 |
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 fertilized my lawn earlier this fall. Do I need to use the so called 'winterizers' at this time of the year?
Answer:
Fescue lawns are the ones that benefit the most from 2 applications of fertilizer in the fall. Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, and other warm season grasses are not fertilized now. For fescue and fescue/bluegrass mixes it is recommended to make your first fall application of fertilizer from mid-September through mid-October. The second application is generally 8 weeks later. Personnaly, I wait until all my leaves are up which is around Thanksgiving. This leaf raking and fertilizing helps to justify my over indulgence of food at the Thanksgiving table. So, the last week of November and the first week of December is an ideal time to apply a 'winterizer' fertilizer or use a garden grade such as 10-10-10 or 17-17-17. If you use 10-10-10 apply no more than 10 pounds per 1000 square feet of lawn. If you like 17-17-17, then use around 6 pounds per 1000 square feet. It really does help your lawn stay greener throughout the winter months. If you only fertilize your lawn once a year, this is the best time to do it for fescue.
Question:
I purchased a lot of tulips and daffodil bulbs with good intentions to get them in the ground last month. I have been told it is too late to plant them now because they will freeze and die. What should I do?
Answer:
Get them planted! New roots will start growing in a matter of a week or two. Just as all the other bulbs are doing right now, believe it or not. There is really no justification to wait until spring. Freezing weather will not affect them. These are very cold hardy plants. Besides, the soil rarely freezes in our area at the 6-8 inch depth that you plant them. After planting, add 3-4 inches of a mulching material which further insulates the soil.
Question:
I have a mulching mower that does a great job of shredding my leaves and grass. Can I use this material around my trees and shrubs rather than putting it on the street for leaf pickup?
Answer:
It always amazes me that so much good mulch is either placed on the curbside or burned up each fall. Especially if it is shredded which in reality hastens it's decomposition. Ground up leaves and grass clippings can be readily used around all trees, shrubs, flowers, and even on vegetable gardens. I once stockpiled my shredded leaves for use as a mulch in my summer vegetable garden. Shredded leaves are less likely to blow away and it is a uniform product. You can put it right over other mulches at a depth of 3-4 inches. In late winter cover it with one that you think is more attractive. I put pine needles over all my leaf mulched beds and no one knows what is under it. Leaf mulch is great source of organic matter that is essential for good soil health. Use it in natural areas to prevent soil erosion and further thwart weed growth. It is a gift, use it for it's intended purpose.
Question:
I have a mimosa tree growing in a large container. It is getting very tall. When and how do I prune it?
Answer:
I must admit I have never seen a mimosa tree growing in a container that was there by choice. Mimosa trees are short lived due to a soil disease that causes their early demise. But in a container with potting soil, they should last for years. Mimosa trees will tolerate pruning. Therefore, in late winter prune the limbs back to the point you desire. Make your pruning cuts on the trunk just above a side branch. This will control the upward growth of the tree and direct growth outward. Any growth that results from dormant buds beneath the pruning cut can be broken off in late spring or you can leave a few to form new limbs. You are the designer, so pick and choose the new shoots to save depending on what kind of look you want.
CAROLINA YARDS AND NEIGHBORHOOD TIP
Reducing the amount of fertilizer and pesticide in our storm water runoff is not that complicated. You can do your part by not throwing these products out into the street or on your driveway when using a spreader. When you do, take a few extra minutes to either sweep or blow these materials back on the lawn.
NATIONAL POINSETTIA TRIALS
The public is invited to take a look at over 100 culitvars of poinsettias at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at N.C. State University on Sunday December 3rd from 1 pm until 5 pm. Admission is free. Poinsettia growers are invited to come on November 30th from 9 am until 4 pm. And you thought poinsettias were only red or white!
North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commitment themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&;T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.