Recent Q&As
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Will orange rocket barberry grow with only morning sun?
It will grow but may not have the bright colors the plant is known for. UT Assistant Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner says full sun (8+ hours) is necessary for the plant to have its bright orange foliage. With less sun it will be more green.
Related Videos: Are all barberry plants invasive and draw ticks? What is wrong with my barberry? The leaves are suddenly falling off. Related Resources: Barberry Japanese Barberry |
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I have two spots of dry yellow sap on the base of my cherry tree. Is this cherry gummosis?
Cherry gummosis – when cherry trees leak sap – happens when they are stressed because of environmental conditions, disease, mechanical damage, or insects. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says to take a closer look at the dried sap. If there is frass mixed in with the sap it is probably the peach tree borer. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it once the borer is in the tree, and the borer may kill the tree. Try to keep the tree comfortable.
Related Videos: Cherry Gummosis I have an ornamental cherry tree with tiny holes in the leaves. What should I do? Related Resources: Peach Bark Beetle and Cherry Gummosis Sticky Situations on Cherry Trees |
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What are your thoughts on sodding with centipede grass in Chattanooga, TN?
There is one variety that will work. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says the ‘TifBlair’ variety is cold tolerant to USDA zone 7B so it should work in Chattanooga. Centipede grass grows very slowly and requires minimum maintenance. It also likes acid soils.
Related Videos: How To Lay Sod Changing Garden Soil pH Related Resources: Centipedegrass Centipede Lawns |
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How do I get rid of bamboo?
Question:
How do I get rid of bamboo? Answer: Killing a stand of bamboo can be done but it will take several years of work to get rid of it all. To try to do it organically: First dig it up as much as you can. Most of the roots are in the top foot of soil. Removing the roots will remove the energy for future growth. After that, a regular low mowing over the area for several years will sap the plant’s remaining strength. This will keep the plant from being able to grow many leaves which replenish the plant’s energy. With chemicals: cut down the existing stand of bamboo close to the ground. When the plant sends up tender new growth spray with glyphosate. You will need to spray many times over several years to kill it all. Related Videos: Organic Control of Squash Bugs Glyphosate Related Resources: Bamboo Control Bamboo in Landscape Plantings |
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Why are there no blooms on my okra?
There are several possible reasons for this. On okra it takes 50-65 days from planting for blooms to develop. No blooms could be from lack of water or a nutrient imbalance. Okra does not like a lot of nitrogen, and if there is too much nitrogen fertilizer applied it could stimulate new growth of green leaves and not flowers and fruit.
Related Videos: When to Pick Okra Fertilizer Basics Garden Fertilizer Math Related Resources: Home Garden Okra Okra |
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I have grape hyacinth and wild garlic spreading across my burmuda grass. How do I get rid of it?
If you go the chemical route UT Extension Haywood County Director Walter Battle says you will need two different chemicals. The grape hyacinth will require you to spot spray glyphosate. The wild garlic can be killed using 2,4-D but it will probably take multiple applications. Adding some dish soap to the mix will help it stick to the plant. If you do don’t want to use chemicals you can pull it up, especially if the ground is moist like it often is in the spring when these weeds are growing.
Related Videos: Herbicide Basics Herbicide Modes Of Action Related Resources: Wild Garlic & Wild Onion Grape Hyacinth |
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How do I control invasive double daylilies?
Invasive daylilies can take over and crowd out desirable plants. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says she has had this problem in her beds. She chose to dig up the unwanted daylilies. She gives some tips on how to identify them early in the spring. She says you could also use an herbicide.
Related Videos: Herbicide Basics Dividing Daylilies Related Resources: Rethinking the Orange Daylily Delightful daylilies: Sharpen your shovels then divide and conquer |
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This grass is taking over. What is it and how do we get rid of it?
This is Poa Annua or annual bluegrass. It is a grassy winter annual weed in the southeast United States. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says they are one of the hardest weeds for lawn services to control and they have many seeds. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says pre-emergent herbicides do a good job controlling it and he recommends them. There are a few post-emergent herbicides that can work too.
Related Videos: Pre-Emergent Herbicides Herbicide Basics Cultural Lawn Weed Control Related Resources: Annual Bluegrass Control in Residential Turfgrass Annual Bluegrass |
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These brown spots are covering my yard. What is it?
This is the effects of a lawn fungus called red thread. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says you see red thread when there are extended periods of wet, cold weather in the spring. Chris gives several options for control including some fungicides.
Related Videos: Fungicides Mixing and Applying Fungicide Related Resources: Turfgrass Diseases: Red Thread (Causal Fungus: Laetisaria fuciformis) Red Thread |
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Can I plant daylilies in a well-drained area with full sun?
Daylilies like sunny areas that are well drained. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says if it is very well drained watch the plants. If they wilt you need to water them.
Related Videos: Daylily Basics Dividing Daylilies Related Resources: Daylilies Daylily |
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Can you kill black locust plants with hack and spray?
Yes you can. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says black locusts are easiest to control when they are small when you can easily pull them up. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says when you cut the trunk of the tree paint it with glyphosate or triclopyr that will get taken to the roots and kill the plant. It won’t be a one-time thing. You will need to eliminate any new shoots that come up from the roots.
Related Videos: How To Wipe On Herbicide What is this plant? –Pink Locust Related Resources: Black Locust Control Black Locust: Robinia Pseudoacacia |
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What food do you give a phalaenopsis orchid and how often?
Orchids live on trees in nature where they do not get fertilized.
University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says you
don’t have to fertilize your orchid. However, if you would like to, she
talks about what to use and how to do it.
Related Videos: Keeping Your Orchid Alive Repotting Grocery Store Orchids Related Resources: Growing Orchids in the Home Growing orchids for beginners Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum species; easy orchids to grow as houseplants |
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Can Garlic be started in a pot and transplanted to the ground?
Garlic can be transplanted. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says when you do transplant it you should loosen any circling roots.
Related Videos: Garlic Cleaning Garlic Related Resources: Garlic Production for the Gardener Growing garlic in home gardens |
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Did I ruin my cabbage and broccoli by overfertilizing?
If you put too much nitrogen on the plants they will grow leaves, but not produce a head or florets. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says the one application of shake and feed was enough. Coming back a few weeks later with a high nitrogen fertilizer was too much. Don’t overfertilize with nitrogen because it tells the plants to grow leaves not to fruit.
Related Videos: Planting Cabbage, Broccoli and Cauliflower Cabbage Related Resources: Home Garden Broccoli Cabbage in the Garden |
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What is this shrub? - A: Osmanthus
This is probably an Osmanthus. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says it looks like it is growing in more shade than it typically likes. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says if the plant gets enough light it will bloom with very fragrant flowers.
Related Videos: Why aren’t my shrubs blooming? How to Prune Shrubs Related Resources: Osmanthus fragrans Tea Olives (Osmanthus Species) |