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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:
There is a grass that is in my yard that I cannot identify nor control. What is it?
Answer:
Our lawns are inhabited by many grasses other than ones we plant or desire. They are often misidentified which leads to unsatisfactory controls. The grass you brought in for identification is called dallisgrass. It is a clumped perennial grass that forms short thick rhizomes. The blades of this grass are coarser than fescue and wider. This grass produces a seed stalk within a few days after it has been mowed. These shoots produce a seed head that hangs down and is filled with small black seeds. In the winter the tops of this grass will die but the root system remains alive. In the spring the leaves reemerge and seeds germinate. If the infestation of dallisgrass is large, a general spraying with Roundup will kill it. However, Roundup will kill your good turf too. You will have to reseed those areas where you have eliminated the dallisgrass. Another approach that is somewhat is to spray with MSMA products when dallisgrass begins to greenup in the spring. MSMA will not kill your existing turf. But this approach requires multiple sprayings and a sharp eye to spot it when it begins to green up.
Question:
Why do my figs keep falling off before they ripen? I have never been able to get a satisfactory yield.
Answer:
Figs are some of our more dependable small fruits. However, fig drop can be a problem if certain conditions exist. Fruit drop will occur if you overfertilize with nitrogen fertilizers, if there is a prolonged period of dry weather, and if there is excessive shading.
If your fig bush is putting on more than one foot growth a year, do not fertilize at all. If the growth is less than that, you can fertilize the plant with 10-10-10 when the buds swell in the spring. Figs prefer a moist soil, so be sure to mulch all the area beneath the plant with some type of organic mulch. Finally, if your fig bush does not get over 6 hours of direct sun a day, fruit drop will occur due to shading.
Question:
I have tilled up some small areas in my lawn that were bare this summer. Should I put straw over my seed and then remove it when the new grass comes up?
Answer:
After you sow your seed, rake the seed into the soil with a tooth rake. Then cover the area with straw. You should still be able to see some soil after covering. One bale of straw will cover about 700 square feet. Do not remove the straw once the grass germinates. Later mowings will shred it up and it will not harm the new grass. Straw is not needed when you overseed into existing grass.
Question:
Last year you stressed the importance of planting pansies early in the fall. What were those recommended dates?
Answer:
Pansies will fair much better if planted from now until October 1st. This allows them more time to develop a strong root system before cold weather arrives. Research has shown pansies will withstand our winters better and flower more prolifically if planted in September. However, you may find difficulty in locating them this early. In addition, if we have a mild fall, pansies will do well even if planted in October.
Question:
I have rented an plugger for next weekend to overseed my lawn. How many times do I go over my yard before I seed it?
Answer:
One pass is certainly not enough unless you like that look of grass that comes up in holes that are 8 to 10 inches apart. I would make at least 4 to 6 passes over the same area for true aeration and soil preparation. Sow your seed after plugging and lightly rake the area to distribute the plugs and cover the seed. Fertilize the lawn after the new seed begins germination.
LANDSCAPE CLASS
Register now to attend a 2 part workshop on how to landscape your property using design principles that reduce maintenance, pesticide usage, and storm water runoff. Through proper design and installation of drought tolerant plants you can have a very attractive landscape that meet your needs and is environmentally friendly. Call now to attend our Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods landscape training on September 25 and 26 at the Agricultural Building, 209 N. Graham Hopedale Rd. in Burlington. These classes are for homeowners. Cost is $15 per person or couple. Call the Cooperative Extension Service at 336-570-6740 to register.
GARDEN FAIR
Our Master Gardeners and I will be at the Lowes Home Improvement Center in Burlington on September 23 from 9 until 12 offering advice on landscaping, plant selection, pest problems, and lawn care. Come by and visit us.
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.