Horticulture Hotline 05/04/20
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Ol’Boy, my faithful pound hound, is now 17 and ½ people
years old (and yes, I am counting ½ years now)! I love walking Ol’Boy 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 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.
A new one for this year… masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.
We have them at Possum’s. The supply chain is getting better, but occasionally
we get wiped out of an item. If we are out, leave us your name and number and
we will call you when the next shipment arrives.
Mosquitoes? Do you have a plan? Luckily the wind has kept
them at bay during the day.
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,
dogwoods? Neem PY (organic), Systemic
Fungicide II.
Large Patch Fungus in turf – get an early start – prevention
is cheaper than curative. Strobe, 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. Intice Bait
(NOP), Above/Below.
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. 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)?
Tested your well water? Many are getting salty.
Pruned holly fern, cast iron plant, and monkey grass (Liriope)?
Moles? Mole Patrol, Traps, Repellex?
Checked your irrigation? Heads pointing the right direction?
Leaky valves? Pipes?
Always read, understand, and follow product label – it is a
Federal Law.
