Who Stole All My Almonds?

Q. Our almond tree was full this year. However, half of our crop was eaten by something. The nuts are not ready yet. They are still green and so hard you would need a nutcracker to crack the shells open. My husband picked the rest of the almonds so we at least had something to enjoy. Any ideas as to what's eating the nut and cracking them open?


A. This is most likely ground squirrel harvesting. Technically I think they are called antelope ground squirrels and they are very common in southern Nevada. We find them typically at residences near or bordering the desert or large expanses of desert landscaping or open lots.

            In almond orchards ground squirrels can harvest an almond tree overnight. They are very active right now, chewing open the green, hard husk and taking the immature seed. Seeds right now are soft and sweet, not yet hardened. You will see lots of empty shells on the ground from these critters.

Empty almond husks at the bottom of the tree's canopy from ground squirrels

            Ground squirrels continue to feed on nuts throughout the season. When the husk splits open, they steal the nuts a lot faster and store them away somewhere. It is usually safer to harvest the nuts as soon as they split open and not leave them on the tree to dry.

Ground squirrel grape thievery

            I know that these little guys look cute but they can be real pests if they get out of control. They will also steal grapes right out of bunches. Bunches with stolen grapes look just like you think they might look, a bunch with grapes missing here and there on the outside of the bunch.

Antelope ground squirrel adding insult to injury

            Control is not easy nor is it any fun. In commercial orchards they frequently use poison bait to help control the population. There are other options such as trapping and relocation.

            Please be very careful when dealing with ground squirrels. It is rare but they can transmit the Plague from flea bites or bitten directly by the ground squirrel.

            Here is some very good information on ground squirrels from the University of California

Ground squirrels

Nectarine Fruit and Dried Droplets of Sap

Q. I have an Independence nectarine tree which I have been nurturing for two years. This is the first year I have had fruit! On the fruits I kept I am seeing something that looks like dried droplets of sap coming out of the skin. It is not sticky to the touch. Are you able to determine if I have some sort of blight with the fruit? Will I just need to take this plant out?

A. Your nectarine fruit has damage caused by Western Flower Thrips. This is a very common problem with nectarine fruit here in the valley and elsewhere. Once you see your fruit damaged by this insect, you will see it in future years as well. Be prepared to spray.

            Damage to the fruit starts before they are the size of a pea. The only control is to apply sprays to the fruit and leaves to protect the fruit from thrips damage. The most effective sprays are insecticides for organic production contain Spinosad in the list of ingredients. Follow the label precisely.

Readers nectarine fruit with dried sap due to thrips damage

            If you don't mind applying an effective conventional insecticide, then look for one containing synthetic pyrethrins, sometimes called pyrethroids. The label must say it is approved for tree fruits. Again, it is very important to read and follow the label for best results.

            These sprays must be applied to the fruit and leaves starting very early in the season when the fruit are still very, very small. Sprays must be repeated through the season for total protection. Chances are, you will still see some scarring of the fruit but it will be greatly improved.

Tops Dying Back in Japanese Blueberry

Q. I’m having a problem with my Japanese blueberry trees. Some are fine but the two on the end appear to be drying out from the top down.  Do you have any idea what’s causing this? The soil is not dry and they all get the same amount of irrigation.

A. The usual problem in damage or death to the top of a tree can be found on the main trunk just below the damaged area. I am guessing something has damaged the tree at that point.

            The reason for the damage could be several. Borers cause mechanical damage to the trunk and shut off the water going to the top. Diseases in this same location can do exactly the same thing.

            Because Japanese blueberry is relatively thin barked, sunburn from our intense sunlight can kill the trunk in that location and shut off water to the top. Humans can cause damage to the trunk and shut off its water supply as well.

Top of dead stem on readers Japanese blueberry

            I think we can rule out pathological diseases in our climate. The two most likely culprits are mechanical damage to the trunk by borers or the same type of damage caused by sunburn.

            Inspect the trunk at the location just above the healthy area of the canopy. Use your fingers and see if you can pull away any loose bark. Borers tunnel just under the bark usually on the side towards the most sunlight. This kills that part of the trunk and the bark peels away easily.

            If you don't see bark peeling from the trunk at this location, look for discoloration of the trunk on this side facing the sun. Sunburn to the trunk can happen in one hour of intense sunlight during the midday or late afternoon.

            If it is borers there is nothing you can do to raise the dead area back to life but you can protect the tree from extensive borer damage with an insecticide soil drench once a year.

            In any case, you'll be forced to remove the dead top from the tree with a pruning shears or saw this winter. Once you do this, it may open remaining branches for sunburn as well. Give them as much protection as you can.

            I would not do it now because the sunlight is too intense and will probably cause even more damage to the lower, healthier part of the tree.

Pepper Brown Spots Could Be Irrigation or Sun

Q. I have a brown area on the bottom of my bell peppers. Any ideas?

A. Brown spots on bell peppers are normally from either of two things; a disorder we frequently see on tomatoes called blossom end rot or sunburn.

            If it is on the bottom of the fruit and not in a spot exposed to direct sunlight it is most likely blossom end rot of pepper. Blossom end rot, just like in tomatoes, is normally associated with irregular watering even though it is a nutrient deficiency.

            An inch of mulch in the vegetable bed helps to maintain more even soil moisture and less fluctuating of the water content in the plant. A more even soil moisture content has been reported to reduce the incidence of blossom end rot.

Blossom end rot bell pepper

            The other possibility is sunburn. If the brown spot is on the shoulder of the fruit toward the sun and not the blossom end, then it is most likely sunburn. This is because there is not enough shade covering the fruit. You will see less sunburn on peppers that are buried deeper inside the canopy of the plant.

            With bell peppers in particular we want as much leaf cover over the fruit as possible. Light shade, about 30%, over the plants, also reduces sunburn. Mulching the vegetable garden also helps.

            Having the garden in a location where it is exposed to morning and early afternoon sun, with shade during the late afternoon, will also reduce the problem.

Calling All Las Vegas Gardening Bloggers and Social Media Types!

Social media types and those who have been thinking about getting started and need a little help. Please RSVP to me at Extremehort@aol.com so I have an idea about how many might be coming.

I have been wanting to meet bloggers and other social media types in the Las Vegas area for quite awhile. My idea was to get together, socialize, share some ideas and help promote each other. I have a meeting already scheduled at Viragrow in North Las Vegas on Saturday, June 21,and I would like to specifically invite you as well.

I would suggest a very open agenda:

Introductions

Brainstorming of ideas.

Resolution of ideas.

Adjourn.

 

Viragrow is located at 1100 East Dehli St. near Cheyenne Exit of I15 and Losee Road in North Las Vegas.

Exit on Cheyenne and drive West toward Losee Road.

Turn right or north on Losee approximately 150 yards to the first traffic light which is Colton.

Turn left or west on Colton a distance of 20 yards and take an immediate or first right on Bruce.

Travel north on Bruce about two blocks and Delhi St is on your left or west.

Viragrow is about 50 yards west on Delhi St.

It is best to park outside the fence next to the road due to truck traffic into and out of the yard.

 

A map can be found here. http://www.viragrow.com/directions

Horticulture/Gardening Meeting Saturday Morning June 21 Las Vegas

This is an exploratory social get-together for interested desert gardeners, horticulture and social media types in the Las Vegas area. I am proposing a 9 am meeting at the Viragrow meeting room on Saturday, June 21, for those interested. There will be some healthy and not so healthy refreshments, coffee and tea available.

 
Please RSVP to me at Extremehort@aol.com so I have an idea of numbers who might be coming.

I would suggest a very open agenda:

• Introductions
• Brainstorming of ideas.
• Resolution of ideas.
• Adjourn.

Viragrow is located at 1100 East Dehli St. near Cheyenne Exit of I15 and Losee Road in North Las Vegas.

• Exit on Cheyenne and drive West toward Losee Road.
• Turn right or north on Losee approximately 150 yards to the first traffic light which is Colton.
• Turn left or west on Colton a distance of 20 yards and take an immediate or first right on Bruce.
• Travel north on Bruce about two blocks and Delhi St is on your left or west.
• Viragrow is about 50 yards west on Delhi St.

It is best to park outside the fence next to the road due to truck traffic into and out of the yard.

 

A map can be found here. http://www.viragrow.com/directions

Importance of Surface Mulch for Vegetables

Surface mulches are under appreciated when growing shallow rooted vegetables during the heat in hot, desert or arid climates. Learn why.

Lack of Flowers in Petunia May Be Tobacco Bud Worm

Q. My husband planted some gorgeous petunias in early April. At first they were all blooming but now there isn't a single flower in either of the planters. We noticed many holes in the leaves so my husband sprayed them with Sevin thinking that would do the trick. All we have is two planters filled with very healthy green plants but no flowers.

Caterpillar Webbing on Texas Mountain Laurel Now

Now is the time you may be seeing some webbing in your Texas mountain laurel tree or shrub. This happens nearly every year but is relatively easy to control.

Roses With Strong Growth Needs to be Controlled

Q. Last fall I planted five rose bushes and they appear to being doing well. Three of the bushes have one large stem growing from the middle of the bush. Should I cut the large stems back to make the bushes more symmetric?

White Flowers from Purple Locust Tree?

Q. We had a beautiful purple locust in our back yard that produced a profusion of purple flowers every spring until it was called to locust heaven. Before departing this world it sent off a runner which has sprouted into a lovely tree that is now eleven feet tall and producing white flowers. What's with that?

Queen Palm Damaged From Irrigation Problem

Q. During the excessive hot spell our irrigation failed while we were out of town. As a result, one of our queen palms lost all its branches. In spite of subsequent life support efforts it does not appear to be coming back. Is that too much to hope for? Is there anything we can do to help it recover or should we just mourn its passing? If so, what do you recommend we replace it with that has similar height and shade? The remaining queen palms will be wrapped for winter to keep them alive.

Month Old Gardenias Dying

Q. I planted about 12 gardenias a month ago and if them appear to be dying. I checked the soil and it's evenly damp. It has two 2gph emitters and they are all being watered 3x a week for 20 minutes right now.

Should I Remove Immature Fruit From My Orange Tree?

Q. I have an orange tree I planted nine years ago.  It is about 4 feet high and only produced about 2 oranges a year.  Last winter it did have some freeze damage. I trimmed and fertilized it with iron and nitrogen and watered it once a week with a hose instead of the drip system. It is looking real good and has about 40 pea sized oranges on it.  Should I cull some of them as I don't think the tree can handle that many?

Boxwood Hedge Slower to Recover From Pruning Damage Than Rosemary

Q. I have a neighbor concerned about his rosemary and boxwood hedges. The foliage has been falling off. Landscapers recommend he cut them to the ground to get them to recover but he opted to cut them back halfway instead. Now there is a lot of bare wood exposed with no leaves. What should he do to help them recover?

Bamboo Can Be Cut Back to Repair Winter Damage

Q. I have bamboo that was damaged last winter as you can see from my pictures. New growth is emerging from them but they are still yellow and brown. Should I fertilize them or give them iron?

Have You Pinched Your Grapes Lately?

Have you pinched your grapes lately? The berries of table grapes will get much larger if you will remove the bottom third of the bunch.

Vitex Water Management Affects Blooms and Growth

Q. I have a Chaste tree that has been growing in my backyard for about seven years.  The branches have always been full of leaves and I would get an abundance of beautiful purple blooms. Last spring, I noticed there were not as many leaves and I would only get purple flowers here and there. This spring again the leaves are sparse and the branches are mostly bare. Should I be doing something extra to bring back the lushness of my Chaste tree?

Redwood and Cedar Mulches Last Longer in Landscapes

Q. Would you please tell me what type of mulch is not recommended to put in flower beds? I thought I remembered it being redwood mulch but I can't find anything on that. Could it have been cedar?  My landscape guy says the shredded cedar is not a problem for vegetation.

Sappy Pine Trees Might Need Pruning Paint

Q. I trim my 80 foot pine tree every 7 to 8 years. Each time I have buckets and buckets of sap coming from cut limbs. It just re-landscaped underneath this tree but I need to prune it again. I'm worried about all the sap that is going to fall on everything I just put down. Is there a way I might prevent the sap from dripping like using pruning paint?