Garden Notes
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Labeling Garden Sprayers
You need to make sure you don’t use the same sprayer for herbicides and fungicides. Residual herbicide in the tank will unintentionally damage plants. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about the importance of labeling your sprayers to make sure you don’t mix them up.
Related Videos: Mixing and Applying Fungicide TWIG - Fix a Sticky Valve on a Garden Sprayer Spreader and Sprayer Calibration |
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Don’t Prune Small Blueberries
This week in the garden retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about why you only prune blueberries when they are too big to manage. Pruning small plants in the spring risks cutting off living branches that look dead.
Related Resources: Home Garden Blueberries Pruning Blueberry Bushes in the Home Garden |
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Hairy Bittercress
UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies his favorite weed, Hairy bittercress. This cool-season weed can shoot its seeds when it is disturbed.
Related Resources: Hairy Bittercress |
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Native Plant
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term "Native Plant". A native plant is a plant that grows naturally in a particular area an ecosystem, a habitat or region of the country without indirect or direct human intervention. It was there originally. Native plants in the eastern part of the country are the plants that were growing here naturally when the Europeans came, and it’s a standard definition in that part of the country.
Related Videos: Landscape Plants to Avoid and What to Use Instead Plant Propagation Related Resources: Designing with Native Plants and Naturalistic Landscapes Native Plants |
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Systemic
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term "Systemic". Systemic usually refers to how pesticides move through the plant. If you have a systemic insecticide it means it is soluble enough in water that it can be taken up through the tissue of the plant and translocated throughout the plant to protect It against disease. Herbicides like Roundup which are systemic do that as well.
Related Videos: Systemic Insecticides I treated my tree with a systemic insecticide. What do I do now? |
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Make a Simple SeederMaster Gardener Tom Mashour shows how to turn a used spice gar into a simple seeder for your garden.
Related Video: Planting Vegetable Seeds Seed Germination Test Problems for Garden Seedlings Starting Seeds Indoors Planting Cool Season Vegetable Seeds Keep Tiny Newly-Planted Seeds from Drying Out |
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Hardiness
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term hardiness. Usually this refers to cold hardiness or the ability for a plant to withstand cold temperatures. USDA plant zones are based on how cold it gets in the winter which then determines how hardy plants need to be if planted in that zone. A plant that is only hardy to 10 degrees will die if the temperature gets lower. Another kind of hardiness is heat hardiness which determines how hot of temperatures the plant can tolerate.
Related Videos: H - Garden Glossary Protecting Plants From Frost Related Resources: Plant Growth Factors: Temperature USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |
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Bolt
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term bolt. Plants are said to bolt when they begin the process of setting seed. This usually occurs when environmental conditions favor setting seed. This term is usually applied to cool weather plants like leafy greens, root crops, and similar plants where the desirable part of the plant is not the seed. Once the plant has started to bolt cutting off the flowers will not stop the process. Most plants that bolt are annuals that are programed to grow, set seed, and die in one season.
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Transpiration
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term "Transpiration". A transpiration is kind of like perspiration for people. It is the movement of moisture through a plant from the roots to the leaves and exiting through some cells in the leaves that are called somata and at that time they are water vapor. Fruit even transpires. It’s how the plant is trying to cool itself.
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Taking Care of Mexican Bean BeetlesThis week in the garden Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison identifies Mexican bean beetles and identifies what insecticides to use to control them.
Related Videos: How do I kill flea beetles on my beans How do I get rid of Japanese beetles Related Resources: Mexican Bean Beetle Mexican Bean Beetle Dealing with Mexican Bean Beetles in Your Georgia Garden |
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Frost Versus Hard Freeze
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening terms "Frost" and "Hard Freeze". Frost refers to the point at which the temperature is less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit and water vapor condenses and freezes on surfaces. Hard freeze, on the other hand, is when temperatures are well below 32 degrees and the freeze damages non-hardy plants.
Related Videos: Heirloom Hardiness Protecting Plants From Frost Related Resources: Frost and Freeze Information What is the difference between a frost and a freeze? |
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Beneficial Bugs, Soldier Bug
Garden expert Tonya Ashworth talks about soldier bugs. Soldier bugs eat many harmful insects including corn borer, corn earworm, gypsy moth caterpillar, cabbage looper, flea beetle, Colorado potato beetle, fall armyworm, and Mexican bean beetle. The adult and four out of five nymph stages are predacious. They feed by piercing their prey and sucking out the juices.
Related Videos: Beneficial Garden Bugs Ladybugs Rescuing Us from Aphids – Garden Notes Related Resources: Spined Soldier Bug Spined Soldier Bug |
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Picking Tomatoes Before a Frost
A frost will kill tomato plants, but you can pick the green tomatoes and use them. UT Extension Agent Lee Sammons says tomatoes that have started changing color will continue to ripen indoors. Green tomatoes can be used in certain recipes.
Related Videos: 30 Unusual and Tasty Tomatoes to Try in Your Garden How to Get True Seed from Your Tomatoes Related Resources: Is your garden bursting with fall tomatoes? How to Handle Those Green Tomatoes |
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Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is an aggressive plant that is in the mint family. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about some of lemon balm’s characteristics and shows how it is taking over the compost pile.
Related Videos: Composting Containing Mint in the Garden Related Resource: Composting for the Homeowner Mint in the Garden |
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When to Dig Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potatoes have been growing all year underground. UT Extension Agent Lee Sammons shows how to tell when they are
ready to dig. Related Videos: Planting Sweet Potatoes What has been eating my sweet potatoes? Harvesting Sweet Potatoes Related Resource: Growing Sweet Potatoes at Home Sweet Potato |
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Ladybug Larvae in the Garden
Ladybug larvae look scary, but they can eat many harmful insects. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies ladybug larvae in the Family Plot garden.
Related Videos: Beneficial Garden Bugs Ladybugs Rescuing Us from Aphids Related Resource: Lady Beetle Lady Beetles |
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Goldenrod
Goldenrod is in the Solidago family and blooms in the fall with many small bright yellow flowers. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says it is a great fall wildflower that provides food for pollinating insects as the weather starts to turn colder. Joellen also talks about how to identify goldenrod. Goldenrod is often blamed for fall allergies because it blooms at the same time as ragweed.
Related Video: Aster Late Fall Flowers Related Resources: Solidago Goldenrod & Ragweed |
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Overwatered Plants
When plants get too much water the leaves start to brown. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows some plants in a flower bed that have been overwatered and how the plant was damaged.
Related Videos: Flowers Need Water Watering Wands and Hose Sprinklers: Tips and Tricks Related Resource: Watering Guidelines The Basics of Watering Your Landscape |
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Aromatic Mulch
Aromatic mulch is mulch from cedar or cypress. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about the advantages of using aromatic mulches and how they keep the bugs away.
Related Videos: Kinds of Mulch Pine Straw Mulch Related Resource: Organic Mulches Mulching |
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Lichen on TreesLichen often grows on the trunk of a tree. Certified Arborist Wes Hopper says lichen will not kill the tree but is often a sign of other problems. The tree he is inspecting is in a poor site in a parking lot island and is probably not getting the water or nutrients it needs.
Related Videos: Help Lichen is killing my tree What can I do to keep lichen from growing on my azaleas? Related Resources: Lichens are harmless to trees Do not bother removing lichens from landscape |
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Corn Smut
Corn smut is a fungus that grows on the kernels of corn in the ear. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows some smut growing on an ear of corn and talks about what to do.
Related Videos: Corn Fertilizing (Side Dressing) Corn Related Resource: Corn Smut Common Corn Smut |
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Parsley
Parsley comes in two major varieties: flat leafed and curly leafed. Master Gardener John Peterson identifies both and talks about parsley’s biennial growth pattern.
Related Videos: Caterpillars on Parsley Planting an Herb Garden Preserving Herbs Related Resource: Parsleyworm \ Eastern Black Swallowtail Parsleyworm |
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Caterpillars on Parsley
Often gardeners will find a green caterpillar with black and yellow spots eating their parsley. This is a parsley worm caterpillar. If left alone these caterpillars will become the eastern black swallowtail butterfly. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper recommends planting enough parsley for you and the caterpillars.
Related Videos: Planting an Herb Garden Preserving Herbs Related Resource: Parsleyworm \ Eastern Black Swallowtail Parsleyworm |
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When to Harvest Green Beans
You should harvest green beans at the optimum time, so they are large, but still tender. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh shows beans that are both too small and too large as well as a bean that is at the correct size to pick.
Related Videos: Canning Green Beans What is eating holes in my green bean leaves? Related Resources: Home Garden Green Beans Beans |
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Blackberry Winter Kill
Sometimes plants will die during the winter. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows a healthy blackberry plant and a plant that died during the winter. The plant that died above ground is resprouting from the roots.
Related Videos: Pruning Dead Floricanes from Blackberries Planting Blackberries Related Resource: Blackberries and Raspberries in Home Gardens Blackberry Blackberries for the Home Garden |
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Slime Mold on Mulch
Slime mold (often called dog vomit fungus) often grows on mulch. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says this is because it feeds on decaying organic matter. Chris says it does not harm plants or animals and can be scooped or raked out if you don’t like it.
Related Videos: Nostoc Kinds of Mulch Related Resource: Slime Mold Slime Molds |
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Virginia Creeper
Virginia creeper is a vining plant that has five leaflets. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison identifies it and talks about how to control it. He also shows how to tell the difference between Virginia creeper and poison ivy.
Related Videos: Virginia Creeper Glyphosate History and Use Three Ways to Wipe on Herbicide Related Resource: Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
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Hand Pruner Care
After pruning you should oil, clean, disinfect, and sharpen your pruners. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows how to do this. She uses a bleach solution that is one part bleach to 10 parts water. Then then shows how to sharpen the pruners with a file. They should be sharp enough to cut paper.
Related Video: How to Prune Shrubs Related Resources: How to Clean and Sharpen Your Pruners |
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Praying Mantis Eggs
UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper looks at a clematis and spots an insect egg mass. It is the egg sack of the praying mantis. Chris talks about doing research if you find an egg mass and figuring out if it is beneficial.
Related Videos: Beneficial Garden Bugs Praying Mantis, Beneficial Bugs Related Resource: Praying Mantis Praying Mantid (Mantis) |
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Fertilizing Herbs… or NotHerbs don’t need much fertilizer. Master Gardener John Peterson explains that herbs grow well with minimal if any fertilizer. He also says loose soil is more important.
Related Videos: Planting an Herb Garden Preserving Herbs Related Resource: Herbs in Southern Gardens Herb Gardening Herb Container Gardens |
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Freeze Damaged Rose Plant is Coming Back
This last winter there was an unusually hard freeze that hurt many plants in the Memphis, Tennessee area. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows a rose plant that was frozen way back, but is sending up green branches from the part that is still alive. He also tells what to do to clean it up.
Related Videos: Rose Bush Pruning Basic Rose Care Early Spring Rose Care Related Resource: Pruning Roses Growing Roses |
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Remember to Remove Plant Tags
It may be obvious, but remember to remove tags from plants when you plant them. If left on the plant the tag can girdle a branch. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says to keep the tag because it contains valuable information about your new plant.
Related Videos: Keep Track of Plant Tags Rope Around a Tree Related Resource: Keeping organized with DIY garden markers |
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Iron Chlorosis
Iron chlorosis is caused by a lack of iron in a plant. Symptoms can be see when plant leaves turn yellow, but the leaf veins are still dark green. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows a plant that has symptoms of iron chlorosis and talks about what to do to fix the problem.
Related Videos: Iron Chlorosis What is Soil pH and why is it so Important? Should I wait until spring to apply iron to my roses? Related Resources: Iron Chlorosis Fertilizing Trees & Shrubs |
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Legume
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term legume. Legumes are plants that are members of the pea family. They have the ability to fix nitrogen in nodules on their roots. Because of this, legumes do not require as much nitrogen fertilizer.
Related Videos: Is there a legume that can be used for a hedge? |