1. home and garden

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5
COUNTY GARDENERS
EXTENSION EXPRESS
MAY 1, 2015
Cogongrass
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
EVENTS
2
GARDEN CALENDAR
3
CHRISTIAN’S CORNER
4
SPECIAL POINTS OF IN TEREST:
If you have comments about
the newsletter or
suggestions for future items,
please contact:
Eddie M. L. Smith, Ph.D.
Co. Coordinator/Extension Agent
MSU-ES Pearl River County
Phone: 601-403-2280
E-mail
emlsmith@ext.msstate.edu
or
Christian Stephenson
Co. Coordinator/Extension Agent
MSU-ES Hancock County
Phone: 228-467-5456
E-mail
cstep@ext.msstate.edu
_________________
Discrimination based upon race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s
status is a violation of federal and state law and
Mississippi State University policy and will not be
tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual
orientation or group affiliation is a violation of
MSU policy and will not be tolerated.
In April, you may have noticed pretty
white puffy blooms on the side of the road,
interstate, your pasture, your yard, or other
areas. That was the seed head for the noxious
weed known as Cogongrass. The noxious
weed is found most frequently in southeast
Mississippi but has been documented in 73 of
82 counties. Cogongrass has no nutritional
benefits and is detrimental to forage crops.
More than 100 years ago, Cogongrass
entered the U.S. through the Port of Mobile
and began its invasion of the South.
Cogongrass affects pine productivity
and survival, wildlife habitat, recreation,
native plants, fire behaviors, site management
costs and more. It is an invasive problem
because it outcompetes native vegetation,
taking over where other grasses once thrived.
The most effective treatment is to
spray a Roundup (Glyphosate) or Arsenal
(Imazapyr) solution twice a year where
Cogongrass has surfaced. The first of those
two applications should be a spray mix
containing 0.6 fluid ounces of herbicide per gallon of water, which should be
applied just before flowering starts in April.
The second spray should be
a heavier dose applied in September or October. A spray mixture
that contains 2.6 fluid ounces per
gallon of Roundup or 1.3 fluid
ounces per gallon of Arsenal.
Upcoming Events
Page 2
May 2015
1
Pearl River County Master Gardener Meeting— 12:30 p.m. Waterflo Productions and Nursery in
Purvis.
8
Night Insect Collecting!— 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Cr osby Ar bor etum, Picayune, MS. Many insects
are emerging during the spring. Children will enjoy a night entomology event led by Hancock County
Extension Agent Christian Stephenson, Collecting equipment will be provided. Bring your flashlight!
Members free; nonmembers, adults $5 and children $2. Please register by May 7 by calling 601-7992311.
13 Hancock County Master Gardener Meeting— 1:30 p.m. at Hancock County Extension Service Office.
April Shower….— 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. Lynette McDougald, Instructor and Manager of The
University Florist.. April Showers Have Brought May Flowers! Lynette will share ideas for flowers to
14
wear and carry, tabletop, and over-the-top! Her presentation will focus on enjoying the out of doors with
personal flowers! Call your local Extension office to RSVP for the program.
Organic Gardening— 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bay St. Louis Public Library, Seal Meeting Room. This program
will cover organic growing for the home garden. Plant selection, garden planning, fertilization, and pest
14 control will be included. Questions are encouraged. The presenter will be Mr. Christian Stephenson,
Hancock County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. Call 228-467-5456 to register for the
program.
18
Fall Prevention— 11:30 a.m., Pearl River County Senior Center, Picayune, MS. The presenter for this
program is Dawn Vosbein, Extension Agent. No registration is required for this program.
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Ways to Eat Smart & Move— 10:00 a.m., Raine Street Senior Center, Poplarville, MS. The presenter
for this program is Pat Jones, FNP Program Assistant. No registration is required for this program.
The Native Orchids of South MS— 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Cr osby Ar bor etum, Picayune, MS.
Learn to recognize and enjoy many of the thirty species of orchids native to the Gulf Coast. There are
many interesting species which are often overlooked by everyone but the most avid orchid grower. Glen
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Ladnier, long-time orchid enthusiast and member of the Gulf Coast Orchid Society, will discuss habitats,
plant and flower characteristics, and touch on common conservation techniques. Members free; nonmembers $5; nonmembers’ children $2. Register by May 22 by calling 601-799-2311.
Roses in the Landscape— 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. Presenter: Dr. Lelia Kelly, Consumer
Horticulture Specialist, Extension Professor. Dr. Kelly's presentation will explore the versatility of roses
28 in the landscape. Because roses differ in growth habit, size, flower color and type they can play many
roles in the home landscape. Examples will be given as well as landscape design tips. Call your local
Extension office to RSVP for the program.
Arboretum Spring Botany Walk— 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Explore the Arboretum’s native plant
exhibits with Dr. Mac Alford, Herbarium Curator and Associate Professor at the University of Southern
30 Mississippi in Hattiesburg. After a short indoor discussion of plant taxonomy and ecology, the program
will move outside for a field walk through the grounds. Free for members, $5 non-members. Call
601-799-2311 to register by May 29.
Please help us save money and paper by switching to our e-mail newsletter list. If you
would like to receive the newsletter by e-mail, send a request to
emlsmith@ext.msstate.edu.
Planting
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Garden Calendar: June
Page 3
Plant Crape Myrtles in bloom to be sure of color.
Replace turf in deep shade with ground cover: Liriope, Ajuga, or Jasmine. Set out Caladiums in shady
areas.
Plant summer annuals Ageratum, Cockscomb, Impatiens, Marigolds, Sunflowers, Four-o'clocks, and
Periwinkle.
Plant Tomatoes late this month to insure harvest late into fall. Cherry Tomatoes are a choice that are
heat tolerant.
Choose Daylilies now that they are in bloom for planting in your garden.
Divide and replant Iris, cut leaves back to 6 inches after transplant.
Plant Zinnias and Marigolds now for a second crop of flowers.
Plant Snap beans, Lima beans, Cucumbers, Eggplants, Peppers, Squash, and Tomato plants.
Gladiolus planted now will give lovely fall blooms.
Fertilizing
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Fertilize Camellias with Azalea-Camellia fertilizer if not done earlier in the year.
Fertilize Bermuda and Zosia grass. Fertilize Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Zuccinis monthly with 5-10-10.
Fertilize annuals and perennials.
Pest Control
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Mow lawn in the morning to reduce the chance of starting Brown Spot (fungus).
Remove Zinnias with powdery mildew and replant.
Pruning
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Prune Oleander after blooming ends. Pinch Dahlias and Mums to assure a compact growth habit.
Remove blackberry fruiting canes after harvest. Prune new canes to encourage side branching.
Faded flowers should be removed from Daisy, Daylily, and other summer flowers.
Prune out dead and damaged wood from trees and shrubs.
In Bloom
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Ageratum, Althea, Balloon Flower, Bee Balm, Begonia, Blackberry Lily, Butterfly Weed, Coreopsis,
Cornflower, Fevervew, Funkia, Gladiolus, Hollyhock, Japanese Iris, Lily, Nicotiana, Petunia, Phlox, Rose
Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Sweet Pea, Verbena, Butterfly Bush, Golden-rain Tree, Hypericum, Mimosa,
Stewartia, Sourwood, Vitex, Yucca, Jasmine, Crape Myrtle, Daylily, Geranium, Hibiscus, Hydrangea,
Impatiens, Lantana, Morning Glory, Oleander, Plumbago, Portulaca, Purslane, Salvia, Veronica, Dusty
Miller, Four O'clock, and Zinnia.
Christian’s Corner
Page 4
Edema
Often mistaken for an infectious
disease or insect gall, edema (oedema,
corky scab) is a common problem for
plants when humidity is high or they
get too much water. Edema is most
frequently caused when plants take up
more water through their roots than can
be transpired through the leaves.
Under these conditions, water builds up
in the internal cells of the leaves
eventually causing them to burst. This
leads to areas of dead cells that are
visible as a blister, usually on the
underside of the leaf. Although almost
any broadleaf plant may be affected,
some plants, such as begonia, cacti, geranium, ferns, violets, and tomato and beans are
particularly susceptible to edema.
Edema symptoms vary by the plant species and part of the plant affected. Usually,
symptoms appear on succulent leaves and flowers as small, water-soaked blisters or warts.
Individual blisters are approximately 1 to 2 mm in diameter, but may merge to form lines or
large areas. The exposed area of the blister will frequently become brown or tan, with a corky
texture.
Edema can be controlled by several cultural practices, as well as by changes in the
weather. Avoid irrigation or watering
during cool, overcast humid weather.
For potted plants, remove the saucers
under the pot or discard any water that
remains in the saucer 30 minutes after
watering. Additionally, avoid
over-fertilization, especially when plants
are growing slowly. Keep soil fertility at
optimum levels by testing the soil and
following fertilization recommendations.
If you are aware of previous problems
with edema, keep this in mind when
selecting plants and if possible, improve
drainage around the plant to prevent the
plant from taking up too much water.