LITTLE ROCK — Q I don’t know if you can answer this one for me, but I have been wondering if, during the winter months, the birds canget the water they need from the snow, ice, etc., or do they still need water?
A Regardless of the weather, birds do need water to survive.
There are some heaters that you can put in a bird bath to keep the water from freezing, but they aren’t commonly used in the South. This year, we sure could have used them. They can get some water from snow and berries and even insects that they eat, but fresh unfrozen water is preferred and should invite more birds to your yard. So try to add fresh water to your birdbath and break the surface ofice to provide some water for the birds.
Q I have three old redbud trees.
I want to cut them down. Their seeds are coming up all over my yard! Is it necessary to pull the stumps up? I want to plant replacement (not redbud) trees.
A I love redbud trees. It is unusual that they are seeding so prolifically. While they do make a lot of seeds, we normally don’t see seedlings coming up that freely. If you do take out the trees, you will need to cut out the stumps or at least grind them down; otherwise they will start to grow from the stumps. You may have suckers that come up from the roots, but if you keep mowing or cutting them down, you will eventually take care of them.
Q I am enclosing some pictures from my son’s yard in North Little Rock. He bought the house in July. There is a large tree in the yard and closer to the house, right in front of the porch, are large azaleas.
They look like they have been there many years.
Some of them are dying. I am enclosing pictures of the diseased ones. Is there any way to save them? The last picture is from my house in North Little Rock. My husband says the azaleas are supposed to turn dark purple.
Only a small bit of mine are dark purple. The rest of the plants are green. I treat mine with Bayer 12-Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed when I see lace bugs on them. However, I think what my son has is rust. And the Bayer does not say it treats rust. Help.
A From the pictures, the azaleas look fairly healthy - especially yours. If you grow dark pink, red or purple azaleas, they should take on a dark reddish color for the winter. Some varieties do this more than others, but should turn every year - this is their natural winter color. Even the plants from your son’s yard look like they still have ample foliage and flowers on the tip of the branch. I do think there is some lace bug damage, and the plants look a bit sparse closer down the branch. Allow them to bloom this spring and then selectively prune the branches to encourage more fullness. When the pruning is done with an electric hedge trimmer, all the growth begins at the tips of the branches. Selective pruning lets you cut each branch to a different length, which should encourage fuller foliage and a fuller flowering plant.
The Bayer product you are using is only for insects; it will not control diseases.
I would suggest that you monitor the new foliage and see if there is damage when it begins to grow.
Last summer was miserable for our plants, and if the house was for sale, chances are that no one was taking care of the plants, so they could be struggling. If the new growth comes out with spots or doesn’t begin growing well, then before spraying, take a sample to your local county extension office for diagnosis.
You could also bring some samples of the branches to the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock from Friday-Feb. 27. Our plant pathologist Sherrie Smith will be there with her microscope and can give you her diagnosis. You can find her in the extension service’s garden on the show floor. You will have to buy a ticket to get in, but there is plenty to see and do.
Janet Carson is an extension horticulturist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Write to her at P.O. Box 391, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail her at
HomeStyle, Pages 33 on 02/19/2011