Timely Topics In the Landscape

Green Thumb Garden Club

Evening Session

Wade Parker, Jenkins Extension

Planting Time?• Warm mild weather excites us to plant• Soil temperature is what matters• Seed and transplants grow best at 65 degrees F• Monitor soil temperature with soil probe or computer

Soil Temperature• UGA has weather monitoring systemhttp://eclipse.griffin.uga.edu/aemn/homepage.shtml

• Monitors current weather statistics• Stores past weather stats

Weed Control in LawnsWeed I.D.

Dandelion

Chickweed

Florida Betony

Henbit

Florida BetonyControl

• Good cultural management – Sufficient and timely fertilizer applications– Correct mowing height of lawn– Grow an adapted turf speciesChemicalAtrazine and Weed-B-Gon are best options– Mid-Late October is best time to apply

Weed Control Cont…Centipede and St. Augustine

• Mid-Late October with Atrazine and Pendimethaliln

• Atrazine and Weed-B-Gon Mid February• Atrazine only in June• Spot spraying with hand sprayer• Overseeding lawn with ryegrass for winter

weed control

Weed Control in Shrubs• Preemerge-Preen, Treflan, Gallery– Apply early (like now) and again 60 days later– Must have rainfall or irrigation to activate– Mulch or landscape fabric

• Postemerge– Round-up, Ornamec– Atrazine selectively– Casoran granular herbicide is labeled for shrubs and other ornamentals

Lawn Fertilization• Fertilize 3 times per year• 3 lbs of Nitrogen per year

Calculations• Apply 30 lbs 10-10-10 per year• Apply 10 lbs 10-10-10 each application to get

30 lbs total• 10 lbs X .10(%)=1 1x3=3 lbs

When Do I Apply Fertilizer• Apply 1st application after spring green-up• Apply 2nd application mid July• Apply 3rd application September• Do not apply in Winter or October

Pruning

Why Prune?

Three T’s for Proper Pruning

Using the appropriate TOOL Using the correct TECHNIQUE Pruning at the right TIME

Loppers

Scissor-cut

Anvil-cut

Hand Pruners

TOOLS

Shrubs

Planting Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

PruningTechnique

Heading

Thinning

Pruning, Pears and European Plums

1. Fruit on 2 year and older spurs2. Minimal pruning required on older trees3. “Thin out” older branches as production drops4. Avoid “overpruning” to prevent production drops

and excess branch growth.

Pruning Deciduous Shade Trees

• Remove dead or dying branches• Remove broken or diseased branches• Remove interior and crossing branches• Remove water sprouts• Remove root suckers• Lightly head back to an outside bud.

Removing a large branch

Jump Cut

Spring vs. Summer Flowering

Prune spring-flowering plants after they bloom

Prune summer- flowering plants before new growth

begins

Summer Flowering PlantsCrapemyrtleGlossy Abelia

Goldenrain TreeRose-of-Sharon (Althea)

NandinaShrub RosesSweetshrub

Spring Flowering Plants Azalea Forsythia Oakleaf Hydrangea Flowering Cherry Flowering Quince

Dogwood Redbud Rhododendron Bradford Pear Wisteria

The End