The garden season is in full swing. If you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service. OSU Extension faculty and Master Gardeners reply to queries within two business days, usually less. To ask a question, simply go to the OSU Extension website and type in a question and the county where you live. Here are some questions asked by other gardeners. What’s yours?
Q: I have two pine trees I bought around Christmas a few years ago and l keep them in pots. This year I moved them and now they get late afternoon sun, morning shade. I noticed recently that the leaves are turning brown and look like they’re dying. But I also watered a lot lately thinking they were dry. Did I over water it? Or maybe it’s getting too much late afternoon sun? – Multnomah County
A: Your trees have damage on the side facing the sun. You've successfully grown them in containers for a couple of years, which is good, but the move exposing them to harsh afternoon sun has not agreed with them. Conifers grown in containers have limited root space compared with trees in the ground whose roots are surrounded by insulating soil. It's important to have sufficiently large pots to maintain enough moisture to keep the trees and their roots cool and functioning properly. Planting them in the full force of the afternoon sun is hard on them. You might want to consider a shade cloth screen to protect them.
To keep conifers happy in containers plant them in appropriately sized pots with well-draining potting soil. Because the pots are surrounded by air, they reflect air temperature, both heating up in summer and freezing in winter. It’s better to have them in partial shade where they don’t experience severe temperature changes. Soil in pots is prone to drying out. Trees in pots need regular and deep watering. In really hot weather they may need watering once a day, or even more. An annual fertilization with organic or another slow-release fertilizer will keep them growing well. Refresh the pot’s soil by removing the dry top soil each spring and replace it with compost-enriched soil. This article has additional information, Growing Trees in Containers. – Anne Schmidt, OSU Extension Master Gardener
Sprouts grow out of a street tree stump.OSU Extension Service
Q: We've got a tree stump in our street strip with sprouts coming up along the side of the stump. Can I successfully grow a new tree from one of these sprouts? – Deschutes County
A: Theoretically, you can leave some of the new growth intact to continue to grow off the stump. You may want to thin out all of the shoots to just one if you want it to look more tree like or you can leave several if you want it to be more shrublike or multi-stem (I would only leave two or three if you choose this option). However, do you know why the main tree failed? If the tree has a disease, it may be present in these shoots so it may or may not thrive. – Amy Jo Detweiler, OSU Extension horticulturist
Jumping oak galls can cause yellow spots on leaves.OSU Extension Service
Q: We have two small oak trees and both of them have spots on the leaves. From the underside of the leaf, it is a raised creating a little bump. What is causing it and will it damage the trees? Is there some something that should be done? – Benton County
A: Seems both of those images are of the top of the leaf. I am imagining the little granule on the bottom side of the leaf. Those seedlike grains are galls formed by a tiny insect larva. They are one type of five or six that we can find on our Oregon white oak. These are called jumping galls. From the PNW Insect Handbook: “Jumping oak galls cause small yellow spots on the upper surface of infested leaves. On the underside of the leaves are tiny seedlike galls. These appear in midsummer or later. Inside each gall is the larvae of a tiny wasp. In the fall, the galls drop from the leaves to the ground, where the activity of the larva causes the gall to jump an inch or more off the ground. The wasps overwinter in the galls on the ground. In the spring, emerging females lay eggs in opening oak buds. Adult females emerging from these galls lay eggs on the leaves, producing the larvae which cause the jumping oak galls. Although they may be unsightly, jumping oak galls do relatively little damage.” Look closely and you might find some others like speckled galls (poppers) or apple galls. They all co-evolved, are relatively harmless and for many people, fun to observe. – Brad Withrow-Robinson. OSU Extension forestry specialist
This potted philodendron needs some care.OSU Extension Service
Q: I think I overwatered this plant, but I am not sure if that is the case. Could it be that I haven't watered it enough? If so, can I save it? – Multnomah County
A: This looks like a kind of philodendron with large, shiny dark green leaves. Philodendrons like bright, indirect (no direct sunlight), and temperatures around 65°F at night and 75°F during the day. When watering, the top inch of soil (poke a finger down into the soil about to your first knuckle) should be dry to the touch. The plants like an average humidity of 25% to 49%. A balanced fertilizer every six to eight weeks during fall and winter will help it grow well.
Appropriate watering is always a challenge for gardeners. Getting a good watering schedule established will help you and your plant. Start with a weekly schedule, for example always water on Wednesdays. Test the soil for dryness every day or two using your finger or use a moisture meter or soil moisture indicator system (changes color as the soil dries out). Adjust your watering schedule as needed.
This plant does look like it has a watering problem. However, the effects of underwatering and overwatering often look the same. Try repotting the plant using a new pot slightly larger than the old pot. Remove the plant from its old pot and put it into a container of water and swish around to wash off the old potting soil. Examine the roots for color and texture. The roots should be light in color and firm. Trim off any roots that are dark and squishy. Put into the new pot with fresh potting soil and water well. Follow a watering schedule and your philodendron should then grow well. This article has additional information. Philodendron House Plants: How to Care for a Philodendron. – Anne Schmidt, OSU Extension Master Gardener
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