Horticulture Hotline 11/06/17
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
The weather has been as nice as I can ever remember it the
Lowcountry the past few weeks. Visiting the State, County, City, and Town Parks
is a must this time of year. Walking through the peninsula of Charleston or
other Lowcountry cities can be most enjoyable with the weather we have been
having. The Plantations are another great place to spend a morning or
afternoon. Shoot, Ol’Boy (my pound hound) and I have enjoyed just walking
around the neighborhood. While walking, always keep an eye out for a cool
plant, fountain, bird feeder, or other landscape item to bring into your yard
or just enjoy in your neighbors. The sweet tea olive fragrance has been off the
charts.
After last week’s article on winter kill, I have talked to
many of my experienced (old), senior (old), knowledgeable (old), been in
business over 25 years (old), member of AARP (old), well you get the idea,
friends of mine (old), and we reminisced (what old people do) about the tragedy
that a bad case of winter kill can cause to a yard. Whole turf areas can be
wiped out (dead) and need to be re-sodded ($) overnight! Think of your whole
yard dying overnight. Sodding 5 to 10 thousand square feet – not fun – not to
mention removing the old dead grass. If you missed last week’s article, you can
go to possumsupply.com and click on the Horticulture Hotline tab.
As the leaves fall off the Crepe Myrtles and other trees, it
is a good time to identify rubbing and crossing limbs. Any damaged limbs from
Irma should be more visible. Pruning now
can save you some work during the busy spring.
If you had aphids, white flies or other insect problems on
Crepe Myrtles or other plants, now is a great time to get ahead of those
critters with Neem oil and Dominion Tree and Shrub drench. Dominion will be
absorbed into the plant and be ready to protect the new leaves in the spring.
Try to keep up with the leaves as they fall. Leaves on your
turf can lead to disease by holding moisture on the grass blades. If you (or a
lawn care company) are applying products, the leaves will prevent an even
application. If you can, try to compost or mulch the leaves on site. Your soil
will thank you and you will enjoy the money saved on fertilizer and water.
Since the grass has slowed down, now is the perfect time to
re-establish your bed lines and edge along your sidewalks and driveway. A
little work now could be enjoyed for several months.
November and December are great months for planting bulbs,
corms, rhizomes, and tubers. If you have had trouble with squirrels in the
past, try Squirrel Stopper.
The great weather has brought on Large Patch disease in many
yards. With any luck an application of a good systemic fungicide (T-Methyl, Fame
and Prophesy) should get you through these favorable environmental conditions.
Soil testing in the fall allows you to amend the soil over
the winter and be ready for spring. The better soil testing facilities and the
people who need to interrupt the results of the test (that would be me if you
soil test with Possum’s) have a little more time in the fall to get your
information back to you.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
