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Recent Q&As

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How do you control Asian honeysuckle?

Asian Honeysuckle is a tough plant to get rid of, and it will take several years to do it. Pull up as much as you can from the roots and then deal with any resprouting. You can also use herbicides or even the lawnmower.

Related Videos:
Three Ways to Wipe on Herbicide
How can I get rid of Hackberry and honeysuckle growing in shrubs?

Related Resources:
The Invasive Japanese Honeysuckle
Identify and Manage Invasive Bush Honeysuckle 

Why does my sego palm turn brown every year?

This is unusual for a sego palm which usually stays green all year. Jill Maybry from Memphis Botanic Garden gives some advice on why the plant may be doing this.

Related Videos:
Cold Hardy Palm Trees
Moving Houseplants Indoors

Related Resources:
Sago Palms – Pros, Cons, & Care
Sago Palm

How do I propagate African violets?

Propagating African violets is straightforward. Jill Maybry from Memphis Botanic Garden talks about the steps to propagate with leaf cuttings to make more new plants.

Related Videos:
Why are my African violets not blooming?
How do I get rid of the small flying bugs on my African violet?
Propagating Begonias with Leaf Cuttings

Related Resources:
African Violet
Growing African Violets

What are these circular bugs on my plants?

These are waxy scales. They are not easily killed by insecticides because of their covering. Jill Maybry from Memphis Botanic Garden talks about different treatment methods to eliminate the scale.

Related Videos:
Scale
Treating Crape Myrtle Bark Scale
Systemic Insecticides

Related Resources:
Armored (Hard) Scale - Trees and Shrubs
Soft Scales
Scales

How high is a lasagna garden after it has composted over the winter?

Lasagna garden beds start out 18-24 inches tall. After a winter of settling, the bed will be 10-14 inches tall and ready to plant. The plants will be fed as the lasagna bed continues to compost and decompose.

Related Videos:
How to Make a Lasagna Garden
Composting
Worm Composting

Related Resources:
Sheet mulching — aka lasagna composting — builds soil, saves time
Multiple benefits of a lasagna-style heritage garden

How do I get rid of chiggers in the garden?

Chiggers like shady, moist conditions. In the garden, make sure you keep the grass cut short and weeds pulled. Also, cut back overgrown shrubs. If you want, you can use diatomaceous earth as a natural insecticide.

Related Videos:
Chiggers, Ticks and Mosquitos
Is diatomaceous earth useful in the garden?

Related Resources:
Chiggers
Chiggers
Picture

Why does my ninebark tree have large black spots on the leaves?

The black spots are probably anthracnose. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says the lack of beautiful fall colors is likely because of environmental factors due to the plant being in a new place this year. Joellen gives some suggestions for improving the environment for the tree.
​
Related Videos:
Common Tree Diseases
Planting a Tree

​Related Resources:
Anthracnose
Anthracnose

What are these strange patterns on my camellia bark?

This damage is caused by a yellow-bellied sapsucker woodpecker. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says she has had the same thing happen to some of her shrubs. The branch may die, but the plant will probably survive.
​
Related Videos:
The back of my camellia leaves have bugs on them. What are they and how do I get rid of the bugs?
Can I trim back camellias growing against a wood fence? I don’t want them to touch the fence.

​Related Resources:
Preventing Woodpecker Damage
Do Woodpeckers Damage Your Trees?

How can I kill fescue in a Bermuda lawn in the winter?

Winter is the best time to do this. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says the Bermuda is dormant in the winter so you can spray and kill the fescue. But, you have to make sure the Bermuda is completely dormant before you spray. You should wait to spray until you have a few warmer days so the herbicide is more effective.
​
Related Videos:
Turf Grass Varieties
How do I kill fescue in my Bermuda lawn?

​Related Resources:
How Do I Get Tall Fescue Out of My Bermudagrass?
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Control in Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) Turf

Is there a natural remedy to get rid of nostoc on my gravel driveway?

Nostoc grows where it is wet but dries between rains. Gardener Peter Richards recommends raking up the nostoc and throwing it away. He says there are chemicals you can use, but raking might be a better option on a driveway. He also suggests you make sure water does not stand on the driveway. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says nostoc likes phosphorus fertilizer, so limit that in problem areas.
​
Related Videos:
Nostoc
What is this slime growing on my gravel driveway?

​Related Resources:
Nostoc
Nostoc: A green, jelly-like substance growing in lawns

What vegetables are easy and low maintenance for a community garden?

Most vegetables work well in a community garden, even if you can not tend to them every day. Gardener Peter Richards recommends some varieties because they are relatively disease and pest free, and have long harvest windows before the fruit goes bad on the plant.
​
Related Videos:
Peppers
Compact Vegetables

​Related Resources:
Easy Vegetables to Grow
Growing Vegetables in Minigardens

What is this plant?
A: Catchweed Bedstraw

This is catchweed bedstraw. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says it is a herbaceous annual weed. The plant has hook-like hair on the stems and leaves. It forms a mat on the ground or can grow up other plants. It is brittle and breaks easily. If you try to pull it, you need to get all the root or it will come back. You can also use a broadleaf herbicide to control it.
​
Related Videos:
Herbicide Basics
Herbicide Modes Of Action

​Related Resources:
Catchweed Bedstraw
Catchweed Bedstraw, Galium aparine

What foods can I grow inside?

Leafy plants are the best vegetables to grow inside. Gardener Peter Richards says vegetable plants that grow a fruit can’t get enough light in the house. He recommends lettuce, spinach, and herbs, which can still be productive with less light. He also recommends planting fruit bearing plants like peppers and tomatoes on the back porch in containers.
​
Related Videos:
Easy to Grow Herbs
Planting an Herb and Flower Container Garden

​Related Resource:
Bring vegetable growing indoors this winter

How can I kill wiregrass in monkey grass?


Luckily, monkey grass is not a true grass so a grass herbicide can be used. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says wiregrass is also known as Bermuda. Booker recommends testing the herbicide on a small area before spraying it on the whole bed. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper lists some herbicides you can use.
​
Related Videos:
Is there an herbicide that kills weeds in monkey grass?
How do I get rid of vinca minor growing in monkey grass?

​Related Resources:
Controlling Weeds in Liriope and Mondo Grass Beds
Common Herbicides for Ornamental Weed Control
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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Pruning Ornamentals: How-to and Information
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
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