Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

August 25, 2005

     Generally, late August is a slow month for consumer gardening questions, however, I still receive a variety of gardening questions. Below are a few inquires from homeowners that some of you may have pondered.

            Question: My fig bush is loaded with figs, but will not ripen. What causes this? Answer: There can be several reasons for figs failing to ripen. Figs have a long juvenile period and it may be three to four years before a bush sets a crop. Other causes are excessive fertilization can cause a plant to remain vegetative instead of setting fruit. Also, hot, dry weather can cause poor fruit production and quality. If the bush has never set a crop, it might be a California type that does not pollinate in this area. In that case, replace it with a rooted shoot from a known productive mother bush.

Question: My shrubs have grown a bit over the past few  summer months.  Can I prune them now? Answer: Yes, light, judicious pruning can occur all during the year, however, avoid pruning spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendron.  If you prune them now you will eliminate many of your flowers.  Prune those shrubs in the spring after bloom.  Prune shrubs back hard such as holly, red tips or boxwood in the early spring to avoid winter damage.  Maples should be pruned now while they have leaves to avoid excessive bleeding in the spring.

Question: I have some type of grass that grows about tow inches a day. It’s pale green and has a triangular leaf. What is this and how do I control it? Answer:  It is not really grass at all but a sedge, very similar to grass. Sedges have triangular leaf patterns and grow near high water conditions. Basagran T/O is labeled to control nutsedge in lawns and shrubs.

     Question: My tomatoes have worms.  What can I do to eliminate them?  Answer: Worms and other insects are at their peak population in the fall.  These are probably corn ear worm, larvae to a nocturnal moth.  Constant sprays of the insecticide Sevin is the only answer and this will not completely eliminate them.

     Question: Is now the best time to kill bermuda grass?  Answer: Yes, Bermuda grass is best killed when the grass is actively growing in the heat of the summer. Bermuda grass grows best at 100 degrees F. We may still have a few days that approach that mark. Once temperatures reach the 60’s in the day it becomes difficult to kill this grass.  Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide that requires the plant to be actively growing.     

   Question: What is the best grass seed for my yard? Answer: The best seed largely depends upon your situation.  For the average cool season Rowan County lawn, a three-way blend of turf type fescues has performed well.  If you have shade, blends with 10 percent bluegrass or hard fescues are acceptable.

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