近距离内射合集

Q: I鈥檓 worried. We have several large shade trees in our landscaping, and they are already dropping leaves. Isn鈥檛 it too early for this to be happening? We鈥檝e looked at a lot of the dropped leaves and don鈥檛 see anything wrong with them. What do you think is going on? 鈥� C.T., Albuquerque

A: I鈥檓 of a mind, especially since you鈥檝e inspected a lot of the dropped leaves and don鈥檛 see any signs of trouble, that you don鈥檛 have much to be concerned about.

As long as your trees are being watered, that is.

I truly believe if you get out there and really look at the tree, you鈥檒l notice that there are more internal leaves turning color than the outer canopy. I鈥檓 betting that the majority of the leaves you are noticing were/are internal leaves.

Think about it.

When the trees leaf out in spring, they usually start from the inside out. Those first leaves are feeding the trees like gangbusters. As the balance of the tree鈥檚 leaves come of age, those leaves slow down a bit. After all, they aren鈥檛 getting as much sunlight to do the photosynthesis process, so they sort of coast through the growing season.

Well, the tree has caught onto the internal leaves鈥� lackluster performance and has decided that it doesn鈥檛 need them any longer. Especially since the amount of daylight is lessening gradually and the trees are sensing the fast approaching change of seasons.

Granted, it鈥檚 still wicked hot, but the amount of sunlight we are getting daily and the height of that light is changing. Autumn is coming.

I wouldn鈥檛 be too worried if the trees are dropping some leaves now, and as long as you are maintaining them and you don鈥檛 see any unhealthiness in the trees, I鈥檓 thinking they are OK.

Just stay true to watering and monitor the leaf loss, but watch and see if it鈥檚 really the more internal leaves you鈥檙e noticing falling.

I really believe that all鈥檚 right with their world.

Q: I planted several big pots of moss rose (Portulaca) to set around my patio and am a bit disappointed with them. They are growing really well but not flowering worth a hoot. I water every day and have fertilized, but there just aren鈥檛 many flowers at all. Am I doing something wrong in how I鈥檓 taking care of these plants? 鈥� M.F., Los Lunas

A: I think you have the happiest moss rose in the world. They are just getting to be very lazy, but you can fix it so these happy plants will bloom far more vigorously for you.

First, I think the moss rose pots are being overwatered. You say you water every day, so I鈥檓 suggesting you change that habit and water every other day. The moss rose is sort of a succulent and by being watered daily, it鈥檚 gotten lazy. I know it鈥檚 hard not to water, especially when it鈥檚 this hot and sunny, but you need to dry them out a bit.

Now, I鈥檓 not saying to go from everyday watering to really arid, dry pots. It鈥檚 just you need to wean them back a bit. After a couple of weeks of every other day watering, see if you can get another day with no watering snuck in to make them work for their health.

You say you鈥檝e fertilized. So my thought is when you planted the moss rose, you filled the pots with fresh soil. That new soil should contain all the nutrients they need for this year. So, I鈥檓 suggesting no more fertilization this year.

I鈥檓 confident with less water 鈥� remembering not to go from well-watered to thirsty dry 鈥� and no more, or at least very little fertilization for the balance of this growing season, your moss rose will reward you with lots more colorful blooms.

You should also know that the moss rose self-sows. So as the blooms fade, pinch them off and tuck them under the plant.

Once we get our first hard-killing frost, pinch off any remaining blooms, pull up the dead plant and cover the faded flowers with a layer of soil, and you鈥檒l have trapped next year鈥檚 seed.

Just stop spoiling the moss rose so much and see if it鈥檒l bloom lots more, making you happier.

Happy Diggin鈥� In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Diggin鈥� In, 近距离内射合集, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.