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A. Well, you may recall our late heavy freeze. That damaged many of our fruit trees just as they were blooming, and in fact, froze the first flush of foliage of many oaks.

At this point, you want to keep their foliage vigor down by not over-fertilizing or watering too much. This will cause too much leaf growth which will shade the plants.

Prune off suckers that are pencil thin, and keep the inside pruned to keep it bright and open. These trees will be setting next year's fruit in the next few months, so finish all your pruning no later than June.

Keep them watered sufficiently through the summer and well-mulched, so during this period of preparing for next year, they are healthy. If scale insects attack, apply SunSpray, a horticultural oil.

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Batface Cuphea (Cuphea llavea) This is a charming little plant with flowers that look like the face of a bat.

An annual, which may overwinter in a protected container, it has a tendency to sprawl. With several planted together, it makes a fun groundcover or container plant, growing a foot or two tall.

It likes heat and sun, though will take a little shade. Very drought-tolerant in the ground. For extended bloom, consider adding a little BAT GUANO!

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• For the new shrubs you planted, keep them watered, especially since we've had high winds and no rain.
• Water deeply on a weekly basis until they are fully established.
• Raise the mower blade height at this time. Mowing frequently and leaving the clippings on the grass is a great way to provide nutrients.
• Again, when watering, water deeply and infrequently to build a deeper root system.

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