March 2020 newsletter

We are now in our extended Spring hours!
Open Sundays from 12-4 (closed Easter) and Saturdays 8-5:30!
 
If you haven’t had a soil analysis done from Cooperative Extension in the past 3 years, we recommend doing so. The form & collection instructions are attached with this month’s newsletter. Place the soil to be sampled in a bag and take it to your local Extension office (at the Arboretum in New Hanover County). When you receive your results in 2 weeks, come to the shop for analysis.
 
Baby chicks are here again spring Fridays, and we have everything you need to take care of them!
 
Fruit trees, Vegetable plants, and Herbs have begun to arrive. You’ll find the scoop on that in the Garden Corner section on Page 3.
 
Now for the care of our area grasses…
 
TURF TALK
 
Bermuda— Mow when the lawn first turns green, set mower at 1 inch. Be sure to mow before the bermudagrass gets taller than 2 inches. Leave clippings on the lawn; they decompose quickly and help feed the grass. DO NOT apply fertilizer at this time, we’ll get into that in April & May. Apply a Pre-Emergent like Hi-Yield Dimension this month —measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH.

Carpetgrass— Mow the lawn to 11⁄2 inches when it turns green in the spring. Do not let it grow taller than 21⁄4 inches. DO NOT fertilize at this time, we’ll get to that in June. Make sure your lawn gets 1 inch of water each week. Check for white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, sod webworms, and nematodes.

Centipede— Drop mower height to 1”. DO NOT fertilize at this time, we’ll address that and Post-Emergent herbicide in May/June. When dogwoods are in full bloom, apply Pre-Emergent herbicide like Hi-Yield Dimension— measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Yellow appearance may indicate an iron deficiency. Spray iron sulfate (2 ounces in water per 1,000 square feet) or a chelated iron source. Grass will green up within 24 hours. Actively growing Centipede needs 1” of water each week. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or acidifier to adjust soil pH. Check for and control any white grubs

St Augustine— Drop mower to 2.5”, leave clippings on the lawn. DO NOT fertilize at this time as we’ll get to that in May newsletter, and we’ll also tackle Post-Emergent herbicide then. When dogwoods are in full bloom, apply Pre-Emergent herbicide like Hi-Yield Dimension — measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Submit soil samples to for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH. Water occasionally during dry spells. If circular patches of brown grass appear, you may have brown patch. Gray leaf spot also may be a problem. Come see us to control either with proper fungicides. Actively growing St. Augustine requires about 1” of water per week, all at once if possible (and a 1⁄2’’ every third day in our area). Control any white grubs. If drought symptoms or yellow spots occur in a sunny location, check for chinch bug activity. Push a coffee can (with both top and bottom removed) into the ground and fill it with water. Any chinch bugs present will float.

Zoysia— Set mower to 1.5” and cut your lawn when it first turns green. 3 weeks after green-up, fertilize with 16-4-8 at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Apply a Pre-Emergent herbicide like Hi-Yield Dimension this month. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH. Check for and control any white grubs. Zoysia needs 1-1.5” of water per week.

GARDEN CORNERVegetable plants in stock NOW: Cabbages, Onions, Spinach, Lettuces, Sorrel, Cauliflower, Kale, Broccoli, with more varieties arriving each week!

Fruit trees in stock NOW: Apple, Pear, Fig, Peach, Plum, Pecan, Blueberries, Grapes, Persimmon, Cherry, & Blackberries

Shrubs have arrived! Azaleas, Camellias, Boxwoods, Gardenias, and Hibiscus to name a few! Also Herbs: Rosemary, Cilantro, Parsley, Mint, and Oregano!

Want to grow veggies from seed? We’ve got tons in stock, see attached Planting Guide for depth, spacing, timing, and more!

TIMING TIP: PRUNE AND FERTILIZE YOUR FLOWERING PLANTS AND SHRUBS AFTER THEY BLOOM