Planting flowers under young tree won’t harm it
Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2008
Question: Will growing flowers under a young tree kill the tree ?
Answer: Planting flowers under a young tree will not harm the tree as long as the tree is sufficiently watered. As the tree gets larger and the roots fill the upper 2 inches of soil, many people add top soil and continue to plant flowers. More topsoil is added each year to accommodate the flowers. The roots of the tree are either smothered or they move up into the surface soil to get air. It seems far-fetched, but this could be how the notion of flowers killing trees got started. A tree's feeder roots are in the top 6 inches of soil. It's not a good idea to add top soil around the roots of any tree. Roots need oxygen.
Question: Can boxwood be trimmed now ?
Answer: Days are getting shorter and all vegetation is slowing down. Any pruning or trimming signals the plant to send out new shoots. Put away the shears until early spring. Actually, now is a good time to clean and sharpen all gardening tools.
Question: I bought some tulip bulbs, but I won't have time to plant them until next month. Is it okay to store them in the freezer ?
Answer: When tulips are planted in either zone 5 or 6, the ground around them acts as insulation. The freezer is far colder than the refrigerator or the ground. Store the bulbs in the refrigerator labeled so that family members will not mistake them for onions or some exotic food.
Question: I have planted three white birch trees and over each of the last three summers one has died. Did I get defective trees ?
Answer: Your trees are not defective, they were acting like birches in an unfavorable climate. When plants are recommended for a certain zone, only the cold hardiness is considered. Heat and drought are not taken into account. White birches slowly decline in the climate of Northwest Arkansas. River birches will do very well here. They do not have the white bark, but are attractive in their own way.
Tip: If you are planning to plant some crocus bulbs for early spring bloom, don't plant them in the grass because the grass will need mowing before the bulb foliage is matured. However, the tiny species called snow crocus remains close enough to the ground to withstand mowing at two to three inches.
Send your gardening and landscaping questions and tips to Washington County Master Gardeners, 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville AR, 72704. You may also call 444-1755 for answers to your questions.
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