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Ask Burton: This week, a question we commonly get in the latter half of March – thankfully, one whose answer is simple and has a happy ending. Q: My live oak looks bad! It’s losing leaves all over my yard.

March, 29

A: It is supposed to do that this time of year.

Fertilize your live oak at this time of year. This isn’t to help the plant recover from an…

Ask Burton: This week, a question of color. Q: I want to plant some fresh color, but I don’t want to plant something that will burn up as soon as summer arrives. I’m still worried about cool weather, though – I’ve had begonias and impatiens hurt when I planted them a little too early. What should I use?

March, 23

A: This is always one of the tougher choices for folks, because plants that bloom well when temperatures are in the fifties rarely do so when it’s hot,…

Ask Burton: This week, a question of Fruit Tree spraying Q: Last year, my peaches all had worms inside – I didn’t get very much fruit. How do I stop this from happening again this year?

March, 14

A: It’s time to spray. For the best results, most fruit trees should be sprayed at specific times of year to prevent many of the issues common to them.…

Ask Burton: This week, a simple reminder: The next two weeks are critical for pre-emergent herbicide application.

March, 08

Pre-emergent herbicides are only effective when applied before weeds sprout. In North Texas, it’s best to have them down before the 15th of March, and to absolutely have them…

Ask Burton: Q: When should I plant my tomatoes?

March, 02

A: As early as you feel like you can get away with it, starting now.

Generally, tomatoes start going into my garden around the first week of March. This…

Ask Burton: This week, we’re answering a question about one of the most beautiful plants in the landscape. Q: I planted roses in my landscape last year, two Knockout roses and a climbing Don Juan. It’s February – should I cut these roses back now? And how?

February, 23

A: Roses need pruning to remain tidy and well-shaped, but your two types of roses should be treated differently.

Most roses like to be pruned in February in North…

Ask Burton: This week, a question about fruit trees! We love fresh fruit growing in our backyards, but critters and pests love them too. Q: I have a peach tree in my back yard that’s five years old, and last year, my crop looked like it was doing well – until the bugs came. Fruits with worms, pocked skin, and rot was all I ended up with. How do I do better this year?

February, 15

A: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, in this case.

Spraying starts now! Apply a copper-based fungicide to the dormant branches of your peach tree…

Ask Burton: This week, a question involving the winter garden. Q: I had cabbages in my garden last winter, and they were covered in holes to the point that my plants looked like lace. I’d like this spring’s plantings to do better! What happened, and how do I head it off this year?

February, 08

A: You were visited by hordes of hungry caterpillars. You may well have noticed moths fluttering around the garden – those were the culprits. There’s more than one species…

Ask Burton: This week, a question we’ve been fielding about boxwoods. Q: I have boxwoods I planted after last February’s terrible weather. But now, I have dry yellow pieces on my boxwoods, and in odd places. Some tips have turned dry and yellow, and on others, entire limbs look withered. What’s going on?

February, 01

A: It’s weather related. We’ve seen this on a lot of boxwoods this winter.

Your boxwoods were thrown off by the weather this fall, which was warmer than usual…

Ask Burton: This week, a question about a tasty area of the garden! Q: I want to plant an Italian herb garden. I love to cook, and fresh herbs are the best! But what can I plant here in North Texas, and when?

January, 25

A: All the common Italian culinary herbs grow well here. It’s just a matter of knowing which should be planted when.

  • Rosemary, chives, and…