GRO Big Red

Plants & Indoor Air Quality

In the current wave of “houseplant mania”, it’s important to remember that houseplants provide numerous benefits in addition to adding amenity to the indoor landscape. Scott Evans, Horticulture Program Coordinator for Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties reports that water vapor given off via transpiration is a big plus for the indoors, as well as their capacity to absorb potentially harmful gasses such as formaldehyde, ammonia, bioeffluents and volatile organic compounds.

Cleaning up Your Diseased Garden

Let’s face it, by the end of the growing season, many plants aren’t looking too good. The heat, drought, bugs and diseases have turned them from assets into liabilities. If the spots and rots have been active with your shrubs, perennials and other garden plants, it’s time to act.

Falling Leaves are Great…for the Garden

It’s fall, which means the calendar says September, October and November, but in a gardening sense it also means falling leaves.

Colorful Trees and Shrubs in Fall

Sugar maple and red oak are some of the most handsome trees in fall, exhibiting great displays of yellow and red color, adding great aesthetic value. There are some others as well, not as well known or widely planted that can add diversity of genetics, color, shape, pest resistance and form to the landscape.

Repairing White Grub Turf Damage

In September, annual white grubs can cause major injury to lawns. How do you know if you have them or have the damage?

Fall Iris Care

Fall is a great time to thin out and divided your German iris bed. With the recent rains in the Omaha Metro area this makes it easier to work the soil. German iris should be divided and thinned every three to four years. If you have a larger bed with multiple cultivars you may need…

After Seeding Care of Lawns

The lawn seed is in the ground, tiny grass plants are growing, it’s being watered, now what? Good question.

The three biggest follow up actions to take to facilitate the development of a successful stand at this point are:
1. Keeping the soil moist, not soggy or dry.
2. Applying starter fertilizer to encourage rooting and eventual shoot growth
3. Weed control

September Weather Patterns Predict Early Freeze, Deepening Drought

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has some startling news for September 12 through the 15th—a cold front moving through the central Great Plains region will bring falling temperatures, with a moderate risk of these temperatures being below freezing. How far temperatures fall is dependent on just how cold the cold front is and…

Prioritize, then Water Efficiently

In the past few weeks, Mother Nature has not brought much in the way of natural rainfall to many parts of Nebraska.

The Oak Twig Girdler

Flagging branches on oak trees can indicate the presence of the oak twig girdler.

Tall Fescue is Not Perfect

It seems like many landowners are jumping on the turf type tall fescue bandwagon, switching from perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. It’s understandable – the number of problems that these species have caused many homeowners to look for other options. The truth is no turf species is perfect, with resistance to all diseases, insects and…