In the garden

Q This spring I planted an Emperor maple tree in my yard, and something has been eating the bark, doing serious damage and almost ringing the tree in several spots. I suspect it is squirrels because some of the damage is 4 to 5 feet off the ground and is in the interior of the tree. But I have never actually seen squirrels (or anything else) eating the bark. What do you think is doing the damage, and what, if anything, can I do to protect the tree and to repair the damage (or help the tree repair itself)?

A I do suspect squirrels. They, and occasionally raccoons, often do this type of feeding on Japanese maples. Usually the damage is more superficial, only taking the outer bark and leaving the rest of the tree alone. It can be more damaging on a newly planted, young tree. For some reason this bark-stripping tends to occur more in late winter to early spring. One theory - and that is all it is - is that female squirrels do this before giving birth to relieve the pain. I guess it takes their mind off the pain.

Other theories are that they use the bark in their nests, or they are searching for food. Whatever the reason,once they start stripping bark, they often come back and do more damage to the same tree - much like a woodpecker has its favorite tree. Using a tree wrap in the area, hanging scare devices or spraying with a repellent can all give limited help.

Using live traps and moving the squirrels is another option. As for the damage to the tree, clean up any loose bark and monitor next spring. If the squirrels have gone into the cambium layer, expect some die-back on those branches, and pruning will be needed. But hold off pruning until you see what happens after new growth begins next spring.

Q Where are all the spider/ magic/resurrection lilies this year? The last several years I had several hundred blooming by now. Last week I found one weak stalk that produced a very anemic flower. I have looked carefully, but found no sign of another “sprout.” AI hadn’t realized they aren’t here, but here is my theory, now that you ask. The red surprise lilies (Lycoris radiata) produce their foliage in the fall and need to grow all winter, dying back (in late winter to early spring) to emerge as flowers in fall. It is possible the winter snows knocked the foliage down too soon and they didn’t produce enough energy for flowers. Be patient and see what happens. If the plants don’t bloom, look for foliage this fall, and then, hopefully, you will have flowers next fall.

Q I planted blue star creeper groundcover about two years ago in a stone walk around my house. It has spread nicely and blooms in the spring. This year I have been invaded with “clover” that crowds out the creeper and takes over. I have tried to pull/dig out the clover but it seems I am losing the battle. Is there a spray that will kill the clover and not the creeper? If not, what are my options? I hate to kill out the creeper just to kill the clover.

Thanks for your advice.

A Since both are broadleaf plants, anything that would kill the clover would also kill the groundcover. Blue star creeper is also called Pratia, and it is a low-growing plant. You could try to lightly dust the tops of the clover with a bit of Roundup - trying to keep it just on the clover - but any that drifts to the creeper would kill it, too.

Q We were given this plant in a pot several years ago. It took root out the bottom of the pot and now is spreading by root. It grows to 3 feet with no branching and has large dark green leaves. It has never bloomed until this year on this one plant. Nice bloom that lasted several weeks. But one bloom in five years out of, now, 15 plants is not what I am looking for. Is there something I can do to encourage blooming or is Roundup the way to go? Do you know what it is?

A The plant is commonly called Mexican hydrangea or Cashmere bouquet - Clerodendrum bungei. You could plant it in the ground and it would probably be happier and bloom better, but beware: This plant can quickly get too happy and take over the garden.

Janet Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at

[email protected]

HomeStyle, Pages 37 on 09/28/2013

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