Take care when repotting bougainvillea

Dear readers, allow me a couple more thoughts about recent questions posed to me if I may.

Last week, I answered a query about bird of paradise and bougainvillea that a writer envied at her sister's home. I need to tell you this about bougainvillea. They hate to have their roots disturbed.

I know hate is a strong word, but dislike isn't a strong enough word to make you understand, they hate to have their roots disturbed.

So, let's say you are wanting to repot a bougainvillea. You will need to be well-prepared, quick and most importantly, gentle. I've had the best luck making sure that the soil surrounding the bougainvillea's roots is quite damp so it doesn't fall apart as I aim to get it into its new pot. The new pot should be thoroughly prepared to receive the bougainvillea as seamlessly as possible. Meaning a layer of soil at the base of the pot, dampened for sure, and then gingerly tucking in the needed dampened new soil around the root-soil mass. Really bougainvillea hate to have their roots disturbed, pay a lot of attention if you need to or are aiming to repot one.

I also recently wrote about the 1-2-3-2-1 city recommended watering plan. I don't think I mentioned that the plan mostly describes sprinkler overhead watering. Also, I don't think I mentioned that the city does not want you sprinkler watering from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

There's good reasoning for the hour suggestion restriction watering. Overhead water applied during those hours isn't going to do much in maintaining healthy plant life. Far too much of it is going to evaporate before it's able to be absorbed by the plants. Also, any water droplets left on leaf surfaces drying in the sun can act like a magnifying glass and actually scorch or sunburn the leaf surface.

It's best to do any overhead sprinkler watering either very early in the morning or at dusk. That way, the water is more likely absorbed and utilized by the plant. If you do have new planted things and they really need a drink, hand watering with the hose becomes your aim. Yes, newly planted creatures are exempt, sort of, just think twice before turning on a sprinkler system. Thanks for letting me get all that out!

Q: I planted a young five gallon lilac last year and it didn't bloom at all. This year it bloomed for me and was so pretty. Now that it's finished blooming, what do I do for it so it blooms great again next spring? — L.L., Albuquerque

A: It's time for the rhyme, "prune after the bloom." It's time, very soon, to snip away this year's spent blooms.

Take a good look at each stalk or stem that supported a bloom and using the sharpest nippers you have, cut off the part of that stem that was supporting the bloom. To keep the lilac looking tidy, I've always cut down to just above a set of leaves. That way there are no toothpick-looking naked stems sticking up and the lilac looks tidier.

Just be sure to not cut into the leaf structure coming out of the stem. Once the pruning is completed, offer the lilac a good slow drink of water and perhaps an application of a blooming plant fertilization. Even a dose of root stimulator would be welcome, for sure. Just get out there soon and complete this project.

Happy Diggin' In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.