News article for May 27, 2008:
Hydrangeas are a popular plant of the South and they are in bloom now. Hydrangeas come into bloom about mid May and that makes them a favorite Mother’s Day gift.
Hydrangeas come is a variety of colors but the majority of blooms will be either pink or blue. If you wish to change from pink to blue or blue to pink that is possible.
If you desire to change the blooms from pink to blue you will need to drop the pH to below 5.5. Apply ¼ cup of aluminum sulfate or iron around the plant. Repeat in six months. It may take 2 seasons to get the full effect. If you have blue flowers and you want pink then add lime 2 – 3 tablespoons of lime around each plant. You need to get the pH up to at least 6.0 to change the flowers to pink.
Make sure to spread the amendments equally around the plant or you might get pink and blue flowers on the same plant.
Hydrangeas will perform best in partial sun although they can grow in shade and are fairly adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. They are shallow rooted and should be mulched to preserve moisture in the heat of summer and to protect roots in the coldest parts of winter. You may need to provide supplemental water in the hottest parts of summer to combat wilting.
The timing for pruning is crucial and should be accomplished immediately after blooming is complete. Thin out older canes to reduce height but allow some canes to remain to produce flowers for next year.
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The recent rains we had generated a lot of calls about a dusty-gray, charcoal appearing growth on the blades of grass in many peoples lawns.
What callers are seeing is known as slime mold. The name sounds much worse than it is.
Slime mold appears every year in the presence of rain, heat and high humidity. It is not harmful to the lawn although it can and will cover the individual leaf blades. It will look like a powdered charcoal when it dries and it can be rubbed off or washed off easily.
The mold actually lives down in the organic layer of the soil and when condition get right it will grow up on the grass canopy. It does not get any nutrition from the foliage or grass it only uses it as a place to attach itself.
No control is necessary and it you find areas of it wash it off with your water hose.
For more information of these or related topics contact Kenny at 686-3020.