Is your lawn hungry? After a long summer of bugs and fungus, it could be. September is an ideal time to feed turfs, because the cool nights and warm days favor its growth and development. Because bluegrasses naturally send out more rhizomes in fall than in summer, lawn recovery is enhanced with fall fertilization. Apply…
Month: August 2018
So Emerald Ash Borer Has Been Found In My Area—Now What?
Last week’s finding of the emerald ash borer (EAB) west of Fremont has ash tree owners wondering what to do next. There are several options but first it’s helpful to know if your ash tree lies within a 15 mile radius. What is the importance of knowing if your ash lies within this radius, you…
Two More Weeds
I have a soft spot for weeds. I get asked on a weekly occurrence if a plant is a weed or a flower. I know it is frustrating to answer a question with a question but I like to ask the client if it is growing where it belongs. When you think about it bluegrass…
Be Careful of Blister Beetles
Are blister beetles devouring your plants? Find out what to do here!
Late Summer in the Landscape
Late summer/early fall brings us a host of “to-do’s and not to-do’s” in the landscape. First, a couple of not to dos: *Avoid fertilization of trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. Fertilization at this time tends to promote new growth, which would likely be injured by upcoming fall frosts. *Don’t water with the same frequency and…
Iron Chlorosis
Pin oak and river birch are trees that can suffer from iron chlorosis, a condition of yellow leaves due to a lack of sufficient iron in the plant. Iron is necessary for good plant health and soils in this area have sufficient iron in the soil. The glitch comes in when the soil’s pH (the…
Goldenrod & Ragweed
Most of you know that goldenrod (Solidago sp.) is Nebraska’s state flower. A late summer perennial that thrives in full sun with some species doing well in dappled shade. Goldenrod is a beacon for many of our pollinating insects feeding on the nectar and collecting the pollen. It isn’t uncommon to see a wide array…
Weeds in Late Summer
By now, it’s possible that your lawn is overrun with weeds of all types….warm season annuals, warm season perennials, cool season broadleaves and of course, that “doesn’t fit into any group” weed known as yellow nutsedge. What should be done? Let’s run down a reasonable approach to each. Warm Season Annuals Plants such as…
Leaf Scorch
Brown leaves on trees and shrubs can be indicators of leaf scorch. Leaf scorch occurs during hot weather when the rate of water uptake by roots is exceeded by the rate of water loss from leaves. Plants respond to rapid water loss by willingly letting some leaves die back so that water intake equals the…
Two Weeds
Common names are misleading. I often talk to clients about planting regionally native plants and two standouts are Joe Pye weed and western ironweed. Both plants are great additions to the late season garden and benefit pollinators. However, the first question I get after recommending them is “. . . but why do I want…