Horticulture Hotline 06/12/17
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Time is flying by once again! School is getting out and it
is already June. The heat brings many situations in the landscape.
Right now, there is a great opportunity for those that love
fragrance. I know there are some manly men out there that would not admit this
because it would compromise their manhood, but two of the Lowcountry gems are
blooming now, and they smell great! The Magnolias and Gardenias will stop you
in their tracks with their fragrance.
Chinch Bugs are very active. If you have a sunny St.
Augustine lawn, it is time to get some protection out there on your turf.
EcoVia EC is an NOP (National Organic Program) compliant
product. Allectus is a long-term control product. Bug Blaster, Cyonara, Bifen,
and Lebanon Sevin will provide short term control.
Speaking of sunny yards, remember to protect yourself from
the sun. Since I hang around mostly people that spend time in the sun, I have
witnessed and heard about many sun related horror stories. These stories
revolve around getting areas cut out and tested for sun cancer.
Drain flies are becoming an issue with all the good local
vegetables and fruits being consumed in our kitchens. Using the scum eating
microbes in InVade BioDrain will help eliminate the organic build up in drains
that harbor the drain flies and the citrus oil will help reduce odors as well.
The EcoVia EC (National Organic Program compliant) will
help if they are already getting active.
Mosquitoes are out and about looking for a blood meal. The
high tides and the heavy rains we had have
ditches and other areas with enough water for mosquitoes to breed. Scout your
yard for potential breeding sites. EcoVia EC (National Organic Program
compliant) is great on mosquitoes for an organic approach. LambaStar for
conventional control.
Moles just have had their spring babies, so expect a surge
in their population – wonderful!
Japanese Beetles have emerged (pun intended) on the scene,
tearing up Crepe Myrtles, Roses, and many other plants. These heavy eaters are
easy to kill with a little persistence. Bifen, Cyonara, and many others will take
care of the Japanese Beetle. Traps also work if placed away from where the
preferred meal of the Japanese Beetle and are more of an organic approach.
EcoVia EC is a Botanical Insecticide that is NOP (National Organic Program)
compliant and works.
The baby mole crickets are hatching and the adults are dying
off. Now is a good time to ‘flush’ an area that you think you might have mole
crickets. Get two ounces of lemony dish soap in five gallons of water and
slowly pour it over a 2 x 2 area where you have tunneling damage by mole
crickets and see what comes out of the ground in the next 3 to 5 minutes. Depending
on your tolerance level, you can decide whether or not to treat. A golf green
would have zero tolerance because the tunnels would affect the ball roll. EcoVia
EC and Intice Perimeter are two NOP compliant products that should work good
for you. Allectus and Lebanon Sevin are conventional control products that will
‘kill the baby’ mole crickets.
Hello, my name is Bill and I have vines. Virginia creeper,
Smilax, and peppervine seem to be the worst. Luckily no poison ivy. Vines,
vines, everywhere are vines blockin out the scenery … (do you remember the 5
Man Electrical Band in 1971? Hi, my name is Bill and I’m old!)
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
