Get your garden or horticulture questions answered
May 20, 2008
Lyon County Extension Agent Amy Jordan will answer your gardening or horticulture questions. Submit questions now.
Moderator: Our guest today is Amy Jordan, Lyon County Extension horticulturist. She'll be answering questions about lawns and gardening. You may submit a question here on the Web site. Joining the discussion requires registering a screen name. Registration is free. The chat will last about half an hour. Be sure to refresh your screen periodically to keep up with the questions and answers. We'll start with two questions about how to handle bamboo in the yard.
abc123: We have a very established patch of Bamboo very close to our house. What is the best way to keep Bamboo from taking over your yard or garden and can it be damaging if too close to a home? I notice it popping up between bricks on the walkway and in between steps on a porch. Just worried since it is so close to the house that is will damage the foundation. Thanks!
quarterback: What is the best way to kill bamboo that is growing in the yard?
Amy Jordan: Bamboo can be an attractive and fast growing ornamental plant. However, it can become invasive and hard to control. Bamboo shouldn’t be harmful to a home when planted close to it, but control measures will need to be taken to keep it out of the porch, sidewalk and yard. Several herbicides will kill bamboo. Glyphosate (Round-up) is a non-selective herbicide that will kill any plant it is sprayed on and triclopyr (Brush killer or Turflon Ester) is a broadleaf weed killer that can be sprayed on bamboo in a lawn without harming the grass. Most bamboo spreads by rhizomes, so if you want to keep a portion of the bamboo, sever the roots between it and the main plant with a shovel before applying the herbicide to prevent it from killing the entire plant. If you are considering planting bamboo, clumping forms are available that is easier to contain than the running type.
mythoughts: What can I do about rabbits in-town? They're after my landscaping as well as my garden.
Amy Jordan: Rabbits are an animal pest, and with most animal pests, control can be difficult. A physical barrier is the most effective measure. A fence 18-24 inches high that is secured to the ground so they will not burrow under it works well. The wire mesh should be 1 inch or less to prevent rabbits from going through the fence. A fence (cage) around individual plants works for localized damage or one around an entire bed or vegetable garden for more protection. A live trap can be used to capture the rabbit and move it to a new location, however, this may just be moving the problem to a different location and the rabbit to an unfamiliar environment where it is more vulnerable to predators. Repellents are available, but need to be applied frequently and their effectiveness is questionable.
madpoet: We have a small buckeye tree in our yard. The leaves have developed small bright yellow spots lately. What causes this and do we need to do anything for it? Thanks.
Amy Jordan: My first thought would be a leaf spot disease, but several things could be happening with it. To know for sure what is going on I would like to see a sample. Samples can be brought in to the Extension office at 2632 W. Hwy 50 any time from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. The sample should be 8 to 10 inches and show a progression of healthy tissue to the effected tissue, if possible.
emporia123: What types of strawberry's grow well in our area. When is the right time to plant and how do you plant them?
Amy Jordan: March-April is the best time of the year to plant strawberries. They are often sold bare-root at that time and they should be planted so that the crown of the plant is just above the soil line. Most strawberries are either June-bearing or ever-bearing varieties. June-bearing are typically the most productive. Some good June-bearing varieties are Allstar, Cavendish, Earliglow, Guardian, and Honeoye. Ever-bearing varieties include Tribute and Tristar.
emporia123: Are cutworms with tomatos a problem? If so what can you do?
Amy Jordan: Yes, they can be a problem. If you find a tomato plant that appears to have been "cut" off at the soil level, cutworms could be to blame. To avoid damage, a barrier can be used. A nail can be placed beside the stem or foil can be wrapped around the stem so that the cutworm can not wrap around it, severing the stem. A tin can or toilet paper roll could also be placed around the plant for protection.
emporia123: When is it to late to plant new grass?
Amy Jordan: Tall fescue, a cool-season grass, is the predominant grass species in Lyon county. The best time to plant tall fescue is in the fall from September to mid-October. Planting then allows the grass two seasons of cool weather to get established before hot, dry weather hits. It is also a time that weed invasion is minimal. Planting in the spring (March-April) is the second best time, although weeds, especially crabgrass, can be a problem. At this point in the season (late May), successfully establishing tall fescue would be difficult and waiting until the fall would be recommended. May is the best time to plant warm season grasses like zoysia, buffalo, or Bermuda.
moderator: What services do you offer to the community? Is there a charge for your services?
Amy Jordan: Extension programs present useful information related to agriculture, horticulture, family and consumer sciences, youth development, leadership, family life, business and economics, healthy living, and much more. We take programs to schools, gardens, service organizations, and other places in the community. Our philosophy is to help people help themselves by taking university knowledge to where people live, work, play, develop, and lead. We work at being responsive to the needs of the people by focusing our resources on providing quality information, education and problem-solving programs for real concerns. Today, K-State Research and Extension employs more than 300 research scientists, approximately 180 faculty specialists and program leaders, nearly 270 county and area specialists, and more than 400 support staff in 23 academic departments in five different colleges. In addition to main campus, K-State Research and Extension personnel are located in all 105 counties, seven experiment fields, four area offices, three research centers, and three research - extension centers. Lyon County Extension programs are conducted by four agents, two support staff, two program assistants and many volunteers. Horticultural services include insect, plant and disease identification, soil testing, and problem diagnosis. We answer horticulture and gardening questions over the phone, in the office or via e-mail. We have a literature library containing publications on various aspects of horticulture, as well as other program areas. Most publications and diagnostic services are free, although some have a minimal charge. Basic soil tests are $9.00 per test.
Amy Jordan: Extension programs present useful information related to agriculture, horticulture, family and consumer sciences, youth development, leadership, family life, business and economics, healthy living, and much more. We take programs to schools, gardens, service organizations, and other places in the community. Our philosophy is to help people help themselves by taking university knowledge to where people live, work, play, develop, and lead. We work at being responsive to the needs of the people by focusing our resources on providing quality information, education and problem-solving programs for real concerns. Today, K-State Research and Extension employs more than 300 research scientists, approximately 180 faculty specialists and program leaders, nearly 270 county and area specialists, and more than 400 support staff in 23 academic departments in five different colleges. In addition to main campus, K-State Research and Extension personnel are located in all 105 counties, seven experiment fields, four area offices, three research centers, and three research - extension centers. Lyon County Extension programs are conducted by four agents, two support staff, two program assistants and many volunteers. Horticultural services include insect, plant and disease identification, soil testing, and problem diagnosis. We answer horticulture and gardening questions over the phone, in the office or via e-mail. We have a literature library containing publications on various aspects of horticulture, as well as other program areas. Most publications and diagnostic services are free, although some have a minimal charge. Basic soil tests are $9.00 per test.
moderator: Can you tell us about the Mater Gardner program and how people can take part?
Amy Jordan: The Master Gardener program is a volunteer program in which K-State Research and Extension "trades" classroom training for volunteer time. Training consists of 40 to 50 hours of instruction in all aspects of horticulture. Instructors include state specialists from Kansas State University, local extension agents and local experts in specific subject matter. After training is completed, volunteers donate an equivalent number of hours of service as was received in instruction. Though volunteer activities vary widely, all are educational, extension related and represent the interests of K-State Research and Extension. Master Gardeners have become a vital part of the University's ability to provide accurate, up-to-date and research based information to our clientele. Lyon County Extension Master Gardener training is held in conjunction with Shawnee County and will take place on eight Thursdays beginning September 11th (from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day). There is a participation fee of $70.00 to cover the cost of a reference manual and training expenses. Applications for the Master Gardener program will be accepted later this summer. If you are interested in the Master Gardener program, please contact our office at 341-3220 to learn more.
hickory: when is the best time of the year to prune trees?
Moderator: We have received a few more questions and Amy has agreed to stay and answer them, but we cannot accept any more questions. At the end of the chat, we will post Amy's e-mail address for those who want to send questions to her directly.
Amy Jordan: The best time to prune most trees is in late spring (February or March) while they are still dormant. Minor pruning can be done through the early summer, then again in late fall. Pruning should be avoided in late summer and early fall so that the tree doesn't produce new growth that may not survive the winter and also to reduce stress on the tree during hot, dry weather.
emporia123: Is it to late to trim the shurbs in front of my house? They are red in color with little stickers.
Amy Jordan: Sounds like you might have barberry, and it is not too late to prune those. Barberry shrubs can be pruned similarly to trees as mentioned above. Flowering shrubs should be pruned according to time of bloom. Early spring blooming shrubs like lilac and forsythia should be pruned right after they bloom, but ones blooming later should be pruned in early spring.
create: Do you know of any local demonstrations of drip irrigation? I am having a difficult time getting the little sprinklers to work.
Amy Jordan: I don't know of any specific demonstrations of drip irrigation that would be helpful to you. I would suggest you consult with a local company that installs irrigation systems or contact the manufacturer of your system. Or, perhaps there is a trouble-shooting section of the manufacturer website.
mylife: Why won't grass grow under my oak tree? I've planted and watered diligently for two years and still nothing happens.
Amy Jordan: Successfully growing grass under trees, especially oak trees is a challenge to say the least. The problem is the shade created by the tree reduces the light the grass needs to grow and the root competition from the tree reduces the water an nutrients the grass receives. The tree could be thinned to allow more light to get to the grass, but unless it is watered regularly throughout the growing season, it still might be a challenge. Turf-type tall fescue planted in the fall and watered often would be the best option if grass is absolutely necessary. However, I suggest that you consider planting a ground cover like English ivy or Vinca under the tree. These will provide the green color and require much less maintenance. Try to be patient as these become established.
Moderator: That's all the time we have today. Thanks to Amy for coming by The Gazette to answer questions and to our faithful chatterers for asking the questions. If you have more horticulture questions for Amy, you may e-mail her at ajordan@ksu.edu. A transcript of today's chat will be printed on Page 7 of Wednesday's Gazette.