Rita Elliott photos My ficus tree grew really well this summer, out on my deck. Can I trim it back and change its location to another spot on the same deck with about the same sun exposure? Or, since it is so large, would it cause a shock to its system?
The best way to go about it is, when you trim it, to cut the largest limbs back to where they join with a smaller side branch, rather than simply shearing all branches back equally. This method of pruning is called 'thinning' and leaves the tree with a more natural, less butchered look. You may want to thin out some of the branches in the centre of the tree.
Make sure to trim your tree outdoors, as ficus will drip sticky white sap from the wounds.
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Vines for chain-link fence
Thunbergia is a fast-growing perennial vine.
IF you have a chain-link fence in full sun, here is a suggestion on how to cover the fence quickly.
First, consider planting a mix of annual and perennial vines. The annuals will provide colour and coverage this first season. The perennials will take a season or two to grow large enough to cover the fence. You can decide then if you want to continue planting annual vines between the perennials for the added colour. There are many varieties of both annual and perennial vines to choose from. Here are just a few suggestions:
Annuals: Morning glory, canary creeper.
Perennials: Trumpet vine, thunbergia, bougainvillea.
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Pulling weeds
Try to remove weeds before they make seeds. When you pull weeds, toss them into a pile and dispose of them when you're done. Pulled weeds take root easily, and you don't want to have to pull the same weeds again in a few days.
Christmas cactus cutting
Christmas cactus is easy to start from cuttings. Once the plant is through blooming for the season, break off a section with four to five joints, and insert the broken end into a pot of moist potting soil. For best results, create a mini greenhouse by placing a clear plastic bag over the pot and securing it with a rubber band.
The plastic bag shouldn't touch the plant, and, if necessary, you can insert sticks in the soil to hold the bag away from the plant.
