Top Q&A Homeowner Questions

November 2007

Pruning Trees and Shrubs - When to, and How to

• Prune to promote plant health
• Prune to maintain plants for these intended purposes in a landscape
  • Encouraging flower and fruit development
  • Maintaining a dense hedge
  • Maintaining a desired tree form or a special garden form
• Prune to improve plant appearance
• Prune to protect people and property

The right tools make pruning easier and help you do a good job. Keeping tools well-maintained and sharp will improve their performance.

More information from NCSU

 

What are grubs and how do you control them? 



White grubs are the immature stage of beetles. Depending on the species, they can live in the soil for up to three years before maturing into the adult beetle. Grubs have a white body with six legs and a dark head.

The majority of white grub species undergo a one-year (annual) life cycle. Adult beetles emerge, mate, and lay eggs (30 to 40 per female) from June to mid-August. The first instar emerges in roughly 2 weeks and immediately begins feeding on roots and organic matter.  Grubs feed until the first frost and then move deeper into the soil to over winter. In the spring, when the soil begins to warm up, they move back into the root zone to feed. The adult beetle will then emerge in a few weeks completing the one year life cycle.  NCSU White Grub Info

 

Fall and Winter Care for Fescue Lawns



Tall fescue is a moderate-to-coarse-bladed, heavy-duty grass that tolerates a wide range of soil and shade conditions and has good heat, drought, and wear tolerance. Tall fescue has few serious pest problems but is subject to brown patch disease under warm, wet conditions.

Tall fescue grows rapidly and requires frequent mowing but does not tolerate a close cut. It is a bunchgrass that does not recover well from injury and thus must be reseeded if bare areas appear. New cultivars referred to as "turf-type" tall fescues have been developed. These cultivars are more shade tolerant and finer leaved than standard K-31 variety.

Maintenance programs provided by professional lawn care companies may differ from recommendations given here but yet be equally effective.  Please check out our link to more comprehensive information on Tall Fescue. 
NCSU Info on Tall Fescue

 

Fall and Winter Rose Care

Q. I have started a rose garden this year and I am enjoying it very much.

I have followed directions for planting, mulching,and spraying, but what do I do now that it is the end of the summer?
Any special needs for roses in September and October?

A. Yes, there are many things you can do to care for your roses this time of year which will promote their beautiful, fragrant blooms and prepare them for late autumn and winter.

First, keep faded blooms clipped from rose bushes. Not only does this task promote health and beauty, it prevents the rose from producing hips (the fruit that contains seed). Removing faded flowers prevents plants from diverting energy toward seed production rather than flower buds.

Continue spraying roses with a fungicide in order to prevent black spot and maintain one inch of water per week. The reason to stop fertilizing in September is because any new growth will be stunted or killed by frost in late October causing stress to the shrub.

The goal is to prepare your rose garden for that last surge of flowers in the fall and yet decrease new leaf and stem growth before cold weather sets. Oh, by the way, get ready for a show! The roses’ last round of bloom in autumn is by far the most beautiful of the year.

Rose advice for the Piedmont

Plants that provide winter interest in the garden



Lenten Rose (Hellebore)  

The flowers have five "petals" (actually sepals or tepals) surrounding a ring of small, cup-like nectaries (petals modified to hold nectar). The sepals do not fall as petals would, but remain on the plant, sometimes for many months. Recent research in Spain suggests that the persistent Calyx contributes to the development of the seeds (Herrera 2005).

Although the flowers of some species may resemble wild roses (and despite some of their common names, such as "Christmas rose" and "Lenten rose"), hellebores do not belong to the rose family (Rosaceae).

Link for winter interest plants

Link to info on two plant ideas

If you have other questions or a more specific question, please call the MG Hotline at 336-703-2846 when the Hotline is open. MG Hotline availability