QUESTION: My fragrant tea olive is 12 feet tall. Should I let it continue to grow, or risk my neck by getting up on a ladder and cutting it back?ANSWER: Brace yourself. A well-established fragrant tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) can aim for 20 feet, assuming a string of mild winters - with no Arctic blast to set it back.However, even 12 feet is probably too tall for most city landscapes, unless you have a specific need to block a view and would never wish to prune or shape it.So, I'd say you need to take action now, before the plant starts growing and puts out the growth that will bear this year's flowers, the chief reason (along with the dense foliage) for growing this marvelous evergreen.Using long-handled loppers, bring that plant down to a height, about 7 to 8 feet, that you can maintain easily from a short stepladder every year or two. You have a well-established plant that will put out a lot of new growth.Make sure your plant has several inches of mulch to keep the ground from freezing and reduce the cold damage that occurs when ground is frozen and leaves cannot take up water.Prune the sides as well, by gentle tip-pruning to encourage development of its natural shape, an upright shrub.

QUESTION: My angel wing begonia has been struggling. It seems to be coming back. What should I do for it?ANSWER: It's normal for houseplants that thrive in the shade outdoors to struggle during the winter when you bring them indoors. In November, December and January, days are short and sunlight is dim, especially the bit that gets through the windows.But days are growing significantly longer and the sun getting stronger each day, so your plant is picking up, gathering strength for a fresh season of growth.If you have not been fertilizing the plant with water-soluble fertilizer, do so now. Keep the plant well-watered and give it as much window light as possible. Put it outside on the porch on nice days.Send your gardening questions to Nancy Brachey, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, N.C. 28230.