It is hard to believe that summer has come to an end. I almost sound like a broken record saying that this year was challenging. Nebraska was hit with historic weather that impacted every corner of the state. Portions of the Omaha area was hit with hail late May that made us replant our vegetable…
Month: September 2019
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
For color in the spring, you’ve got to plant in the fall. Unfortunately, here’s a common scenario that we see all too often: novice gardeners drive around town noticing landscapes in April, green with envy because they are jealous over all the flowering spring bulbs they see. Of course, it’s too late to plant them…
A New Can of Worms!
Nebraskans are talking about an invasive worm. They are commonly referred to as “Asian jumping worms”, “jumping worms”, “crazy worms”, or “snake worms”. I like to call them crazy worms because whether they jump or move in a serpentine motion, they certainly behave in an uncharacteristic way for a worm. The short story is that…
Fall Inspection of Trees and Shrubs
September and October are great months to enjoy working in the garden and viewing landscape plants, enjoying the outcomes of season long efforts of care. In addition to digging, replanting, weeding, dividing and other fall routines, inspection is a key step in maintaining a sustainable landscape. Inspection? What does that mean? Simply put, it’s…
Weed Musings
In the midst of September, if weed management isn’t on your autumn to-do list, it definitely should be. Fall is the best time to be applying herbicides to perennial weeds. Why is this so? As plants ready for winter, sugars produced in leaves are transported to the roots for storage. With herbicide applications, the plant’s…
Planting in Fall
The Nursery Council says, “Fall is for Planting” – Trees, Shrubs, Bulbs, Lawns and Flowers. Fall is actually one of the best times to plant. Why? Many reasons. First, the soils are warm in fall. Warm soil temps are necessary to encourage new root formation into the planting hole to help establish the tree,…
It’s Time to Fertilize
Is your lawn a bit lackluster? 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…
Mosaic Virus on Squash
Viruses represent some of the toughest diseases to manage in cucumber, squash, pumpkin, and melon plants. Often the disease doesn’t kill but does reduce the size and number of leaves, which in turn decreases fruit production. Cucumber mosaic, cucumber green mottle mosaic, watermelon mosaic, zucchini yellow mosaic, and squash mosaic are some of the viruses…