Garden Notes
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Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the plant. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper takes a look at a watermelon that has blossom end rot. This is often caused by too much or not enough water. Also, a soil test can determine if the soil needs more calcium.
Related Videos: How do you cure blossom end rot on tomatoes? Watermelons In Raised Beds Related Resources: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon Blossom End Rot |
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Tomato Early Blight
Early blight is a disease that people see every year on tomatoes. UT Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner shows some tomato leaves that have early blight and gives recommendations for control. If there are only a few spots you can just remove the affected leaves. You can also spray with conventional and organic fungicides.
Related Videos: Stopping Tomato Blight Growing Tomatoes Related Resources: Early Blight of Tomatoes Early Blight of Tomato |
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Looking at the Compost Pile
Compost Fairy Mike Larrivee examines the Family Plot compost pile and makes suggestions of how to improve it.
Related Videos: TWIG Turning a Compost Pile Composting Related Resources: Composting for the Homeowner Home Composting: A Guide for Home Gardeners |
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Chlorosis
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term chlorosis. Chlorosis is a yellowing or lack of chlorophyll in the leaves of a plant. Chlorosis can be caused by the incorrect amount of water, a nutrient deficiency, herbicide damage, air pollution, or not enough light. A related term is necrosis which is dead tissue.
Related Videos: TWIG - Nutrient Deficient (Yellowing Leaves) Bean Fix If my vegetables have herbicide damage are they still safe to eat? TWIG Nutrient-Deficient Pepper Fix Related Resources: Chlorosis Chlorosis |
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Winter Leafy Greens
Many people think you can’t grow vegetables in the winter. UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott says you can grow kale even in very cold climates. Kale tastes better when it has been frozen several times.
Related Videos: Planting Spinach in the Square Foot Garden All About Lettuce Related Resources: Growing Spinach, A Cool-Season Vegetable Louisiana Super Plant Redbor Kale Growing Collards and Kale in Home Gardens |
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Genus and Species
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the garden terms genus and species. This is what is called the binomial nomenclature or two names (one genus and the other species) that describe the type of plant. When a plant is botanically classified it is categorized in increasingly specific groups. The most specific group is the genus. Within the genus are the individual species of plants. Often we use the genus name as the common name of the plant (Magnolia is the genus name).
Related Videos: E - Garden Glossary F - Garden Glossary Related Resources: How Plants Are Named What’s That Plant? Why Names Matter! |
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Sucker
Retired MSU Extension Agent Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term sucker. A sucker is a shoot that grows from the base or roots of a shrub or tree. Often in a landscape setting they are not desirable and are cut off.
Related Videos: Removing Suckers from a Maple Tree Trunk How do I get rid of crape myrtle suckers around my hydrangea? Related Resources: So Long Suckers! Managing Suckers on Trees |
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CrownHorticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term crown. The crown of the plant is the point where the stems meet the roots. This should be at the soil level.
Related Videos: Fixing Volcano Mulch Herbaceous Versus Woody |
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Removing the Seed from Jamaican SorrelThis week in the garden Jef Terry, Operations Manager at Bobby Lanier Farm Park in Germantown, Tennessee shows how to remove the seed from Jamaican sorrel or roselle using a milkshake straw.
Related Videos: Saving Seeds Harvesting Seed Heads from the Carrot Family Related Resources: Roselle: A useful and beautiful addition to your garden or landscape The Little-Known Roselle Belongs in MS Gardens |
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Rope Around a Tree
Ropes around a tree can dig into the tree bark and hurt the tree. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about the damage this can do to the tree. The rope is holding up a bird house and Chris loosens the rope to allow the tree to grow.
Related Videos: Planting a Tree Young Tree Checkup Related Resource: Embedded Wires or Collars - Trees and Shrubs |
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The Season End of the Butterfly Garden
As the growing season ends, TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond makes one last check of the butterfly garden. The butterflies are gone but bees are still visiting the flowers that have not yet gone to seed.
Related Videos: Planting a Butterfly Garden The Butterfly Garden Needs Water Related Resources: Saving Seeds Butterfly Gardening |
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Armadillo Damage
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper finds armadillo damage. Armadillos will often root up plants looking for grubs and earthworms to eat. While they are not directly eating plants, their digging can harm them. Chris tells how to trap them.
Related Videos: Live Animal Traps Garden Rodent Control Related Resources: Baiting the Nine Banded Armadillo Armadillos in Missouri: Techniques to Prevent and Control Damage |
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Harvesting and Drying Oregano
Harvesting and drying oregano allows you to use it through the winter. Retired MSU Extension Horticulture Specialist Dr. Lelia Kelly shows how to harvest oregano and talks about how to dry it for storage.
Related Videos: Trimming Back Oregano for the Winter Harvesting Basil to Dry Related Resource: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs Oregano |
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Harvesting Basil to DryBasil can be easily dried for use later in the kitchen. Retired MSU
Extension Horticulture Specialist Lelia Kelly shows how to harvest the
whole plant in the fall and talks about hanging it to dry. You can then
collect the leaves for storage to use through the winter.
Related Videos: Pruning Basil What is eating my basil and leaving black poop? Related Resource: Growing Basil Basil |
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Overwatered Petunias
Petunias don’t like too much water. University of Memphis Director of Landscape shows a flowerbed where some plants did fine, but the petunias died because of overwatering from an irrigation system.
Related Videos: Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia Flowers Need Water Breaking up a Stream of Water Related Resource: Petunia > Leaves > Leaves wilt and turn brown Petunia - Thielaviopsis |
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Chamberbitter
Chamberbitter can be a very invasive weed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies chamberbitter and lists some recommended herbicides to control it.
Related Videos: Herbicide Basics Controlling Weeds Related Resource: Chamberbitter Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus niruri) |
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Mummified Fruit
It is important to remove mummified fruit from trees and other plants before the winter. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says the mummified fruit can harbor and protect diseases and insects during the winter. You should remove all mummified fruit and throw it away.
Related Videos: Preparing Blackberry Plants for Winter Blackberry Pruning and Fertilizing Related Resource: Managing Diseases and Insects in Home Orchards Fall Clean Up in the Fruit and Vegetable Garden |
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How to Get True Seed from Your Tomatoes
You can collect seeds from tomatoes and replant them next year, but the new plant may not be the same as the mother plant. Alainia Hagerty, owner of tomatobaby.com says putting a cloth bag around your tomato flowers will keep the seeds of that tomato true to the mother plant. The bag keeps insects out that might bring pollen from another flower or plant.
Related Videos: Can hybrid tomatoes be saved and come true next year? Harvesting Seed Heads from the Carrot Family Saving Bean Seeds Related Resource: Saving Tomato Seeds |
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Begonias and Full Sun
This week in the garden UT Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese looks at some begonias. Some are full and bushy while others are small. She talks about how begonias like to get some shade during the day which will improve their performance in your flower bed.
Related Videos: Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias Annuals and Perennials for the Garden Related Resources: Begonia Tuberous Begonias Growing Begonias Indoor |
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Watering the Lawn
Turf lawns require about one inch of water per week. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh talks about good lawn watering practices. He stresses the importance of deep watering. This forces roots to grow down into the ground where they can be protected from sun and still get water when the soil surface dries out.
Related Videos: Watering Wands and Hose Sprinklers: Tips and Tricks Summer Lawn Watering Related Resources: Watering Lawns Home Lawn Watering Guide Summer Lawn Management: Watering the Lawn |
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Nematodes
Nematodes can injure plants and cause other problems in the garden. UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott shows a flower bed that has had problems with nematodes in the past. This year it has no plants growing and is heavily mulched. By denying food to the nematodes the population will be reduced.
Related Videos: How do I get root knot nematodes out of my garden? Nematodes Related Resources: Nematode Control in the Home Vegetable Garden Insect Parasitic Nematodes |
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Plant ReversionSome plant cultivars have special features like crinkly leaves or different colors. These make that cultivar desirable. UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott says some branches of the plant may “revert” back to the normal look of the species. You should prune these branches out to maintain the special look of the cultivar.
Related Videos: Cultivar How to Prune Shrubs Related Resources: Understanding Tree Reversions Reverting Back to "Normal" |
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Tiger Eyes Sumac
Sumac 'Tiger Eyes' is an unusual plant for the flower bed. UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott shows the leaves and red stems of this plant
Related Videos: My sumac trees are too tall. When should I cut back my sumac trees? What kind of tree is this? -A: Sumac Related Resources: 'Tiger Eyes' Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina Sumac Collection ‘Bailtiger’ Tiger Eyes® & ‘Laciniata’ |
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Japanese Beetles
Japanese Beetles are an invasive species that feed on the leaves of more than 300 different plants. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows the damage on green beans and talks about ways to control these insect pests.
Related Videos: TWIG Killing Japanese Beetles How do I get rid of Japanese beetles? Related Resources: The Japanese Beetle Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape |
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Gardening Summer Heat Tips
UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper gives some safety tips for working on the garden in the heat of summer. He suggests to wear a hat and sunscreen, and drink lots of water. He also shows a way to help keep cool while in the garden.
Related Videos: Gardening Ergonomics Planting Summer Flowers Summer Lawn Watering Related Resources: Hot weather tips keep gardeners safe at work Do’s and don’ts for hot weather gardening |
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Other Pollinators in the Butterfly Garden
UT Extension Entomologist Frank Hale takes a look at all the pollinators and other insects that benefit from the flowers in the butterfly garden. The blooms provide food to many kinds of pollinating flies, bees, parasitic wasps, and even ladybugs.
Related Videos: Planting a Butterfly Garden Planting Annuals in the Butterfly Garden Related Resources: Butterfly Gardening Gardening for Butterflies |
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Strawberry Problems
In our strawberry bed, half of the ripe strawberries are inedible. Gardener Peter Richards explains that many of these problems are because there is no plastic mulch on the bed. The plastic degraded in the sun over the winter. Because the berries are on the ground they are rotting and being eaten by slugs.
Related Videos: Making Low Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam Planting Strawberries Related Resources: Strawberries in the Garden Home Garden Strawberries |
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Taste Testing Bolting Spinach
When spinach bolts it starts to taste bitter, but Peter Richards says
even if a plant is showing signs of bolting you may still be able to
harvest and eat it. He shows how you can tell which plants to pick.
Check out our square foot gardening blog to see what is happening to these plants and others: https://www.familyplotgarden.com/square-foot-garden-blog Related Videos: Planting Spinach in the Square Foot Garden Starting a Square Foot Garden Related Resources: Spinach Growing Spinach, A Cool-Season Vegetable |
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Removing Thatch
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh demonstrates
how to de-thatch a lawn using a garden rake. The rake pulls all the dead
grass off of the soil surface allowing nutrients and water to reach the
surface.
Related Videos: Cultural Lawn Weed Control Spring Lawn Care Summer Lawn Diseases Related Resources: Managing Thatch in Home Lawns Controlling Thatch in Lawns |
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Crab Grass
Crab grass is a common warm season grassy weed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies it in the garden and talks about the importance of pulling it up by the roots.
Related Videos: What can I use to prevent and kill crabgrass in my backyard? When should I apply crabgrass preventer to my lawn? Related Resources: Controlling Crabgrass After It Emerges Crabgrass Species Control in Turfgrass |
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Apical DominanceWhen plants grow, apical dominance keeps all the branches from being the main trunk. Joellen Dimond, Director of Landscape at the University of Memphis, shows how a single pruning cut several years ago broke the apical dominance of a branch on a shrub allowing lateral growth from side shoots.
Related Videos: How to Prune Shrubs Reducing the Height of a Shrub Related Resources: How Woody Plants Grow Basic Principles of Pruning Woody Plants |
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Weed Eater Safety
Weed Eaters can throw objects which can cause injury. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows a leaf of a canna lily that was impaled by a piece of mulch thrown up by a weed eater. Remember to wear eye protection when using a weed eater.
Related Videos: Weed Eater Damage Garden Safety Related Resources: Weed Eater Safety Tips Grass Trimmer Safety |
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Freeze Damage on Marigolds
Check your plants in the nursery. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows some marigolds she purchased at the nursery. There was a late frost while they were there, and the nursery was not able to protect them. In this case the freeze damage is not bad, but check your plants before you buy them for problems.
Related Videos: Problems to Avoid in Nursery Plants Nursery Plant Selection Related Resources: Selecting quality trees from the nursery |
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Moss in Shady Areas
Moss tends to grow in shady wet areas. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says moss can make a good option instead of grass in these areas. The moss stays green if you keep it clear of leaves. And you don’t have to mow it.
Related Videos: Grass That Grows In the Shade How to Kill Moss on Lawns Related Resources: Growing Moss in Your Garden How to Create a Moss Pathway |
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Tomato Cages
It is important to keep tomatoes off the ground. Alainia Hagerty, owner of Tomato Baby Company, talks about some options for keeping tomatoes off the ground including tomato cages. You can either buy them from the store or use concrete wire to build your own.
Related Videos: How To support Growing Tomato Plants Trench Method for Planting Tomatoes Related Resources: Growing Tomatoes Tomatoes - Staking |
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Blueberry pH Problems
Our blueberry plants continue to have pH problems that are reducing their growth. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about why the plants are not doing well and what he plans to do to fix the problem.
Related Videos: Blueberry and Blackberry Spring Check-up Changing Garden Soil pH Related Resources: Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden Blueberries for Home Landscapes |
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Sweet and Sour Soil
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening terms "Determinate" and "Indeterminate". Determinate refers to a tomato plant that will ripen all of its fruit at the same time. Whereas, an indeterminate tomato plant describes that which puts on fruit and keeps growing throughout the season.
Related Videos: Soilless Mix Soil Preparation Related Resources: Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden Keeping pH in the right range is essential |