This Week In the Garden - 2020
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Rossizing Hostas
This week in the garden Jim Crowder from Memphis Botanic Garden shows how to rossize hostas. You just cut an X through the pip and basil plate as the plant comes up in the spring. This is a procedure that encourages the hosta to make pups which will make the hosta larger or be used for propagation.
Related Video: Dividing Hostas Hostas Related Resources: Hosta |
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Spraying Dormant Oil
This week in the garden retired UT extension agent Mike Dennison demonstrates how to apply dormant oil to a crape myrtle tree. This procedure is also applicable to other ornamentals and shrubs. Spray to the point of runoff. Dormant oil will tend to separate from the water in the sprayer tank so make sure you shake it regularly to keep it in suspension. Do not spray less than 48 hours before a hard freeze. The water in the spray may freeze injuring the plant. As always read and follow label instructions for mixing and applying dormant oil.
Related Videos: Horticulture Oils Related Resources: Pest and Disease Control Using Horticultural Oils Horticultural Oils – What a Gardener Needs to Know |
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Cleaning Out Garden Beds
This week Haywood County Extension Director Walter Battle talks about cleaning out the garden getting it ready for planting. Old plants that do not have disease problems like cabbage or cauliflower can be composted. Plants that have disease problems or blights like tomatoes should be thrown away to help reduce the disease in your garden this year. It is best to clean up your garden in the fall.
Related Videos: Composting Winter Cover Crops Related Resources: Tips for garden clean-up to reduce pests, diseases Cleaning Up after Plant Disease |
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Tools for Pruning Trees
This week in the garden Memphis Botanic Garden Arborist Bo Kelley talks about the different pruning tools available and shows how to use some of them to remove dead branches from a tree.
Related Videos: Tools Every Gardener Needs Pruning (Not Murdering) Crape Myrtles Fruit Tree Pruning Related Resources: Tree Pruning Essentials Pruning Landscape Trees |
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Spray Patterns
This week in the garden Extension Agent Celeste Scott talks about spray patterns in home pump-up sprayers. The stream setting is useful for perimeter application or spraying high in trees. The mist setting is good for applying chemicals to plants where good coverage is necessary especially in dense foliage.
Related Videos: Mixing and Applying Fungicide Herbicide Basics Pre-Emergent Herbicides Related Resources: Using Your Handheld Lawn and Garden Sprayer Calibrating Hand-Held and Backpack Sprayers for Applying Pesticides Calibrating Hand-Held Sprayers |
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Vole Proofing and Planting Hostas
Hosta expert Jim Crowder from Memphis Botanic Garden shows how plant a hosta and prevent vole damage. After preparing the soil Jim adds soil perfecter (crushed rock) to the planting hole and presses it against the side. He then plants the hosta on the rock bed and puts more perfecter over the root ball. The crushed rock keeps the voles from getting to the hosta pip.
Related Video: Dividing and Potting Hostas Hostas Kinds of Mulch Related Resources: Hosta Voles |
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Pansy Fertilizer Experiment
Chris takes a look at the difference in two plantings of pansies. Before one group was planted manure and fertilizer were added to the soil. The other group did not have any soil amendments or fertilizer. There is a big difference in the results.
Related Videos: Fertilizer Basics Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies Planting Pansies and Tulips for Winter and Spring Color Related Resources: Fertilizers Growing Pansies |
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Killing Japanese Beetles
This week in the garden UT/TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond shows how to use soapy water to kill Japanese beetles. By putting them soapy water, where they drown, the beetles do not release the pheromone which attracts other beetles to their location.
Related Video: How do I get rid of Japanese beetles Related Resources: The Japanese Beetle Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape |
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Flowers for Butterflies
This week in the garden Mary Schmidt from Lichterman Nature Center talks about how butterflies feed and the flowers you can plant in different seasons of the year to attract them.
Related Videos: Planting a Butterfly Garden Other Pollinators in the Butterfly Garden Related Resources: Gardening for Butterflies Butterfly Gardening |
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Encouraging Tree Feeder Root Growth
This week in the garden certified arborist Wes Hopper shows how to use a trowel or shovel to loosen the soil under a small tree to encourage feeder root growth.
Related Videos: Planting a Tree Effects of High Wind on Small Trees Fertilizing Trees Related Resources: Tree Root Systems Healthy Roots and Healthy Trees |
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Moving Fire Ants Without Chemicals
This week in the Garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows how to get a fire ant mound to move without chemicals. Fire ants like to be left alone. If you disturb the mound every day the ants will move.
Related Videos: Killing Fire Ants What's the best way to get rid of fire ants in raised beds? Related Resources: Managing Fire Ants Fire Ant Control in Two Easy Steps |
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Pruning a Water Sprout
This week in the garden certified arborist Wes Hopper shows how to remove a watersprout from a magnolia tree. Watersprouts grow when the tree is under stress. He shows how to remove the growth over two years or all at once.
Related Videos: Pruning Tools Overview Should I prune the Y in my tree Related Resources: Pruning Basics A Guide to Successful Pruning Pruning Deciduous Trees |
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Pruning Greenery For Winter
This week in the garden West Tennessee Research and Education Center Horticulturist Jason Reeves talks about pruning shrubs for use in winter greenery decorations. Prune by the trunk and reach into the plant, don’t just shear the surface.
Related Resources: Pruning Shrubs How To Prune Coniferous Evergreen Trees |
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Moving Volunteer Flowers
This week in the garden UT Extension agent Joellen Dimond shows how to move some flowers that grew from seed from last year’s flowers. She moves them back into the container they came from.
Related Videos: Notes - Volunteer Plants Planting Summer Flowers Related Resources: Plants Grown in Containers Container Gardening Container Gardens |
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Fixing Volcano Mulch
This week in the garden Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows how to fix volcano mulch around a tree. Landscapers often pile mulch too deep around trees. Mulch should not be up against the tree. You should be able to see the root flairs. Move the mulch away from the tree and spread it out.
Related Video: Volcano Mulch Kinds of Mulch Related Resources: Mulch Mulches Mulching |
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Seed Germination Test
This week in the garden UT Assistant Professor of Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner shows how to do a germination test on some old seeds. She puts some seeds in a wet paper towel and puts that in a plastic bag. A week later she can see how many of them germinated.
Related Videos: Making a Seed Planter for Small Seeds Starting Seeds Indoors Related Resources: Procedures for the Wet Paper Towel Germination Test Seed and Seedling Biology |
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Saving Bean Seeds
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper tells what to do to save bean seeds to use next year. You should wait until the bean pods have turned brown or black and the beans rattle inside when shaken. Take them inside and dry them for a week or two on the counter. He describes how to tell when they are dry enough. Collect the seeds and put them in a glass jar. They should be good for several years.
Related Videos: Beans TWIG - Nutrient Deficient (Yellowing Leaves) Bean Fix Canning Green Beans Related Resource: Saving vegetable seeds |
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Garden Cleanup
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper works on clearing the garden for the winter. He is careful not to compost any plants that have insect infestations or are diseased. He also suggests getting rid of all crop residue because insects overwinter there.
Related Videos: Fall Garden Clean-up Spring Butterfly Garden Clean-Out Related Resources: Fall Garden Clean Up Prevents Problems Later Fall Garden Clean Up |
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Included Tree Bark
This week in the garden Certified Arborist Wes Hopper shows how included bark in a tree crotch can create a stain on the trunk.
Related Videos: Will I be able to save my maple tree that is missing a piece of bark? Maple Bark Split Related Resources: Principles of Pruning, Part 3: Included Bark Bark inclusions |
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Trimming Back Oregano for the Winter
This week in the garden University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows how to trim the seed stalks off an oregano plant in the fall to leave a small green mounding plant for the winter.
Related Videos: Planting an Herb and Flower Container Garden Preserving Herbs Pruning Basil Related Resources: Greek Oregano |
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Taking a Soil Sample
To find out what nutrients you soil has, or what fertilizer you need, have your soil tested. Joellen Dimond, Director of Landscape at the University of Memphis shows how to use a trowel to get an accurate sample of your garden soil for testing. She takes soil samples from about 6 inches below the surface in several places and mixes them together to get a representative sample. You can send this sample to a lab to find out what nutrients are in your soil.
Related Videos: Soil Testing Soil Preparation Related Resources: Soil Testing - University of Tennessee |
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When to Pick Bell Peppers
This week in the garden retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to tell when bell peppers are ripe and ready to pick.
Related Videos: Peppers Planting Peppers Related Resources: Growing peppers in home gardens Home Garden Peppers |
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Getting Houseplants Ready to Bring Indoors
This week in the garden horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly tells what to do to get houseplants ready to bring inside for the winter.
Related Videos: Moving Houseplants Indoors Building a Self-Watering Houseplant Pot Related Resources: Prepare Houseplants for Trip Back Indoors The Homeowner’s Guide to Bringing Houseplants Inside for Winter |
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Tomato Hornworms
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper goes looking for tomato hornworms. He talks about how to find them and how to use BT to kill them.
Related Videos: Q&A - Where do tomato hornworms come from? Q&A - What are the white growths on hornworms? Q&A - Will tomato hornworms infect the soil? Related Resources: Tomato hornworms in home gardens Tobacco/Tomato Hornworm - Vegetables |
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Deadheading Roses
This week in the garden rose expert Bill Dickerson shows how to deadhead a rose bush. He shows where to make the pruning cuts to encourage a new cane and bloom. He also removes all the rose hips, so the rose does not spend its energy making seed.
Related Videos: Basic Rose Care Rose Bush Pruning Related Resources: Growing Roses Pruning Roses |
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Spraying Malathion
This week in the garden Retired UT Extension Agent shows how to spray Malathion on a plant to kill mealybugs.
Related Videos: Mixing Pesticide Related Resources: Pesticide Information Profile: Malathion Insecticide suggestions to manage landscape tree and shrub insects |
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Spraying Fungicide
This week in the garden UT Professor of Residential and Consumer Horticulture Natalie Bumgarner applies fungicide. Fungicide is preventative, it will only prevent a new infection, it won’t cure an infection that is already present. Natalie says there are many fungicide options on the market. Choose one that will address the problem you are dealing with and read the label. Good coverage is critical. Fungicide will only work on the surfaces it has been applied to. Reapplying every 7-10 days will maintain that protection.
Related Videos: Mixing and Applying Fungicide Fungicides Related Resources: Fungicides and Bactericides for Home Fruits, Vegetables, and Ornamentals (UT Redbook) Using Organic Fungicides |
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Mixing Pesticide
This week in the garden Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to mix Malathion insecticide to control mealybugs. He shows how to do the math to determine how much insecticide to use.
Related Resources: Pesticide and Fertilizer Math: Calculations for Mixing Small Amounts of Pesticides Safe Handling of Pesticides - Mixing |
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Killing Grass Around Blueberries
This week in the garden retired UT Extension Agent shows how to apply sethoxydim (trade name Poast) to kill the Bermuda grass around a blueberry plant. It may take several applications to kill all the grass in this area.
Related Video: Can I eat my blueberries if I treated the soil for ants? Related Resources: Weed Management in Orchards |
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Organic Control of Squash Bugs
This week in the garden Peter Richards shows how to use duct tape to control squash bugs. By scouting and removing all the eggs you find, you can keep most squash bugs off your plants. Best of all, this method uses no chemicals.
Related Videos: What can I do to stay ahead of squash bugs this year? I Have Squash Bugs. Can I Harvest My Pumpkins Early? Related Resources: Squash Bug - Vegetables Squash Bug |
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How To Wipe On Herbicide
This week in the garden UT Extension agent Chris Cooper shows how to apply a herbicide to kill grass around a plant without getting any on the plant. He wipes herbicide concentrate on the grass. He also shows how to use a small paintbrush to paint herbicide onto a sedge plant in the grass.
Related Resources: Safe Herbicide Use Herbicide Injury to Yard and Garden Plants |
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Squash Vine Borer
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper finds a squash plant that is infected with squash vine borer. He tries unsuccessfully to find the borer and then talks about how to prevent squash vine borers.
Related Resources: Squash Vine Borer Squash vine borer management in home gardens |
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Dividing Ogon
This week in the garden University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shoes how to divide ogon “sweet flag.” Using a shovel, she digs up half the existing plant and replants it in a different place.
Related Videos: Planting Shrubs in Wet Heavy Soils Related Resources: Discover Ogon shining among sweet flag grasses Japanese Sweet Flag |
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Removing Suckers from a Maple Tree Trunk
This week in the garden University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows how to cut off suckers from the trunk of a young Maple tree. She also does some other routine minor pruning on the tree to correct other problems.
Related Videos: Removing Tree Suckers What are suckers and water sprouts on a tree? Related Resources: Pruning Basics So Long Suckers! |
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Removing Tree Suckers
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Joellen Dimond shows how to remove suckers from a magnolia tree. Removing suckers keeps the tree looking like a tree and not like a bush.
Related Resources: Pruning Basics |
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Newspaper Mulch
This week in the garden Peter Richards shows how to use newspaper mulch around plants. Newspaper is free and can be turned back into the soil at the end of the year.
Related Video: Can you put newspaper in your compost pile Related Resources: Yard and Garden: Mulch Mulches for the Home Vegetable Garden |
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Removing Suckers from the Trunk of an Oak Tree
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows how to remove small branches from the trunk of an oak tree. He also finds a possible canker in the trunk of the tree.
Related Video: TWIG - Removing Tree Suckers Related Resources: Cleaning the Canopy Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard |
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Cutting a Tree Branch
This week in the garden retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison shows how to correctly cut a branch off a tree. He shows how using two cuts at the right location keeps the bark from peeling and helps the tree heal.
Related Videos: Should I use a pruning sealer TWIG–Pruning Tools Overview Related Resources: Pruning Trees and Shrubs Pruning and Care of Tree wounds Pruning Trees |
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Aphids on Milkweed
This week in the garden our milkweed is covered with yellow aphids. You can’t use insecticides because that may harm monarch butterfly caterpillars which feed on the milkweed, so Dixon Gallery and Gardens Volunteer Coordinator Tonya Ashworth shows how to use a jet of water to knock the aphids off. You may need to do this several times until the aphids are discovered by predatory insects who bring them under control.
Related Videos: I sprayed aphids with an insecticidal mix. Now the leaves are black. What happened? I have aphids on my milkweed. How can I get rid of them without harming monarch caterpillars? Related Resources: Aphids Got your Milkweeds Aphids Spoiling Monarch Milkweeds |
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Pruning Basil
This week in the garden TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond shows how to prune basil. Pruning basil encourages it to branch out, become bushier, and grow more leaves which increases your harvest.
Related Resources: Herbs in Southern Gardens |
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Planting a Tomato Plant
Tonya Ashworth shows how to plant a tomato plant in the garden. She also talks about tomato staking to support it while it grows.
Related Videos: Growing Tomatoes Tying Up Tomatoes Related Resources: Growing Tomatoes Tomatoes for the Home Garden |
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Holly Scale and Sooty Mold
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper shows a holly tree that is infested by holly scale. As the holly scale feeds on the sap of the tree, it produces honeydew which the sooty mold – a fungus – grows on. Chris recommends using a soil drench with the active ingredient imidacloprid. This will control the scale. The sooty mold will then disappear on its own over time.
Related Resources: Sooty Mold The Plant Doctor - Sooty Mold |
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Peach Tree Borer
This week in the garden Retired Extension Agent Mike Dennison identifies damage from peach borers and talks about how to spray to prevent them.
Mike referred to the Home Orchard Spray Guide. Get it here Related Resources: Peach Tree Borer Peach Tree Borer Peachtree Borer |
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Cutting Out a Tree Canker
Certified arborist Wes Hopper diagnoses a canker in a magnolia tree. He identifies it as a fungal canker and shows how to remove it. He pays special attention to cleaning his tool to avoid spreading the disease.
Related Resources: Fungal Cankers of Trees Cankers on Trees |
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Don’t Prune Small Blueberries
This week in the garden retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about why you only prune blueberries when they are too big to manage. Pruning small plants in the spring risks cutting off living branches that look dead.
Related Resources: Home Garden Blueberries Pruning Blueberry Bushes in the Home Garden |
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Spring Tree Pruning
This week in the garden University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond shows how to prune a tree. She removes rubbing branches, branches that are growing into the center of the tree, and watershoots.
Related Resources: Tree Pruning Essentials Pruning Landscape Trees |
2016 This Week In the Garden 2017 This Week In the Garden 2018 This Week In the Garden 2019 This Week In the Garden
2020 This Week In the Garden 2021 This Week in the Garden 2022 This Week in the Garden 2023 This Week in the Garden
2020 This Week In the Garden 2021 This Week in the Garden 2022 This Week in the Garden 2023 This Week in the Garden
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