BIG WOODS GARDEN CENTER AND NURSERY

NEWSLETTER

September 2010

 

Weather related information 

Crabgrass – our extreme heat and drought like weather conditions will result in an extensive crabgrass – as well as other annual weeds – population. Pre emergent control may have little effect on this years population – use of post emergent controls by the homeowner is very limited and usually costly.

Pythium blight – again extensive damage andcoverage because of our weather conditions. Make sure – if you have an irrigation system or are watering manually – that no watering is being done at night (water early morning)

Bacterial leaf scorch – becoming more and more wide spread in our area. If detected early enough this can be controlled by pruning out the damaged areas.

Drought stress – symptoms – leaf droop, wilt, curl, yellowing, defoliation, tip or margin burn – plant death

Dormant or dead lawn – many non irrigated lawns are now dormant caused by our extreme weather conditions. Take a plug of grass from the lawn – place it in a container with a moist paper towel – if the plug greens up, your lawn should recover with cooler temps and seasonal showers.

White grubs – treat or not? – one ‘good’ thing about our weather is that the limited rainfall in the spring probably wil limit a major outbreak of white grubs this year. Time will tell. If you take a soil sample and you have more than 10 grubs/ per square foot…treatment should be considered (perennial rye grass type). In tall fescue lawns 20 or more should cause concern.

 

 

Things to be done:

     Apply fungus control to lawn areas showing fungus development. Apply Bayleton or a fungus controlling agent specific for the type of fungus present.

     Apply grub control agent (Merit, Dylox, etc.) to lawns – must be watered in. Apply only if white grubs are present.

     Apply borer control to white pines, Douglas firs, and spruce trees if not already done. Spray the entire tree.

    Apply bagworm control or handpick – very high damaging population this year.

     Start lawn fertilizations in early September. If applying a fall weed and feed do not water in. (no watering or cutting for 48 hours)

     In mid September apply deer control tablets to your landscape material so it is activated by mid October. This will control activity into the new year.

     Landscape areas – apply final Triple Action Spray in early September.

     Plant perennials in early September thru mid/late November.

     Bring tropical plants indoors in late September prior to cool weather.

   Plant landscape material from mid September through November (later if the weather stays mild)  Make sure to water through November to establish new plantings before cold weather sets in. Make sure to apply a winter protective spray to all established and newly planted material. (late November)

Materials are available at the nursery

Garden Center / Nursery News    

     Fall mums and pansies will be ready by 9/1. We will have some great new selections including large planters with mums and pansies. We will be running many unadvertised weekend specials. Stop by and save on our top quality nursery stock. Now available- some beautiful Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in shrub form. If you have never seen these colorful shrubs stop by and I am sure you will add one to your landscape. We also have some large holly and magnolia trees available at super pricing. We still have shade and flowering trees left in our fields that can be tagged for late October digging and pick up. We will be digging evergreen trees in mid September. If you will need to establish a natural screen or just want to plant a few trees, contact the nursery for availability. These are all full sheared trees. Stop by to see our selection of super sized azaleas. There are over 20 varieties available and believe it or not some are still in flower. (late varieties usually bloom in June/early July) We also have containerized flowering, shade and fruit trees all on sale. Super values through September. We still have a great selection of hosta and daylilies on sale. Perennials – various sizes – ready for fall planting are all on sale. Call for details. The nursery will be open on weekends in September. Our operating hours are 9:30 to 4:00 on Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 12:30 on Monday and Tuesday, by appointment only Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

 

Problems noted in our area –

Lawn fungus – Anthracnose-summer patch, brown patch, fairy rings – Apply Bayleton to control lawn fungus.

Landscape plantings-

   Powdery midew-lilacs, dogwoods, hemlock – apply triple action spray – 3 times and 7 days apart.

   Lacebug-azaleas, oaks – apply triple action or Orthene.

   Euonymoue Scale – apply 1% summer horticultural oil.

   Wooly Adelgid – hemlocks – apply 1% summer oil.

   Candle Tip Borer / End tip die back – Pinus Strobus – Apply Borer control in late August – hand collect dead growth now.

   Bagworms continue to be a major problem this year. Extensive damage noted in many areas even with controlling agents applied.

 

Fall Flowering Plants

   Some old standards – hardy field mums, fall flowering pansies (if you have never tried them, do so this year. They will bloom from October thru September 2009) and flowering cabbage and Kale.

   Try something new – fall flowering bulbs (crocus and colchicum), ornamental grasses, dahlias, hybrid anemones, black eyed susans, helenium, butterfly bushes, boltonia, hardy cyclamen, sedums, and snapdragons.

Fall is for planting – That’s especially true this year with our drought conditions. Fall is the time to plant trees, shrubs, and flowering plants and bulbs. Make sure to plant new additions with plenty of peat moss. Keep everything well watered and sit back and enjoy the fall colors.

Landscape Projects – Call now if you wish to have an on site free estimate for any fall projects. If you wait until late September we will probably have limited openings for the 2010 planting season.  

                                      Be Well,

                                             Herb