Garden Notes
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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 |