Garden Clinic
N. C. State University Answers
Timely Gardening Questions
Q. When it rains, the water
stands for several days on an
area recently dug up. Will any
type of grass grow in such a wet
area? (M. S., Winston-Salem)
A. None of our desirable
turfgrasses will grow where
water stands for several days.
Such water-logged soils have a
very low oxygen content since
water has pushed the oxygen out
of the large pores. Such soils
must be drained, surface and
internally, if possible, if you
expect to grow grass. (Carl
Blake, extension agronomist)
Q. Tiny insects are on the
underside of my collard leaves.
Can you tell me what they are,
and what I can do about them?
(M. D., Durham)
A. Collards are commonly
infested with aphids, and the
control of aphids is difficult
during cool weather. Malathion
or diazinon (sold as Spectracide)
will control aphids once the
daytime temperature reaches 60
degrees. They are not effective at
cooler temperatures. You can use
these insecticides as either a dust
or spray. (R. L. Robertson,
extension entomologist)
Q. Moles and field mice eat the
roots of my pansy plants. I’ve
tried Spectracide to kill the grubs
that these animals feed on. Can
anything else be done? (M. B.,
Wilmington)
A. I suspect that most of the
damage done to the roots of your
pansy plants is caused by the
moles as they burrow in search of
worms and insects. Field mice
usually forage above the ground,
although they may use the mole
burrows for access to the roots.
The best method of mole control
is to trap them by setting “spear
type” traps above the permanent
burrows. Permanent burrows are
the ones that will be continuously
re-excavated by the mole after
being closed by a footprint. They
differ from feeding burrows,
which may be used only once.
Since mole damage is usually the
work of one or at the most two
moles, my favorite method is to
dig them out. In the morning or
evening, watch carefully for the
moving earth and plants that give
away their position. Study the
direction of the tunnel and
quickly place a spade in the earth
behind them. Pop the mole t the
surface and scoop it up in a can or
bucket. (David J. Demondt,
extension wildlife specialist)
Q. What type of ground cover
will work best in partial shade
and red clay soil that does not
drain well? I would like to find
something to replace a grass
lawn. (B. N., Davidson)
A. Mulch the area with decayed
sawdust or bark. Then establish
either periwinkle (Vinca minor)
or English ivy (Hedera helix).'
(Kim Powell, extension land
scape horticulturist)
Q. What is the life span of an
apple tree? In other words how
long should I keep a tree in
production before replacing it?
(H. W., Carrboro)
A. Commercial growers say
they get their best fruit from
trees that are between 8 and 15
years old. This is true of Red
Delicious, Golden Delicious and
most other varieties. After this
period, quality and yield seem to
deteriorate. If you have an older
tree and it is still producing, keep
it. (Mel Kolbe, extension horti
culturist)
Q. My Tifton 328 lawn has black
spot. What type of fungicide
should I use? When should it be
applied? (M. B., Louisburg)
A. Black spot is a fungus
disease which does not normally
invade grasses. The disease in
your lawn is probably brown
patch. To control it spray a broad
spectrum fungicide such as
Maneb, Fore, Daconil 2787,
Actidione or Thiram. These
should be applied during the
hotter summer months. (Carl
Blake, extension agronomist)
Q. My false aralia is covered
with a sticky substance. There
are also brown bumps on the
stems and-leaves. What is
wrong? What can I do about it?
(J. C., Raleigh)
A. Your false aralia is infested
with brown soft scale insects.
These pests suck sap from the
plant and excrete a sweet sticky
substance called honeydew. The
scales can be removed with a
cotton swab dipped in alcohol. If
there are too many scales for that
method, try malathion, liquid
concentrate. Mix two teaspoons
per gallon of water and spray the
plant thoroughly. Treat again in
seven to 10 days. (James R.
Baker, extension entomologist)
Packaging Supplies -
tape, wrapping paper,
etc.
ARLEDGE PRINTERS
Phone 859-9530 Tryon, N.C.
CROP ROTATION
COMEBACK SEEN
By Bill Humphries, NCSU
The “old-fashioned” practice
of crop rotation may become
popular again on American
farms.
The reason? Higher fuel costs
and other farm expenses.
Use of crop rotation has
dropped 20 million acres in the
last decade as many farmers
switched to planting continuous
cash crops when fuel and
petroleum-based fertilizers were
A JAZZ CONCERT
Sunday, Feb. 3rd
Featuring members bf the Music City Jazz Band
from Nashville, Tenn.
Tryon Elementary School Auditorium
Seating is limited, so call now (704) 859-6807
or write Joseph Laorenza, Box 850, Tryon Elementary School,
Tryon, N. C. 28782
Ticket donation is $3 per person. All proceeds will be used to
support band activities. In event of bad weather the concert will
be held Sun., Feb. 10th.
to my wonderful husband on our
first anniversary...
January 27,1980
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Feb. 9th — 7 p.m.
Landrum High School Cafeteria
Featuring the music of Rick Cooper at the piano
(7:30 — 8:30)
Gay Young and the Sound of Vibes
(8:30 — 11:30 for dancing)
Menu: appetizer, salad bar, prime rib and
homemade desserts served by the tennis teams.
Proceeds go toward the purchase of a 16
station weight machine to be used by the athletic
program.
Door Prizes
$8.50 per person
Reservations only (preferable by Feb. 2nd
if possible)
Tickets are available at Community Cash (Joe
Humphries); Joe’s Exxon (Joe Brown) and Lan
drum Rex-all Drugs (Robert Inman) or call Juanita
Brown 457-2817or Betty Inman 457-3983.
Sponsored by the Landrum Athletic Boosters Club
□
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■$-*’*-*UUUULOJL^^
Tryon Daily Bulletin, Fri., Jan. 25, 1980
plentiful.
Now, with fuel and fertilizer
prices high, maqy farmers may
return to rotation practices.
You 11 be proud to display your
collectibles in this beautiful,
lighted, antique curio cabinet; 7’
tall by 33” wide. The cabinet has
a large wood framed glass front
door and glass side panels, with 6
full width plate glass shelves and
a full plate mirror backing. All
wood in a beautiful warm
mahogany finish, in excellent
condition. Only $650. Phone 1-749-
5471. adv. 25, 28, 29, 30c.
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