Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

May 21, 2004 
 
Unpredictable weather is a challenge for gardeners over the past few weeks. Warm weather will bring challenges for gardeners.  Below are gardening activities that many home gardeners will face.

 ***Pansies are beginning to fail.  Even though the plants
still look fairly well, it is time to decide which annual
replaces them.  Now is the time to plant colorful annuals.  Take up pansies and plant annuals as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the slimmer the selection of annual and other plants at garden centers and retail outlets throughout the county.
 ***Those lucky gardeners that escaped the late frost and
have apple and peach fruit still clinging on their trees must thin them now. Clusters of apples and peaches weaken the tree, cause limb breakage, harder to spray and don't taste as well as thinned fruit. The fruit should be the size of a quarter. Thin damaged or small fruit away from tree limbs leaving a space of 4 inches between each fruit. Be consistent with fruit tree sprays. Home orchard sprays contain both insecticides and fungicides for complete pest control. Be prepared to spray very 10-14 days for insect and disease free fruit.

***A teacher at South Rowan High School had a tree with mushrooms growing on the side of the trunk. This may be a problem. The mushrooms indicate a fungus growing within the trunk of the tree. It is especially important if the mushrooms are near the base of the tree. The tree’s structure may be compromised by internal fungal decay. Carefully examine large shade trees during the early summer for dieback or other problems. Those damaged by lightning, drought and ice damage may show signs of decline when it gets hot and dry.
*** Warm season vegetables such as okra, southern peas,
peppers, melons, sweet potatoes can be planted now. Most of the fertilizer applied to survivors of the initial plantings of tomatoes and other transplants have leached out by now from the rains we've had over the past few days.
 ***Lawns still look good, even though it's too late to
fertilize with high nitrogen fertilizer.  Brown patch may be a problem in later this month.  Cut lawns high, 3-4 inches and when the blades are dry to prevent spread of the disease.
***Clover is a problem in lawns. It is a difficult weed to control.  Post-emergence weed control herbicides work poorly.  Turflon is a herbicide that gives some control poor soils tend to favor this weed. Keep lawns adequately fertilized.                                    
 ***Cool season crops such as cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and onions should come into harvest later this month.  Watch out for cabbage loopers.  These green worms can hide anywhere.  Soak broccoli and cauliflower in salty waster for 15 minutes to make them turn loose.