Grass

March 14, 2017 

Question: I sent you a picture of my front yard and would like to know the best way to fill in the bare spots under the pecan tree.

Brad

Hobbs, NM

Recommendation: I needed more points of view to assess before I gave a workable solution or answer to the problem, and decided to make a house call to Brad's home. Irregular, dead spots were noted from the previous grass out to the edge of Bermuda grass in the sun. The area is under heavy shade during the summer from the pecan tree's canopy.

Yes, I do make house calls and follow-up contacts where needed. An irrigation system was in place and seemed to be working with adequate head spacing to cover the grass area.

Brad and I discussed some options, that being laying new fescue sod and cranking up the water for the grass. There is competition for nutrients and moisture from the pecan tree's roots and shrubbery in the foundation planting.

On further discussion, I had made recommendation to utilize St. Augustine grass in this area as another shade tolerant grass. Brad had a back yard of St. Augustine turf. As a simple fix to his gardening question I recommended to take 2-inch plugs from the existing St. Augustine and plant these plugs of turf into a checkerboard grid under the pecan tree. Plugging in grasses can be a quick fix in mending a turf problem area.

To fully establish the St. Augustine grass plugs, increase the watering time, put down a balanced turf fertilizer to stimulate the newly planted plugs. Add some compost over the plugs to hold soil moisture while runners establish and take root. Lastly, keep the new turf in-place mowed short to promote horizontal vegetative growth to fill in the bare spots. This area should be covered St. Augustine by mid-summer.

Get out and grow something!

Dr. Dirt

 

Mildew on Crepe Myrtle

March 1, 2017

Question: I am growing Crepe Myrtles in New Jersey, which is USDA zone 6, and it is tricky. I love my crepes. I’ve dealt with powdery mildew for the last 2-years. The mildew makes the buds not bloom and the tender foliage defoliates once it is on the leaves. I spray but it is an ongoing endeavor.

Toni
S. Orange, New Jersey 

Answer: Crepe Myrtles were once only considered for the southern climates. Gardeners have expanded their range to the northern climates and are having success growing the Crepe Myrtles. Hot, humid weather activates powdery mildew with a vengeance.

Control: Plant in full sun and find locations with good air movement. Crepes can tolerate light shade, but the denser the shade cover the powdery mildew will show-up. As the shade promotes the fungal spores to begin to grow with the humid air and the moisture evaporating from the tender growth and flowering buds at the terminal tips. Try moving them to more open air, full sun, and wind currents that would help lessen a moist growing environment for the mildew spores. It shows up as a white dusting on the young leaves and flowering bud shoots. It will not usually kill the Crepe Myrtle, but will be unsightly and cause major leaf drop. Over time repeated attacks can weaken the plant and you may lose a plant.

Since you are already spraying the Crepes you have try some of the newer fungicides for mildew control that are systemic in action, or medicine inside the plant. Contact your local nurseries or NJ County Extension office for an approved pesticide, being I am in New Mexico products vary from State to State.

A home remedy you might try out. One tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of Ivory dish soap in a gallon of water. Stir the mix and treat the powdery mildew for 3 to 5 days until mildew is under control. This not a toxic chemical, spray will drip off affected areas.

Mildew Resistant Crepes: A few varieties to consider are Arapho –red, Dynamite, deep red, Natchez, white with cinnamon brown bark, and Strawberry Dazzle a dwarf 4-5-foot shrub strawberry in color.

Good luck on growing your Crepe Myrtles in New Jersey. Let me know if you find these recommendations helpful.

Dr. Dirt