in southern MD- My fig tree looked awful last year summer '09 and produced fewer figs than usual. There was less fruit and very few ripened. They stayed green and hard, and were small. This tree had been a very prolific tree. I was wondering how your trees produced last summer. So far this year I have very little growth on old wood and some long new growth from the bottom. Top looks bad. Any advice is welcome. Not sure weather is only factor. There is a groundhog hole nearby. Could it be eating the roots? It did not get the fruit because I was keeping a close eye.

I can't speak specifically to the issue of a fig tap root, but I got a potted Julie mango from a friend in 1/2 of a rotting oak barrel and when the owner moved it, the tap root broke off also. I put it in the ground immediately and It wilted for a while and sprang back with a bit of extra water. Now it's healthy, but I have to water it more frequently than my other mango trees as it will show wilting stress while my others will not when its dry for a long time. From what I know the taproot serves two purposes, getting deeper water, and resistance to wind. If your fig recovers hopefully it's in a spot that's protected from wind. You may also have to water it more than in the past? My best advice is to not let it die of thirst. Again this has been my experience with a mango and a few ornamental plants, and experts may have a different take on it.

Hi Carrie, the bermuda will not start to green up until April or so. Any temps freezing will set that back. I have dwarf gardenias that were badly damaged by a late frost a few years ago. I thought they were gone, but they came back. Yours probably will to, just give them some time. With any new plantings, they can be sensitive. Make sure to keep them watered if it doesn't rain.

Peace lilies are INDOOR plants; house plants in other words - household light conditions are generally adequate. They will overheat and wilt in direct sunlight. If the soil is moist, it should perk up on it's own and not need watering again until either the foliage starts to droop slightly or the soil feels dry when you insert a finger to at least the first knuckle. Over watering is not a good thing for this plant either.