Building a Blackberry Trellis
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to build a blackberry trellis out of four t-posts and a 16-foot piece of livestock panel. The blackberries, planted last year, have outgrown their nursery provided stakes. Also, as blackberries do, they will be spreading and multiplying. Mike starts off driving the t-posts into the ground. Once the two end posts are driven into the ground he uses a fencing trick by running a string between them. He uses the string to keep his line of posts straight. After the posts are in place, he attaches the livestock panel to them with t-post clips.
Related Videos: Blackberry Pruning and Fertilizing Should I avoid wood chip mulching to reduce fungus on my raspberry/blackberry hybrid? Preparing Blackberry Plants for Winter Related Resources: Trellis Construction to Grow Fruit Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden Home Garden Raspberries and Blackberries |
Search for Garden Advice
Removing Tree Suckers
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Joellen Dimond shows how to remove suckers from a magnolia tree. Removing suckers keeps the tree looking like a tree and not like a bush. >>Watch
Garden Notes
Pesticides Can Cause Plant Sunburn 
Be careful when you spray pesticides. They can cause phototoxicity, which means your plant will get sunburn. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper explains that applying some pesticides in direct sunlight or when the temperatures are high may cause this problem. Always read and follow pesticide label directions to avoid these problems. >>Watch |
Hydroponics Basics
Stephan Leonard talks about Hydroponics. Hydroponics is growing a plant without soil. Hydroponics is where the root system is gathering its nutrients directly from water. The water contains a nutrient solution that has the macro-nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains the 13 micro-nutrients the plants need to grow. The plants are planted in a soilless medium that provides structural support. Mediums can include Rockwool or beads. The medium allows the roots to grow through to the solution below. <<Watch
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How to Prune Shrubs
Pruning if done correctly will leave a balanced looking plant that does not look pruned. Joellen Dimond shows and talks about the basics of pruning shrubs. Joellen starts by talking about some of the reasons you prune shrubs, then shows the tools you can use. She then shows where to make the cuts to direct the plant which direction to grow. <<Watch
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Snakes in the Garden
Andy Williams from Lichterman Nature Center talks about the beneficial qualities of snakes in the garden and also what to do if you find one – venomous or otherwise. When you see a snake, you should take three steps back and walk away. This applies to venomous and non-venomous snakes. Snake bites are rare but 40% of all snake bites are from people trying to handle the snake. <<Watch
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Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias
Summer flowering annuals give a colorful pop to flower beds. This year Joellen Dimond plants tropical hibiscus and begonias around already growing dusty miller. She selected red hibiscus and pink bronze-leafed begonias for a red, white, and pink color scheme. After removing the winter annuals, she fertilizes with a slow release fertilizer and then plants. The bed was previously mulched by landscapers, so she only adds a small amount where needed. <<Watch
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Viewer Questions
How do I kill creeping charlie without killing zoysia?
Ground Ivy or creeping charlie can be controlled in zoysia with a three-way herbicide for lawns containing Dicamba. Before you use chemicals, you should try to change the growing environment. Creeping charlie likes excessive moisture and shade. You should fix this problem by increasing drainage and letting in more light. >>Watch
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What are these things that appeared in my flower bed?
This is a kind of slime mold that has been named dog vomit. It is growing on the mulch. It will not harm your plants and if you don’t like it you can remove it from the bed. It will go away after a while if you leave it alone. It is a fungus so any time you have warm weather, high humidity, and rain it may show up. >>Watch
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Why are some of my vegetables bitter?
Bitter vegetables are caused by plant stress. The chemical that causes the bitterness is always in the plant but sometimes that can translocate to the fruit. This can be can be caused by uneven watering or underwatering or another less than ideal condition. >>Watch
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What happened to my honeydew plants?
There are a couple of things this could be. It could be damping off. If it is wet and cool soil, fungi may harm the plant. It could also be bacterial wilt. That can be tested for by snipping off a piece of plant. Then touching the cut area back together. When they are pulled apart there will be some stringiness in the sap. If it is bacterial wilt you should remove and dispose of the plants in the trash. >>Watch
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