Horticulture Hotline 09/16/19
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
During Dorian many limbs were blown off tearing the bark of
the tree as they fell. Clean up those cuts either yourself or hire a
professional. Bark peeled down the side of a tree or shrub is an open
invitation for insects and disease. Also the large opening creates a bigger
area to heal.
If you are planning on transplanting a tree this fall, now
is the time to root prune. For root
pruning trees, a good rule of thumb is for every inch in diameter of tree, you
want twelve inches of root ball.
Sometimes this is not practical because you are usually transplanting an
over-crowded tree or a tree located too close to a house or sidewalk. At this point outline the biggest ball you
can possibly move and just dig straight down severing the roots without
actually removing the soil. Treat this ball area with DieHard Transplant and
SeaHume to encourage young white root growth and beneficial fungi in this
area.
Come back in a month and dig away from the area that you
severed leaving your tree in a little moat.
Spray the tree with Transfilm (anti-transparent) and wait another month
then remove the tree. Use DieHard Transplant in the new hole.
When you plant the tree in its new home, be sure it is
planted at the same grade that it was growing before you moved it or a little
higher. I like to plant higher than existing grade because the soil seems to
settle. Many tree problems are associated with being planted too deep.
Brown Patch Fungus is in the ready attack mode. The shorter
days, moisture and finally the cooler weather on the way will give this fungus
all the conditions it likes to destroy the yard you worked hard on all summer. Apply
fungicides before you have an active fungus for best results – like humans and
the flu shot!
Scout your yard for sod webworms and army worms. It is
amazing with 3 stores (Possum’s) the stories you hear from lawn care people and
homeowners about these worms. They can eat so much so fast it is amazing.
Whether it is the professional or the DIY homeowner that has worked hard all
summer to grow a uniform stand of turf, the sod webworm just doesn’t seem to
care.
To scout for this varmint, look for scalped grass that has
bite marks on the leaf blade. Moths flying around in a zigzag pattern in and
out of the turf at dust is also a dead giveaway.
Scale, aphids, mealy bugs and lace bugs are still out there
sucking the life out of your plants. Evergreens you could use a drench product
like Dominion. If your plant or tree is losing leaves for the winter, horticultural
oil might be a better choice, depending on the infestation. Lantana, Valley
Forge Elm, Sweet Grass, Azalea, Camellia, and Hollies are under attack.
Winterizing your turf and shrubs should also be considered.
No one likes to go to sleep hungry! Possum Minors, 00-00-25 Sulfate of Potash +
minors, SeaHume, Cotton Burr Compost and / or Excell are a few excellent
options. Watch out for the national marketing campaigns that promote products
that were not designed to be used in this area.
I’m sure you have put out one round of preemergent herbicide
by now for winter weed control in your beds and turf. If not, better late than
never. Weed seeds germinate pretty much all year here.
If you are changing out flowers in containers or hanging
baskets, consider incorporating HydroStretch or Hort-a-Sorb. These products
help manage water and your plants will not dry out so fast.
Roaches, moles, fleas, mice, rats, mole crickets, fire ants?
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
