Horticulture Hotline 05/10/26
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
We finally got some rain! Last week after the air show was
cancelled, I went to plant some native pollinator attracting plant seeds that I
picked up from the Native Plant Society at MUSC’s Greenest Day celebration, and
just below the mulch the ground was still bone dry! I love walking this time of
year and getting to smell the wonderful magnolias. What a Lowcountry signature
tree! Here is a quick list of questions about events in the yard.
Soil tested? Custom
Program written? Apply the products that your soil needs instead of guessing.
Doing soil tests are cheaper and provide better results than random
applications. With heavy rain events, many nutrients have been leached from the
soil. Why do you think farmers with hundreds of acres and their income depend
upon it take soil test?
“I started using Possum’s recipe for my
lawn 3 years ago and I have never had a better lawn in the 35 years that I have
been trying to grow the perfect lawn. Possum’s is awesome! I have the best lawn
in the neighborhood.” Greg Lienert
“The Best!
Cookbook program very user friendly—plus the support!!”
Bernard Arnold, O.D.
“Great products for my lawn. 15-00-15 Lawn Food! My lawn never looked better! Better than Scotts! Great Products!” George Bryant
Have you been watering? Most of the issues I have seen with
grass this year are because a lack of water. Water, Water, Water. Low Humidity
and high winds dry out the soil and the soil doesn’t remain warm through the
cool nights without moisture. If the soil stays cool, the grass doesn’t green
up uniformly.
Mosquitoes? Do you have a plan? Luckily the wind, cool
temperatures, and lack of rain have kept them at bay for most of the spring. We
had high tides before and during the full “Flower Moon”, some rain, and less
wind now so get ready. Do the cultural things around your house by emptying
anything that holds water. Remember to look up at your gutters as well. Mosquito
Pro provides great control for mosquitoes and many, many other pest with its
knockdown power and growth regulators. If you prefer natural products, try Inzecto
Traps, Essentria, or EcoVia (or others).
Lawn Mower – sharp (new) blade, new ethanol free gas, new
oil, new air filter, new spark plug for season? Is your self-propelled
mechanism working?
Prune and fertilize azaleas, camellias and other spring
flowering plants after they bloom? Wait on Gardenias for now.
Do trees need pruning? Are they growing strong out to the
tips of the limbs? Plenty of new foliage? Has the bust of spring growth put
limbs against your house?
Fertilized your trees and shrubs? 17-00-09, 08-02-04
(organic), Professional feeding?
Fertilize daffodils for bigger bulbs next year. Leave the
leaves (foliage) to collect sunlight to refurbish bulb for next year.
Huge fleshy leaves on new growth of camellias and azaleas?
Leaf gall? Remove infected leaves and destroy.
Is Powdery mildew attacking roses, crepe myrtles, or dogwood
leaves? Neem PY (organic), Systemic
Fungicide II.
Large Patch Fungus in turf – get an early start – prevention
is cheaper than curative. Strobe and T-Methyl are great systemic products. Crab
Shell, Serenade, Cotton Burr Compost, SeaHume, and Natures Blend are organic products
that many professionals and homeowners have reported seeing less fungus in
their lawns. These cool nights is giving the fungus a chance to attack the
grass!
Adult mole crickets are tunneling – manage them. Intice Bait
(organic), Above/Below. Baby time is soon!
Fire ants are starting to forage – manage them. Come and Get
It (organic), Baits (great), and many contact killers for instant results.
Grubs are near the surface – manage them. Some of these
grubs will emerge into Japanese beetles that will shred your plant’s foliage in
a month (especially roses and crepe myrtles). Kill them now! Mallet, Grub X, or Milky Spore (organic).
Scale insects are bad because the dry spring. Crepe Myrtle
bark scale is a new insect to the area, and it is terrible. What people notice
is the trunk of the tree turning black from sooty mold. The bigger issue is the
tree is getting it’s nutrients sucked out of it. It seems like they get worse every
year. Safari Tree and Shrub for quick knockdown and Tree and Shrub Drench for
long term control. For trees and shrubs with perennial insect problems consider
Tree and Shrub Drench.
Get a “jump” on fleas this year. Bug Blaster outside. Pivot
Ultra Plus kills adult and larval fleas, while the IGR affects hatching eggs
and is labeled for indoor use. Prefurred Plus is great to apply to pet.
Plant a vegetable garden? Soil Test? Good soil? Amend soil?
Plant a flower garden? Soil Test? Good soil? Amend soil?
If you applied preemergent in February, it is time for your
second application (depending on the rate and product you used the first time).
Remember the ornamental beds!
The leaves have fallen – new mulch? New mulch really sets
off the landscape.
Fertilized Palm Trees with 07-00-09 (the most awesome Palm
Fertilizer)?
Are your Citrus Leafminer Traps out if you grow citrus?
Tested your well water? Many are getting salty.
Pruned holly fern, cast iron plant, and monkey grass (Liriope)?
Moles? Mole Patrol, Traps, Repellex? Above and Below?
Checked your irrigation? Heads pointing in the right
direction? Leaky valves? Pipes?
Well, over my column inches once again (newspaper lingo).
There is a lot going on in the Lowcountry!
Always read, understand, and follow product label – it is a
Federal Law.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply
(follow us on Facebook). Possum’s has three locations
