Ask a Master Gardener
Blossom Drop in Tomatoes
My tomatoes were producing a lot of fruit but now they just stopped. Are they done for the year? BM
This is a great question for this time of year and there are several possible reasons for what you are experiencing.
The first item to consider is whether you have a determinate or indeterminate tomato plant. Many new tomato growers just thought “a what or a what?” Oftentimes new tomato growers purchase plants or seeds based on what the tomato on the plant tag or seed package looks like...
Bagworms
I have what appears to be bagworms on my juniper. Will they damage by shrub? LH
Bagworms are out in full force this year. I received an email from Dr. Erik Rebek - Extension Entomologist recently and he used the term “bumper crop” in reference to the quantity of bagworms being found in northern and eastern Oklahoma this year. I don’t know about you, but I would rather hear the term “bumper crop” used in reference to delicious peaches from Porter, Oklahoma rather than when talking about bagworms,...
Become a Master Gardener
Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for our yearly Master Gardener training. But you may ask “What is a Master Gardener?"
In 1862 federal legislation was signed called the Morrill Act. The Morrill Act laid the groundwork for land grant universities throughout the country. Oklahoma State University is part of that legacy. Land grant universities are tasked with not only education and research, but also extension. The extension part of it comes to life through the OSU Extension of which...
Spider Mites
The leaves on some of my plants have small spots on them and are starting to turn brown. I also see some webbing. What is causing this? DH
From your description it sounds like your plant issue is caused by spider mites. Oftentimes we would suggest you do a visual inspection to confirm a specific pest, but spider mites are very small and can be hard to see with the naked eye. However, with the damage you are suggesting along with the webbing, spider mites rise to the top of the list. To confirm,...
Fungal Disease in Tomatoes
My tomatoes have brown spots on them. Can I save them? BV
The hot, wet conditions we have been experiencing are perfect for the development of fungal diseases in tomatoes. Brown spots on the blossom end of tomatoes would suggest blossom end rot, but the tomatoes in the photo we received have a different kind of brown spot. This one is indicative of a fungal disease known as buckeye rot.
Buckeye rot is one of several tomato diseases cause by pathogens that are found in the soil. Many of...
Slugs in the Garden
Something is chewing on my hostas, but I don’t see anything. Any suggestions? MM
There are several insects that could be causing your trouble, but since your problem exists on hostas, I am going to say slugs are responsible for the damage. Slugs seem to love hostas and unless you know what to look for, they can be difficult to find because their primary feeding time is at night. Oftentimes it is the shiny/slimy trails they leave behind that provides the confirming evidence.
Slugs are...
Ornamental Grasses
My flower garden is in pretty good shape, but it needs something. Any suggestions? RH
Many a gardener finds themselves in this dilemma. We did our best to plan our gardens, we shopped, we brought home everything on our list, and got them planted. But it still seems like it needs something. What should we do?
First, if you planted perennials, in my experience it takes at least a year for them to take off. They might do ok this year, but I never expect them to really shine for at least...
Replacing Crapemyrtles
There are still no signs of life on my crapemyrtles. I was thinking of planting something else where the crapemyrtles used to be. What would you suggest? DS
This is a dilemma facing many homeowners in NE Oklahoma. We love our crapemyrtles. They are easy to grow, and you end up with a beautiful flowering shrub. But for those of us whose crapemyrtles either look terrible or are showing no signs of life, we have some decisions to make.
Do we replace the dead crapemyrtles with new ones or...
Fall Gardens
It’s the Fourth of July and we know what’s on every gardener’s mind: when can I start my fall garden?
Ok, maybe right now we are thinking about watermelon and family gatherings, but soon we are going to be getting ready for our fall vegetable gardens. The idea of a fall vegetable garden might be new for some of you but fall vegetable gardens are many gardeners’ favorites. There are several reasons for this: the weather starts to cool down, some of the pest life cycles are out of sync with...
Water Management in the Garden
We had too much rain for so long and now that we are entering summer, the rain has kind of stopped. How do I know how much to water my garden? KS
This is a very good question and addresses a dilemma gardeners face all the time. Water usage is important for our plants and using water wisely is good for all of us. Here are a few tips to help simplify the process.
There are a lot of sources of information that suggest how much and how often you need to water your garden. These are great...