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Dear Neil: Something is eating the leaves off my Lady Banksia rose. I've tried insecticide, but that didn't help. I thought it might be deer, squirrels or drought. Every time it puts out new leaves, they're soon gone. What would cause that?
A: I honestly don't know. I've been around this rose for 40 years or more, and I've never seen black spot knock its leaves off, nor have I ever seen anything eat it. If they're being chewed by an insect, you should see some evidence of partially eaten leaves somewhere on the plant. You should also see droppings. With drought, you would see browned leaf edges and tips. Deer probably would bite through a few of the smaller twigs. Squirrels probably wouldn't strip the leaves, especially if the branches were standing loose and unsupported. It would be too big a ride for the squirrels. Look more closely, day and night, until you get better clues. Something will become obvious. Be mindful, too, that if there is new growth that is unaffected, the problem may have moved on.
Dear Neil: How can I eliminate bamboo that is spreading into my St. Augustine? Its stems grow 4 to 6 feet tall in just a few days after emerging. Glyphosate has had little effect. It spreads rapidly, and the rhizomes are difficult to grub up.
A: This is a very common question, and it stands as evidence of why this plant should never be planted. It's an absolute beast to eliminate. I have seen people successfully use glyphosate at 150 percent the bermudagrass strength. Bamboo isn't listed on the product's label, and they found that the regular bermuda rate wasn't strong enough to kill bamboo. However, you have to have a good amount of top growth for the glyphosate to have enough penetration into the green tissues, and the herbicide will certainly kill St. Augustine and other greenery onto which its spray lands. (It is not active in the soil, so tree and shrub roots will not be affected). One of the state's major botanic gardens was given land covered with bamboo, and workers resorted to front-end loaders to remove and clean 18 inches of topsoil. I'm sorry the news isn't better, but that's the culmination of 40 years of watching people struggle with this overpowering invader.
Dear Neil: We have a Japanese maple tree, and yesterday I noticed a yellow substance at the base of the tree. Could this be some sort of fungus, and if so, how should I treat it?
A: It's probably a saprophytic (as opposed to parasitic) fungus. If so, it would be living off dead organic matter such as bark. It is not a specific danger to the tree on its own accord, but it does suggest that there might be active decay within the tree's trunk. Take photos to a certified nursery professional or hire an arborist to care for the tree if it's of significant value to you and your landscape.
Dear Neil: What is this that's growing on my mother's iris after all of these years?
A: From your scan, it certainly looks like a fruit (seed pod). That's the way skilled breeders develop new types and colors of iris. They use specific varieties as they look for particular traits. Even then, they may keep only one out of 1,000 seedlings. Once the seed is ripe and the fruit splits open, you could try your hand at growing new plants from the seed. They should bloom after two or three years. Daylilies work about the same way.
Dear Neil: We have relatives in a couple of areas of Texas. Where in the state do dogwoods and hydrangeas grow best?
A: Both plants thrive in areas with acidic soils. For the most part, that means east of Interstate 45, or the eastern 20 percent of the state (and very isolated areas farther west). They can be grown in neutral or alkaline-soil areas, but they'll need nearly heroic soil preparation prior to planting. The higher the pH of the soil, the more organic matter (Canadian peat moss, compost, etc.) they will require. Both need shade much of the day.
* If you'd like Neil Sperry's help with a plant question, drop him a note in care of The Eagle, P.O. Box 3000, Bryan, Texas 77805. Or
e-mail him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com.
