GARDENING

Tricking dogwoods to grow from seed

Dogwood seeds have a dormancy requirement in order to germinate. Fall planting outdoors will sometimes meet their requirements. But the surer way to handle dogwood seeds is to place the seeds in a refrigerator at about 40º F for about four months before planting them. This process is called stratification. It’s important to keep seeds moist during this treatment.

NICEVILLE, Fla —

Q. I have tried to start dogwood trees from seed with no luck. Is there a trick to growing dogwoods from seed?

A.  Dogwood seeds have a dormancy requirement in order to germinate. Fall planting outdoors will sometimes meet their requirements. But the surer way to handle dogwood seeds is to place the seeds in a refrigerator at about 40º F for about four months before planting them. This process is called stratification. It’s important to keep seeds moist during this treatment. Layer the seeds in moistened vermiculite or sphagnum moss within a plastic bag with a few “breathing” holes and place the closed bag with seeds in a refrigerator drawer. Periodically check to ensure that the vermiculite or sphagnum moss does not dry out – keep it moist but not soggy. Avoid placing seeds in a drawer with apples or other fruit that give off ethylene gas.

Q. Is there a best time to prune azaleas?

A. The major pruning of azaleas is best done shortly after the flowers begin to fade in late spring. Major pruning after June will potentially interfere with flowering the following spring. Azaleas produce their flower buds during late summer and fall, which open the following spring. You can find the flower buds tucked away in the leaves at the tip end of the shoots during summer or fall.

Advertisement

Niceville.com Community Partner

Q. My oleanders shrubs are too tall for where they’re planted. How much can I prune them and when is the best time to prune?

A. Late winter (February – March) just before new growth occurs is the best time to do significant pruning to oleanders. Oleander plants produce flowers on the current season’s growth. So, routine pruning done at the above time should allow mature oleander plants to produce flowers during summer. However, severe pruning (reducing the size of the plant by 1/3 or more) usually results in few to no flowers for several years. Pruning severely causes plants to put their energy into recovering the lost growth at the expense of producing flowers. This is particularly true when they are severely pruned followed by fertilization with a high nitrogen fertilizer. But sometimes the need to severely reduce a plant’s size overrides the desire for flowers.

When a plant becomes too large for its location, the problem goes back to planting the wrong plant in the wrong place. It’s best to know the mature size of a plant in both height and width before planting it. Then, place the plant where it has room to reach its mature size. Oleanders get taller than many people realize with some varieties growing twenty feet in height and fifteen feet in width.

Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@myokaloosa.com.

Advertisement

Niceville.com Community Partner

Niceville.com

Recent Posts

Ruckel Middle School dance, cheer teams honored for championships

NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Ruckel Middle School Dance and Cheerleading Teams were recognized at the…

2 days ago

Niceville voters reject city clerk change, approve mayoral tie-break rule

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Niceville voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed charter amendment that would have…

3 days ago

Palmetto man allegedly hid income, evaded taxes for over a decade

PALMETTO, Fla. — A Florida man has been arrested and charged with evading tax payments…

6 days ago

SunPass scam texts hit drivers in Okaloosa, Walton counties

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — Law enforcement agencies here and across Florida are warning drivers about…

7 days ago

Eglin AFB announces night flight operations March 10-12

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Residents near Eglin Air Force Base may hear increased…

7 days ago

Okaloosa STEMM Academy students showcase history at NHD event

VALPARAISO, Fla. — The Okaloosa STEMM Academy recently held a National History Day (NHD) Showcase,…

7 days ago