Garden letters

Editor's Notebook

It is with the greatest pleasure and excitement that I announce the first (and only) Steve Bender Black Spot Contest. This thrill-packed competition is open to those whose lack of attention to proper gardening methods has resulted in the spotting, yellowing, dropping, and gross uglification of at least 75% of their rose foliage. Now many of you are probably asking, "How can I, a mere amateur, hope to achieve this lofty level of fungal infection?" Easy. First, keep the foliage as wet as possible, using sprinklers to water at night. Second, refuse to apply a proper fungicide, such as Funginex, Immunox, or Daconil. Finally, fail to plant black spot-resistant roses, such as `Bonica,' `Carefree Beauty,'Dr. W. van Fleet,"Flower Carpet,"Mrs. B. R. Cant,' `Old Blush,' and yellow Dream Series. Well, time's a-wasting. Get out there, and abuse those roses. First person to attain total defoliation will win a year's supply of powdery mildew and a pair of dull pruners. -STEVE BENDER

Question

My lawn is about 75% crabgrass. My lawn-care guy told me to use Roundup to kill it, wait 14 days, mow the grass very low, and then reseed. Is this a good idea? COLLEEN HORN * ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

Answer

It appears that you have a bluegrass or fescue lawn. Your lawn guy's advice is sound. Wait until mid-August to apply Roundup. Then reseed using a Kentucky bluegrass blend or a blend of turf-type tall fescue. Roundup won't kill the crabgrass seeds already in your soil, so it'll come back next year. The best way to control crabgrass is to crowd it out by seeding again in early spring to thicken the lawn. (Don't use a crabgrass preventer; it'll keep your grass seed from germinating.) Cut the lawn high, about 2 to 3 inches. Tall grass shades the lawn surface, preventing crabgrass from germinating.

Dark brown spots have appeared on the leaves of my pepper plants. What are they, and what should I do? Will they spread to my tomato plants? CAROL STICKLES TAMPA, FLORIDA

Peppers and tomatoes are subject to a number of fungal diseases. The one you describe sounds like bacterial leaf spot, which spreads through splashing water. Try spraying your peppers and tomatoes according to label directions with a maneb fungicide or a fixed-copper spray, such as Soap-Shield fungicidal soap. Avoid wetting the leaves when you water. Don't work around the plants when they're wet. When cold weather comes, pull up and throw out the plants-don't compost them. Next year, plant your peppers and tomatoes in a different area to prevent the disease from building up.

The center of our yard has a dip that collects water. There is a spot with no grass where some kind of black stuff grows on the soil. It's a bright, sunny area. Can I successfully lay sod there?

KELLE BURNS ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA

The black stuff is probably mold or algae that grows on soggy, bare soil. It's a sign of poor drainage and will disappear if the problem is solved. Improve drainage before sodding, or the new grass will rot and die. Try installing a French drain to carry away excess water, and then resod the area.

Last summer, our French hydrangeas had plenty of blooms despite a drought. This year, they had hardly any blooms, even though we had lots of rain. What's the reason? PEGGY WELSH MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Did you have a late freeze in early spring? Sudden cold just after plants begin leafing out can kill flowerbuds. Or maybe you pruned in fall or winter and removed most of the buds. Prune a French hydrangea right after its blooms turn tan in summer. Cut only those stalks that bloomed.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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