Gardening - Ask an Expert
SDSU iGrow – 4/24/2013
Click here to use the Ask an Expert feature and submit your question!
Gardening
Apple Scab Treatments
John Ball – 5/06/2013
Treatments for apple scab begin now (and the cooler weather has bought you a little more time). Your first application should be on fairly soon to avoid discolored leaves and fruit and premature foliage drop later in the season. I usually begin receiving calls about apple scab in mid-July when it is far too late to do much about it.
Thinking About Working On That Spring Tan?
David Graper – 5/06/2013
It is amazing to watch the transformation that happens during the first few warm days we have in the spring. Suddenly the coats are gone and the shorts appear! Plants are kind of the same, in respect to sun exposure after wintering inside your home.
Grass In Flower Beds
David Graper – 4/29/2013
How do you control bromegrass that is taking over flower beds, without hurting the flowers? Bromegrass and quackgrass are perennial weeds which can be very difficult to control. It is especially difficult when they are growing in amongst other plants because there really aren't many options for a selective herbicide that will kill it and not harm other plants. Poast® is one herbicide that works on grasses that can be used sometimes if the brome is growing amongst broadleaf plants.
Cytospora Canker On Spruce Trees
John Ball – 4/29/2013
Cytospora canker is a very common disease of spruce, particularly Colorado spruce. Usually the symptoms begin appearing when the tree reaches about 20 years in the landscape. The trees are about 20 feet tall by then, just reaching their full potential as a screen or windbreak, and the lower branches begin to shed their needles and die.
Winter Burn On Evergreens
John Ball – 4/26/2013
I expect we will see more winter-burn as the trees come out of dormancy. The drought last year meant that many trees went into winter with a moisture deficiency and as the trees begin to transpire during these warmer windy days, but are not able to replace this moisture loss due to the cold dry soils, the needles turn brown.
Tent Caterpillar Eggs
John Ball – 4/22/2013
I received a picture of a “silvery growth” around the twigs of an apple tree. The “growth” is not a gall, but the egg mass to the tent caterpillar. This insect is a common defoliator of mountain ash, cherry, plums and crabapples. The female lays the eggs in late summer and the eggs hatch the following spring.
How Many Trees Do I Need, To Have Fruit?
John Ball – 4/15/2013
How many trees do I need have fruit? This question comes up each spring as people are starting to think of planting some fruit trees. Here is the list of the most common fruit trees for our region.
Spruce Bud Scale And Spruce Needleminer
John Ball – 4/15/2013
A sample was received from a dying spruce tree. The tree was about 10 feet tall, had the interior needles shed from the lower branches and the exterior needles shed from the upper branches – not a happy tree. There were several problems with this spruce. First, it is common to have the lower interior needles shed due to either age (spruce normally loss their 5- to 7- year old needles) or shading.
What To Do About The Ice-Damaged Trees?
John Ball – 4/11/2013
The recent ice storm has left broken trees in its wake along with downed power lines. The damage appears to be most severe in the southeastern of the state with communities such as Sioux Falls having hundreds of trees with broken branches and trunks. What can a homeowner do to care for their damaged trees? Here are a few tips.
South Dakota Plants To Know: Wild Columbine
Amanda Bachmann – 5/21/2013
Red columbine, Aquilegia canadensis, is this week’s native perennial to know. Also known as wild columbine, this plant has striking red flowers that droop from the ends of tall stalks. The 2 inch long flowers are comprised of 5 backwards-pointing fused tubes with yellow stamens. These plants are visited by insects with long mouthparts, like butterflies and some moths (hawk moths in particular) as well as hummingbirds.
South Dakota Plants To Know: Phlox
Amanda Bachmann – 5/15/2013
This week’s native perennials are both phloxes: Phlox divaricata (Wild Blue Phlox, or Sweet William) and Phlox pilosa (Downy or Prairie Phlox). Once planted and established, these flowers will come back every year, adding early color and food for butterflies and pollinators to your garden.
Early Spring Bloomers
David Graper – 5/13/2013
Most gardeners are very familiar with the typical spring flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils and crocus. But there are a number of other spring blooming plants that may not be as familiar. Since these are all early spring bloomers, they are best planted in the fall, particularly the ones that grow from bulbs.
Thinking About Working On That Spring Tan?
David Graper – 5/06/2013
It is amazing to watch the transformation that happens during the first few warm days we have in the spring. Suddenly the coats are gone and the shorts appear! Plants are kind of the same, in respect to sun exposure after wintering inside your home.
South Dakota Plants To Know: Penstemon
Amanda Bachmann – 4/29/2013
Native perennials are an excellent garden addition. Perennials are already great because they come back year after year without replanting. Plants native to South Dakota are better adapted to the local climate and soils. Not only do they add visual appeal, but these plants are also important pollen and nectar sources for pollinators and butterflies. This series aims to bring you information on these plants in the hopes that you will consider adding them to your garden.
Is It Time To Wake Up Your Beds?
David Graper – 4/15/2013
Some plants are early risers while others like to sleep in. I think we have all been fooled into believing that spring is here and then we get a late spring snowstorm or the temperatures drop back down into the teens again. Usually these cold spells are short lived and it warms up again soon, but that quick dip far below freezing can damage young developing shoots and flower buds on our perennials, shrubs and trees.
Leftover Easter Lilies
David Graper – 4/15/2013
Easter lilies are a very popular holiday plant that is generally only available in the week or two before Easter each year. They are enjoyed by many for their lovely white blooms, sweet fragrance and the symbolism that they hold for the Easter holiday. A nice sized plant should have at least five flowers and might have as many as nine or ten.
Year of the Gerbera
David Graper – 4/08/2013
Gerbera Daisies have been a popular flower for decades and have become more common in recent years. They have the typical daisy shape but come in a wide range of vibrant colors ranging from white to pink, red, yellow, orange, burgundy and there are also bicolor types available.
Spring Plant Growth
David Graper – 4/04/2013
What a difference a year makes. A year ago at this time, during the first few days of spring, the temperature outside was in the 80’s in many parts of the Northern Great Plains. This year high temperatures are in the teens and it sounds like temperatures will remain below average for the next couple weeks.
Check Your Houseplants for Pests
David Graper – 3/13/2013
Houseplants are susceptible to a variety of pests. The following article outlines some of the more common household pests, including: spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. We will also discuss strategies for scouting out and managing these pests to avoid prolonged damage to your houseplants.
Apple Scab Treatments
John Ball – 5/06/2013
Treatments for apple scab begin now (and the cooler weather has bought you a little more time). Your first application should be on fairly soon to avoid discolored leaves and fruit and premature foliage drop later in the season. I usually begin receiving calls about apple scab in mid-July when it is far too late to do much about it.
Spring Is In The Air
David Graper – 5/02/2013
At least I sure hope spring is in the air, I am tired of seeing so much of that white stuff in the air. The blessing that so many received with these late spring snow storms is the moisture that they contained. As that snow melted, much of it was able to soak right into the ground providing some relief from the drought that has persisted for so long across the Northern Great Plains.
Do You Feel The Need To Seed?
David Graper – 4/22/2013
Gardeners are usually thought of as a rather patient group. We plant little seeds or small trees and shrubs and then have to wait for weeks, months or even years to get the benefit of a harvest, flowers or shade. But, that is not usually the case when it comes to spring planting, especially after a long winter like the one we just had, which I hope is now finally over.
How to Prevent Damping-Off And Grow Healthy Transplants
Geoffrey Njue – 4/22/2013
Growers and gardeners are getting ready to start their vegetable transplants indoors to plant at the beginning of the growing season. Sometimes growers and gardeners have trouble producing high quality transplants due to problems associated with a disease known as “damping-off.” Damping off is caused by several fungi including Pythium spp., (most common), Phytophthora spp., and Rhizoctonia. These fungi thrive in wet or poorly drained soils (media).
How Many Trees Do I Need, To Have Fruit?
John Ball – 4/15/2013
How many trees do I need have fruit? This question comes up each spring as people are starting to think of planting some fruit trees. Here is the list of the most common fruit trees for our region.
Why You Should Consider High Tunnels
Geoffrey Njue – 3/28/2013
The growing season in South Dakota is very short. Vegetable growers and gardeners have to wait until mid-to late- May to plant warm-season vegetable crops to avoid frost injury. Although the danger for frost damage is very great in April and May, the day length is increasing and the sun angle is also getting higher.
Year of the Watermelon
David Graper – 3/25/2013
Each year the National Garden Bureau selects a vegetable, annual and perennial as their pick of the year. So, 2013 is the Year of the Watermelon, as well as the Year of the Gerbera and Year of the Wildflower. Not only are watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) delicious, they are one of the largest edible fruits grown in the U.S. It’s also one of the most useful fruits as every part is edible.
Grapes for your Garden
Rhoda Burrows – 3/20/2013
Are you looking for a plant that you can train up a fence, over an arbor, or pretty much over any shape you desire? Grapes fit the bill, while also bearing fruit for jams, jellies, juice, and yes, wine. Grapes in the Dakotas? Indeed - even wine grapes, thanks to the efforts of grape breeders over the past thirty years.
Starting Plants for Spring
David Graper – 3/07/2013
I know that some of you have been studying your garden catalogs like me and have already ordered some or all of your seed for the coming growing season. While others take a little longer contemplating which tomato, pepper, or sweet corn you are going to grow this year. Maybe you are starting to drive by the local greenhouse or garden center and wonder what they have growing already.
Two Favorite Spring Vegetables
David Graper – 2/26/2013
After a long winter with no fresh homegrown vegetables, many gardeners really look forward to that first spring harvest of asparagus and rhubarb. These popular vegetables are actually perennials that come back year after year to provide a bounty of delicious and nutritious food for main meals and desserts.
Does Your Lawn Need A Makeover After 2012’s Heat And Drought?
David Chalmers – 5/23/2013
We are coming off a year that put a good deal of stress on cool-season grass lawns. The drought stress was obvious but we cannot forget that excessive heat across the region also was an additive stress to our lawn grasses. But now that spring weather is finally here, how can you work to get back to having, what I like to call, a “Lawn to Your Liking”?
First Step To Lawn Care: Measure Your Lawn!
David Chalmers – 5/07/2013
Many home consumers do not know the size of their lawn area before they visit the garden center to purchase fertilizer and other lawn care products. This often leads to a “helpless” feeling about making the purchase, buying the wrong amount of product, misapplication and inconsistent results.
Spring Is In The Air
David Graper – 5/02/2013
At least I sure hope spring is in the air, I am tired of seeing so much of that white stuff in the air. The blessing that so many received with these late spring snow storms is the moisture that they contained. As that snow melted, much of it was able to soak right into the ground providing some relief from the drought that has persisted for so long across the Northern Great Plains.
Site Preparation: An Essential Key to Lawn Establishment
Leo Schleicher – 4/03/2013
Proper site preparation is an important step that is often overlooked when establishing a new lawn. A favorable turfgrass root zone is critical for a healthy, sustainable turf. It is much easier to eliminate inherent root zone problems prior to seeding or sodding since it is difficult or sometimes impossible to modify the root zone once the lawn is established.
Understanding Water Conservation Measures for Lawns and Sports Turf
David Chalmers – 9/08/2012
As of August 29th the city of Sioux Falls has moved from Stage 1 watering, which allowed every other day watering except between the hours of 12 noon and 5 PM, to Stage Two water restrictions; allowing only one day per week watering based upon the last number of the residence address. The watering schedule is determined by the flow of the Big Sioux River as measured by the USGS Monitoring Station located near Dell Rapids, SD.
Fall Lawn Care After a Tough Summer - The Work Begins Now!
David Chalmers – 9/01/2012
Much of what South Dakotans should consider in helping their lawn recover from this summer’s drought and heat will depend on their: 1) grass type; 2) how healthy their lawn was prior to a summer of excessive heat and drought; 3) local rainfall; and 4) how much they chose to irrigate their lawn to minimize the amount of browning very common in unirrigated lawns.
Northeast Crop News - West Nile Virus - Recommendations for Outdoor Activity
Paul O. Johnson – 7/02/2012
The 4th of July is here and the heat of summer is upon us. So now is the time to remember that West Nile Virus season is coming. No cases have been reported in the state, but don’t take the chance on you being the first one.
Recycling Grass Clippings Helps Environment, Saves Bagging Time
Lora Berg – 6/18/2012
One easy way that homeowners can support the environment and be truly “green,” is to extend recycling habits into their own back (and front) yards. SDSU Extension Turfgrass Specialist Leo Schleicher says homeowners can save time while reaping the benefits from “recycling” grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn instead of bagging.
Reducing Summer Stress in Lawns
Leo Schleicher – 6/11/2012
Summer months are often highly stressful for South Dakota home lawns. Although cool-season turfgrasses prefer temperatures between 60 and 750F, daytime temperatures are typically much greater during this period.
White Grub Damage to Lawns
Leo Schleicher – 5/11/2012
Injury to cool-season turfgrasses may be severe during mid-summer to early fall when plants are stressed from high temperatures and insufficient moisture. For example, high levels of stress at this time of year often increase susceptibility to injury from certain insect pests, such as white grubs.
Planting Trees And Shrubs
David Graper – 5/20/2013
Spring is a great time to be planting trees and shrubs. Check with your local nursery or garden center for bare root trees and shrubs, which are usually just available in the early spring. Bare root trees are usually less expensive than balled and burlapped or containerized trees and they are not as heavy to move around when you are planting them. However, you do have to keep some important planting guidelines in mind.
Common Tree Pest Treatments For May
John Ball – 5/20/2013
While budding leaves and flowering branches are a sign that your trees are ready for spring, there are also a number of pests and diseases to keep a close watch for as your trees complete their spring transition this May. The following are some tips for treating trees for common pests that could hamper your trees' spring development.
Pine Bark Beetles Update
John Ball – 5/06/2013
The month long cold and snowy weather that persisted throughout much of the Black Hills during April has delayed the flight of the pine engraver beetle. The adults spend the winter beneath the bark of standing or down trees or in the litter beneath the tree.
Cytospora Canker On Spruce Trees
John Ball – 4/29/2013
Cytospora canker is a very common disease of spruce, particularly Colorado spruce. Usually the symptoms begin appearing when the tree reaches about 20 years in the landscape. The trees are about 20 feet tall by then, just reaching their full potential as a screen or windbreak, and the lower branches begin to shed their needles and die.
Winter Burn On Evergreens
John Ball – 4/26/2013
I expect we will see more winter-burn as the trees come out of dormancy. The drought last year meant that many trees went into winter with a moisture deficiency and as the trees begin to transpire during these warmer windy days, but are not able to replace this moisture loss due to the cold dry soils, the needles turn brown.
Tent Caterpillar Eggs
John Ball – 4/22/2013
I received a picture of a “silvery growth” around the twigs of an apple tree. The “growth” is not a gall, but the egg mass to the tent caterpillar. This insect is a common defoliator of mountain ash, cherry, plums and crabapples. The female lays the eggs in late summer and the eggs hatch the following spring.
Spruce Bud Scale And Spruce Needleminer
John Ball – 4/15/2013
A sample was received from a dying spruce tree. The tree was about 10 feet tall, had the interior needles shed from the lower branches and the exterior needles shed from the upper branches – not a happy tree. There were several problems with this spruce. First, it is common to have the lower interior needles shed due to either age (spruce normally loss their 5- to 7- year old needles) or shading.
What To Do About The Ice-Damaged Trees?
John Ball – 4/11/2013
The recent ice storm has left broken trees in its wake along with downed power lines. The damage appears to be most severe in the southeastern of the state with communities such as Sioux Falls having hundreds of trees with broken branches and trunks. What can a homeowner do to care for their damaged trees? Here are a few tips.
Fertilizing Seedling Trees
John Ball – 4/01/2013
What about fertilizing soil where tree seedlings will be planted this spring for a belt? There are two issues to address: Is it needed? If so, what and what rate? First, generally this is not necessary. Trees are very conservative in their use of elements and do not require the fertility needed for row crops.
Pine Engraver Beetle
John Ball – 4/01/2013
The mountain pine beetle is not the only threat to the pine forests in the Black Hills and surrounding forests. The pine engraver beetle Ips pini is another native bark beetle to the Black Hills, but it usually attacks only recently dead trees or branches in the tops of dying or hail-damaged trees. However, the beetle can become a tree-killer during periods of drought, which weakens trees defenses.