The Dirt Gardener's Column for November 26

Q. I have a lemon tree I need to transplant to a larger container. When is the best time to do this and can I trim it at the same time?

A. There is no set time when not to transplant or transfer citrus from one container to another. It’s more preferable when temperatures are cool verses warm, dry conditions. Water stress is the issue as water loss through rapid transpiration can be severe during the summer months. You can overcome this by increasing the frequency the plants are watered and or moving the plant(s) out of the heat of the day sun; however, it’s not always as easy as it might seem. Frequently, we become distracted and lose track on how the plant(s) is doing, only to discover problems after the fact. Sometime the problem(s) can be over come other times they can’t. Plants are typically pruned or trimmed as part of the transplanting process and for many plants the time of the year doesn’t matter. With Citrus and other cold sensitive plants, pruning and trimming is discouraged at this time. The growing season concluded with the end of Daylight Savings Time. Cool days and nights are the norm, so no new growth is expected until next spring. Pruning now, exposes a portion of the plant to cold weather damage that otherwise would have been protected. We use this growth to act as an umbrella and buffer the rest of the plant from the cold. Wilt Stop or Cloud Cover is applied to insulate the foliage from freezing temperatures. In addition, they can be covered with a plant blanket or mesh like bag called ‘Frost Cover.’ Next March is when I’d prune, shape the plant and move it too a larger container. You remove the unwanted growth as well as the winter damage. Citrus Food is applied to encourage the new growth.

Q. I ‘ve started a compost pile but I am having trouble making it hot enough for it to decompose completely. How can I make my compost pile hotter?

A. There are two general types of compost piles, active and passive. Compost created by generating heat is called an active compost pile while the passive compost forms over an extended period of time. The way you create more heat is by physically turning the material and having the proper balance of green and brown material. A fifty-fifty ratio is recommended. Grass clippings, garden trimmings and kitchen wastes are primarily used for the green component while dry leaves make up the brown. Shredded newspapers, cardboard strips, or straw are expectable substitutes. It’s also advisable to bag the falling leaves and store them for next year. The green and brown layers are alternated to form the pile. The key to building up heat is turning the pile constantly. The pile is physically flipped, as the bottom becomes the top and the top the bottom. When done correctly, you create sufficient heat to create the ideal compost.

by Buzz Bertolero, CCNP