Garden Notes
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Virginia Creeper
Virginia creeper is a native perennial woody vine. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says it is often confused with poison ivy. The way to tell the difference is that Virginia creeper has five leaflets, poison ivy has three. Virginia creeper has adhesive discs on its tendrils that allow it to climb almost any surface. It grows in full sun and full shade. If you need to get rid of it, you don’t need to use chemicals. Just cut it off at the surface with pruners, a lawn mower, or weed eater. You may need to cut it many times to kill the plant.
Related Videos: Q&A - What is this vine that is killing my tree Q&A – Are these vines harmful to my tree? Related Resources: Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia November 28, 2020 |
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Late Fall Flowers
Autumn joy sedum and asters are some of the last flowers to bloom in the fall. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says that not only are they beautiful, but they also provide food for pollinators right before winter.
Related Videos: Aster What is this plant? A – Sedum Related Resources: Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum Asters Growing Fall Asters November 21, 2020 |
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Volunteer Plants
UT Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture, Natalie Bumgarner, shows a volunteer gourd growing in the Family Plot garden and talks about the genetics of volunteer plants.
Related Videos: Squash How do I get female flowers on my zucchini plant? Related Resources: Gourds Gourd Production in Kentucky November 14, 2020 |
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Ladybug Larva
UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies the larva of the lady bug. It can easily be mistaken for a harmful insect but should be left alone because it is a beneficial.
Related Videos: What are these small black and orange worm-like things on my Autumn Blaze maple? Ladybugs Rescuing Us from Aphids – Garden Notes Related Resources: Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle Predators: Lady Bird Beetles November 7, 2020 |
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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 Related Resources: Solidago Goldenrod & Ragweed October 31, 2020 |
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Getting Strawberries Ready for WinterGetting strawberries ready for winter will help them survive the cold weather and get growing in the spring. Master Gardener Tom Mashour shows how to clean up a strawberry bed in the fall and tells how to fertilize in the spring.
Related Videos: Planting Strawberries Moving and Renovating Strawberries Related Resources: Growing Strawberries Growing strawberries in the home garden October 24, 2020 |
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Effects of High Wind on Small Trees
High winds can damage small trees by bending them too far. Certified Arborist Wes Hopper examines a small golden rain tree. At first, he notices a dead limb and on further inspection he finds wounds and bark cracking on the trunk from the ground up to the dead limb. These wounds are from strong winds which bent the tree farther than the wood could support. Wes shows some of the ways the tree is trying to compensate for the damage. Wes also gives recommendations for helping the tree recover.
Related Videos: Planting a Tree Tree Staking Options Related Resources: First Aid for Storm-Damaged Trees Repairing Storm Damaged Trees October 17, 2020 |
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Lichen on Trees
Lichen 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 October 10, 2020 |
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Killing Poison Ivy
This week in the Garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about how to kill poison ivy. Poison ivy contains an oil called urushiol which will irritate your skin. To kill it: while wearing long sleeved clothing and gloves cut the vine just above the ground and apply glyphosate concentrate to the wound.
Related Resources: Poison Ivy Poison Ivy Weed Management October 3, 2020 |
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Bacterial Wilt on Peppers
Bacterial wilt can destroy a healthy garden plant. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows a pepper plant that is suffering from bacterial wilt. A few weeks ago it was healthy, but due to poor drainage it is wilted and dying. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to save the plant, it will die. Next season improve the drainage and do not overwater.
Related Video: Bacterial Leaf Spot Peppers Nutrient-Deficient Pepper Fix Black Spot on Peppers Related Resources: Bacterial Wilt Bacterial Wilt : The "Second Hand" Wilt Effect September 26, 2020 |
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Bacterial Leaf ScorchBacterial leaf scorch can be a major problem in some species of trees. Certified Arborist Wes Hopper says this disease is spread by leafhoppers and especially affects sycamore, elm, and oak trees. The bacteria will move from the leaf into the limbs of the tree and the tree will brown and die back. Wes talks about ways to reduce disease pressure and some things you can do, and an arborist can do, to help the tree.
Related Video: TWIG Bacterial Leaf Spot Related Resources: Bacterial Leaf Scorch - Trees Bacterial Leaf Scorch September 19, 2020 |
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Blackberry Cane Dieback
In summer and fall some blackberry canes will die. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says this is part of the normal lifecycle of the plant and is nothing to be worried about. New canes will grow from the base to replace them. Blackberry canes live two years.
Related Videos: Planting Blackberries Blackberry Pruning and Fertilizing Building a Blackberry Trellis Related Resources: Blackberries and Raspberries in Home Gardens Blackberry Blackberries for the Home Garden September 12, 2020 |
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Nostoc
Nostoc is a cyanobacteria that grows on bare ground. It is moist and spongy when hydrated and crispy when dry. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about how to remove it from your yard and keep it from coming back.
Related Video: What is this slime growing on my gravel driveway? Related Resources: Nostoc Nostoc: A green, jelly-like substance growing in lawns September 5, 2020 |
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Kyllinga
Kyllinga is a sedge and can quickly invade a home lawn or flower bed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows how to identify it. He also talks about how to control kyllinga chemically with Image (chemical name: imazaquin). If it is close to desirable plants that are not listed on the chemical label you will have to pull it by hand. Kyllinga does have a shallow root system that is easy to pull.
Related Videos: Cultural Lawn Weed Control Controlling Weeds Related Resources: Green Kyllinga Green Kyllinga August 29, 2020 |
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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: 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 August 22, 2020 |
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Inexpensive Zoysia Lawn
UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh shows how zoysia grass can spread and displace Bermuda grass in a lawn. This means you can place only a few pieces of zoysia sod in your Bermuda lawn and in a few years, have a zoysia yard. No need to kill the Bermuda and lay sod over the whole lawn, you just have to be patient.
Related Videos: Turf Grass Varieties Killing Grass Related Resources: Zoysiagrass Establishment and Care of Zoysiagrass Lawns August 8, 2020 |
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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 August 1, 2020 |
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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 July 18, 2020 |
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Ladybugs Rescuing Us from Aphids
The tomato plants in the Family Plot garden are infested with aphids. This could be a huge problem, but on closer inspection, ladybugs are working on controlling the problem. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper was able to easily find every stage of the ladybug lifecycle on the plants: larvae, adult, and egg. They are happily munching on aphids and getting them under control. If you have an aphid problem, wait, don’t spray insecticides. The beneficial insects are not far behind.
Related Videos: Beneficial Garden Bugs How do I control aphids on my greens? Aphids on Milkweed Related Resources: Beneficial Insects, Spiders, and Other Mini Creatures in Your Garden Beneficial Insects in the Yard and Garden Beneficial Insects and other Arthropods July 11, 2020 |
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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.
Related Videos: Pesticide Lifespan and Storage Pesticide Modes of Action Related Resources: Pesticide Burn (Phytotoxicity) Phytotoxicity July 4, 2020 |
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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 June 27, 2020 |
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Nutsedge
Nutsedge can be considered the world’s worst weed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about how it grows with tubers and nutlets, which makes it hard to remove. He also talks about chemicals that can kill it.
Related Videos: How do I get rid of nutsedge? TWIG–Controlling Yellow Nutsedge Related Resources: Nutsedge Yellow Nutsedge Control June 20, 2020 |
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Summer Hanging Basket CareUT Extension Horticultural Specialist Carol Reese shows how to tell when a hanging basket needs water and talks about how to water it. She also gives some other tips on summer hanging basket care.
Related Resources: Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes Greenhouse Production of Flowering Hanging Baskets Hanging Baskets June 13, 2020 |
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Did the Soil Drench Work?
This week in the garden, TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond looks at some shrubs that were infested with scale last year. When the scale was discovered, the shrubs were treated with the systemic insecticide imidacloprid. They look healthy and scale free this year. One shrub was not treated. It looks to be in bad condition.
Related Video: Imidacloprid Related Resources: Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale Identification and Control Pesticide Injection and Drenching May 30, 2020 |
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Make a Simple Seeder
Master Gardener Tom Mashour shows how to turn a used spice gar into a simple seeder for your garden.
Related Video: Planting Vegetable Seeds May 23, 2020 |
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Daisy Fleabane
Daisy Fleabane is a common garden weed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about the weed's life cycle.
Related Videos: Notes- Marestail |
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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 |
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Marestail
Marestail is an annual weed that can grow to six feet. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about its life cycle and shows its long taproot that may make it hard to eradicate from the garden.
Related Resources: Marestail (Horseweed) Management |
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Correct Planting Depth
To thrive plants need to be planted at the correct depth. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows example of cauliflower plants planted too deep, too shallow and just right.
Related Resources: The Tennessee Vegetable Garden - Backyard Vegetables |
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Wild Violets
Wild Violet, often called Johnny Jump up, is a winter annual that is very noticeable for it’s purple or red flowers appearing early in the year. It is considered a weed in lawns or flowerbeds. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper identifies it, and tells how to control it if desired.
Related Resources: Wild Violet Control in Turfgrass |
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Refreshing Dusty Miller
The last few months have been rainy and wet, and the Dusty Miller is looking very sad but there is new growth under the older dead stems and leaves. Joellen Dimond, University of Memphis Director of Landscape shows how to trim off the dead growth to reveal the new growth underneath.
See Joellen Plant this Dusty Miller Related Resources: Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria |
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Weeds: Hairy BittercressUT 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 |