Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 22, 1994, edition 1 / Page 17
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You Asked For It; Here's The Plant Doctor's Top- 1 0 List As I review the year, I find land scape questions that keeping pop ping up no matter how many times they are answered. The following is my list of the most common land scape gardening questions and a "condensed version" answer. The Ten Most Common Gardening Questions of Southeastern North Carolina Gardeners 1. What is the best lawn grass to plant in eastern North Carolina? ANSWER: NO perennial cool season lawn grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, creeping/red fescue, or perennial ryegrass) are normally recommended for eastern North Carolina lawns. In rare cases, tall fescue can be utilized in heavy clay soils or for a low-maintenance grass in utility areas. No single species of lawn grass is best for all people and all situations. Choose a lawn grass based upon maintenance, your immediate envi ronmental conditions, and your lifestyle. ? Utility and low-maintenance lawns exposed to salt spray and/or heavy traffic: Dry sites: ccntipcdegrass, bahia grass, common bermudagrass Wet sites: carpetgrass Shaded sites: centipedcgrass ? Medium-maintenance lawns exposed to salt spray andor heavy traffic: With irrigation: St. Augustine grass (var. "Raleigh"), Zoysiagrass, Bermudagrass Without irrigation: common bermudagrass. St Augustincgrass Shaded sites: St Augustincgrass, zoysiagrass ? High-maintenance lawns ? Pull sun or shaded sites: Zoy siagrass (vars. Emerald, Meyer. Cashmere, etc .) ? Full sun only: Hybrid berm udagrass (vars Tifway, Tifway II. Tifdwarf. Tifgreen, etc .). 2. What are some good shrubs for foundation plantings in this area? THE PLANT DOCTOR C. BRUCE WILLIAMS Extension Arta Turf Specialist ANSWER: Depending upon your site and your tastes consider the fol lowing: Dwarf nandina, English lau rel "Otto Luykens." Indian haw thorne, pittosporum, Dwarf abelia "Edward Goucher," American box wood, Japanese fatsia, Border for sythia. Japanese ligustrum, Japanese holly ("Compacta." "Helleri" or "Rotundifolia"), Chinese holly ("Burfordii nana"), Chinese podo carpus, Burkwood viburnum, or Japanese yew. For more informa tion, request NCSU Extension Horticulture Information leaflet 634 from your county Cooperative Ex tension Service. 3. What is the best mulch for ornamental plantings? ANSWER: There is no "best" mulch for all situations. Use what is available. Pine straw, pine bark, hardwood bark, shredded leaves/de bris, wood chips or compost in a 3 to 6-inch layer is needed to help hold moisture, reduce weed prob lems, and moderate extremes in temperature around the root zone. 4. What art the -best" plants for heavy shade conditions? ANSWER: Ht>sia. liriopc. Eng lish ivy, Japanese acuba, Japanese camellia, fatsia. mahonia, lcucothoc. azaleas, and Japanese spurge. 5. What plants are best adapted for wet soil conditions? ANSWER: Red maple, gray dog wood, yaupon holly. Dahoon holly, swectgum. blackgum. willow. Bald cypress. Southern wax myrtle, and inkberry holly. 6. What are the best plants for a Zpfappij olidaijs In the spirit of FRIENDSHIP MAY THE WARMTH AND JOY OF Christmas stay close TO YOUR HEARTS. CHOICENTER HOMES BY ANN Hwy 17 N . S hallo tte. 754-5147 May peace and happiness fill your household on this most blessed of days. Lena and Frank Causey and Employees Shallotte Marine Supplies Main St., Shallotte ? 754-6962 living hedge or screen? ANSWER: Elaeagnus, Nellie R. Stevens holly, Burford holly, Yaup on holly. Red Cedar, Japanese priv ci, Souiiicfii waX iTiyfuc, CmOiiiid Cherrylaurel, and Sasanqua camel lia. Refer to NCSU Extension Hort iculture Information leaflet #636 for additional information. 7. What trees are best adapted to residential urban conditions? ANSWER: Small trees that can tolerate adverse conditions are best. Try Red maple. Sawtooth oak, Crapemyrtle, Bald cypress, Japanese zelkova, crabapple, or Carolina cherrylaurel. Refer to NCSU Exten sion Horticulture Information leaflet 617 for additional information. 8. What plants will not clog-up a septic drainage field? ANSWER: Any woody plant can potentially clog drainage field pipes. Use grasses or shallow-rooted trees such as dogwood, crapemyrtle or redbud. Plant trees at least 20 feet from any drainage lines. 9. What is the best time of year to plant or move shrubs and trees? ANSWER: The absolute best time of the year to plant balled-in burlap/containerized or to move es tablished woody plants is September through November. However the winter months of December to April run a very close second place. Con tainerized plants can be planted dur ing anytime of the year if properly planted, watered and cared for. However, I have seen skilled gar deners and horticulturists plant or move plant material during every month of the year. Skill and tech nique are as important to success as timing. 10. What's a quick way to deter mine if you have good soil drain age? ANSWER: Dig a hole in the soil as if you wcic plaining a 3- tu 5-gdi lon size shrub. Fill the hole with wa ter and allow to drain. Fill again. If water remains in the hole for longer than 3 hours, you have poor drain age. For poorly drained soils, use raised beds for all plantings. Also consider incorporating lots of organ ic matter (e.g. compost) into the soil. In heavy clay soils, do not incorpo rate lots of sand in the root zone to improve drainage except when in stalling subsurface drainage tiles or dry wells. The same can be said for very sandy soils or doughty soils ? never incorporate clay. Remember, sand and clay make brick. Send your gardening questions or comments to the Plant Doctor, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia NC 28422. Send a SASE if requesting information or a reply. Shallotte Middle School Extends Its Stamp Drive Shallotte Middle School's used stamp collection drive has been ex tended, says art teacher Lola Jackson. The school's art department is collecting used stamps to help chil dren make art projects for a school fundraiser. If you want to help, tear the top right comer off your incoming mail and take it to Shallotte Middle School. For more information, call Lola Jackson at 754-8218. The stockings were hung h\ the chimney with care. 1 hoftes that Sumt Xicholus soon would be there. Merry ( 'hnstnms to nil our customers. Carousel m 7^ DISTIMC CHILDREN'S ( DISTINCTIVE CrilLDRtn S CLOTHING Hagpatch How. Calabash. riC 910-579-9778 Von King Stylist invites everyone to call her for the latest cuts and styles for gala holiday par ties. Perms, manicures and pedi cures, too. 4 A fi/d AUw . Resort Plaza ? Shallotte C1W4 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON Call 754-7234 for appointment Have a Cuddly Christmas!^ May you be surrounded with love and warmth this Christmas. From all of us to all of you, thanks for your friendship. Dr. Ernest Ward, Laura, Shannon, Rich & Linda Seaside Animal Care 925 Carter Dr.. Calabash 579-5550 Wi . . . and. lo. the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. May the light that is the love ot Christ warm and guide you, not only at Christmas, but all during the year to come. Christmas blessslngs to all our friends. Matthew 2:9 Coastal Pediatrics Shallotte Professional Plaza 4428 Main Street ? Shallotte 754-5437 wish uou a /hewn (ZkiLsttnas & r a cHedtk if A}ew ^eai! THE BRUNSWICK HOSPITAL
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 22, 1994, edition 1
17
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