Each week Sabrina Hahn answers The West Australian readers’ prickliest gardening problems.
This week she’s sharing advice on weeds, Japanese maple and Silver Princess trees, and the best veggies to grow in shade.
To submit your own question to the Green With Envy column, published inside Saturday’s The West Australian, write to Ask Sabrina, GPO Box D162, Perth 6001, or email home@wanews.com.au.
Include your full name and suburb. Due to the volume of questions, not all of them will be answered.
Maple trim misstep
Q I have a mature Japanese maple tree in my front yard in South Bunbury. It is 20 years old. I have always trimmed it lightly but I have never achieved the light, feathery look I have been aiming for. It’s always looked like a big puff ball. This winter I decided to trim it heavily, because it’s outgrowing its space in the garden and I thought I might achieve the look I have been aiming for but reading up about it (not so wise to do this after pruning) I realise that cutting branches at their junction was OK, but cutting so many partway down their length will create the big puff ball I was trying to avoid. Can you advise what I should do next winter?
Liz Francis, Bunbury
A It is best to thin branches out at the trunk to create a more open canopy, and prune off inward facing small branches that fill out the centre. You should only need to prune the maple every three years if it is thinned out to allow the branches to grow up rather than taking them off 50 per cent down the stems.
Veggies made in the shade
Q Living in South Yunderup and we have a raised garden bed on the southern side of our house which only gets mid to late-afternoon sun. I was wondering if you could recommend any suitable veggies to grow in this area please. Flowers are not an option as it is an area that no one would ever see them.
Geoff Fuller, South Yunderup
A You could grow rainbow chard, spinach, bok choy, kale, mustard greens or cutting lettuce, along with most leafy herbs such as parsley and coriander. Mid to late-afternoon sun will be plenty for these veggies to grow well, particularly during the summer months.
Princess in distress
Q This is a picture of Silver Princess that I won in a raffle 18 months ago. It’s planted in the vicinity of other native trees. It survived summer but has not sent out even one leaf. I was hoping it will start growing in winter. The stem is green and alive but I can’t see any growth buds. Is there still hope for this plant?
Barbara Jakuszewski, West Swan
A It is definitely not liking the soil it’s in, or has been given the wrong fertiliser. Overwatering also causes the spotting that is on the leaves. Clear all plants around the base of the tree, apply trace minerals and give it space to grow. If there is no improvement by the end of spring I would start over again with a new plant.
Weed woes after mulching
Q A couple of years ago I made the huge mistake of putting lupin mulch around my garden in Kalbarri. For the past two winters I have spent hours pulling out what I believe is Chickweed (1300 seeds per seedling). Is there a spray that will kill the weed but not my plants? Would appreciate your advice and I enjoy your articles each week.
Sue Fennell, Kalbarri
A Slasher and Earthcare Organic Weedkiller are glyphosate free, and a non-selective natural contact herbicide containing pelargonic acid (nonanoic acid) which kills and controls a broad range of weeds and lichen, algae and moss. However, it is non-selective so don’t spray your garden plants. Other gardeners use Yates Bindii & Clover Weeder that has MCPA and Dicamba but again cannot be sprayed near garden plants.
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