GARDENING 'CAN MY MANGO TREE SURVIVE A GOAT EATING AWAY ITS BARK?'.

Q. I reside in Defence Phase 5, Karachi. My one-and-half-year-old papaya plant in the backyard gets about three hours of sunlight. It used to be healthy but, since the last 2 months, its leaves curl up and appear sick. I have sprayed neem oil on the leaves but there has been no improvement. Please advise.

A. Your tree is probably suffering from papaya leaf virus, for which there is no actual cure, chemical or otherwise. This virus is usually transmitted/carried by white fly, therefore controlling any white fly on the tree may help. It is easy to eradicate by spraying with warm, soapy water. Add one dessertspoon liquid soap/dish-washing liquid to one litre warm water, mix well and spray each evening for three days, and then every other evening for the following two weeks. Spray underneath as well as on top of each leaf. An additional problem is that the tree is highly unlikely to thrive on just three hours of direct sunlight each day, as papayas require a position in full sun, all day long, to be at their healthiest, and to produce sweet fruit in abundance. If your tree manages to survive the leaf curl attack and bears fruit, it will be poor quality with very little taste, if any. Move it into a sunnier location if you possibly can.

Versatile papayas | Photos by the writer

Q. My roses in Defence, Karachi, don't look healthy. Some leaves are turning yellow and new leaves are small. The dried out rose petals do not fall off. I tried spraying with warm water, washing-up liquid and oil but it didn't make any difference. I water them daily, just a light shower, and they receive 6-7 hours of sunlight each day. How can I improve them?

A. It sounds like your poor roses are literally starving to death. They desperately need feeding. Mulch around them - the mulch must not touch the base of the plant but be kept about four inches away from it - with a three-inch thick layer of old, well-rotted, organic animal manure (not poultry manure) or with top quality organic compost. Top up the mulch/compost each month as it will slowly be pulled down into the soil by industrious beneficial insects such as earthworms. This mulch will ensure that the roses always have the nourishment they need. When watering, do not shower the plant itself. Only water the ground and mulch around the plant, without getting the plant leaves wet. The kind of spray you used is for insect control so it is of no benefit if insects are not a problem. Dry rose petals do not always fall...