Q. How do I stake my young tree? When should the stakes be removed?
Not all young trees need staking. Most young trees will benefit from pruning immediately after planting. Transplanting will invariably damage roots to some extent, so removing a significant portion of new leafy growth will decrease water loss through transpiration while allowing the root system to recover. As the tree starts to regrow the removed branches, hopefully the trunk diameter will increase accordingly, and staking will not be necessary.
Sometimes top growth outpaces trunk growth, and the tree becomes top-heavy and unstable. This can result in leaning or lopsided growth or even breakage. In this case, staking will guide the tree into a more upright position while the trunk thickens.
If you need to stake, use materials such as soft fabric, wide rubber tubing (old bicycle inner tubes are great for this), or a bungee cord. Avoid materials that can damage the trunk, such as wire, hard plastic, or rope. Don’t stake so tightly that the tree is completely immobile. Allowing for some sideways movement will cause the trunk to thicken and encourage anchoring roots to grow. Staking low will allow for more movement while protecting the tree. If the tree is too top-heavy, consider pruning to allow wind to pass through the canopy more easily.
Don’t forget to remove the stakes after the first year or two. Once the trunk diameter exceeds the diameter of the stakes, it’s past the time to remove the stakes.
Q. Last year, I bought a container of ladybugs at the garden center and released them in my garden. I think they all ended up in my neighbor’s garden because I couldn’t find any after the first day. How can I keep the ladybugs in my yard?
Ladybugs can be useful for controlling aphids, mealy bugs, and other pests, but your garden should be inviting enough for them to stick around. Run your sprinklers to thoroughly water your garden. If you usually water with drip irrigation, you’ll have to drag out the sprinkler or hose everything down. Ladybugs need water, especially after being cooped up in a container for who knows how long. Release them at dusk, when the temperature is dropping. Release them in a part of the garden where aphids are most plentiful. Avoid spraying any type of pesticide before or after release, since this will kill the ladybugs.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu