Garden Detective: Shade tree options
Japanese maple 'Hogyoku' (Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku') Credit: stargazerperennials.com
DEAR JESSICA: I recently lost a hybrid maple (cutleaf like the Japanese, but more green than red) that shaded my hosta garden and deck. It died off in sections over the past three years. I'd like to replace it with another shade tree but don't know how to identify what will work. Ideally, I'd like something fast-growing, ornamental (flowers or colored leaves), not too messy (seed pods, fruit, etc.) that would be 15-20 feet at maturity. What would work well in this region? -- Christine A. Datz, Huntington
DEAR CHRISTINE: Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a beautiful small tree that tops out at about 20 feet. Its showy foliage takes a few years to reach its prime, but springtime purple-pink flowers are abundant and striking from the very beginning.
Another choice, similar to what you've lost, would be a Hogyoku Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku'). Its name means "jewel of fall," and it certainly lives up to it, as light green, almost chartreuse leaves give way to a bright pumpkin orange show in fall. Once established, it grows 10-12 inches a year, peaking out at 12-15 feet at maturity.
If you're willing to go a bit bigger, Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) bears white flowers in June and the foliage turns red in autumn. As a plus, red berries develop in autumn and hang on all winter long.
DEAR JESSICA: My husband planted tomatoes using calcium-rich soil, and still the bottoms of the tomatoes are turning brown and mushy. Right now only the Topsy Turvey tomatoes are affected. The plants in the ground do not have fruit yet. Is there anything he can do or product he can use so the plants in the ground do not get the browning? --Linda Coffey, Merrick
DEAR LINDA: What you're describing is blossom end rot, a common problem of tomatoes caused by a calcium deficiency. You say your husband used calcium-rich soil, so I'm assuming he added some lime before planting, so one of two things could be at play here. Either the plants are not receiving regular irrigation, or your husband used ordinary lime and not dolomitic lime. Just like our dairy milk contains vitamin D to aid calcium absorption, dolomitic lime contains magnesium, which enables plants to use the calcium in the lime. A quick fix would be to saturate the foliage with a liquid calcium spray, such as Enz-Rot, every five to seven days. While it won't save fruit that's already affected, future tomatoes should be fine. Be sure not to apply too much nitrogen fertilizer, and, going forward, take care to ensure plants get consistent levels of water; too much followed by too little, or vice versa, could be to blame, as well.
DEAR JESSICA: One thing that I have a big problem with is aphids. Every day I find new colonies, and I kill them with my hands. I don't want to use any chemical pesticides. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them? -- Andrew Lachs, Massapequa Park
Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) Credit: Unites States National Arboretum
DEAR ANDREW: A cool and effective way to control aphids is with lady bugs, which are their natural predators. They're sold by the box at some of the larger nurseries and by mail order, but typically are available only in spring. So next year just set them loose on your plants, and they'll eat up all the bad guys.
