Recent Q&As
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Q&A - Will glyphosate kill the vinca that is taking over my garden?
Glyphosate will kill the vinca. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says you should apply the glyphosate in the spring when the plant is actively growing for best results. Because you are applying in a flower bed you need to be very careful to make sure the chemical does not get on any desirable plants.
Related Videos: Glyphosate Herbicide Modes Of Action Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia Related Resources: Glyphosate Understanding Glyphosate To Increase Performance |
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Q&A – When should I apply crabgrass preventer to my lawn?
Crabgrass likes to grow in unhealthy soil. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says if you have a problem with crabgrass, you should get a soil test to see how your soil is deficient. He also recommends putting down a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall and spring of the year. This will keep the crabgrass from growing in the first place. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper lists some pre- and post-emergent herbicides you can use.
Related Videos: Pre-Emergent Herbicides Herbicide Basics Related Resources: Crabgrass Species Control in Turfgrass Control of Crabgrass in Home Lawns |
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Q&A – How can I make my Bermuda lawn thicker
Cutting it at the right height, fertilizing, and watering are all important for having a thick Bermuda lawn. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says a healthy turf will thicken when it is cut. The correct balance of fertilizer is also important. Also, Bermuda needs to be in full sun to do well.
Related Videos: Correct Lawn Fertilizer Application Correct Way to Cut Your Lawn Summer Lawn Watering Related Resources: Fertilization and Management of Home Lawns Mowing practices for healthy lawns |
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Q&A – My oak tree has spots on the leaves and is being eaten by caterpillars. Should I spray?
The spots are fungal diseases caused by the wet spring weather conditions. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says the caterpillars are yellow necked caterpillars. They will not affect the tree. If you want to have the tree sprayed, contact a certified arborist. They have the equipment to spray large trees.
Related Videos: What is this fungus and will it hurt my tree? What are these yellow striped caterpillars on my oak tree? Related Resources: Leaf Spot Disease of Trees and Shrubs Yellownecked Caterpillar in the Landscape |
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Q&A – Can I use lawn clippings as mulch and compost after I have sprayed?
You need to be careful because the herbicides you used may affect plants you are mulching or using the compost around. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says after applying a lawn spray you should wait for three cuttings before using the clippings as mulch or compost. Also, if you are composting you should make sure the compost pile gets to 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any fungus or diseases in the grass.
Related Videos: Composting Worm Composting Related Resources: What to do with lawn clippings Composting and Mulching |
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Q&A – My new potting soil has a fungus. What should I do?This is slime mold. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says slime mold likes to grow on fresh organic material. It does not cause any harm to the plants; it is only living on the dead organic matter in the mulch or soil. If you don’t like the way it looks, you can rake it out.
Related Videos: Houseplant Potting Soils What is this slime growing on my gravel driveway? Overnight this fungus sprung up under my tree. Will it hurt the tree? Related Resources: Slime Molds What is growing on my mulch |
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Q&A - What is wrong with my barberry? The leaves are suddenly falling off.These plants may be getting too much water. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says over-wet conditions can cause fungus or root diseases to grow. He recommends checking the drainage around the plant and removing mulch to let the soil dry out. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says it could also be a nutrient or pH problem. Getting a soil test would allow you to check for these soil problems.
Related Videos: Are all barberry plants invasive and draw ticks? Wet Feet Soil Testing Related Resources: Japanese Barberry Identification of and Corrective Action for Poorly Drained Soils in the Landscape |
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Q&A – How do I get rid of algae
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Q&A – How do I get rid of a large area of ground ivy without using chemicals?Ground ivy or creeping Charlie is in the mint family and likes to grow in shady areas that are poorly drained. To get rid of it now you could try to pull it out, but you need to get all the roots or it will come back. For a large area you could close mow it repeatedly, or solarize the ground. To solarize, cover the ground with plastic for a few days in the hot summer and let the heat build up underneath. That will kill all the plants that are growing in that area, including the ground ivy. Long term, get more light into the area and improve drainage.
Related Videos: What is this weed in My lawn? -Ground Ivy How to Kill Creeping Charlie Related Resources: What to Do About Ground Ivy Ground Ivy |
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Q&A – What is this weed? A – Carolina false dandelionThis is the Carolina false dandelion. It looks similar to the common dandelion. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says it is common in pastures and fields and sometimes gets into landscapes. It is a winter annual or biennial. It blooms in the spring and summer.
Related Videos: Dandelions What is this weed? - Pokeweed Related Resources: Carolina False Dandelion Carolina False Dandelion |
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Q&A - When is a good time to seed bare areas in my fescue lawn?Fescue is a cool season grass. In the southern United States cool season grasses grow in the fall and winter. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says the best time to sow seeds is when the grass starts growing in the fall. He recommends using a garden rake or even a tiller to loosen up the soil a little to help the seeds make good soil contact. Also, keep the ground moist until the new plants are established. Booker says you may want to come back in March and overseed the area again to get a thick stand of grass.
Related Videos: Fescue Or Zoysia In Low-Sun Can you grow fescue grass in deep shade? Related Resources: Time to Seed Tall Fescue September and October are perfect for seeding tall fescue lawns |
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Q&A - What is in this fallen oak branch?
This is an insect called a twig pruner. The larvae is making tunnels in the branch and then bores away the wood in a circle causing the branch to fall. This is not a major problem and you do not have to spray. Just pick up the fallen branches and throw them in the trash. That will keep the larvae from becoming adults to continue the cycle.
Related Videos: Tree Holes and Borers Tree Borers Related Resources: Fallen oak shoots may be work of the twig pruner Twig Girdler and Twig Pruner |
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Q&A – Can I transplant crape myrtle suckers to another site?
Yes you can as long as the suckers have roots on them. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond has done this. She says you need to dig up a sucker and some roots that are growing away from the trunk and plant them. Then make sure you keep the ground watered until the new tree is established.
Related Videos: I cut down my crape myrtle. How do I stop the suckers Transplant Shock Related Resources: Crape Myrtle Culture Propagating Crape Myrtle Trees |
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Q&A – What is this tree with fruit? -A: Persimmon
This is a persimmon tree. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says it is a good native tree that has edible fruit. If you want to eat the fruit wait until it turns orange which indicates it is ripe. If you don’t eat the fruit your local wildlife will enjoy it.
Related Videos: When will my persimmon tree start fruiting? Webworms On Persimmon Trees Related Resources: Home Garden Persimmons Persimmon |
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Q&A – What are these tiny white bugs on my plant?
These are aphids. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says aphids are easy to control. She recommends insecticidal soaps, neem oil, and horticultural oil. There are also beneficial insects that will feed on the aphids.
Related Videos: Horticultural Oils Aphids on Milkweed Related Resources: Aphids Aphids and Their Management in Home Gardens |
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Q&A – Can I move a blueberry plant?
Yes, you can move a blueberry plant. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says blueberries like very acidic soils. Soils high in organic matter tend to have higher pHs. The plant would probably do well in your native soil. Get a pH test and adjust the soil pH to 4.8-5.2.
Related Videos: Can I transplant a blueberry from the ground into a pot? Can I transplant wild blueberry plants from the woods to my garden? Related Resources: How to avoid a common blueberry planting error Blueberry |
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Q&A – Why do I have dead spots on this row of evergreen trees?
This looks like bagworm damage. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says you should be able to see the bags the worms make. You can pick the bags off in the summer or fall and throw them away. When the crawlers are active in the spring you can spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This will kill the caterpillars before they spin the bag. Once they are inside the bag insecticides are ineffective.
Related Videos: When should I start treating for bagworms Can knockout roses get bagworms? Related Resources: Bagworms Bagworms on Landscape Plants Bagworm and its control |
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Q&A – What is this plant? A: Dogfennel
This is dogfennel. It starts as a small tender seedling but grows up to five feet tall. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond suggests removing the plant before it goes to seed as it can spread.
Related Videos: Dogfennel What is this weed? - Pokeweed Related Resources: Info Sheet: Dogfennel Dogfennel |
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Q&A – How do I get rid of puncture vine?
Puncture vine is a low-growing weed with very sharp seeds that are problems for livestock and can even puncture tires. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says the best way to eradicate it is by hoeing it out when it is young, but in large areas where that is not practical UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about how to control it with chemical herbicides. Puncture vine seeds can be dormant for up to five years, so you will need to actively control it for several years until it is gone.
Related Videos: Using a Hoe for Weed Control Herbicide Basics Related Resources: Controlling weeds in home gardens Controlling Weeds by Cultivating & Mulching |
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Q&A – I have a new 4 in 1 cherry that has yellow spotting on the leaves. What should I do?
Cherry trees are very susceptible to disease. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond suggests doing research before planting to make sure those types of cherry are resistant to the diseases in your area. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper wonders if the problem is a nutrient deficiency. He suggests getting a soil test to see if you have to add nutrients to the soil. He also suggests contacting the local Extension office and asking them to come and look at the tree and give recommendations. This is a free service of Extension.
Related Videos: The leaves on my Kwanzen cherry tree are turning brown. What is going on? I planted a sweet cherry fruit tree and the leaves are curling. What is going on? Related Resources: Cherry leaf spot Fruit Tree Management Timetable Home Fruit Spray Guide |