Recent Q&As
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How do you kill pokeweed?
Pokeweed is easy to hand weed when they are young. When they are older they can be dug up with a shovel. Before you dig a mature plant, remove and dispose of the berries to keep them from falling off when you disturb the plant and later sprouting into new pokeweed plants.
Related Videos: What is this plant in my flowerpot? A: Pokeweed Gardening Cultural Practices Related Resources: Common Pokeweed (University of Tennessee) Common Pokeweed (PennState) Pokeweed Control |
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Are there any squirrel resistant or deterrent plants?
There are no squirrel deterrent plants. You can’t grow a plant that chases squirrels away. There are plants that squirrels don’t like to eat. Many plants that have strong odors will be left alone by squirrels.
Related Videos: Managing Squirrel Activity in Home Gardens How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder and birdbath? Related Resources: Tree Squirrels: Managing Habitat and Controlling Damage Don’t Let Squirrels Drive You Nuts! How to Outsmart Squirrels |
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I have a tree limb in the way. Can I prune it now or should I wait for spring?
If the limb is in the way you can cut it off any time. Jason Reeves from the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center says if you want to do heavy pruning on a tree it is best to wait until late winter.
Related Videos: Cutting a Tree Branch How a Tree Works Related Resources: Pruning Trees and Shrubs Pruning and Care of Tree wounds Pruning Trees |
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Do we have to bring our lemon tree indoors for the winter?
Lemons are very sensitive to cold and frost. If you live in a climate where it gets below freezing in the winter, you must protect your lemon trees by moving them indoors. Jason Reeves from the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center recommends treating with a dormant oil to kill any insect pests that are on the tree before moving the plant inside.
Related Videos: Do I need to prune my lemon to get it to produce branches? Can I leave my banana tree in the ground for the winter? Related Resources: Grow Your Own Lemons Growing Dwarf Citrus |
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What has been eating my sweet potatoes?
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says this looks like white grub damage on the sweet potato. There are many kinds of white grubs. They eat a small amount on the tuber when it is young and then as the sweet potato grows the damage appears to get bigger. It is also possible that the damage is caused by white fringe beetle larva, wireworm or root worm. White grubs are easy to control but since this is food crop you need to be careful what you use, and only use insecticides labeled for use on sweet potatoes. But even with the damage the sweet potatoes are still edible, just cut off the bad spots.
Related Videos: Planting Sweet Potatoes Is it too late to plant sweet potatoes? Related Resources: Sweet Potato & Irish Potato Insects Pests of Sweetpotato |
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When can I cut back my gardenia bush?
The best time to cut back a gardenia bush is in the early spring. Jason Reeves from the West TN AgResearch and Education Center says if it is a tropical gardenia you should not trim it back before you bring it in the house for the winter. The pruning will encourage new growth which you don’t want in the house. If it is a hardy gardenia that you will be leaving outside, you can trim it a little now. But, the best time to prune is the spring.
Related Videos: Should I prune my gardenia before I cover it for the winter? My gardenia’s leaves are turning yellow. Should I wait till spring to fertilize? Related Resources: Gardenia Gardenia Diseases and Other Problems |
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This year every pecan has a worm in it. How do I fix this?
Retired UT Extension Agent and pecan expert Mike Dennison says this problem is the pecan weevil. In the fall there is nothing you can do about it. Next year you can prevent the problem. Study up now so you can be informed and ready next year. Pecan weevils spend most of their life in the ground. They come out of the ground as adults, crawl up the pecan tree and feed on the immature pecans. When the pecans shells begin to harden, they drill a hole and lay several eggs. The larva eats the pecan meat and then bores a hole out and drops to the ground. They are easy to control with carbaryl, but you need to know when the adults are starting to emerge. You can also apply a sticky substance around the trunk of the tree that will stop them from climbing. Look on-line for extension publications to get the details of these methods.
Related Videos: Last year the pecans had shells but no kernels. Why? Why did my pecans dry up on the inside of the shell? Related Resources: Controlling the Pecan Weevil Time to Plan for Controlling Pecan Weevil |