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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Burlington Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January 1998. Scroll to the bottom of
this page to navigate to other Gardening Q&As. Please contact
Rett via e-mail with questions
or
comments in regard to this column.
Question:
The outside of our home is infested with
small reddish brown insects that have pinchers on their tails.
They are in the windows and I have even found one in the pantry.
What are they and how is the best way to get rid of them?
Answer:
The insect you are referring to is called an
earwig. They feed on decayed or living plant material and on
other insects. They come out at night after hiding most of the
day under bark, stone, and mulch. They can eat holes in leaves,
flower petals, flower parts, and even ripening fruit. In the
house they will crawl over everything in sight and hide in
cushions, dishes, and clothes. Although the pinchers give the
impression they can grab you, they will not. This aggravating
little pest comes indoors through open windows and around doors
with loose-fitting seals. Spraying around the outside of your
home is the preferred method of control. There are many products
that will work. Insecticides containing cyfluthrin, permethrin,
pyrethrin, diazinon, and carbaryl will work. Check the labels on
some of your insecticides you have now and see if you already
have one containing these various chemicals. Spray as needed.
Question:
The tops of our crapemyrtle died this winter.
However new shoots have come up from the roots. There may be as
many as 20 new shoots that are already two feet long. Do I just
let them grow or prune them next year?
Answer:
I would go ahead and remove the dead stems as
close to the ground as you can get them. Next I would select 3
or 4 shoots to keep. The remaining shoots should be evenly
spaced so they can develop into new tree trunks. Remove any
other shoots that should appear this summer. Summertime is the
best time of the year to remove root suckers from all trees
especially crapemyrtle, apples, and pears.
Question:
I had a hedgerow of Leyland cypress planted
under a powerline. The trees are spaced 3 feet apart and are
growing so fast that I think I need to start pruning them back.
Can I do this at this time of the year?
Answer:
Leyland cypress is one of the fastest growing
trees in our area. It is not uncommon to get 2-3 feet of growth
a year without fertilizer and irrigation. These trees will
tolerate pruning and shaping if done in the spring and late fall.
This tree will grow in the range of 60 to 70 feet in our area.
Because of their potential size they should be planted at a
minimum of 8-10 feet apart. Within a few years I would advise
you to thin these trees by removing every other one.
Question:
The blossoms on my tomato plants are falling
off. They just turn black and fall to the ground. What is
wrong?
Answer:
There are many reasons for this disorder.
But the two most common are temperatures above 90 degrees and too
much nitrogen fertilizer. Since we have been relatively cool, I
think we can safely rule out high temperatures. That leaves us
with too much nitrogen. Excessive fertilization is not uncommon
with backyard gardeners. It is easy to see why with all the ads
on TV promoting the way to a healthier garden is through the
continuous application of fertilizer. Sidedress tomato plants
with 2-3 tablespoons per plant of 10-10-10 fertilizer only after
the plants have started to set fruit. Reapply 4 to 6 weeks
thereafter throughout the growing season. Place the fertilizer
4-6 inches from the plant's stem.
LUNCH AND LEARN
Join me at May Memorial Library this coming Tuesday, June 12 at noon. I will be making a presentation on the 'Pests of Summer'. I will cover all your favorites including snakes, ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and many more. It's free.
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If you have any horticultural questions, please direct them to Rett Davis