July 2020 newsletter

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Summer is here in full-swing! We still have beautiful vegetables, herbs, shrubs, flowers, and other plants available in the Garden Center!

As we’ve been doing since mid-March, we are continuing efforts to keep everyone safe during the COVID pandemic. It is too hot to keep the doors open now, so we have hand-sanitizer by the main entrance. We are regularly disinfecting surfaces, wearing masks, and in following the Governor’s order we are requiring all customers to wear a mask unless they have a condition that excludes them from the mandate. Thank you for cooperating.

We will be closed Saturday July 4th in observance of Independence Day.


TURF TALK

Bermuda— Measure your lawn’s square footage. If you fertilized with 33-0-0 in June, then four to six weeks afterwards follow that up with 16-4-8 from Farmers Supply at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. When Bermuda is growing, the lawn needs 1 to 2 inches of water each week. A bluish-gray appearance or wilted, folded, or curled leaves may indicate that it is time to water. Due to the heat, we only recommend spot-treating for weeds late in the day with a Post-Emergent herbicide — or Fertilome makes a selective granular we carry that can be broadcast across the lawn. You can still put out Hi-Yield Dimension to control summer weeds. If thatch is thicker than 1⁄2 inch, remove it using a vertical mower—thatch can be removed monthly if the lawn has sufficient time to recover.  Check for white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, sod webworms, and control with Talstar, Grubs-Away, or Zenith insecticide from Farmers Supply.

Carpetgrass— Carpetgrass needs 1 to 2 inches of water each week. Mow grass to 11⁄2 inches with a rotary mower every 10 to 14 days. Unless your soil sample suggests otherwise, do not make a broadcast application of herbicide. It was recommended that in June you fertilize Carpetgrass with 5-10-10 and a second application in mid-August may enhance lawns here at the coast. Manage weeds by hand pulling and mowing. Check for white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, sod webworms, and control with Talstar, Grubs-Away, or Zenith insecticide from Farmers Supply. If brown patch disease shows up (circular patches of brown grass up to several feet in diameter), come see us to remedy.
 
Centipede— Centipede needs 1-2 inches of water every week. If grass has a yellow appearance, spray iron (ferrous) sulfate (2 ounces in water per 1,000 square feet) or a chelated iron source as needed. It was recommended in June that Centipede lawns be treated with a high potassium fertilizer from Farmers Supply, such as 5-0-15 at 10 pounds per thousand square feet. Here at the coast, a second fertilization in August is recommended. Due to the heat, we only recommend spot-treating for weeds late in the day with a Post-Emergent herbicide — or Fertilome makes a selective granular we carry that can be broadcast across the lawn. You can still put out Hi-Yield Dimension to control summer weeds. Yellow appearance may indicate an iron deficiency. Control any white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, or sod webworms with an appropriate insecticide from Farmers Supply

St Augustine— Measure your lawn’s square footage. This month, you should apply two to three pounds of 33-0-0 per thousand square feet, and next month apply a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio fertilizer (like 16-4-8) from Farmers Supply. Spray iron sulfate or a chelated iron source to enhance color as needed. Actively growing St. Augustine requires about 1 inch of water per week, all at once if possible. Sandy soils often require more frequent watering (1⁄2 inch every third day). Control broadleaf weeds as necessary with Post-Emergent herbicide following label directions and with caution. Control any white grubs with Talstar, Grubs-Away, or Zenith insecticide from Farmers Supply. 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, come see us for Bifenthrin which comes in both granular and liquid. Check for gray leaf spot and brown (large) patch disease.

Zoysia— Measure your yard’s square footage. If you didn’t already this summer, in early July apply a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio fertilizer (like 16-4-8) and repeat in mid-August. Zoysia needs 1 to 11⁄4 inches of water a week. Due to the heat, we only recommend spot-treating for weeds late in the day with a Post-Emergent herbicide — or Fertilome makes a selective granular we carry that can be broadcast across the lawn. You can still put out Hi-Yield Dimension to control summer weeds. Crabgrass species, goosegrass, dallisgrass, purple and yellow nutsedge, annual sedges, and sandbur can be controlled with a Post-Emergent herbicide from Farmers Supply. Zoysia is sensitive to these compounds, so please follow the directions of our staff carefully when they help you in the store.
 
Pro Tip: While mole-traps are great, getting rid of their food-source with Talstar, Grubs-Away, or Zenith insecticide will keep moles gone for good.