Ask a Master Gardener
Katydids
I have this giant grasshopper looking leaf insect on my window screen. Is this a good insect or a back insect? NM
It sounds like you are describing a katydid. We all know that Katy Lied, but none of us know what Katy Did… (musical reference - Steely Dan released an album years ago called Katy Lied and every time I hear the word katydid, that’s where my brain goes).
In researching how the insect came to be called a katydid one runs across a curious history. Apparently, the word “katy”...
Leaf Scorch
The leaves on a couple of my trees are starting to turn brown around the edges. Should I be concerned? RW
The problem you are describing is likely an environmental condition called leaf scorch. Leaf scorch is caused by the plant’s inability to take up enough water to meet its needs during harsh summer conditions. Harsh summer conditions would exist when there were high temperatures and very little rain. Does this sound familiar? It’s a classic definition of the summer of 2022.
In leaf...
Fall Flowers
I love my beautiful annuals, but I know with fall just around the corner, their days are numbered. Any suggestions for flowers that will give me a little color in the winter? PT
Yes, the season that is approaching is always a little sad for our annuals. They fought through the brutal summer we just endured and are even perking up a little bit. But we know their days are numbered. I can’t tell you how many days I let my begonias and impatiens hang in there as long as I could, only to visit...
Reseeding Fescue
I love my fescue lawn, but this summer was tough on it. I probably need to reseed. When should I do that? GR
We primarily think of fescue around here as a shade grass, but all grass needs the sun. Fescue does a little better in the shade since it’s a cool season grass, but you can also use fescue in full sun situations. However, if you think your water bill was high this year, wait until you try to keep that full sun fescue alive.
Fescue does well as a cool season grass here because in...
Moles and Gophers
Something is digging in my yard because I have these mounds of dirt showing up everywhere. Do I have moles? JD
You definitely have something working underground but it’s not moles, it’s likely pocket gophers. Pocket gophers leave the dirt mounds. While moles also tunnel in the ground, they leave a raised trail you can follow on the surface of the ground. Let’s talk about the differences between the two and how to best control them.
Gophers tend to get busy in the spring and fall. The...
Fall Learning Opportunities
One of the primary purposes for the Tulsa County Master Gardeners is to share horticultural information with area residents. We do a variety of other things like maintaining the beautiful planters in Brookside, landscaping the Habitat for Humanity homes, growing produce on our Seed to Supper Farm for distribution to those less fortunate etc. But education is our prime directive so to speak.
To that end we offer classes at various times of the year, and we have several opportunities coming...
Garden Myths
I have seen a lot of posts on social media talking about using Epsom salt in vegetable gardens. The claims seem almost too good to be true. Is Epsom salt good for the garden? OR
For starters, the claims are indeed too good to be true. While Epsom salt can be a useful additive to your soil under certain conditions, many of the claims concerning Epsom salt are exaggerated if not completely false. So, let’s try to clear some things up.
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate which is one of the...
Fall Armyworms
There are a bunch of caterpillars eating my turfgrass. How do I get rid of them? GS
Sounds like you are talking about armyworms. Last year it seems like they were everywhere. While it doesn’t seem as bad this year, armyworms can always be a problem.
Like many insects, their common name is a bit confusing because they are not worms and not in an army, they are caterpillars on their way to becoming a moth. Interestingly, these moths have flown in June or so from the Gulf Coast, Texas, or...
Fall Gardens / Garlic
I wanted to plant a fall garden but haven’t yet. Do I just need to wait till next spring? LR
You’ve probably missed the window for some fall crops, but there are quite a few options if you haven’t planted yet.
Most vegetable crops can be divided into two groups: tender and semi-hardy. Tender vegetables should have been planted by now. These would include beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash, pumpkins, and tomatoes. These vegetables are called tender because at the first frost they...
Blister Beetles
I went out to my garden to look at my tomatoes today and they were a ton of striped insects all over them. They are destroying my tomatoes. What do I do? PS
The insect you are describing is likely a blister beetle. While there are thousands of different varieties of blister beetles, the most common one in Oklahoma is the striped blister beetle although we have been getting reports of black blister beetle activity as well.
Irrespective of their color, blister beetles share some common...