easily. The best choices would be cedar elm, eastern red cedar, Texas red oak, and small pecans. Ornamental trees like yaupon holly, Carolina buckthorn, rusty blackhaw viburnum and redbud. You will not have very good results with post oaks, blackjack oaks, soapberries and mesquites. You shouldn’t even try to move the short lived trees like hackberries, mulberries, Arizona ash, cottonwoods or willows. There are some old nurseries in Flower Mound that might still have some unusual trees that also do well there ’– including laurel oak, chinkapin oak, durand oak, dawn redwood and lots of specimen crape myrtles. You can cluster any of the trees but I wouldn’t recommend it. Individual trees are much better in many ways.

Q. How and when do you dig up wild roses for transplanting and where can we get Texas native roses? ’– P.W., Dallas

A. They can be transplanted easily right now during the dormant season. Just get as much of the roots in the soil ball as possible. Several of the local nurseries handle native plants as well as the old and wild roses.

Q. I received a purple martin house for Christmas and have it ready to go up. When are the scouts out here in the Flower Mound area? ’– M.W., Flower Mound, TX

A. Scouts are usually adult second year males, called ASY’s, some have been sighted in Dallas already. This is early. Houses should go up now but the sparrows and starlings will most likely begin to nest in them before the martins. Be prepared to be able to lower the house and remove the visitors occasionally. A starling will often peck the eggs. Also, the house may not be colonized the first year. Some people have waited years.

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