Horticulture Hotline 12/30/19
Bill Lamson-Scribner
Here are a few New Year’s Resolutions for the Gardener:
Take a soil test so you know what your soil needs are and
amend the soil accordingly. I have been doing this for myself on landscape jobs
since the late 1970’s and for other people since the early 1990’s. When people
return to Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control after following our prescription
for their lawn, they are happy, happy, happy. It is amazing how your grass will
respond with a little tweaking of nutrients. A custom program is the best way
to go, so you have a yearly calendar of what to apply and when to apply it.
What is the old saying, “if you write down a goal, your chances to achieve it
go way up.” A custom program will give you a step by step formula for an
awesome yard in 2020.
Go through all of the old products you have in your garage
and identify why you purchased them to begin with and if they are products that
can still be used. This will save you
money and make room for new and improved products.
Manage winter weeds now while they are young. The bigger
they get the harder they are to control. Treat fungus proactively – you will
save money.
Use wetting agents this year. Wetting agents have been shown to save
approximately 30-60% of water consumption for a yard. This would be a huge savings on your water
bill. By watering less, you will have
less fungus problems and save money by not having to buy as much fungicides or
water. At Possum’s we have noticed that a lot of people that use wetting agents
save even more water because they are more in tune to their watering and their
water bill. They are saving more like 80%, so if their water bill was $100.00
per month now the bill is only $20.00. A huge savings and water bills are
usually more than $100.00. There are many other benefits to using wetting
agents, and I was finally able to develop an easy RTS (connect straight to your
hose) applicator.
In an effort to conserve water, it is time to get that hose
that leaks at the faucet, a new gasket. Check your irrigation. Are all the
zones necessary or can you turn some off? Shrubs and trees should be
established after one year or before. Are the heads spraying the way they were
intended to spray?
In 2020 try to remove fertilizer and other control products
from hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, and streets before
these products are washed into the storm water.
This will help protect the beautiful area in which we live. Since a lot of storm water ends up in our
marshes and waterways, this will also help protect our natural resources that
we use for recreation, food, and jobs.
Buy a 100 pack of disposable nitrile gloves. These things are great! You can use them when handling control
products and fertilizers, when changing the oil in your lawn mower, while
taking down your Christmas tree to keep sap off of your hands, while painting
or taking out the trash, cleaning, picking up after your dog and yard
work…. These gloves are very inexpensive
and can save you lots of hot water while trying to remove things from your
hands. These gloves are also good at
keeping the human scent away from mole, mice and rat bait.
In 2020, add organic matter to your lawn and beds. Organic matter will also help you lower your
water bill while adding many other benefits to your soil. Cotton Burr compost has been improving
Lowcountry soils with great results for the past 17 years. If you want to see for yourself the benefits
of cotton burr compost, measure a 100 square foot area in your turf (10 feet x
10 feet) and spread one 2 cubic foot bag. Check out the progress over a month.
In order to combat weeds, plan to put out preemergents in
your lawns and beds according to product label.
This will make your life a lot less stressful and your yard will be
looking a lot better without weeds. If
time is a big issue, consider buying a years supply of product now, so you will
have the product handy when it is time to apply.
In 2020, always apply product according to the label’s
directions. No more, “if one ounce is
good….two ounces will be real good”. Many of our fire ant products, less is
better. On the pest control side of our business, roaches and rats can be
repelled with too much product. Follow the label that has cost the manufacturer
millions of dollars to get approval from the EPA and you will have better
results. This will also save you money - not to mention the product label is a
Federal Law.
For those pet owners out there whose animals have a history
of flea problems, be proactive by applying growth regulators. Pivot Ultra Plus,
Ultracide, Nylar, or Precor applied every three months, should keep your pet
free of fleas. Rotate products with different active ingredients.
Always mow the grass with a sharp mower blade and prune the
bushes with sharp pruning blades. You
will have cleaner cuts and less chance of disease. .
Read a good book about gardening. Reading is how we learn and it will motivate
you as a bonus.
Happy New Year!
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply.
Possum’s has three locations 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325
Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston
(766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum’s location, or visit us at http://www.possumsupply.com. You can
also call in your questions to “ The Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to
1:00, on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker). Saturday's show is replayed Sunday from
11:00 - Noon.