About Trey Tarrant Expertise I can answer questions about plant identification, plant care, plant pest management, landscaping, and general gardening questions. Please post a picture of the plant you wish to identify, if possible. If you say something like, "I've got this plant and it's green with long leaves and white flowers" and do not include a picture, chances are I won't be able to help you. I may not be able to help with plants that are not grown in the Southeast/ Eastern US, but you're welcome to try me.
Experience Landscaping for 10 years. Horticulture Instructor at Lawson State Community College for 7 years.
Education/Credentials M.S. in Horticulture from Auburn University.
Question I live in Southern California and we have large trees growing on our fence line that produce red cherry sized berries in the late autumn months. The leaves and bark look very much like a ficus tree but they are more slender and columnar. I really want to know if there is a way that we could time the tree trimming to avoid the production of berries as they clog the drains and cause flooding in our underground garage.
Answer I'm not sure what kind of trees you have, but yes, you can prune the trees soon after they flower to reduce berry production. The majority of plants flower most profusely on the extremeties of the branches, so shearing off the outer layer of the plants will reduce the amount of berries. Of course, the remaining flowers will still result in fruits.
Some plants will re-bloom if you remove the flowers, but others will not bloom again that same year. A little experimentation is the only way to know.
