Around the Yard

Things to do this week:

* Deep water. One of the ways to help large eucalyptus survive the nasty lerp psyllid, an insect that destroys eucalyptus trees and leaves a sticky mess, is to water the trees deeply. But what does that mean?

The University of California, which issued the advice, recommends putting a dripping hose near the tree once a month and leaving it there for two or three days. Yes, days. That will ensure the water goes deep into the soil with no runoff--and that’s what deep watering is all about.

The advice continues: “Hoses should be placed underneath the outer edge of a tree’s canopy,” not near the trunk. The hose can be moved to a new spot under the tree every few hours.

While this advice was focused on the current pest problem, it is a good idea to deep water any large tree or shrub in summer.

* Move naked ladies. The so-called naked lady, or Amaryllis belladonna, with its big pink or white bugle flowers, is beginning to bloom. They often surprise new homeowners by flowering where nothing was thought to grow, and they always bloom well before they bother making leaves (hence the common name).

If you want to divide a big clump or move some, do so while they are blooming, not after they produce leaves. Replant the big bulbs so the necks remain above ground. Plants grow in sun or some shade and need little in the way of care or water. I’ve seen old clumps growing in abandoned, bone-dry pastures where some pioneer home used to be.