IN THE GARDEN: Replacing Japanese Maple Tree Can Be Done By Company Or Self — Good Opportunity To Look For Problems

Q: I wrote to you a few years ago about the sad state of my Japanese weeping maple. He told me to wait for the dead part and see what happens. Well, it's a touch of heaven. How do I get him out of bed? I would like to replace it with another one, but I don't know how to get it into the ground.

Answer: You have several options. If you want to replace it with a fairly large Japanese maple, you can get the nursery you bought it from to dig up the old one and transplant the new one. Some woodworking shops have shovels that make the drilling process easier. The blade descends around the tree and rises, making a hole in the young tree. If you want to do it yourself, start with a sharp spade and start cutting the roots - make straight cuts in the soil around the base of the tree. Once you've made a full circle, go lower and try to get it under the tree by twisting and turning until the tree and root ball "rise". I would suggest cutting the body to make it more comfortable; let him get a 3 foot log. This will not be easy as the root system is quite stubborn unless the tree dies from root rot. Look at the roots as you dig to see if there have been any drainage problems.

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Q: I noticed some damage to my skin after the December cold snap, but it didn't look too bad. I thought they would look better once we warmed up, but it turned out to be worse. I removed some of the branches and there may be some green on the bottom, but they are crispy on top. Do you think they are dead and I need to replace them? You are so ugly.

Answer: Brown is the new green this year. I know it's hard to see all the crop damage on almost every meter, but I can't see it now. I think we will have replacement plants in the spring, but no one knows how damaged yours are at this point. Don't scratch or cut off the bark now, because winter isn't over yet. Let the winter pass and see what will start to grow next spring before digging up or pruning the "dead" plants.

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Question: My fig tree needs pruning and I was wondering when is the best time to do it in central Arkansas.

A: I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mother Nature is already done for this season with the bad cold we had in December. Don't cut down the figs now, just wait until spring and see where they start to grow. In some cases it may be a landline. If you're lucky and don't have a mess, prune as soon as you see new growth, as the figs will bear fruit on the new growth. If you prune now, you will cut off any protection the plant has when we get more winter weather.

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Q: I want to try growing purple/red cabbage for food. I didn't see any plants or seeds here. I live in Little Rock and first grew in 2022. I only need 10 seeds or seedlings (I prefer seedlings). do you know where i can get them? Thank you for your help.

Answer: It takes 6-8 weeks from seed to grow cabbage roots. Seeds should be available at most retail outlets, but between late February and March you should be able to find red cabbage for planting wherever vegetable plants are sold - nurseries and gardens. If they don't have a greenhouse, I think most home gardeners are better off transplanting rather than planting slow-moving vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower for cool-season growth and tomatoes, peppers and eggplant for vegetables. the warm season

Janet Carson, who retired after 38 years with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Service, is one of Arkansas' best known horticulturists. Her blog is at arkansasonline.com/planitjanet . Mail to PO Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203 or email jcarson@arkansasonline.com