Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

January 15, 2004

I was asked a number of horticultural questions over the past few weeks Even though we're thoroughly entrenched with cold winter weather; homeowners are contemplating productive vegetable and beautiful flower gardens this spring. Below are a few questions I have received over the past few weeks.

Question: Is now the time to prune fruit trees? I have peach that needs to be pruned.

Answer: Large fruit trees such as apple and pear can be pruned now. Wait until late February or March to prune peaches. Peaches, nectarine and plum are borne on new growth; therefore heavy pruning is needed each year. Avoid pruning early on these trees as early pruning stimulates growth and early bloom. Late spring frosts seem to find these trees first.

Question: Can I prune grapes now?

Answers: Both muscadine and bunch grapes can be pruned in the dormant season. Usually February and early March are the months for pruning grapes.

Question: Can I trim my pampas grass now? The plant has turned brown and looks ugly.

Answer: Yes pampas grass is a warm season grass that can handle pruning now. However, I do not recommend burning the plant. Many will burn the plant to eliminate the unsightly blades.

Question: When is the best time to apply dormant oils or sprays to my fruit trees?

Answer: Apply any time during the winter as long as the temperature is above 40 degrees and under 65 degrees. Do not apply when the fruit blossoms are showing color.

Question: I have a group of pecan trees and only two of the trees do well. The other two never bare fruit. What can I do to make the trees bare?

Question: My pansies look pretty bad right now. What can I do to them now to make them look better?

Answer: Pansies need to be deadheaded and fertilized now, but not when temperatures are warm, above or near 60 degrees. Fertilize them in cool weather with liquid bloom booster fertilizers. Applications during warm weather promote aggressive growth and the plants usually stretch and become weak.

Answer: The trees may be seedlings. Only grafted cultivars are recommended for planting for a reliable crop. Many seedling trees bear poorly and have small nuts.

Question: What can I do to control weeds in my vegetable garden? I have an abundance of both broadleafed weeds and Bermuda grass.

Answer: There are no herbicides at this time that will control weeds. Planting a cover crop of wheat, oats or other small grains will control many weed species. Bermuda grass can be controlled with glyphosate (Roundup) or Finale in the summer during peak growing season.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu or phone at 704-633-0571.