Loropetalum varieties vary in size, but let them grow

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: My ‘Burgundy’ loropetalum plants are six feet tall and doing well. Last year, I cut them down to three feet in early spring. They quickly rebounded and ended the season bigger than they need to be. -- David Allen, Acworth

A: It’s hard to believe that pink-flowered loropetalum was first introduced to the U.S. as recently as 1990. Now there are dozens of cultivars from which to choose, ranging from the dwarf ‘Purple Pixie’ to the huge ‘Zhuzhou Fuchsia.' ‘Burgundy’ loropetalum is one of the larger varieties, reaching 12 feet at maturity. You could choose to prune it three times per year to keep it compact, but it will be a never-ending chore. I suggest transplanting it to another location and substituting the smaller ‘Ruby,’ ‘Blush’ or ‘Purple Diamond’ varieties.

Q: I occasionally get bare root twigs from the Arbor Day folks. These seem to flourish in my yard, much more than container-grown trees purchased at a local nursery. Why is that? -- Kevin Bentley, Kennesaw

A: Your experience may not be true for everyone, but well-cared-for bare root seedlings can certainly zoom out of the ground if planted in an appropriate spot. Young trees of any size benefit from a wide area of loosened soil around the planting site, a layer of mulch four feet wide in all directions from the trunk and weekly water in summer. Georgia residents can order bare root tree seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission at www.gatrees.org.

Q: Are all vegetative items the same for composting or are some more nutritious that others? For example, are orange peels and banana peels basically the same? -- Richard Eisgruber, Smyrna

A: Just as with basic nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.), plants can't tell if a molecule of carbon-rich material came from a banana, begonia or beech tree. On the other hand, some materials have higher levels of chemical nutrients than others. Manure is higher in phosphorus than tree leaves; grass clippings contain more plant food than coffee grounds. This is the reason we try to mix nutrient-rich materials with carbon-rich materials in a compost pile: mixing the two together aids decomposition and results in compost that both feeds plants and softens the soil.

Q: We have been feeding the birds black oil sunflower seeds all winter. Should we continue this when spring arrives or do we need to cut back to encourage them to eat berries, etc.? -- Jeanne Devlin, Covington

A: Garden coach Daryl Pulis (www.mrsgreenthumb.com)  says cutting back in the spring can be hard on the birds, since in the spring there are few berries and seeds available. Many winter seed eaters will naturally switch over to native sources as they appear, so the birds will tell you when your handouts are no longer needed. You'll notice a drop-off in birds coming to your feeders and can reduce feeding then, unless you just wish to feed for your own enjoyment.

Listen to Walter Reeves on Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.