Horticulture Hotline
Bill Lamson-Scribner 08/30/21
Treat for mosquitoes in your yard! With the amount of rain and high tides we have had, try some Cyonara and kill the mosquito. Some products repel mosquitoes, we want to kill them. Slow them down with a growth regulator also. Scout around your yard for potential breeding sights. It is amazing how many places that collect water and a mosquito can lay an egg. Old tarps, tarps on boats, saucers under flower pots, a dent in a trash can lid, old fountain, bird bath, tires, refrigerators, old cars, magnolia leaves and even half - filled rain gauges all provide enough water to help mosquitoes breed. If you do not have time to do scout your yard, hire a professional, and they will help make your yard safe. World-wide mosquitoes are the number one killer of humans.
We are in the heart of hurricane season. Get a professional to inspect your trees. Watch out for what is known in the industry as “widow makers” – those dead limbs hanging from a tree. It is the perfect time to feed trees and shrubs also.
Large Patch fungus is about to raise its ugly head again in the Lowcountry. The night time temperatures are going to be in the high 60’s to low 70’s. You should apply fungicides before you get the disease and prevent the disease. The daylight hours are decreasing, making the grass more susceptible to the disease. Water only as needed and apply Strobe or T-Methyl fungicide.
If you have any bushes or trees that need to be transplanted, you can begin to root prune them. Ideally if you transplant a tree you would have a ball that is 12 inches for each inch in diameter of the tree (i.e. 3 inch tree would be 18 inches on either side of the tree). Take a shovel and dig straight down without prying and just sever the roots of the tree. Depending on the size of the tree, whether it was planted or a volunteer seedling, how long it has been in the ground, and whether it is in a group of other plants, will dictate how big of a root ball you will be able to dig. Add some SeaHume and Superthrive to the area to encourage new roots. Root prune now and for the next few months for transplanting in November-January.
The change in weather will also bring on the winter annual weeds. Hopefully by now, you have put out preemergents in your lawn as well as your beds. If you have had Florida Betony in the past, consider using a preemergent that contains Dimension. I have already seen Florida Betony emerging so act quickly if it is a weed you fight. Many of our customers have noticed a decrease in Florida Betony in lawns that they have used Dimension in late August and again in October. Over twenty years ago, I put out some test plots for Dow AgroSciences, and I saw about an 85% reduction in Florida Betony the first year! Dow AgroSciences did not add Florida Betony to the label because of the costs of dealing with the EPA; however, I say, “try it you‘ll like it!”
Watch out for mole crickets, fall army worms and sod web worms in your turf. Mole crickets have just
developed their wings and are beginning their fall flights, which means they will be up near the surface tunneling (damaging) your grass. I have had several calls about severe mole cricket damage and observed major damage. Sod web worms and fall army worms can eat a huge amount of grass in a short period of time. Look for moths as you walk around your lawn in the evening. These moths will come up from the ground, fly erratically for a few feet, then land almost like a quail. Treat with Lebanon Insect Control or Cyonara and you will take care of both of these guys as well as fire ants and many other insects.
Always read, follow and understand the product label before applying any products.
