Down To Earth

At times the plants go out of bound. As they grow old,they outgrow the confines of a house or even street.

At times the plants go out of bound. As they grow old,they outgrow the confines of a house or even street. See the accompanying picture. This is an old bottle brush tree that has over grown covering most of the area and not letting anything else grow in its viscinity. This was headed back at 10 feet or so in December. It has rejuvenated now and looks like a bonsai. The golden duranta that has grown at its feet has also got a new lease of life and has got a good colour,due to sunshine. Similar treatment can be given to a mango or a guava tree. In the confines of the home garden,when they overgrow,one starts loosing fruits to birds. A head back gives the plants a new lease of life and fruiting at reachable height. There may be a gap of two to three years due to fresh growing.

Please suggest me a shrub that bears plenty of flowers and is heavy in growth. I want to grow it outside my home.

Pardeep kumar,Chandigarh

Cassia glauca and yellow kaner are very heavy growing and flowering hedge plants.

Is the present rain helpful to gardeners and if so,in what way and if not then,what is the harm?

Satbir Singh,Mohali

Such occasional rains with short spells are never harmful to the garden. In fact they are very beneficial for growing fruits like mango,pear,lemon,papaya and litchi. These are also good for those,who are laying fresh lawns and have left the soil open. The unwanted weeds come out and are easily identified for removal.

There is occasional bursting of fruit in my litchi plant. What should I do?

Meenakshi,Chandigarh

At this stage you cannot do anything to stop bursting of fruit. However,you can remove such fruits from the bunch.

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I have a good mulberry tree. I want to gift one such plant to my friend. When is the best time to multilply it and how?

Manjit Singh,Panchkula

The time to multiply mulberry is Dec-Jan. it is done by way of cuttings.

(For gardening queries ASK DR GREEN at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in)

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