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TOOLS
Ideas and Tips
Late
Winter Garden Shed Staples
Garden
Shed Stables - Check your shelves now! Read
more.
Q:
What do I do about craneflies? Read
tips.
Q:
Should I fertilize trees, shrubs and perennials in
the fall? Read tips.
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to have your questions answered? Have tips to share at our
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Q:
What do I do about craneflies?
A: The large
mosquito-like insects seen in late summer are egg-laying adult
craneflies. Eggs hatch into larvae (1/2" to 1" gray-brown
worms) that feed on turf grasses until cold weather drives
them down into the soil, where they stay dormant until spring.
Damage appears as large irregularly shaped dead areas, usually
in May to June. Treatments can be applied in the fall, but
late spring is usually more effective.
Lawns
can tolerate a certain amount of cranefly predation; dig up
a few one-foot patches of turf and count the worms. If you
find fewer than 20 per square foot, your lawn should outgrow
the damage with a little TLC. If you find more than 20 worms
per square foot, you may need to treat. Nematodes provide
an effective biological control method. See a Sky Nursery
employee for details.
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other tips
Q:
Should
I fertilize trees, shrubs, and perennials in the fall?
A: If you've
been fertilizing over the summer and your plants are in good
shape, fall fertilizing is optional. If your plants are stressed,
or you forgot to fertilize earlier, or you just want to be
extra nice to them, give them a half-strength feeding of an
organic fertilizer. Do not give a chemical fertilizer in the
fall, because it can stimulate immediate growth that might
die in the winter, harming the whole plant. An organic fertilizer,
however, will release slowly, encouraging the plant to build
up its carbohydrate reserves. These reserves will then be
available to help your plants weather the stresses of winter
and put on new growth in the spring. You can use an all-purpose
food or one tailored to specific types of plants (for example,
a rose or rhododendron food). Use according to the amount
recommended on the package for the size of the plant you're
feeding.
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other tips
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