Q: We are harvesting wonderful blueberries from our plants. But I have noticed that the first berries are very large and the later ones are smaller. Also, the newer leaves are a light green with dark green veins. Is there something we can do to make the berries all larger? — Doris Graham, email
A: I think you're perfectly describing underfertilization. The first berries in a cluster are given most of the resources the plant has. But after a couple of these berries ripen, the plant has less energy to devote to the rest. Your observation that the leaves have green veins and yellow tissue is a classic sign of chlorosis: the lack of nutrients in leaves. Have your soil tested (georgiasoiltest.com) and follow the recommendations for fertilizing your plants.
Q: We planted pear trees four years ago; they have yet to bloom. They grow and leaf out each year, but no fruit. What are we doing wrong? Any ideas? — Kim Barr, email
A: Sometimes plants behave in ways that are inscrutable to gardeners. My guess is that the tree is still establishing its root system. This takes lots of energy, so your tree simply forgets about flowering because it's an additional energy drain. Avoid fertilizing heavily. Fertilizer makes a tree grow more leaves, but at the expense of flowers. My advice is to keep the trees healthy, watering in drought, and see what happens next year.
Q: I've grown an olive tree in a large patio container for eight years. I bring it into the garage when it gets below 20 degrees in winter. For the last two years it has been loaded with blooms in spring, but all the blooms fall off and there is no fruit. — Dell Farmer, Covington
A: I admire your persistence! The flower drop sounds like there's a lack of pollination. Olive flowers are self-pollinating, so you don't need a different variety. It's possible heavy spring rain or an unexpectedly cold night could damage the flowers so much that pollen is not transferred. The technique that I use for tomato blooms might work for you next spring: Tap the flowering twigs a couple of times each day with a pencil or a chopstick. This will help the pollen release and get where it needs to be.
Q: I planted five small Leyland cypress trees. One died right away. I took it back and got another one. But now the other four are turning brown. What am I doing wrong? — Carla Fellers, email
A: Most likely, they have not been watered correctly. Another possibility is that they were transported home in an open vehicle, which can result in extremely dry foliage. Spring planting is not ideal for Leyland cypress: They have a hard time establishing roots when the top of the plant is demanding lots of water on a sunny day. That said, I've had good success using a watering bag (TreeGator, ArborRain, etc.) on trees planted in spring or summer. They apply water slowly for a day or two. If you fill the bag a couple of times each week the trees should have sufficient water.
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