Posts Tagged ‘Spring’
Japanese beetles – Life cycle
Q: What’s become of the Japanese beetles? (Not that I miss them, mind you!) So far I’ve not seen any on our roses, magnolia blossoms, plum and cherry trees. Did I do something last year which interrupted their life cycle?...
Crabgrass – Seeds
Q: I want to grow crabgrass. Yes, crabgrass. A piece of my property has very poor, eroded soil and nothing grows there except crabgrass. Where can I get crabgrass seeds? I know it goes dormant in winter; I simply want...
Blackberry leaves – Bug infestation
Q: I have found strange bugs eating my blackberry leaves. They are tan, about the size of a BB, and are hard shelled. When I touch one it falls off the plant and acts dead. Damaged leaves have notches along...
Horse Manure – Fertilizer
Q: I have an unlimited supply of horse manure. Can I use this as mulch/fertilizer around my bushes and trees without hurting them? A: If the manure has been composted long enough that it doesn’t smell like ammonia and the...
Roses – virus
Q: I have nearly two hundred roses. Recently I’ve noticed several plants with bizarre buds/leaves/stems. I am convinced that I’m dealing with rose rosette virus. One plant looks like it came from outer space; the thorns are truly like shark’s...
Brown porch beetle – Identification
Q: On your website you mention a brown beetle that “swarms around porch lights at night”. I have so many I can barely open my back door. I would like to know what they are and how to get rid...
Maple Tree – Survival
Q: Landscapers planted a tall maple tree by our community mailbox area, then covered under it with pine straw. I am watering the tree every other day to help it survive. What should I do now? Fertilize? A: Watering every...
Perennial bed – Improved soil
Q: I had professional landscaping done in my back yard late last fall. Included was a perennial bed that was supposed to be tilled and the soil amended properly. The center of the bed appears OK, but the edge still...
Centipede grass – Overseeding
Q: Can you overseed centipede grass with rye grass for winter? A: No, it’s a terrible idea to plant ryegrass into centipedegrass to keep it green in winter. In the first place, the process of scarifying the soil to plant...
Four O’clock Plant – Control
Q: What is the best method to remove four o’clocks. My ex-wife thought it would be a grand idea to have them around. Five years later they are taking over everywhere! When should I dig the tubers? Or is there...
Hemlocks – Insect prevention
Q: In Highlands, NC the hemlock population has been destroyed. I have four beautiful twelve-year-old hemlocks. Is there anything proactive that I can do to prevent the insects from creeping into my trees? A: The most proactive thing you can...
Asparagus – Red berries
Q: Some of my asparagus plants has red berries on them. What do I have? Can the berries be used like seed? A: The red berries contain asparagus seed. You can collect them as they turn red each fall and...
Magnolia and fir – Feeding requirements
Q: We have several large magnolias and fir trees in our back yard. What are the feeding requirements for them? A: If the trees are large and established, they need little feeding, particularly if they are growing near a fertilized...
September bulbs – Early rising
Q: I planted bulbs in September and they are coming up already: way too early! Should I be concerned about this? A: The bulbs won’t be hurt at all; they will flower normally in spring. Early emergence does use resources...
Azalea – Stem growth
Q: A friend’s azalea plant has an odd growth on one of the stems. Should the growth be cut off? A: It looks like someone sprayed Roundup too close to the plant. I got a bit reckless with Roundup near...
Black walnuts – Planting
Q: While walking around our neighborhood a few weeks ago, I picked up several black walnut seeds. What’s the best way to plant them? A: Nuts can be planted an inch deep in a small sunny bed in fall. Cover...
Wood Ash – Fertilizer for Houseplant?
Q: Can I use a teaspoon of wood ash from the fireplace to fertilize my house plants? A: A teaspoon probably wouldn’t hurt anything but ashes don’t contain anything useful to a houseplant. All that ashes are good for is...
Morningglories – Crepe myrtles
Q: Last spring I planted morning glory seed heavily at the foot of my trellis. This summer the vines on the trellis were more than two feet thick. There were lots of beautiful flowers and the anoles, skinks, and tree...
