Q: We purchased a small Italian stone pine in a pot last Christmas. We thought it would probably die when the warmer weather arrived, but it has lots of new growth.

Should we pot it into a larger container? Or can it be planted directly into the landscape? How large might it become?

A: There aren't a lot of Italian stone pines in Texas landscapes, but they do survive as long as winters are not extreme. It's winter hardy to Zone 7. It requires light, well-drained soil. Like Eldarica, Japanese black and Austrian pines, among others, prolonged exposure to wet clay soils can cause it to die. It probably will be susceptible to pine shoot tip moth damage. Italian stone pine is relatively slow-growing. It's especially well-suited to being grown in a pot. Repot it to the next larger pot size each time you transplant it.

Q: I'm really interested in the ornamental grasses I see almost everywhere. What can you tell me about them?

A: Nurseries are offering us more ornamental grasses than ever, and that's a good thing because they're some of our prettiest sources of colors and textures. However, I also feel compelled to say that we are overusing grasses currently, just as we overused junipers and arborvitae 50 years ago and waxleaf ligustrums after that. We've turned a lovely group of plants into a fad that will probably lose favor as people tire of the same look everywhere. Most ornamental grasses turn brown with the first freeze. Given that appearance all winter, a landscape can quickly become rather uninspiring. Personal opinion: We should use ornamental grasses as highlighting plants, not as mass substitutes for shrubs and ground covers.

Q: We have several tall pines that are secreting sap from several holes along their trunks. Is this an insect or disease? How can we save the trees?

A: It's hard to tell what is causing the holes and subsequent sap flow just from your description.

However, it may be nothing more serious than sapsuckers (woodpecker relatives). They drill the holes to encourage sap flow, then come back later to feed on it. They do not indicate the presence of any insects, nor do they cause any major damage. Of course, there are more serious insect and disease issues that also cause sap flow. It would be best if you could get a certified arborist on the scene for a look.
