Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
February 9, 2002
 

 February is a transitional month for home gardeners. Many
are preparing for spring maintenance chores later this month and
into March. Below are a few questions I have received during the
past two weeks that may be of interest to home gardeners in Rowan
County.
 Question: Is now the time to prune grapes?  Answer: Grapes,
both bunch type and scuppernong can be pruned now through March.
Late pruning may cause the plant to bleed, but the bleeding
usually does not impede growth or grape production. I have pruned
them with leaves on them before with no apparent damage, but I
would not recommend late pruning.
 Question: Can I apply a weed and feed fertilizer now to my
lawn and reseed later?  Answer: I would not apply any fertilizers
with herbicides now if I plan to reseed. Both pre-emergence and
post-emergence herbicides cause problems, especially pre-
emergence herbicides. You will be disappointed.
 Question: Can I control chickweed in lawns now? Answer: Yes,
chickweed can be controlled if the plant is not blooming or too
large.  Post emergence herbicides containing 2,4-D and dicamba
does a fair job.  It's best to control this weed early when the
plant is small.
 Question: Can I burn my pampas grass back now?  Answer: I
normally do not recommend burning pampas grass as a pruning
method. I recommend pruning the plant with clippers or even a
chain saw. It's much safer to use a sharp pair of shears. Other
ornamental grasses can pruned back at this time as well.
 Question: Is now the time to apply dormant oils to my fruit
trees?  Answer: Yes, dormant oils and/or liquid lime-sulfur can
be applied to fruit trees and vines to control mites, scales and
some diseases. The best time apply these pesticides is when
temperatures are above 40 degrees and below 65 degrees. Avoid
applications when buds have swelled and are showing color.
 Question: My pansies look pretty bad right now.  Can I
fertilize them now?  Answer: Pansies need to be dead headed and
fertilized now, but not when temperatures are warm, like above 60
degrees. Fertilize them in cool weather with a liquid bloom
booster fertilizers. Applications during warm weather promotes
aggressive growth and the plants usually stretch and become weak.
 Question: What is the best way to control bermuda grass in
my garden? Answer: the best way to control bermuda grass in a
garden is to kill the weed outright, usually in late August or
during the peak growing season, usually when it is hot and the
plant in aggressively growing. Till the garden under in the fall
and plant a cover crop. Cover crops reduce weeds in the spring
and will help control the weed.