Video Segments
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Planting Daffodils, Dianthus, and Pansies
It is time to remove the summer annuals and plant winter flowers. This winter in the Family Plot flower bed, University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond is going to plant early daffodils and purple pansies with dianthus as accents. Two years ago, she planted some dusty miller which is still doing well and will be left in the bed. Joellen talks about how to prepare the bed - including fertilizing and mulching - and plant the new flowers. In the process she also shows how to trim back the dusty miller.
Past Plantings in this flower bed: Planting Summer Flowers 2016 Planting Fall Flowers 2016 Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia (2017) Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies (2017) Planting Summer Flowers (2018) Planting Violas (2018) Planting Sunpatiens, Joseph's Coat, and Colocasia (2019) Related Resources: Success with Pansies in the Winter Landscape: A Guide for Landscape Professionals Darling Dianthus Spring Flowering Bulbs: Daffodils Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria |
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Apple Tree Diseases
Here are the six most common diseases in apples. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about symptoms, damage, and control of fire blight, cedar apple rust, sooty blotch, fly speck, bitter rot, black rot, apple scab, and white rot. For each disease Mike gives the symptoms and the basics on how to prevent and treat them.
Get the University of Georgia publication Mike was using here For an apple spray guide and schedule see this University of Tennessee Publication Related Resources: Diseases of Tree Fruits Apple Diseases Apple - Pear Diseases |
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Raptors
Raptors or birds of prey can help control rodent population in the garden. Mary Schmidt from Lichterman Nature Center says all raptors are carnivores. They have three main features that set them apart from other birds: talons, a curved beak, and good eyesight. There are many different kinds of raptors including hawks, eagles, and owls and she talks about each kind. Most raptors eat small rodents like mice, rats, voles, chipmunks, or squirrels, which can all be problems for gardeners. Other raptors eat birds. The best way to encourage raptor populations in your area is to not use rodenticides as these poisons will build-up and kill the raptors eating the poisoned animals. Mary brought a live owl to show some of the features of birds of prey.
Related Videos: Owls Related Resources: Attracting Birds of Prey for Rodent Control Attracting Wildlife for Pest Control on Farmland What makes a bird a raptor? |
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Fences to Keep the Critters Out of the Garden
There are many fences available and some do better than others at keeping animals out of the garden. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about the different kinds. Wooden privacy fences will keep deer out of the garden. Adding metal mesh buried under the wood fence will keep out rabbits. But raccoons will be able to climb over a wood fence and wooden fences are expensive. A less expensive option is poly deer fence, but that is still not as effective as an electric fence. Mike talks about electric fences and how to put them up to keep both deer-sized and raccoon-sized animals out of the garden. Electric fences are very effective with minimal effort and cost.
Related Resources: Preventing Deer Damage How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence Problem Wildlife in the Garden and Yard |
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How a Tree Works
Certified Arborist Wes Hopper explains the basics of how trees work. Trees use photosynthesis to convert nutrients into sugars for the tree to use. Wes also explains how the vascular system in the tree transports water and nutrients from the roots up to the leaves, and the sugars from photosynthesis from the leaves to the other parts of the tree. Wes shows the different layers of a tree trunk and talks about what each layer does. He talks about the different kinds of roots and what they do. Wes also talks about how trees react to high summer heat.
Related Resources: Tree Physiology Trees The Cornell Guide for Planting and Maintaining Trees and Shrubs |
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The Worst Weeds
What are the worst weeds in your garden? Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison goes over several lists of the worst weeds and throws in some weeds of his own.
Related Resources: Weed Identification Photos Common Weeds of the Yard and Garden Weed Control Guide |
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Hanging a Hummingbird Feeder
Debbie Bruce from Wild Birds Unlimited shows how to hang two different hummingbird feeders and talks about maintaining them.
Debbie brought two ways to hang a feeder. First, she shows a freestanding pole that can be pushed into the ground. She also shows a hanger that can be stuck to a window with suction cups. Hummingbirds drink nectar which is 4 parts water and 1 part white table sugar. Don’t use honey or a sugar substitute. Ants like to get the sugar too, so Debbie shows how an ant trap will keep the ants out of the feeder. Hummingbirds will avoid nectar that is contaminated with ants. Change the nectar every 3-5 days even if there is some left. If the weather is hot it will need to be changed more often. Also, If the nectar gets cloudy it needs to be changed. It is important to regularly clean hummingbird feeders. Wash them in soapy water. You can also use a mild bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Leave the feeders out with nectar in them until late in the fall. The hummingbirds will migrate south even if there is still food available. Leaving the feeder up will give much needed energy to late migrating birds. Related Videos: Attracting Winter Birds Setting up a Bird-feeder Related Resources: Hummingbirds An Attractive Asset to Your Garden Gardening to Attract Birds |
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Garden pH Basics
Extension Agent Celeste Scott, talks about pH basics. pH stands for potential hydrogen. pH runs in a scale of 0 to 14. It is an exponential scale so each number on the scale is 10x the previous number.
Soils naturally have a certain pH which may or may not be the best range for your chosen plants to grow. Often home building or frequent fertilizing over a longer period of time will change the soil pH. The right pH is necessary to get the maximum growth from your plants. Because of this it is important to get a sample of your soil tested. Lime (usually pelletized limestone) or sulphur can be applied to raise or lower the pH, but it takes time for the change to occur. Because of this fact, testing and applying in the fall allows the lime or sulphur to begin to change the pH by the time spring comes. After changing the pH of soil it will tend to slowly return to its natural state so additional lime or sulphur will be needed occasionally. Related Videos: Taking a Soil Sample Soil Preparation Related Resources: Soil pH Modification Lawn Insects and How to Control Them Understanding Soil pH |
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Controlling Weeds
Weed are a constant problem for every gardener. Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly talks about how to keep them under control. The first thing you should do when putting in a new bed is get rid of all the existing vegetation. You can use a broad spectrum herbicide or tilling. Dr. Kelly then uses a pre-emerge to reduce the number of weeds by interfering with germination.
Cultural control can reduce the number of weeds you have. You don’t want to disturb the soil unnecessarily or over irrigate because it will cause more weed seeds to germinate. Mulch is a deterrent to the weeds to keep them from sprouting and growing. Mulch also has other benefits as well. Eliminating plants before they go to seed will reduce the number of seeds available to germinate the next year. Mechanical control can get rid of the weeds that have sprouted. Hand pulling or using a hoe will get rid of the weeds that did germinate. You will have to do this on a regular basis as there will be weeds that grow despite your best efforts. Chemical control can be divided into two groups: pre-emergent and post-emergent. For every chemical you must read and follow the label, it is the law. Pre-emergent herbicides keep the weed seed from growing if they germinate. Pre-emergents need to be applied at the right time to be in place when the weeds germinate. Your local extension office can tell you when that is for your area. Post-emergent herbicides kill plants that have already germinated. You need to be careful that you don’t get any on desirable plants. Related Resources: Weed Identification Photos Weeds |
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Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses bring a different texture, sound, and movement to the garden. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about the uses, kinds, and care of ornamental grasses. Ornamental grasses include grasses, sedges, rushes, millets, rices, oats and cattails.
Joellen talks about some of her favorite grasses including Mexican feathergrass, carex, miscanthus, pennisetum, Panicum. Ornamental grasses are easy to care for. Each variety likes certain conditions and should be planted in those conditions. If there are not planted in the right place, they will not thrive and may succumb to disease. If they are planted in the right place, they require little maintenance or fertilizer. They can be planted any time the ground is not frozen. If the grass goes dormant for the winter, it needs to be cut back mid- to late-winter before the leaves fall apart and blow all over your yard. Joellen also talks about how to rejuvenate your grass. Related Resources: Ornamental Grasses Ornamental Grasses and Grass-like Plants Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape |
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