Horticulture Hotline 05/08/17
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
I love walking my dog this time of year and getting to smell
the wonderful magnolias. 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 the heavy rain events the last 2 years, many nutrients have
been leached from the soil. Why do you think farmers with hundreds of acres’
soil test?
Mosquitoes? Do you have a plan?
Lawn Mower – sharp (new) blade, new ethanol free gas, new
oil, new air filter, new spark plug for season?
Prune and fertilize azaleas, camellias and other spring
flowering plants after they bloom? Wait on Gardenias for now.
Trees need pruning after Matthew? Growing strong out to the
tips of the limbs? Plenty of new foliage?
Fertilized your trees and shrubs? 17-00-09, 08-02-04
(organic), Professional feeding?
Fertilize daffodils and spray them with Mighty Plant 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,
dogwoods? Neem PY (organic), Honor Guard
Large Patch Fungus in turf – get an early start – prevention
is cheaper than curative. Fame, T-Methyl, and Prophesy are a few chemical
controls. Crab Shells, Serenade, and Natures Blend are organic controls that
“fix” the problem.
Adult mole crickets are tunneling – manage them. Lebanon
Insect Control or Intice Bait.
Fire ants are starting to forage – manage them. Lebanon Insect Control, Baits.
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! Lebanon Insect Control, Grub X.
Scale insects are really bad. 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. Lebanon Insect Control, Bug
Blaster outside. Precor 2000, Alpine Flea Insecticide with IGR or Ultracide all
have an adulticide as well as a growth regulator and are labeled for indoor use.
Prefurred Plus to apply to pet.
Plant a vegetable garden?
Plant a flower garden?
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?
Fertilized Palm Trees with 07-00-09 (the most awesome Palm
Fertilizer)?
Tested your well water? With over seven years of drought,
many are getting salty.
Pruned holly fern, cast iron plant, and monkey grass (Liriope)?
Moles? Mole Patrol, Traps, Repellex?
Checked your irrigation?
Always read, understand, and follow product label – it is a
Federal Law.
