More recent landscape questions and answers

Horticulture

White oak tree losing leaves

For the past couple of years my white oak tree began to lose its leaves. They turn pale green with a brown wavy line running up the leaf. It seems more and more leaves are falling off of the tree. Should I cut it down or what is the problem?

It's difficult to say for sure what might be causing the problem with your white oak tree from the description. You might see if the symptoms match any of the common oak problems listed on our Web site If this is not helpful, I suggest submitting a sample to the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic.

Simeon Wright
Plant Diagnostic Clinic Coordinator

Jasmine plant care

How do I care for a jasmine plant? Is it a house plant or can it be placed outside in the summer? Does it need lots of sun?

In nature, all plants are outdoor plants. We simply have selected some of those able to tolerate interior conditions and treat them as house plants. Jasmine is a full-sun plant in nature and appreciates receiving as much light as possible indoors. Placing it in your home near a south or west window is about as good as we can do relative to providing it with adequate light. Setting the plant outdoors during the summer is a good practice since even the brightest location in a home is still dim compared to outdoor conditions. Plants moved outdoors for the summer should gradually be acclimatized to higher light conditions by moving them to a bright but shady location before moving them to full sun. Likewise, plants brought in for the winter need some time to acclimatize themselves to lower light conditions and might drop leaves in the process.

David H. Trinklein
Division of Plant Sciences

Sending plant photos

Can I send you pictures of plants so I can ask questions about the plants?

Yes, you can submit photos of your plants for identification or for a diagnosis of plant problems. We also identify insects for people. Please see the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic Web site for more information on sample submission and fees. If you click on the link for submitting digital images, you get a form to fill out and you can upload the photos. If the photos are not sufficient for diagnosis, we can tell you how to submit a physical sample, and fees would only apply to the physical sample submission.

Simeon Wright
Plant Diagnostic Clinic Coordinator

Organic fruit in backyard

I would like to plant apples, blueberries and raspberries. Could you recommend the best varieties or collections of fruits for growing organically in a small backyard? I think I have room for two apple trees. Could you also advise on spacing of apple trees?

Growing fruit organically is quite challenging, but can be done. Small fruits such a strawberries, blueberries and brambles are much easier than most tree fruits. Pest problems are generally not as predominate with small fruits as with tree fruits. Grapes can be productive as well if you choose varieties that are highly resistant to black rot.

Probably the easiest tree fruit crop to grow for the backyard is the pear. However, it is very important to find varieties highly resistant to a bacterial disease called fireblight. Pie or sour cherries are fairly easy to grow as well.

Whatever you grow, soil preparation is a must. Providing an outstanding environment for vigorous plant growth is quite important.

For small backyards, tree fruits may be best grown on dwarfing root stock. For dwarf trees, a planting distance with a minimum of 10 to 12 feet should be used. For semi-dwarf trees, spacing should be wider -- 16 to 18 feet.

For specific varieties for organic production, read G6005, Fruit and Nut Cultivars for Home Plantings. Other guides on home fruit production can be found within the horticulture publication/fruit section.

If you are not familiar with our horticulture guides you will be amazed at the helpful information found within them. Many helpful guides and cultural growing tips can be found at our Web site.

You may want to check with your local MU Extension center for further assistance.

Gaylord Moore
Horticulture Specialist

No roses on climber

I planted five roses in a new flower bed in spring of last year. All are flowering except the America climbing rose. It has put out wonderful, healthy canes which are trained on a trellis, but it has not bloomed. This is the first time in many years of growing roses I have had this happen. How long should I wait for blooms before I dig it up?

I am not familiar with this climbing rose. Perhaps it blooms once per season. If so, my thought would be that the blooms were damaged during our late frost.

Did you fertilize the bed? Sometimes, if heavy manure is used when creating a new bed, the roses put everything into foliage and nothing into flowers. If that is the case, you may have to wait another year.

Mary K. Kroening
Horticulture Specialist