Family Plot

Spring Garden Checklist

There is a lot to do in the garden in the spring. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about what she does to get her garden ready for the growing season. The first thing on the list is pruning perennials and ornamental grasses. Also, spring is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. She also talks about spring insect treatments and pruning for fruit and ornamental trees.

Joellen then talks about vegetable gardens. Joellen lists cool season vegetables to plant in the spring. She also talks about how to protect them from unusually cold nights. Also, spring is a good time to plant berries and small fruits like grapes.

When the ground warms to about 70 degrees it will be time to plant summer blooming bulbs. Also, later in the spring is the time to prune evergreen shrubs. There may be some winter damage and you want to be able to see what survived before you make pruning decisions.

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April 10, 2021

Search for Garden Advice

Potting Rooted Cuttings

This week in the garden University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond pots the coleus cuttings she took before last fall’s frost. The roots have intertwined in the water. After carefully separating them she puts them in moist soil. These plants will only be in the pot for a few weeks before she plants them outside in her garden. >>Watch

Garden Notes
Amendment

Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term amendment. An amendment is something added to the soil to improve it. This can include fertilizer, lime, or organic matter. >>Watch

Pruning Fig Trees

Garden expert Bill Colvard shows how to prune a neglected fig tree. It has been an unusually warm late winter and early spring so the fig tree started growing leaves but they were killed by a recent frost. The tree will be okay but right now you can’t tell how much of the branch will be effected by the frost. Bill talks about some of the things to look for and do while pruning and then he gets to work. He cuts off most of the branches coming from the base including all the ones growing horizontal. He leaves just a few stronger vertical branches. Then he shortens those branches so the tree will grow more full and less leggy. When he is done, the tree is much smaller but will be better looking and better suited for producing fruit. >>Watch

Tools for Pruning Trees

Figs

Rose Bush Pruning

Rose expert Bill Dickerson shows how to prune a rose bush. After showing the tools he uses, he starts by pruning off all the dead wood. As he works on the bush he also cuts off all the canes that are thinner than a pencil. He prunes to open up the center of the bush by removing branches growing toward the center and pruning just above buds that are facing outward. Bill says that as the dead wood and small branches are removed it gets easier to see what needs to be cut. If you prune the bush taller you will get more smaller roses, if you prune down to 12-18 inches from the ground you will get fewer larger roses. Bill shows how to identify a bud on the cane. He explains that each bud can have up to three growths from it. Because he wants a cane to grow from the bid by his cut, he removes any leaves that are growing from the bud below his cut. As he is pruning, Bill finds a cane that had a cane borer last year. He cuts it back and explains what he does to try to prevent borers. >>Watch

Basic Rose Care

What's eating holes in my rose leaves?

Spring Rose Care and Pruning

Tools Every Gardener Needs

TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond shows the tools that every gardener needs and that she uses regularly. There are many specialized tools available but Joellen uses basic garden tools available in most garden stores. The tools include: hand pruners, gloves, loppers, pruning saw, hand cultivator, trowel, garden fork, morrow hoe, small and large shovel, leaf and garden rake, and a broom. She talks about how she uses each tool. If she had to pick only one tool she would take her hand pruners. >>Watch

Tools for Pruning Trees

Getting Tools Ready for Winter

Frogs and Toads

Mary Schmidt from Lichterman Nature Center talks about frogs and toads and why you want them in your garden. They are amphibians that are tied to water. They lay their eggs in the water and have part of their life cycle there too. The bumps or warts on toads are a protection. Toads are a kind of frog. Mary has several frogs and toads with her to demonstrate the differences. Frogs like the bullfrog have long back legs and leap. True toads have dry rough skin and shorter stubbier legs to hop.

Frogs and toads are beneficial in several ways. The most obvious is that they eat a lot of insects. Also, frogs and toads can absorb things through their skin, so they can be an indicator that you have problems in your yard or garden.

To attract frogs and toads to your garden you need to provide habitat they like. They need water and moisture. You can also provide places for toads to hide. Mary shows how to make a toad abode with a flowerpot and a couple of rocks. >>Watch

Raptors

Snakes in the Garden

Songbirds as Pests

Mike Dennison talks about how to handle songbirds when they are pests. You cannot kill songbirds, so you have to discourage them. Songbirds can be a problem in the garden because they eat fruit. One thing you can do is plant enough for you and the birds. The only sure way to keep birds from your fruit is to use bird netting. If you have too large of an area to cover you can use frightening devices like propane cannons, plastic owls, mylar tape, a blaring radio, plastic snakes, or anything else that looks like a predator. With all of these things you need to change it up once in a while or the birds will figure out that it is fake. Nests are usually not a problem, but they can stop up your gutters and swallows can build mud nests on your house. This is where rubber snakes work best. If you place a rubber snake close to where the birds typically build their nests they will go elsewhere. You must discourage nesting before the birds arrive in the spring. Once there are eggs in the nest you can’t disturb them. >>Watch

Protect Strawberries from Birds

Keep Birds Out of Blueberries

Pruning Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums

Cabbage

Pruning Apple Trees

Lettuce

How a Tree Works

The Worst Weeds

Looking for more garden info?

Viewer Questions

What is the best way to get rid of black rot in my grapes?

Black rot is a serious fungal disease in grapes. It starts with reddish-brown splotches on the leaves and will destroy the fruit. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper tells how to stop black rot. You need to prune the vine in the spring to promote good air circulation which helps the leaves dry. You need to remove all infected parts of the plant and throw them away (don’t compost). You also need to use a fungicide on a spray schedule. Your local Cooperative Extension office will have information on when and what to spray in your area, or you can google “{state name} grape spray schedule.” >>Watch

There are ants and something else on my lemon tree. How do I get rid of them?

Your lemon tree has scale which is an insect that is sucking the juices out of the tree. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says scale is hard to control especially on an indoor plant or a tree with fruit you want to eat. She recommends trying to rub off the scale with a cloth and alcohol. She also says you can apply neem oil to suffocate the scale. She says to continue to do this until you don’t see any more scales. Also, if you notice them again, immediately rub them off. The ants are only there because of the scales. They are collecting the honeydew the scales secrete as they feed on the tree. >>Watch

How do I get phlox seed to grow?

Phlox seeds require darkness to germinate. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says phlox is picky with germinating conditions, but the main key is that it must be dark. She recommends planting the seeds according to the seed packet directions and covering them with a piece of black plastic. Every few days lift the plastic and see if you have sprouting. Once you see the germinating seeds remove the plastic. >>Watch

The trunk of our curly willow is staying small. How do we make the trunk bigger?

If trees are staked tightly for a long time the trunk does not develop properly. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says when trees sway in the wind the stress on the trunk causes it to develop reaction wood which makes it wider and structurally strengthens the tree. If you do stake a tree keep the ropes loose to allow the tree to sway a little. Joellen also recommends pruning the tree to allow one branch to become the central leader or main trunk. Prune - but do not remove - the other branches. >>Watch

My peonies have botrytis. Is it worth transplanting them?

Transplanting the peonies will take the botrytis to the new bed. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says it all depends on if you feel the need to keep these particular peonies. To grow and bloom well Peonies need to be planted with the right amount of spacing and sun, and good drainage. It may be easier to go buy new peonies and plant them in a new bed. >>Watch