IN THE GARDEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette rhubarb illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette rhubarb illustration.

Q Two of my six baby rhubarb plants (planted last year) have sprouted flower-like shoots. Is this normal? What is the purpose? My only experience with rhubarb has been with mature plants that can be harvested.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

This dogwood has been so badly damaged that even if it were to recover, it would never make a strong tree.

A It is definitely a bloom stalk, and on a plant as small as yours I would suggest removing them. While it won't hurt the plant, it will direct energy into seed production, and you want more growth on your plants. Rhubarb is not one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the South, as it thrives more in cooler climates. Blooming is the same as bolting -- setting seed. Warm weather often causes it. On older, mature plants, some people allow the blooms to set seeds, but since it is tough enough to grow as it is, I would keep the flower stalks cut off.

Q I bought the most beautiful "Lemon Drop" calla lily in a pot and am wondering if it would thrive as a houseplant. I live in Northwest Arkansas.

A Calla lilies can be grown as a houseplant but they typically won't bloom again indoors. If you want flowers, it could stay inside for a while, but it would be happier outside. In Northwest Arkansas, winter hardiness would be questionable, but you could move the bulbs into a protected spot for the winter. Give the plant morning sun and afternoon shade and keep it watered. In the fall, before a killing frost, lift the bulbs and store them where they won't freeze, then replant the following spring after the last frost.

Q I just bought four crape myrtles, and they are at least 6 feet tall but very thin. Should I trim them back now, and if yes, by how much should they be cut?

A If the new stems are thinner than a pencil in diameter, you can prune them out to make stronger stems. However, if you want flowers this year, pruning this late will delay the onset of the first blooms.

Q I have two blueberry bushes that have been producing lots of berries for several years. This spring, they almost appear to be dead or dormant at best. What can the problem be?

A By now your blueberry plants should be actively growing and have their summer fruit set. If they haven't started growing, I would say they are dead. Dig one up and see what the roots look like. Inspect the stem where it enters the ground. Could an animal have girdled the trunks? You could take a sample of the plant with crown and roots to your local county Cooperative Extension Service office. Blueberries are typically winter hardy, so I can't imagine the winter weather is to blame.

Q These photos are of a pink flowering dogwood, one of a pair that were planted professionally in my yard three years ago. One tree is doing fine; this one is not. Can you tell me what is happening here? Can this tree be saved?

A I would cut my losses now and plant a new dogwood. It is possible that the tree was injured at a young age, or got sunburned on this side of the trunk, but there is so much damage that it would never be a strong tree, even if it recovered. There would be too much internal decay.

DEAD OR ALIVE?

We are getting many questions about delayed leaf-out of crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia). Many crape myrtles are sprouting, and some have fully leafed out, but others are still bare.

An early cold snap in November caught many of these trees before they had gone dormant and the old leaves failed to separate naturally, so their leaves stayed on the branches all winter. Plants such as Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) also weren't ready when temperatures dipped into the mid- to upper 20s. This spring we are observing the result of that incomplete dormancy -- slow leaf-out and some patchy growth.

Our recommendation: Scratch the bark on trunks or branches to look for green. If you see green, we predict that your plant will be OK but that leaf-out will be delayed. Wait for several weeks to see how complete the leaf-out is before you consider pruning out dead wood.

Again, use the simple scratch test to determine the status of the tissue. Crape myrtles can look dormant for weeks and still be fine. Even if the wood is brown, waiting a few weeks before cutting won't harm the tree.

Janet B. 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

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