Horticulture Hotline 01/26/26
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
My neighbor’s Tulip Magnolia (Saucer Magnolia) is in full
bloom. When this tree blooms, it usually indicates that spring is rapidly
approaching. Are you ready for the 2026 season in your yard?
Here are a few things to do on the nice winter days – maybe next
week.
·
Get soil tested – for everyone that has not
already. Custom Programs are best!
·
Kill winter weeds now while they are young and
your grass is dormant.
·
Take mower in to have serviced to beat the
Spring rush. With the new ethanol gas lawn mower engines and other engines have
had issues. No one likes their mechanic to tell them, “pick it up in 6 weeks.”
·
Keep leaves off lawn areas. Keeps moisture from
being trapped and if you or your lawn service are applying products, you will
have a more uniform coverage without the leaves.
·
Move any shrub or tree now before it is too
late. Root prune now, move before they start putting on new growth. Try SUPERthrive
Solid to help survival.
·
Spray
trees and shrubs with paraffinic oil (ultra-fine, Omni Supreme oil) to control over-wintering insects. Watch
temperatures. If you have ongoing issues with scale, aphids, white flies, or
other sucking bugs, try Safari or Dominion for long term control. Neem oil
works on diseases as well as insects.
·
Sharpen pruning tools or purchase new ones.
·
If you haven’t already, get your bulbs in the
ground.
·
Apply SeaHume to turf, trees, flowers, and
shrubs. Adding organics now will help in the spring. Cotton Burr Compost?
·
Re-do bed lines to reflect maturing landscape.
·
Get bird house ready for nesting birds.
·
Have moles, get Mole Patrol – it really works.
·
Have deer, get Deer Stopper – it really works.
·
Check irrigation or get on professional’s list
to check. It has been dry this winter. Be sure the heads are pointed the right
way. Can you eliminate (turn off) the zone watering the shrubs and trees? Have
you tried wetting agents to lower your water bill (we hear between 30 and 60
percent)? Less water equals less disease.
·
Prune Crepe Myrtles – don’t butcher them. Remove
crossing (rubbing) limbs, inward growing limbs and diseased limbs. Topping or
reducing their height is not considered proper pruning.
·
Hold off on pruning plants damaged by the cold –
we could still have freezing temperatures.
·
Test well for salt.
·
Get ready to preemerge in February. Kill small
seeded summer annual weeds before they take over your landscape.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is Federal Law.
