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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January of this year. 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:
I saw a small hedge of shrubs the other day that was full of purple berries. There were no leaves on the shrub making the berries that more striking. What are these plants?
Answer:
They are beautyberries. There are several species grown in this area. The two most popular are American and Purple beautyberry. American beautyberry has the larger of the fruit with an average size of 1/4 inch in diameter. American beautyberry is the tallest of these shrubs growing to a height of 8 feet in a good site. Purple beautyberry is more desirable for the home landscape. It is the most graceful looking and will fruit consistently year to year. The berries are smaller though, but still striking in appearance. Purple beautyberry will grow in the 4-5 height range. Plant in a full sun site for optimum performance. There are white fruiting cultivars too. Purple beautyberry makes a very attractive deciduous hedge and is quite popular with the birds. My one plant is already stripped bare of its fruits this early in the season. Visit our web site at www.ncstate-plants.net and learn more about these plants and view them in color.
Question:
Last year our white oak tree was loaded with acorns. More than any year than I can remember. This year I have not seen one acorn. Why is there such a dramatic change from last year?
Answer:
This is not that uncommon for trees that bear a very heavy fruit crop the previous year. Trees will have 'off years' and can go several years before flowers appear again. This is true for pecans and persimmons. It has also been observed in sugar maple. A poor mast crop foretells tough times for some wildlife. Mast is a collective term we use for acorns and nuts. White oaks produce the most palatable acorns for wildlife. It is considered the staff of life for many wildlife species because acorns are abundantly available and a good source of protein and fat. In addition they are slow to spoil making them all that more important to wildlife. White oak acorns are important to deer, turkey, raccoons, squirrels, and many bird species.
Question:
I am just learning about ferns and would like to add them to my garden. I know that some are evergreen and others will die off this winter. Can you tell me which ones stay green over winter?
Answer:
Ferns are an underutilized plant in our landscape. If you have an area that is shady and somewhat damp, they are ideal. Ferns will not tolerate dry soils for long. Ferns are now becoming more available in the landscape trade due to the growth in water gardening.
Keep them out of direct sun. Prepare the soil by incorporating copious amounts of organic matter such as compost or composted animal manure. Lightly mulch your plants with pine needles. Consider the following ferns that will remain green over the winter; Christmas, Intemediate Sheild, Shaggy Sheild, Tassel, and Marginal Wood fern. They all will do well in our area. Don't overlook the deciduous ferns for summer beauty. Try Narrow Beech, Northern Maiden Hair, Oak, Ostrich, Royal, Japanese Painted, Hay-Scented, Goldies, and Cinnamon. Learn more about their size and texture by visiting our plant web site, www.ncstate-plants.net. Click on the fern section for more information and photos.
Question:
We have just moved into a new home and the newly sown grass is pale yellow in color. I was told that the lawn was fertilized and limed by the builder or whomever installed the lawn. Will the grass get any greener over the winter?
Answer:
The pale yellow color indicates low nitrogen in the plant due to the overall low fertility of the soil. Usually not enough of the right kind of fertilizer is applied during the installation of the lawn or enough lime is put down to reduce the acidity of the soil. You must take it upon yourself to correct this now. Reapply fertilizer and lime this month to help correct these conditions. I would apply 10 pounds of 10-20-20 fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn. Follow this with at least 35 pounds of lime per 1000 square feet of lawn. They can both be done the same day. Repeat the same rate and blend of fertilizer in mid-February. No more lime will be needed for at least 2 years. Do not fertilize after your February application until late September. Take a soil sample next summer to see what addtional measures need to be done. Mow your grass at 3 inches in height throughout the year. Hopefully the contractor did not add rye to your mix and your have a full stand of a permanent fescue.
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITY
A program on 'Protecting Yourself From Exposure to Pesticides' will be taught next Wednesday, December 3rd, beginning at 8:30 and ending at noon. This class will be in the club house at Lake Mackintosh, Huffman Mill Rd. in Burlington. Registration is $5 per person. Contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 570-6740 to register and for directions. Three hours of pesticide credit will be offered.
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If you have any horticultural questions, please direct them to Rett Davis