Ask a Master Gardener
Using Pre-Emergents in Your Lawn
I had so much crab grass in my lawn this year. Is there anything I can do now to help with that problem for next year? MC
Weeds can be so frustrating as they seem to be a constant battle. But there is something you can do right now to help for next year. You can apply a weed pre-emergent.
Two of the more popular pre-emergent products for grassy weeds are pendamethalin and prodiamine (scientific names - you’ll have to read the label on the pre-emergent product). For broadleaf weeds you...
Remembering Bill Sevier
When I first became a Master Gardener, I really didn’t know what I was getting into or what to expect. This is probably true with most Master Gardeners unless you happened to know someone that was already part of the organization.
I had no idea about the wide range of personalities that were about to become my best friends. Most of us had already left careers in a variety of fields, had gardened casually, and wanted to learn and volunteer with other like-minded individuals.
In recent...
Dividing Iris
I’ve had iris for several years, but they didn’t seem to bloom as much this year as usual. Any suggestions? GM
There are some 200 to 300 varieties of Iris, but I am guessing you are talking about the most popular variety: Bearded Iris.
As the story goes, Iris get their name from Greek mythology. Iris is the goddess of rainbows and is the messenger to the gods bringing messages from them to humans. Iris also served nectar to the gods and goddesses. She was even part of the story in Homer’s...
Cabbage Loopers
My broccoli plants were destroyed this year by a small green caterpillar, actually hundreds of small green caterpillars. How do I prevent this from happening in the future? SB
The culprit in your case is likely the cabbage looper. Looper is kind of an unusual name, but since the larvae of the cabbage looper only have “true” legs in the front and the rear, they move in a manner similar to an inchworm or move by making a loop…thus the name looper.
Cabbage loopers are fond or more than your...
Dutch Elm Disease
I have an American Elm that started looking like it had a problem and then died a few weeks later. What in the world happened? JA
The culprit was likely Dutch Elm Disease. I was speaking with Jen Olson of the OSU Plant Disease & Insect Diagnostic Lab recently and she said she was seeing more Dutch Elm Disease this year than in recent years which is too bad since it’s one of the most destructive tree diseases in North America.
Dutch Elm Disease was first discovered in the Netherlands in...