Garden Notes
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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? |