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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 have heard you in the past talk about a rose variety that is very easy to care for and does not require spraying? What are you recommending?
Answer:
This is my third year observing the Knockout series of roses. We have both the red and pink growing in our demonstration garden at the Agricultural Building. If you drive by our office at 209 N. Graham Hopedale Rd. in Burlington you will observe a mass planting around our flag pole. They also grace our entrance. These shrub roses have shown amazing resistance against black spot and powder mildew. These two diseases alone will defoliate most rose varieties by mid summer unless you apply weekly applications of a fungicide. However, both the red Knockout and the Blushing Pink Knockout remain unaffected. These bush type roses will provide blooms from April through October with little care other than monthly fertilizer applications. Plant them in full sun to partial shade. I think they look their best when planted in a mass or small grouping. Plant at least 6 feet apart. They will grow to about 4 feet in height and are easy to control with annual winter pruning. This has undoubtly been the most dependable plant in our gardens for color over the spring and color. Another series of roses called 'Carefree' is available in pinks and yellows. Local garden stores are stocking up on these on these new selections. As trouble free as they are from disease, both aphids and Japanese beetles still find them desirable for feeding. Thats nature.
Question:
I have an old planting of daffodils or narcissus that have double blossoms but a majority of them will never open all the way year end and year out. Can you tell me the cause of this and how to correct it?
Answer:
This is not that uncommon with double blooming narcissus. It is called bud-blast. Bulb experts believe it is a combination of factors that cause this to happen. Drastic temperature changes in late winter from sudden hot spells and then the return of cold weather gets most of the blame. Add dry weather to the mix too. Regardless of the environmental conditions that cause this, you can do nothing to correct it. It is recommended to plant blast-resistant doubles such as Meeting, Sir Winston, Churchhill, and Tahiti for more dependability.
Question:
What varieties of pears are best for our area?
Answer:
Pears are the easiest of all tree fruits to grow. They require very little if any pesticides. You can grow organic pears by using only organic fertilizer. However, proper variety selection is very important due to a very serious pear disease called fire blight. It is affecting trees now by causing the tips of branches, the blossoms, and the young fruit to turn black and wilt. Avoid varieties such as Bartlett. Instead, seek out fire blight resistant ones such as Moonglow, Magness, Kieffer, Harvest Queen, Seckel, and Harvest Delight.
For all of you Internet surfers, be forewarned that other varieties that are listed with fire blight resistance may not stand up under our summer weather conditions. In other words a resistant pear variety in Californian will most likely be more susceptible here. Plant more than one variety to insure proper pollination. Order you trees now for planting next winter.
Question:
I have a well house with flowers and grass around it. What chemicals can I safely use around it for weed control and not worry about it getting into my well water?
Answer:
If your well is capped off underground I would use no chemicals at all for weed, diseases, or insects control. The same goes for well water that turns cloudy after heavy rains. This indicates there is possible surface water getting into the well. If your well is capped off above ground you do have some products that can be safely used. Roundup (glysophate) is one of them. Products that contain trifuralin (Preen or Treflan) can be also be used safely to prevent weeds. Products to avoid are those that promise long term weed control and will contain either prometon (Pramitol) or bromocil (Hyvar). Contact me with the names of other pesticides if you have concerns.
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