If your allergies are acting up this time of year, Harvey Cotten knows the culprit : The Eastern Red Cedar. "This is a native plant, and last week my allergies were awful and it's because of this evergreen shrub." Cotten said. "The male Eastern Red Cedar has the yellow pollen sacs, and when they open up, my allergies go crazy. They flower in February."
Harvey's Tips for the Week :
- Prune fruit trees, especially apple and pear trees in the home orchard
- Carefully watch holiday plants (Amaryllis, Cyclamen, Christmas Cactus, Poinsettias) for dryness – water thoroughly with a diluted liquid fertilizer (half-strength) and keep in bright light
- Now is a great time to do a soil test if you have not done one in several years – this will let you know if you need to apply lime before your fertilizer applications begin in spring
