Q: When should I prune my rose bushes? They never really go completely dormant, in that they keep their leaves and occasionally bloom throughout the winter.
Although roses sometimes don’t go completely dormant, they experience a period of slow growth and partial dormancy in the winter months. When the days become shorter and cooler, buds and flowers may still be present, but not in substantial numbers. Leaves may start to fall, but the plant will usually keep some around in the vain hope that spring is just around the corner.
In other words, your rose bushes look like they’re not totally committed to dormancy but wouldn’t mind taking a nap. This happens between late October through mid-March.
I like to wait until January or February before undertaking any major pruning, but I only have a few rose bushes. If you have a lot of roses, you may want to start earlier. Pruning later in the spring isn’t going to cause irreparable harm, but it’s easier to prune when there’s not a lot of leaves in the way. If you procrastinate until early summer, just deadhead a little more enthusiastically and don’t worry about it.
Q: Is dieffenbachia safe for dogs or cats to be around? The ASPCA website states that it is not safe for dogs or cats.
The ASPCA has an extensive list of plants that are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. This index lists several hundred different species of plants alphabetically by scientific name. They also have a poison control hotline (888-426-4435) that you can call if you have any doubts about something your pet has eaten or been exposed to. If possible, keep a list of all your plants, including the scientific names, to make your search easier. If any of your plants are on the “naughty” list, consider removing or making them inaccessible to pets.
If your pet ate something unknown from outdoors, take detailed photos of the suspect plant or mushroom. This should include photos of the leaves, stem, flowers (if present), and overall plant structure. For mushrooms, take photos of every angle, including the underside of the cap, since gill structure is an important identifying feature.
Remember: most plants and mushrooms are not very poisonous, although a lot of them will, when ingested, cause digestive problems such as indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea. Proper identification is vitally important when dealing with potential poisoning.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu
Laura Simpson
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