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Chinch Bugs
White Grubs
Tree Planting Time
Master Gardener Classes
Things to Do Now
Vegetables to Plant in September
Question and Answer
Chinch Bugs
Hot, dry weather in April, May and June equals chinch bug heaven.
I have looked at many lawns over the past several weeks and have seen high populations of chinch bugs and damage caused from chinch bug feeding.
During high infestation, the small insects can easily be seen by parting the grass near the soil line. In light infestations, dig a plug of sod about 6 x 6 inches and shake over white paper and you can see the adults and nympus scurrying about the paper.
First signs of infestations appear as yellowish to brown patches of grass that get larger and larger as the summer progresses. Before you know it you have a lawn that is gone. Many times after this you will have native Bermuda and weeds that will become your lawn. You have waited way too long to correct the problem.
There are several products for homeowners to use to control chinch bugs. They include Acephate-containing products, Scimitar CS or GC, Bifenthrin-containing products such as Talstar 10 WP and Carbaryl (Sevin 50 percent or 80 percent WP).
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White Grubs
I have found many of these in the lawns, too. White grubs are the immature form of the June beetles. They damage grass by feeding below ground on the roots. Damaged sod is easily pulled out by hand. The C-shaped larvae are easy to spot. Cut an inch or two deep square foot of sod and peel back. The grubs can easily be seen and need to be treated if three or more grubs are found in a square foot of area. Control can be obtained by using Carbaryl (Sevin 50 percent or 80 percent WP, Merit 0.2 percent G and other grub control products.
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Tree Planting Time
Fall, not spring, is the best time to plant trees in Louisiana. Notice I said best and not only. The advantage to planting in the fall is it allows the plant to establish a root system in the new soil long before shoot growth is initiated the next spring. Also, less supplementary water usually will be required in late fall and early winter.
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Master Gardener Classes
Master Gardener classes will begin in January 2010 on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are interested, please call my office at 873-6495 for an application and details of the classes.
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Things to Do Now
- Now is the time to prepare land and plant winter food plots for deer.
- Prune roses by early September.
- Trim back overgrown plants, especially bedding plants and tropicals.
- Do not prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs now.
- Good time to replace mulch in the landscape.
- Take the private pesticide license test if you want to purchase restricted-use pesticides for home use.
- Take soil samples in lawn and garden.
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Vegetables to plant in September
Beets, broccoli (transplants or seeds through September), Brussels sprouts (transplants or seeds), cabbage (transplants or seeds), Chinese cabbage (transplants or seeds), cauliflower (transplants or seeds), collards (transplants or seeds), endive, carrots, English peas, snow peas, garlic (late September), kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions (seeds, late September), parsley, snap beans(early September), radishes, rutabaga, shallots, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips and kale.
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Question and Answer
Question -What are some of the new broccoli varieties for home plantings?
Answer-Windsor, Patron, Triathlon, Greenbelt, and Diplomat.
Question-What are some of the new cauliflower varieties for home plantings?
Answer-Freedom, Fremont, Graffiti (purple), Minuteman and Symphony.
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