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Mailbag: Leaky mimosa trees, irrigating citrus

Weather-related issues


Green oranges
Orange trees in summer appreciate deep watering,
every 10 to 14 days. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

and Kathy Morrison

Send us your questions! This new Q&A will be a regular feature on Sacramento Digs Gardening.

Q: I have a beautiful mimosa tree that is leaking sap in the trunk and now it’s spreading to the large branches of the tree. Green Acres wasn't able to help me. I know this is a gardening website but I thought I would ask if you have seen this or know of a professional arborist.

-- Pamela

A: It could be normal or it could be the sign of something bad. Some trees (including mimosa trees) leak sap as a way to relieve pressure inside the tree's vascular system, especially during extremely hot weather (which we've had).

Are the tree's leaves still green? If so, then the tree is probably fine. But if the tree's leaves are also turning yellow and dropping, then the leaky branches may be a sign of fusarium wilt, the same fungal disease that kills heirloom tomatoes and lurks in soil all over Sacramento.

Is it clear, sticky, normal sap or is it frothy or smells fermented? Normal sap is OK; frothy or alcoholic-smelling sap is not.

The UC Davis Arboretum has mimosa trees (also called silk trees) and may have an expert who can answer your questions. Also, Sacramento Tree Foundation experts can be very helpful. They also have a list of certified arborists they can provide, at www.sactree.com


Q: Do you know if there’s a way to deep water 2 trees at the same time?  I have a lemon tree and an orange tree very close together and wondering if I can buy something to water them at the same time.  I thought I saw a “Y” shaped hose for gardening, but all I can find online are hoses for washers.

Thank you!

-- Maria P.

A. For watering your citrus trees, I’d suggest this: Attach a y-shaped shutoff valve (available at big box stores, hardware stores and nurseries) to the end of your main garden hose. Then attach soaker hoses (or whatever you prefer to use) from each side of the Y and run them to your trees.

Remember that the roots of citrus trees run out past the drip line (farthest edge of the leaves) so loop the soaker hose out there, not right next to the trunk.

Hope that helps. Happy gardening!

-- Kathy Morrison

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3

November still offers good weather for fall planting:

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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