Garden Notes
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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 |