1 00:00:00,367 --> 00:00:03,036 - Hi, thanks for joining us for The Family Plot: 2 00:00:03,036 --> 00:00:04,204 Gardening in the Mid-South. 3 00:00:04,204 --> 00:00:05,439 I'm Chris Cooper. 4 00:00:05,439 --> 00:00:07,774 Fall and winter   will be here soon. 5 00:00:07,774 --> 00:00:11,545 Today, we will talk about what   to do to get your lawn ready. 6 00:00:11,545 --> 00:00:14,915 Also, there are several ways   to propagate your plants. 7 00:00:14,915 --> 00:00:17,117 We'll take a look at   using seeds and cuttings 8 00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:18,585 to get new plants. 9 00:00:18,585 --> 00:00:20,420 That's just ahead   on The Family Plot: 10 00:00:20,420 --> 00:00:22,356 Gardening in the Mid-South. 11 00:00:22,356 --> 00:00:23,657 - (female announcer)   Production funding for 12 00:00:23,657 --> 00:00:25,659 The Family Plot:   Gardening in the Mid-South 13 00:00:25,659 --> 00:00:27,594 is provided by 14 00:00:27,594 --> 00:00:29,997 the WKNO Production Fund, 15 00:00:29,997 --> 00:00:32,232 the WKNO Endowment Fund, 16 00:00:32,232 --> 00:00:35,702 and by viewers like   you, thank you. 17 00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:38,805 [upbeat country music] 18 00:00:45,679 --> 00:00:47,915 - Welcome to The Family Plot, I'm Chris Cooper. 19 00:00:47,915 --> 00:00:49,883 Joining me today is Mr. Booker T. Leigh. 20 00:00:49,883 --> 00:00:52,219 Booker's a UT Extension Agent here in Shelby County. 21 00:00:52,219 --> 00:00:54,321 And Ms. Kim Rucker will be joining us later. 22 00:00:54,321 --> 00:00:55,555 - Okay. 23 00:00:55,555 --> 00:00:56,790 - Thank you for being here today. 24 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:57,724 - Man, always good to do your show. 25 00:00:57,724 --> 00:00:58,926 I mean, I just really enjoy it, 26 00:00:58,926 --> 00:01:00,160 and this is great for havin' me on here. 27 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,361 Thanks for havin' me on the show. 28 00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:02,896 - Oh, anytime you're our lawn expert, 29 00:01:02,896 --> 00:01:04,097 so we're gonna come to you for these lawn questions, 30 00:01:04,097 --> 00:01:04,765 right? - I appreciate that then. 31 00:01:04,765 --> 00:01:05,999 Thank you. 32 00:01:05,999 --> 00:01:07,467 - So let's talk a little bit about 33 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:08,669 getting your lawn ready for the fall and the winter. 34 00:01:08,669 --> 00:01:09,870 - May be that time of year again, 35 00:01:09,870 --> 00:01:10,804 and where we're already gettin' a phone call 36 00:01:10,804 --> 00:01:12,272 from people on their lawn. 37 00:01:12,272 --> 00:01:13,807 And the most important thing they're askin' now, 38 00:01:13,807 --> 00:01:16,643 "How low should I cut my grass durin' the fall of the year?" 39 00:01:16,643 --> 00:01:17,844 And I will tell them all the time, 40 00:01:17,844 --> 00:01:19,446 you don't wanna cut it too low. 41 00:01:19,446 --> 00:01:21,048 You wanna maintain the same height 42 00:01:21,048 --> 00:01:23,250 that you were cuttin' it durin' the regular season. 43 00:01:23,250 --> 00:01:24,751 'Cause if you cut it too low, 44 00:01:24,751 --> 00:01:26,653 and we have another winter like we did this year 45 00:01:26,653 --> 00:01:28,221 and that ice and snow get on there, 46 00:01:28,221 --> 00:01:29,489 - Right. - It can be damagin'. 47 00:01:29,489 --> 00:01:30,724 - Oh wow. - It can be damaged. 48 00:01:30,724 --> 00:01:31,892 You can damage your grass in there. 49 00:01:31,892 --> 00:01:33,393 But you wanna maintain same height. 50 00:01:33,393 --> 00:01:35,595 And this is a good time now to get your soil tested 51 00:01:35,595 --> 00:01:36,830 - Mm-hmm. - You know, 52 00:01:36,830 --> 00:01:38,065 in the fall of the year, get it tested 53 00:01:38,065 --> 00:01:39,533 'cause if you need to add any lime to it, 54 00:01:39,533 --> 00:01:41,268 and anything you need to add to it, 55 00:01:41,268 --> 00:01:42,803 like, especially phosphorous-potassium. 56 00:01:42,803 --> 00:01:44,471 You know, people think that, 57 00:01:44,471 --> 00:01:45,505 they still, them roots are still active. 58 00:01:45,505 --> 00:01:47,207 - Right, still growing. 59 00:01:47,207 --> 00:01:48,475 - Durin' the fall of the year. 60 00:01:48,475 --> 00:01:50,444 but the top part, it's not growin'. 61 00:01:50,444 --> 00:01:52,412 - Right. - Because of the weather. 62 00:01:52,412 --> 00:01:53,647 But you get that soil tested, 63 00:01:53,647 --> 00:01:54,681 and you need to add any lime to that, now, 64 00:01:54,681 --> 00:01:55,882 you can do that now, 65 00:01:55,882 --> 00:01:56,683 and by the time your grass start back 66 00:01:56,683 --> 00:01:57,918 in the spring next year, 67 00:01:57,918 --> 00:01:59,386 the lime is already there and ready to go. 68 00:01:59,386 --> 00:02:00,754 You cut down a lot of problems, 69 00:02:00,754 --> 00:02:02,289 but don't cut it too low. 70 00:02:02,289 --> 00:02:03,123 - Yeah. - Don't cut it too low. 71 00:02:03,123 --> 00:02:04,091 Get your soil tested. 72 00:02:04,091 --> 00:02:05,592 - Yeah, get your soil tested. 73 00:02:05,592 --> 00:02:06,827 - Of course to go to your local extension office. 74 00:02:06,827 --> 00:02:07,761 - Call your local extension office 75 00:02:07,761 --> 00:02:08,996 if there a problem in there, 76 00:02:08,996 --> 00:02:10,230 and do that, see. - Right, right. 77 00:02:10,230 --> 00:02:11,698 - And so they need to do it to the end there. 78 00:02:11,698 --> 00:02:13,233 Another thing we don't realize though, you know, 79 00:02:13,233 --> 00:02:15,502 and it never happen probably a lot of times, 80 00:02:15,502 --> 00:02:18,338 we go through a real dry, dry, dry winter, 81 00:02:18,338 --> 00:02:19,539 especially in the early part, 82 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:20,907 you need to add a little water to your lawn, 83 00:02:20,907 --> 00:02:22,209 might need to water it. 84 00:02:22,209 --> 00:02:23,210 Not like doing it in the summertime, 85 00:02:23,210 --> 00:02:24,511 but you need to add some water 86 00:02:24,511 --> 00:02:26,013 to keep those roots with some moisture. 87 00:02:26,013 --> 00:02:27,280 They're very, they're still active under the ground, 88 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,515 and you just don't see what's going on. 89 00:02:28,515 --> 00:02:29,883 - Right. - But they're still active. 90 00:02:29,883 --> 00:02:31,551 - Still growing. - They're still doing that. 91 00:02:31,551 --> 00:02:33,086 But that's a good point, you need to get that lawn ready, 92 00:02:33,086 --> 00:02:34,855 if you wanna have it to come back strong next year. 93 00:02:34,855 --> 00:02:37,524 - Okay. So I have a few questions for you 94 00:02:37,524 --> 00:02:38,892 about getting that lawn ready 95 00:02:38,892 --> 00:02:40,293 for the fall and winter. - Okay. 96 00:02:40,293 --> 00:02:42,896 - Is it necessary to fertilize your lawn in the fall? 97 00:02:42,896 --> 00:02:44,064 I know you talked a little bit about it, 98 00:02:44,064 --> 00:02:45,298 but is it necessary? 99 00:02:45,298 --> 00:02:46,933 - It is necessary if you're needin' it. 100 00:02:46,933 --> 00:02:48,268 Like I said though, 101 00:02:48,268 --> 00:02:50,270 You don't wanna give it no nitrogen fertilizer 102 00:02:50,270 --> 00:02:51,405 in the fall of the year, 103 00:02:51,405 --> 00:02:52,839 especially warm-season grass. 104 00:02:52,839 --> 00:02:54,374 You wanna give them, at least, phosphorous-potassium. 105 00:02:54,374 --> 00:02:56,043 That is good to do that in the fall of the year, 106 00:02:56,043 --> 00:02:57,511 because you do that. - Right. 107 00:02:57,511 --> 00:02:59,012 Now if you've got a cool-season grass beginning to grow now, 108 00:02:59,012 --> 00:03:01,615 then you might want to fertilize it in the fall of the year 109 00:03:01,615 --> 00:03:02,549 in there. - All right. 110 00:03:02,549 --> 00:03:03,884 - But your warm-season grass, 111 00:03:03,884 --> 00:03:05,752 hold back on your nitrogen fertilizer. 112 00:03:05,752 --> 00:03:07,254 If you give it some nitrogen fertilizer, 113 00:03:07,254 --> 00:03:08,588 it could start to grow. 114 00:03:08,588 --> 00:03:09,523 And when it starting to grow in there, 115 00:03:09,523 --> 00:03:11,491 then we have a real cold spell, 116 00:03:11,491 --> 00:03:12,959 it can damage that grass. - Right. 117 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:14,294 - So you don't wanna do damage to that grass there. 118 00:03:14,294 --> 00:03:16,329 But hold back on your nitrogen, 119 00:03:16,329 --> 00:03:17,864 but give it some phosphorous potassium, if needed. 120 00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:20,500 And also check that soil pH for to add that lime to that 121 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:21,968 because the lime is very important. 122 00:03:21,968 --> 00:03:23,737 If you don't have that lime right, correct on there, 123 00:03:23,737 --> 00:03:27,107 a lot of times, all the other nutrients you add to the soil, 124 00:03:27,107 --> 00:03:28,508 it's not gonna be taken up by the plant. 125 00:03:28,508 --> 00:03:29,476 - Right. 126 00:03:29,476 --> 00:03:30,977 - So you wanna do that in there. 127 00:03:30,977 --> 00:03:32,245 And like I said, fall is best time to do that for it. 128 00:03:32,245 --> 00:03:33,780 Then it's ready to go in the springtime. 129 00:03:33,780 --> 00:03:34,748 - Ready to go in the spring. - When they come out of there, 130 00:03:34,748 --> 00:03:35,982 that grass is ready to go. 131 00:03:35,982 --> 00:03:37,284 It's healthy, says, "Hey, I'm ready to go now. 132 00:03:37,284 --> 00:03:38,218 [Chris laughs] "Let me come out this dormancy 133 00:03:38,218 --> 00:03:39,786 and get up. Let me grow." 134 00:03:39,786 --> 00:03:42,055 - Good and green. - Look good and green. 135 00:03:42,055 --> 00:03:43,890 "I'm ready to go in there." 136 00:03:43,890 --> 00:03:45,425 - All right, so this next question 137 00:03:45,425 --> 00:03:47,594 is the question I know we get a lot at the extension office. 138 00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:50,397 "When should I put down a pre-emerge herbicide 139 00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:51,665 on my lawn?" 140 00:03:51,665 --> 00:03:53,567 - A pre-emerge, now, pre- meaning before. 141 00:03:53,567 --> 00:03:55,435 - Right. - You know, in there. 142 00:03:55,435 --> 00:03:56,770 For your warm-season grass, 143 00:03:56,770 --> 00:03:57,771 you wanna put it down in, like, 144 00:03:57,771 --> 00:03:59,372 in the fall of the year. - Okay. 145 00:03:59,372 --> 00:04:02,342 - And pre-, it's gonna keep the seed from even germinatin'. 146 00:04:02,342 --> 00:04:03,276 - Right. - You know, 147 00:04:03,276 --> 00:04:04,411 you wanna do that in there. 148 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:05,812 And puttin' a pre-emerge herbicide down, 149 00:04:05,812 --> 00:04:07,848 you need to get a complete cover. 150 00:04:07,848 --> 00:04:09,349 - Okay. - You need to get 151 00:04:09,349 --> 00:04:10,250 a complete cover, and you need to go both directions. 152 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:11,585 - Right.   - If it says half 153 00:04:11,585 --> 00:04:13,453 it say 50 pounds here,   put 25 pounds that way, 154 00:04:13,453 --> 00:04:14,654 and 25 pounds that way.   - Right. 155 00:04:14,654 --> 00:04:15,922 - For you get a   good cover in there. 156 00:04:15,922 --> 00:04:18,058 Then come back again   probably in March. 157 00:04:18,058 --> 00:04:19,726 - Okay, right.   - Put another pre-emerge down, 158 00:04:19,726 --> 00:04:21,695 and that's to try and get some of those summer weeds 159 00:04:21,695 --> 00:04:23,563 out in your lawn. - Right. 160 00:04:23,563 --> 00:04:25,265 - And most pre-emerge herbicides are gonna come, 161 00:04:25,265 --> 00:04:26,800 like, in a granule. - Okay. 162 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,768 - It's gonna need to be activated in by rain water 163 00:04:28,768 --> 00:04:30,270 or some type of irrigation. 164 00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:31,171 - Okay so you do water it? - Over a period of time. 165 00:04:31,171 --> 00:04:32,672 Yeah. - All right. 166 00:04:32,672 --> 00:04:33,907 - It'll be, it should be on the label, if you irrigate in, 167 00:04:33,907 --> 00:04:35,242 some kind of, in that way in there. 168 00:04:35,242 --> 00:04:36,343 - Okay. - But pre-emerge, 169 00:04:36,343 --> 00:04:37,277 very important though. - Yes it is. 170 00:04:37,277 --> 00:04:38,545 - Get that pre-emerge dow, 171 00:04:38,545 --> 00:04:39,713 you'll control a lot of those summer weeds 172 00:04:39,713 --> 00:04:40,680 from comin' and germinatin' 173 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:41,982 in there. - Right. 174 00:04:41,982 --> 00:04:43,250 - If many of them get through, 175 00:04:43,250 --> 00:04:44,117 you use a post-emerge herbicide at the end. 176 00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:45,385 - Right, right. - Mm-hm. 177 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:46,453 - Or if you can't just pull it out. 178 00:04:46,453 --> 00:04:47,621 [both laugh] 179 00:04:47,621 --> 00:04:48,889 - Yeah, pull it out of there. 180 00:04:48,889 --> 00:04:50,123 - If it's not much of it, just pull it out. 181 00:04:50,123 --> 00:04:51,591 - Just pull it out there. 182 00:04:51,591 --> 00:04:52,826 Then when you pull it up, try to get that whole, 183 00:04:52,826 --> 00:04:54,327 that root system. - Right. Right. 184 00:04:54,327 --> 00:04:55,595 - Gotta get the root system. - Try to get that root system. 185 00:04:55,595 --> 00:04:56,830 Yeah, you don't wanna break it off in there. 186 00:04:56,830 --> 00:04:57,964 - Do read and follow the label though, 187 00:04:57,964 --> 00:04:59,299 for pre-emerge herbicides, for sure, 188 00:04:59,299 --> 00:05:01,101 and post-emerge herbicides. - Read, mm-hmm. 189 00:05:01,101 --> 00:05:02,602 - All right, so the next question is this, 190 00:05:02,602 --> 00:05:06,273 "How low should I cut my warm season grasses for winter?" 191 00:05:06,273 --> 00:05:07,741 - Well you need, like I said, only 192 00:05:07,741 --> 00:05:09,209 to maintain the same height that you had 'em before. 193 00:05:09,209 --> 00:05:10,477 Yeah, maintain the same height. 194 00:05:10,477 --> 00:05:11,811 ou don't wanna cut it too low in there, 195 00:05:11,811 --> 00:05:13,280 about the same height. 196 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:15,715 Like for Bermuda grass and zoysia grass, 197 00:05:15,715 --> 00:05:17,984 about two and a half to three inches tall in there. 198 00:05:17,984 --> 00:05:19,352 You wanna do that. - Okay. 199 00:05:19,352 --> 00:05:21,087 Just cut it tight. 200 00:05:21,087 --> 00:05:22,622 And a lot of people mow their lawn, 201 00:05:22,622 --> 00:05:24,124 they think that if they cut it real low, 202 00:05:24,124 --> 00:05:25,592 maybe think it's gonna look better during the winter time, 203 00:05:25,592 --> 00:05:27,394 and they want it to look good, but you really can be 204 00:05:27,394 --> 00:05:28,895 damaging your lawn. - Sure. 205 00:05:28,895 --> 00:05:30,964 - In there, 'cause you don't want that. 206 00:05:30,964 --> 00:05:32,032 Like I said, when we had that ice and snow, 207 00:05:32,032 --> 00:05:33,567 like we did this year, 208 00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:35,135 it can get on there and then damage that grass in there. 209 00:05:35,135 --> 00:05:38,171 Like I said, a good thing to do on your lawn is, 210 00:05:38,171 --> 00:05:40,740 when you have a big rain, walk around that lawn. 211 00:05:40,740 --> 00:05:41,841 - Right. - Walk around that lawn. 212 00:05:41,841 --> 00:05:43,443 Just see how everything look. 213 00:05:43,443 --> 00:05:45,045 See if you got any water standing. 214 00:05:45,045 --> 00:05:46,513 You might not notice that 'cause, 215 00:05:46,513 --> 00:05:48,281 by the time it finish rainin', just just see 'cause, 216 00:05:48,281 --> 00:05:49,449 you don't want it standing too long. 217 00:05:49,449 --> 00:05:50,383 - Right. - You want that 218 00:05:50,383 --> 00:05:51,618 go on and drain off there. 219 00:05:51,618 --> 00:05:52,519 - Okay, no, that makes sense. That makes sense. 220 00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:53,920 So let me ask you about 221 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,589 the fescue grass. - Okay. 222 00:05:55,589 --> 00:05:57,857 - So how tall should we, you know, 223 00:05:57,857 --> 00:05:59,326 maintain our fescue grasses? 224 00:05:59,326 --> 00:06:01,628 - Well normally it's growing in the fall of the year. 225 00:06:01,628 --> 00:06:03,029 - Right. 226 00:06:03,029 --> 00:06:04,197 - You wanna keep it somewhere about three inches tall. 227 00:06:04,197 --> 00:06:05,532 - Okay. - Three inches tall in there. 228 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:09,269 Then sometimes you might cut that often, 229 00:06:09,269 --> 00:06:11,071 like that, because, man, they grow real fast. 230 00:06:11,071 --> 00:06:12,205 - Oh yeah. - That fescues, 231 00:06:12,205 --> 00:06:13,406 your fescue grass. 232 00:06:13,406 --> 00:06:16,142 You do have some Kentucky bluegrass, 233 00:06:16,142 --> 00:06:17,611 and it would be looking good too, 234 00:06:17,611 --> 00:06:19,312 you need to cut that, too, about three inches tall in there. 235 00:06:19,312 --> 00:06:20,814 - Okay. - In there, so, in there. 236 00:06:20,814 --> 00:06:23,483 So yeah, you need to keep that grass the right height, 237 00:06:23,483 --> 00:06:25,752 and then you can fight off a lot of problems with that. 238 00:06:25,752 --> 00:06:27,153 - Right, right. 239 00:06:27,153 --> 00:06:28,855 All right, so this next question is about soil testing. 240 00:06:28,855 --> 00:06:30,357 - Okay. - We talked a little bit 241 00:06:30,357 --> 00:06:31,958 about soil testing, so again, it's just important, right? 242 00:06:31,958 --> 00:06:33,093 - This is just important though, 243 00:06:33,093 --> 00:06:34,628 in there for the pH of the soil, 244 00:06:34,628 --> 00:06:35,562 in there. - Right. 245 00:06:35,562 --> 00:06:36,796 - That's most important for it. 246 00:06:36,796 --> 00:06:38,231 And also the uptake of all the other nutrients 247 00:06:38,231 --> 00:06:39,466 that we have in the soil. 248 00:06:39,466 --> 00:06:41,201 You don't want it to die in there. 249 00:06:41,201 --> 00:06:42,335 And a lot of time people say, 250 00:06:42,335 --> 00:06:43,837 "Man, my grass not doing good. 251 00:06:43,837 --> 00:06:45,472 What's wrong with my grass? It's not doing good," 252 00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:46,373 in there. - Right. 253 00:06:46,373 --> 00:06:47,607 - "It's not growin'. 254 00:06:47,607 --> 00:06:48,842 "I passed fertilizer to it and everything." 255 00:06:48,842 --> 00:06:49,776 You need to have that soil tested. 256 00:06:49,776 --> 00:06:51,144 And a lot of times, nowhere. 257 00:06:52,812 --> 00:06:54,681 And a lot of times you can get the pH too high. 258 00:06:54,681 --> 00:06:55,949 - Oh yeah. - You know, you can. 259 00:06:55,949 --> 00:06:57,150 And you get it too high and still 260 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:58,285 that'd do the same effect that having it 261 00:06:58,285 --> 00:06:59,419 just bein' too low. - Right. 262 00:06:59,419 --> 00:07:00,954 - And what we recommend doing then, 263 00:07:00,954 --> 00:07:02,822 and you have some thinkin' some kind of lawn service, 264 00:07:02,822 --> 00:07:04,057 something like that. 265 00:07:04,057 --> 00:07:05,325 Sometimes have them test your soil, okay, 266 00:07:05,325 --> 00:07:07,661 just to see what the pH runnin' in there. 267 00:07:07,661 --> 00:07:09,195 So you wanna know that. 268 00:07:09,195 --> 00:07:10,730 That's the most important thing in your grass there. 269 00:07:10,730 --> 00:07:13,266 - Okay, and again, what's a good pH for your lawn grass? 270 00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:16,503 - For most lawn grasses we have, it is between 6.0 271 00:07:16,503 --> 00:07:17,337 and 6.5.   - Okay. 272 00:07:18,471 --> 00:07:19,706 - Like I said, like that, 273 00:07:19,706 --> 00:07:21,508 you cannot know that   by lookin' at it. 274 00:07:21,508 --> 00:07:22,742 - Nah. 275 00:07:22,742 --> 00:07:23,777 - Like, I thought, man, I thought mine 276 00:07:23,777 --> 00:07:25,245 was right, one time. 277 00:07:25,245 --> 00:07:27,280 And I thought it was right then I had it tested, 278 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,915 and it wasn't, like, it was low. 279 00:07:28,915 --> 00:07:30,116 - All right. All right. 280 00:07:30,116 --> 00:07:31,484 - It wasn't too low, but it was low. 281 00:07:31,484 --> 00:07:33,119 I need to add some lime to it. 282 00:07:33,119 --> 00:07:34,387 And another thing, 283 00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:35,555 you don't need to test your soil every year. 284 00:07:35,555 --> 00:07:36,489 - Right, yeah, of course. 285 00:07:36,489 --> 00:07:37,791 - About every three years 286 00:07:37,791 --> 00:07:39,259 is a good time to have that tested. 287 00:07:39,259 --> 00:07:41,261 Okay, it'll stay the same for about three years. 288 00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:42,495 Then you might wanna come out and test again 289 00:07:42,495 --> 00:07:43,963 in three years, in there. - Right. 290 00:07:43,963 --> 00:07:45,732 - And you know, you can call your extension service 291 00:07:45,732 --> 00:07:48,968 for a soil box and information on how to get that tested, 292 00:07:48,968 --> 00:07:50,503 in there. - Right, right, right. 293 00:07:50,503 --> 00:07:51,638 'Cause then we have a great soil lab here in Tennessee. 294 00:07:51,638 --> 00:07:53,640 - Great soil lab. - With Dr. Robert Florence. 295 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:54,841 He does an excellent job there. 296 00:07:54,841 --> 00:07:56,943 - And the price is not that bad. 297 00:07:56,943 --> 00:07:58,845 I'd rather pay $15 and get it tested 298 00:07:58,845 --> 00:08:01,781 than putting, throwing money out there, 299 00:08:01,781 --> 00:08:03,049 and it not doing any good. 300 00:08:03,049 --> 00:08:04,317 - All right, good point, good point. 301 00:08:04,317 --> 00:08:05,819 All right, so our next question is, 302 00:08:05,819 --> 00:08:08,054 "Do we get diseases on our grasses during the winter?" 303 00:08:08,054 --> 00:08:09,556 What about that? - Well, sometimes we, 304 00:08:09,556 --> 00:08:11,024 we take them from our warm seasons 305 00:08:11,024 --> 00:08:12,492 and we take them over into the winter, 306 00:08:12,492 --> 00:08:13,960 if we don't have any control though. 307 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,195 They we're still on your lawn, 308 00:08:15,195 --> 00:08:16,863 when you don't control the grass. 309 00:08:16,863 --> 00:08:18,698 You just don't hardly see 'em in the winter time, 310 00:08:18,698 --> 00:08:20,667 because the grass is dormant. - Okay. 311 00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:22,369 - It's in dormancy. 312 00:08:22,369 --> 00:08:25,171 And sometimes, with you fescue lawn, 313 00:08:25,171 --> 00:08:27,640 you might get some brown   patches sometime in there, 314 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,410 and you might just look   through that and see it. 315 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:33,713 You might see some   brown patches in there, 316 00:08:33,713 --> 00:08:35,915 and normally you'll see that on your fescue grass. 317 00:08:35,915 --> 00:08:38,218 And very few on Kentucky bluegrass 318 00:08:38,218 --> 00:08:39,686 you might see that. - Okay. 319 00:08:39,686 --> 00:08:40,754 - You wouldn't see that-- - But it is possible? 320 00:08:40,754 --> 00:08:42,255 - It's possible, it's possible. 321 00:08:42,255 --> 00:08:43,256 Because they're growin' then, and you can see it. 322 00:08:43,256 --> 00:08:44,691 It'll be visible to the eye then. 323 00:08:44,691 --> 00:08:47,127 But normally your warm-season grass is kind of dormant, 324 00:08:47,127 --> 00:08:51,364 and because it's brown, so you can't hardly tell, 325 00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:53,366 But you would know you have some in there, 326 00:08:53,366 --> 00:08:54,768 in the springtime, last year, 327 00:08:54,768 --> 00:08:56,002 and sometimes if you ain't do nothing with 'em, 328 00:08:56,002 --> 00:08:57,537 so then they'll carry over in there. 329 00:08:57,537 --> 00:08:59,239 - And they carry over, okay. - Mm-hm. Yep. 330 00:08:59,239 --> 00:09:01,141 - Wow, so, good tips, right, 331 00:09:01,141 --> 00:09:03,576 on getting your lawn prepared for the fall and winter. 332 00:09:03,576 --> 00:09:05,278 - Getting ready for fall, but you're really tryin' 333 00:09:05,278 --> 00:09:06,546 to get it ready for next spring. 334 00:09:06,546 --> 00:09:08,014 - Right. - Then you need to be thinking 335 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:09,382 of doing the things now to get it ready for next spring, 336 00:09:09,382 --> 00:09:10,617 in there, yeah. - Okay. 337 00:09:10,617 --> 00:09:11,651 - You take care of that grass now. 338 00:09:11,651 --> 00:09:12,919 - Take care of that grass, man. 339 00:09:12,919 --> 00:09:13,586 Well we appreciate that information. 340 00:09:13,586 --> 00:09:14,988 Thank you much. 341 00:09:14,988 --> 00:09:15,955 - Thank you for having me. [Chris chuckling] 342 00:09:15,955 --> 00:09:17,557 I enjoyed it. 343 00:09:17,557 --> 00:09:20,060 [upbeat country music] 344 00:09:22,829 --> 00:09:24,164 - Let's talk a little bit about 345 00:09:24,164 --> 00:09:28,034 this summer annual grass weed. 346 00:09:28,034 --> 00:09:29,969 This is goose grass. 347 00:09:29,969 --> 00:09:32,939 Goose grass is related to crab grass. 348 00:09:32,939 --> 00:09:34,908 It loves compact soils 349 00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:37,777 and also loves soils that are poorly drained. 350 00:09:37,777 --> 00:09:40,413 You definitely want to remove this weed 351 00:09:40,413 --> 00:09:42,515 before it actually starts to go to seed. 352 00:09:42,515 --> 00:09:43,983 And as you can see, now, 353 00:09:43,983 --> 00:09:46,019 it is starting to go to seed, 354 00:09:46,019 --> 00:09:49,189 because it is an annual grass weed. 355 00:09:49,189 --> 00:09:50,857 So here's a couple of things that you could do. 356 00:09:50,857 --> 00:09:52,926 One use a pre-emerge. 357 00:09:52,926 --> 00:09:54,894 Dimension will be   a good pre-emerge 358 00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:56,496 to control goose grass, 359 00:09:56,496 --> 00:09:58,665 And you wanna put that down   of course in the spring, 360 00:09:58,665 --> 00:10:00,033 then again in the summer. 361 00:10:00,033 --> 00:10:01,501 And since this weed   is already here, 362 00:10:01,501 --> 00:10:04,604 how about a post   emergent herbicide? 363 00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:08,441 You can use something   like quinclorac. 364 00:10:08,441 --> 00:10:09,776 That's the active ingredient. 365 00:10:09,776 --> 00:10:12,612 So again, goose grass, make sure you get it up, 366 00:10:12,612 --> 00:10:15,281 because, if you don't and you wait too late, 367 00:10:15,281 --> 00:10:17,517 it will go to seed, and guess what? 368 00:10:17,517 --> 00:10:19,319 It will be back next year. 369 00:10:19,319 --> 00:10:22,322 [upbeat country music] 370 00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:23,590 - Alright Kim. 371 00:10:23,590 --> 00:10:24,591 We're gonna talk about propagation. 372 00:10:24,591 --> 00:10:26,292 So here's the first question. 373 00:10:26,292 --> 00:10:29,596 What is propagation, and why do we need to propagate? 374 00:10:30,997 --> 00:10:33,700 - Well propagation, if you're like most gardeners, 375 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:35,602 once you get the gardening fever, 376 00:10:35,602 --> 00:10:38,171 you just want to acquire more and more plants. 377 00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:41,374 And, when you learn to propagate, 378 00:10:41,374 --> 00:10:43,276 it's a skill set that you learn. 379 00:10:43,276 --> 00:10:45,445 Plus it's a way to get new plants, 380 00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:46,779 without-- - Okay. 381 00:10:46,779 --> 00:10:48,481 - It's economical. - Okay. 382 00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:50,183 All right, so you want to get us started, 383 00:10:50,183 --> 00:10:51,451 on some of your practices? - Sure. 384 00:10:51,451 --> 00:10:53,386 There are several ways to propagate. 385 00:10:54,821 --> 00:10:57,957 The easiest, to me, one of the easiest, is to seed. 386 00:10:57,957 --> 00:11:00,093 It's very economical. 387 00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:03,563 It's a quick fix. You get plants fairly quickly. 388 00:11:03,563 --> 00:11:05,298 A lot of people are interested 389 00:11:05,298 --> 00:11:07,934 in vegetable gardening now. - Sure. 390 00:11:07,934 --> 00:11:11,671 - So it's very easy to seed your vegetables. 391 00:11:11,671 --> 00:11:13,907 There are basically two types of seeding, 392 00:11:14,974 --> 00:11:17,577 direct seeding, or in situ, 393 00:11:17,577 --> 00:11:20,813 which means you take your seeds, you go out in the yard, 394 00:11:20,813 --> 00:11:23,483 and you plant them in your prepared bed. 395 00:11:25,084 --> 00:11:27,820 A lot of your vegetables, you can do that way. 396 00:11:27,820 --> 00:11:30,957 Especially if they have, the plant is gonna have a taproot, 397 00:11:30,957 --> 00:11:32,959 those don't usually transplant real well, 398 00:11:32,959 --> 00:11:34,794 so you want to start those outside. 399 00:11:36,362 --> 00:11:38,464 The other is indirect seeding, 400 00:11:39,766 --> 00:11:41,200 and usually, what that involves 401 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,137 is seeding into a container of some sort, 402 00:11:44,137 --> 00:11:46,205 and then you, usually, end up transplanting, 403 00:11:46,205 --> 00:11:49,008 at least once or twice, before you actually move it 404 00:11:49,008 --> 00:11:51,811 into the spot where you are going to grow it on. 405 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:55,548 We do a lot of indirect seeding 406 00:11:55,548 --> 00:11:56,649 at the Dixon. - Okay. 407 00:11:58,117 --> 00:12:01,588 - And so basically, what I do with the indirect seeding is, 408 00:12:01,588 --> 00:12:03,456 this is our seeding tray, 409 00:12:05,058 --> 00:12:06,326 and I've got little cells. 410 00:12:06,326 --> 00:12:07,927 We put a special mix in there. 411 00:12:07,927 --> 00:12:11,064 It's basically just a soil mix. It's a little looser. 412 00:12:11,064 --> 00:12:14,500 And we put one seed per cell. - Okay. 413 00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:15,702 - And that's just, 414 00:12:17,670 --> 00:12:19,339 because it's easier to transplant, 415 00:12:19,339 --> 00:12:20,707 so you don't have to divide 'em. 416 00:12:20,707 --> 00:12:21,541 - Okay, makes sense. 417 00:12:21,541 --> 00:12:23,042 - And we do quite a few. 418 00:12:23,042 --> 00:12:24,777 And usually, the seeds we're using, 419 00:12:24,777 --> 00:12:26,879 the germination rate is really high, 420 00:12:26,879 --> 00:12:29,482 so we know, if we need 40 plants, 421 00:12:29,482 --> 00:12:32,885 and I seed 42 seeds, I'm gonna get at least 40 plants. 422 00:12:32,885 --> 00:12:34,153 - Okay. - A lot of that 423 00:12:34,153 --> 00:12:35,221 depends on your germination rate. 424 00:12:36,422 --> 00:12:37,690 - Let me ask you this before you keep going. 425 00:12:37,690 --> 00:12:40,059 So can the homeowner get the seed trays? 426 00:12:40,059 --> 00:12:41,594 Where can they purchase them? - Oh yes, you can. 427 00:12:41,594 --> 00:12:44,364 A lot of times you'll see 'em in the big box stores, 428 00:12:44,364 --> 00:12:46,065 and they come in a big flat. 429 00:12:46,065 --> 00:12:48,935 This has actually been cut in half. 430 00:12:48,935 --> 00:12:51,337 And then it'll have a dome on the top. 431 00:12:51,337 --> 00:12:54,273 Sometimes they'll already have the soil in 'em, 432 00:12:54,273 --> 00:12:57,043 and it'll have a little tray that holds water on the bottom. 433 00:12:57,043 --> 00:12:58,378 That's what this tray is for. 434 00:12:58,378 --> 00:13:01,080 We actually seed into dry mix, 435 00:13:02,248 --> 00:13:04,150 and then pour warm water onto the tray, 436 00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:05,718 and let it soak up from the bottom. 437 00:13:05,718 --> 00:13:07,654 You don't want to water on top of this, 438 00:13:07,654 --> 00:13:09,389 because your seed's gonna wash out. 439 00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:12,492 - That's good to know. - That's good, yeah. 440 00:13:12,492 --> 00:13:13,960 - That's good to know, yes. - That's real good to know. 441 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,628 - Once they get this, these are some seedlings. 442 00:13:15,628 --> 00:13:18,698 It's Aquilegia or columbine that we seeded, 443 00:13:18,698 --> 00:13:20,800 and these were actually seeded, 444 00:13:23,102 --> 00:13:25,705 on January 23rd. - Okay. 445 00:13:25,705 --> 00:13:29,409 - But these are, we call these plugs, and what we do, 446 00:13:29,409 --> 00:13:32,645 once they get their second set of true leaves. 447 00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:33,446 - Okay. 448 00:13:34,914 --> 00:13:37,283 - What we do is we just kind of squeeze it like this, 449 00:13:37,283 --> 00:13:40,420 and then I usually take a bamboo stick, 450 00:13:40,420 --> 00:13:43,990 and you just poke up the bottom, 451 00:13:43,990 --> 00:13:45,191 and it just pops out. - You got all the tricks. 452 00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:46,859 - And there's your plug. - I can handle that. 453 00:13:46,859 --> 00:13:48,461 - Sorry, I'm makin' a mess. - Oh, that's all right. 454 00:13:48,461 --> 00:13:50,863 - And then you just move that to the next size pot, 455 00:13:50,863 --> 00:13:52,131 and you grow 'em on. 456 00:13:52,131 --> 00:13:55,101 That's actually the pink flowers down there. 457 00:13:55,101 --> 00:13:57,070 Those actually, the seed is 458 00:13:57,070 --> 00:13:58,905 about the size of a grain of pepper. 459 00:13:58,905 --> 00:14:00,339 It's very tiny. - Wow, small. 460 00:14:00,339 --> 00:14:02,442 - And then in 12 to 14 weeks, 461 00:14:02,442 --> 00:14:03,876 that's what I have. - Okay. 462 00:14:03,876 --> 00:14:06,713 - So, and that's another important thing with seeding. 463 00:14:06,713 --> 00:14:08,881 You need to decide when you want your plant, 464 00:14:08,881 --> 00:14:11,417 and then count back the number of weeks 465 00:14:11,417 --> 00:14:13,186 that it tells you on the package 466 00:14:13,186 --> 00:14:15,621 that it takes for the plant to get that size. 467 00:14:15,621 --> 00:14:16,856 - Okay. - So with the, 468 00:14:16,856 --> 00:14:20,793 the snapdragon there, we actually seed those. 469 00:14:20,793 --> 00:14:22,729 We want 'em about the 1st of February, 470 00:14:22,729 --> 00:14:25,064 so I count back 12 to 14 weeks, 471 00:14:25,064 --> 00:14:27,934 and that's usually the end of October, 1st of November. 472 00:14:27,934 --> 00:14:29,869 That's when I seed it. - Okay. 473 00:14:29,869 --> 00:14:31,704 - Usually a month later I can up-pot it 474 00:14:31,704 --> 00:14:34,607 to the first small pot, 475 00:14:34,607 --> 00:14:36,509 and then we move 'em into the big gallons. 476 00:14:36,509 --> 00:14:39,846 And then we, it's very important for us for timing, 477 00:14:39,846 --> 00:14:41,748 because I want the flowers 478 00:14:41,748 --> 00:14:43,816 for the arrangements in the museum, 479 00:14:43,816 --> 00:14:45,852 so I have to have 'em on a certain schedule. 480 00:14:45,852 --> 00:14:47,687 - It's pretty neat. Now can we get to the cuttings? 481 00:14:47,687 --> 00:14:49,055 - Yes. - Okay. 482 00:14:49,055 --> 00:14:51,090 - On the cuttings, there's several ways 483 00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:53,025 to vegetatively propagate something, 484 00:14:53,025 --> 00:14:55,762 which basically, with that, you're gonna get 485 00:14:55,762 --> 00:14:57,864 the identical plant that you're working with. 486 00:14:57,864 --> 00:14:59,098 - Okay. 487 00:14:59,098 --> 00:15:00,767 - And there are several ways to do this. 488 00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:05,605 You can do stem cuttings with herbaceous plants, 489 00:15:05,605 --> 00:15:08,274 and that's real good for your annuals. 490 00:15:08,274 --> 00:15:10,676 My mom always kept coleus in the window sill. 491 00:15:10,676 --> 00:15:13,346 She would save 'em from the season before, 492 00:15:13,346 --> 00:15:16,916 and you just take a cutting, and, what I do is-- 493 00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:18,251 We call this the mother plant. 494 00:15:18,251 --> 00:15:19,452 - Okay. [all laughing] 495 00:15:19,452 --> 00:15:20,787 - And we keep several of these, 496 00:15:20,787 --> 00:15:22,255 and then we take cuttings off of it. 497 00:15:22,255 --> 00:15:23,790 But you just find a stem, 498 00:15:23,790 --> 00:15:25,758 and you want it not real flexible. 499 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:27,160 That means it's the newer growth. 500 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,428 But you want to get it back just a little bit 501 00:15:29,428 --> 00:15:31,397 to where it's not real stiff. - Okay. 502 00:15:31,397 --> 00:15:36,135 - And what I usually do, you can take it off here, 503 00:15:36,135 --> 00:15:39,305 and you'll usually hear, as much as feel, a little snap. 504 00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:40,540 [plant snaps] 505 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:41,541 - Wow, okay. - And you can do it that way. 506 00:15:42,975 --> 00:15:45,044 It's really best to cut, 'cause you end up tearin'. 507 00:15:45,044 --> 00:15:48,447 But the next, it's really very easy to do this. 508 00:15:48,447 --> 00:15:50,616 You can either root it by dipping it in hormone, 509 00:15:50,616 --> 00:15:53,019 and then sticking it in soil or with these, 510 00:15:53,019 --> 00:15:54,387 I like to start 'em in water. 511 00:15:54,387 --> 00:15:56,055 It's just easier. It's quicker. 512 00:15:56,055 --> 00:15:57,290 But you just take your leaves 513 00:15:57,290 --> 00:15:58,658 and strip 'em off. - Okay. 514 00:15:58,658 --> 00:16:01,460 - And then you want several leaf nodes, 515 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:05,398 one, two, three down into the water or into the soil. 516 00:16:05,398 --> 00:16:07,166 - Okay. - So that's what... 517 00:16:07,166 --> 00:16:09,669 And then this is what you get in about 518 00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:12,839 two weeks. - Well how about that. 519 00:16:12,839 --> 00:16:13,806 - Two weeks? - And then you just stick-- 520 00:16:13,806 --> 00:16:14,740 Two weeks. - Yeah. 521 00:16:14,740 --> 00:16:15,575 - And that's just in water. 522 00:16:15,575 --> 00:16:16,843 - That's just in water. 523 00:16:16,843 --> 00:16:17,877 We usually set it in a window sill, 524 00:16:17,877 --> 00:16:19,111 where it gets indirect light, 525 00:16:19,111 --> 00:16:21,414 good light, but indirect light. 526 00:16:21,414 --> 00:16:23,449 And then we just pop those 527 00:16:23,449 --> 00:16:26,619 into a soil mix. - Okay. 528 00:16:26,619 --> 00:16:30,723 - The other, that's a kind of an herbaceous. 529 00:16:30,723 --> 00:16:34,427 There's also semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings. 530 00:16:34,427 --> 00:16:36,863 The boxwood, we don't do a lot of those. 531 00:16:36,863 --> 00:16:39,131 We do it more for demonstration and, just, 532 00:16:39,131 --> 00:16:40,700 what we call playin'. [Chris laughs] 533 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,301 But you usually use 534 00:16:43,669 --> 00:16:46,005 the past year's growth, 535 00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:47,907 and what you do is, you find a stem, that's, 536 00:16:47,907 --> 00:16:50,543 the same thing, not real hard, 537 00:16:50,543 --> 00:16:53,779 or it's somewhat woody, but, you know, 538 00:16:53,779 --> 00:16:56,048 it's not like this major stem here. 539 00:16:56,048 --> 00:16:58,751 But what you do is, you just cut it off. 540 00:16:58,751 --> 00:17:00,152 - Okay. 541 00:17:00,152 --> 00:17:01,587 - Use good clean clippers. [branch snipping] 542 00:17:01,587 --> 00:17:04,323 I like to clean 'em in between with alcohol. 543 00:17:04,323 --> 00:17:06,125 - Okay, and we wanna make sure we get a clean cut as well. 544 00:17:06,125 --> 00:17:07,393 - A clean cut, right. - Okay. 545 00:17:07,393 --> 00:17:09,061 - And then you do the same thing. 546 00:17:09,061 --> 00:17:11,130 You want to take your leaves off, 547 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:13,332 and you want several nodes. 548 00:17:13,332 --> 00:17:15,501 And then, what I like to do with hardwood 549 00:17:15,501 --> 00:17:17,436 or semi-hardwood cuttings, 550 00:17:17,436 --> 00:17:20,239 and a lot of these depend on the time of the year. 551 00:17:20,239 --> 00:17:22,475 Usually May, June, July, 552 00:17:22,475 --> 00:17:24,777 you've had that first flush of new growth, 553 00:17:24,777 --> 00:17:27,313 and it starting to get a little bit hard. 554 00:17:27,313 --> 00:17:28,581 It's not quite so tender. 555 00:17:28,581 --> 00:17:31,217 And then I just take a rooting hormone. 556 00:17:31,217 --> 00:17:33,119 There's also liquids you can use. 557 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:34,287 You can buy 'em anywhere. 558 00:17:34,287 --> 00:17:35,488 This is kind of 559 00:17:35,488 --> 00:17:36,289 professional strength. - So the homeowner 560 00:17:36,289 --> 00:17:37,757 can readily get that? 561 00:17:37,757 --> 00:17:39,659 - There's one called Root Tone that you can find 562 00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:41,327 at most any garden center. - Okay, from any garden... 563 00:17:41,327 --> 00:17:43,963 - So what you do, I don't like to dip into that, 564 00:17:43,963 --> 00:17:45,598 because, if this is diseased, 565 00:17:45,598 --> 00:17:46,732 you're gonna contaminate 566 00:17:46,732 --> 00:17:48,000 your whole container. - Makes sense. 567 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,669 - So what I do is pour it into a little cup, 568 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:52,605 and you can, it's not necessary to wet this, 569 00:17:52,605 --> 00:17:53,906 because it's gonna stick. 570 00:17:53,906 --> 00:17:55,641 It's just a real fine powder. [softly tapping] 571 00:17:55,641 --> 00:17:59,478 And I put it in there and knock the excess off. 572 00:17:59,478 --> 00:18:03,182 And then what I've done, I've got potting mix in there, 573 00:18:03,182 --> 00:18:06,652 And then I generally put a small layer of sand, 574 00:18:06,652 --> 00:18:08,087 and then I put more potting mix, 575 00:18:08,087 --> 00:18:09,956 and then you can just poke it in there. 576 00:18:09,956 --> 00:18:11,624 - Okay. Now what is the sand for? 577 00:18:13,059 --> 00:18:17,763 - The roots seem to grow off that, into that fairly easily. 578 00:18:18,898 --> 00:18:19,832 Plus it kind of holds a little moisture. 579 00:18:19,832 --> 00:18:21,067 - Okay, that makes sense. 580 00:18:21,067 --> 00:18:23,769 - And then, this is kind of short, but [laughs] 581 00:18:23,769 --> 00:18:25,371 he's in there. - It's peepin' out there. 582 00:18:25,371 --> 00:18:27,173 - It's peekin, I can see it. - He's peeking in there. 583 00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:28,374 Generally what I will do is 584 00:18:28,374 --> 00:18:31,177 water it once really well after that, 585 00:18:31,177 --> 00:18:34,814 and then we have a mist house which keeps the humidity up, 586 00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:37,750 but most homeowners don't have their own mist house. 587 00:18:37,750 --> 00:18:40,219 So you can put it in a Ziploc bag and seal it, 588 00:18:40,219 --> 00:18:42,588 and put it in good indirect light, 589 00:18:42,588 --> 00:18:44,290 and then that'll kind of keep it moist. 590 00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:48,094 And usually they root in, in maybe two to three months. 591 00:18:48,094 --> 00:18:49,562 [cheerful guitar music] 592 00:18:49,562 --> 00:18:51,964 - Okay, we appreciate that awesome demonstration. 593 00:18:51,964 --> 00:18:53,566 I'm pretty sure the homeowners are gonna love that as well. 594 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,201 So thank you much. - You're welcome. 595 00:18:55,201 --> 00:18:59,005 [gentle country music] 596 00:18:59,005 --> 00:19:01,574 - Squash vine borers can be devastating in the home garden 597 00:19:01,574 --> 00:19:03,643 to pumpkins and other squash plants. 598 00:19:03,643 --> 00:19:06,779 The borer boroughs into the   stem, girdles the plant, 599 00:19:06,779 --> 00:19:09,015 and the whole thing   just wilts and dies. 600 00:19:09,015 --> 00:19:10,383 And there's not much   you can do about it, 601 00:19:10,383 --> 00:19:12,551 once the borer   is in the plant. 602 00:19:12,551 --> 00:19:13,986 To stop the squash vine borer, 603 00:19:13,986 --> 00:19:16,756 you have to kill it before it enters the plant. 604 00:19:16,756 --> 00:19:18,891 So, if you choose to go the chemical route, 605 00:19:18,891 --> 00:19:22,061 I have here a bifenthrin and zeta-cypermethrin. 606 00:19:22,061 --> 00:19:26,365 So take your spray and direct it to the base of the plants. 607 00:19:26,365 --> 00:19:29,602 You don't need to spray the leaves or the flowers, 608 00:19:29,602 --> 00:19:32,271 just the bottom three feet of the vine itself, 609 00:19:32,271 --> 00:19:36,042 'cause that's where the squash vine borer will lay its eggs. 610 00:19:36,042 --> 00:19:37,843 You wanna spray in the evening, 611 00:19:37,843 --> 00:19:40,046 because, in the morning,   the pollinators are active, 612 00:19:40,046 --> 00:19:41,280 and the flowers are open. 613 00:19:42,715 --> 00:19:44,483 Always make sure you read and follow the label direction, 614 00:19:44,483 --> 00:19:46,685 including protective clothing. 615 00:19:46,685 --> 00:19:48,988 This particular chemical says I need to wear gloves 616 00:19:48,988 --> 00:19:50,923 and a long-sleeve shirt and long pants. 617 00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:55,528 And you wanna repeat the spray every week 618 00:19:55,528 --> 00:19:57,696 while the squash vine borers are active, 619 00:19:57,696 --> 00:20:00,266 and that should keep the squash vine borers 620 00:20:00,266 --> 00:20:01,901 out of your squash. 621 00:20:01,901 --> 00:20:05,805 [gentle country music] 622 00:20:05,805 --> 00:20:07,006 - All right, here's our Q and A segment. 623 00:20:07,006 --> 00:20:08,174 You ready? - I'm ready? 624 00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:09,442 - Some great questions here. 625 00:20:09,442 --> 00:20:11,644 - Always a good question here, always comin' in. 626 00:20:11,644 --> 00:20:13,813 - Here's our first viewer email. 627 00:20:13,813 --> 00:20:15,347 "I have vinca that is trying 628 00:20:15,347 --> 00:20:17,817 "to take over my   whole garden bed. 629 00:20:17,817 --> 00:20:20,319 "I have let it grow   for about 15 years. 630 00:20:20,319 --> 00:20:22,421 "It is now layers   and layers of vines 631 00:20:22,421 --> 00:20:25,324 "and rising higher and   higher around my plants. 632 00:20:25,324 --> 00:20:27,493 "Will glyphosate   kill this weed? 633 00:20:27,493 --> 00:20:29,528 "If so, when should   it be applied? 634 00:20:29,528 --> 00:20:32,064 "If not, can you suggest   something that will curb 635 00:20:32,064 --> 00:20:34,266 "or kill this growth? 636 00:20:34,266 --> 00:20:37,269 Thanks in advance." Patsy   from Lexington, Kentucky. 637 00:20:37,269 --> 00:20:40,873 So we're trying to see if glyphosate will kill this weed. 638 00:20:40,873 --> 00:20:41,807 What do you think? 639 00:20:41,807 --> 00:20:42,741 - Glyphosate will kill it. 640 00:20:42,741 --> 00:20:44,276 It will kill the weed in there, 641 00:20:44,276 --> 00:20:45,478 and you gotta spray it at the right time of the year 642 00:20:45,478 --> 00:20:46,946 and make sure the temperature is right. 643 00:20:46,946 --> 00:20:49,415 To kill it, you need to get a good coverage on that, 644 00:20:49,415 --> 00:20:51,117 when you spray it on there. 645 00:20:51,117 --> 00:20:52,618 And another thing, when you're usin' glyphosate, 646 00:20:52,618 --> 00:20:53,886 any kind of herbicide or somethin', 647 00:20:53,886 --> 00:20:55,988 always read and follow the label directions. 648 00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:58,157 If you're gonna spray it in you flower bed, 649 00:20:58,157 --> 00:20:59,425 you need to be very careful when you're sprayin' 650 00:20:59,425 --> 00:21:02,528 to make sure the wind is not high or not blowin', 651 00:21:02,528 --> 00:21:04,029 'cause it will drift. 652 00:21:04,029 --> 00:21:07,233 Whatever glyphosate get on, it's gonna kill it, you know, 653 00:21:07,233 --> 00:21:09,068 so you need to be very careful in there. 654 00:21:09,068 --> 00:21:10,536 Then she obviously, like I say, 655 00:21:10,536 --> 00:21:13,572 well she can get some black bags to put over there, 656 00:21:13,572 --> 00:21:15,841 and try to cover it out and smother it out. 657 00:21:15,841 --> 00:21:18,477 But if you're gonna spray chemicals on that, 658 00:21:18,477 --> 00:21:21,347 best thing to do is, if you can, cut it, 659 00:21:21,347 --> 00:21:23,549 and then let it start to get some new growth on there. 660 00:21:23,549 --> 00:21:25,151 A lot of time it'll kill better. 661 00:21:25,151 --> 00:21:26,685 - Right. - On that tender growth. 662 00:21:26,685 --> 00:21:27,920 - Right, and it'd be best to do that in the spring 663 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,255 when it's actively growing. 664 00:21:29,255 --> 00:21:31,023 - Active growing, yeah, mm-hm. - Right, right. 665 00:21:31,023 --> 00:21:33,726 But yeah, spray when it is young and actively growing. 666 00:21:33,726 --> 00:21:35,861 Read and follow the label, Ms. Patsy. 667 00:21:35,861 --> 00:21:37,096 You'll be fine. - Yeah. 668 00:21:37,096 --> 00:21:38,964 - Thank you much. We appreciate that. 669 00:21:38,964 --> 00:21:41,100 Here's our next viewer email. 670 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:44,103 "How can I make my   Bermuda lawn thicker?" 671 00:21:44,103 --> 00:21:47,573 This is from Ken, so he wants   to make the Bermuda thicker. 672 00:21:47,573 --> 00:21:49,475 - Well, like I said, [Chris chuckles] 673 00:21:49,475 --> 00:21:50,943 You got that big turf in there, 674 00:21:50,943 --> 00:21:52,878 well that big grass looks really good in there. 675 00:21:52,878 --> 00:21:54,647 One thing that you're cuttin' at the right height. 676 00:21:54,647 --> 00:21:56,448 You cut it at the right height and you fertilize it, 677 00:21:56,448 --> 00:21:57,650 get the right amount of fertilizer, 678 00:21:57,650 --> 00:22:00,052 and your waterin' it in there. 679 00:22:00,052 --> 00:22:03,656 When you cut it a lot, sometimes it'll thicken up more, 680 00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:05,457 but a healthy turf is gonna do that, you know. 681 00:22:05,457 --> 00:22:07,226 To make it thicker, you got to get it right, 682 00:22:07,226 --> 00:22:08,894 gettin' the right amount of water. 683 00:22:08,894 --> 00:22:10,629 You cut it the right height, and everything, 684 00:22:10,629 --> 00:22:11,931 and all the nutrients good in there. 685 00:22:11,931 --> 00:22:13,832 Your pH is good, your phosphate good, 686 00:22:13,832 --> 00:22:15,367 and potassium is good, 687 00:22:15,367 --> 00:22:17,970 that grass will get thicker in there, when you do that. 688 00:22:17,970 --> 00:22:20,773 And no, you don't wanna give it too much, especially, 689 00:22:20,773 --> 00:22:23,475 too much phosphate-potassium fertilizer, probably. 690 00:22:23,475 --> 00:22:25,611 That can build up in the soil. 691 00:22:25,611 --> 00:22:27,880 But, normally, a nitrogen fertilizer leaches it's way out. 692 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,349 It'll come in and do what it, do it's job, 693 00:22:30,349 --> 00:22:32,518 turn it green and make it grow and leach its way out. 694 00:22:32,518 --> 00:22:34,253 And that way will make your grass thicker in there, 695 00:22:34,253 --> 00:22:36,755 the good cultural practice, and then do that. 696 00:22:36,755 --> 00:22:40,259 And like I say, I cut mine twice a week, 697 00:22:40,259 --> 00:22:41,093 and that helped it. [Chris chuckling] 698 00:22:41,093 --> 00:22:42,428 That make it grow, 699 00:22:42,428 --> 00:22:44,496 and that make it thicken up some more in there. 700 00:22:44,496 --> 00:22:47,700 A weak grass, a weak grass, they're not gonna. 701 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:49,168 They're not gonna thicken up. 702 00:22:49,168 --> 00:22:50,869 That's under stress. It's not gonna thicken up, likely. 703 00:22:50,869 --> 00:22:52,571 You'll see you'll have thin spots in there. 704 00:22:52,571 --> 00:22:55,307 - Right, so cultural practices are important, 705 00:22:55,307 --> 00:22:57,843 and we wanna make sure that Bermuda has 706 00:22:57,843 --> 00:22:59,778 full sunlight. - Full sun, yeah. 707 00:22:59,778 --> 00:23:01,747 - Right, full sunlight. - Full sunlight, yeah. 708 00:23:01,747 --> 00:23:03,182 - That's what it likes, no shade. 709 00:23:03,182 --> 00:23:04,617 Because, of course-- - I had that problem too, 710 00:23:04,617 --> 00:23:05,451 in my grass. - A real problem. 711 00:23:05,451 --> 00:23:06,952 - I had a tree in there, 712 00:23:06,952 --> 00:23:08,487 and the grass begin to thin out under that tree because. 713 00:23:08,487 --> 00:23:11,190 As the tree get older, it'd lay more shade get in there, 714 00:23:11,190 --> 00:23:12,558 the Bermuda grass is gonna thin out. 715 00:23:12,558 --> 00:23:15,094 - Right, so give it full sunlight. 716 00:23:15,094 --> 00:23:16,295 - Full sunlight. - All right. 717 00:23:16,295 --> 00:23:17,329 - So there you have it, Mr. Ken. 718 00:23:17,329 --> 00:23:18,931 We appreciate that question. 719 00:23:18,931 --> 00:23:20,966 Here's our next viewer email. 720 00:23:20,966 --> 00:23:23,903 "My oak tree has been   looking bad this year. 721 00:23:23,903 --> 00:23:27,239 "There have been rounded   brown spots on the leaves. 722 00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:29,341 "Many inside branches   have no leaves, 723 00:23:29,341 --> 00:23:32,912 "and, this morning, I found   these critters munching away. 724 00:23:32,912 --> 00:23:34,079 "What's going on? 725 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:35,914 "Should I have it sprayed? 726 00:23:35,914 --> 00:23:38,450 Thank you,"   Paula in Bartlett. 727 00:23:38,450 --> 00:23:39,918 So you know, first of all, 728 00:23:39,918 --> 00:23:41,787 had a lot of fungal diseases on our trees this year, 729 00:23:41,787 --> 00:23:45,024 because of the early spring rains and the cool temperature. 730 00:23:45,024 --> 00:23:46,525 Okay? - Mm-hm. 731 00:23:46,525 --> 00:23:50,296 - Secondly, the critters, yellow-necked caterpillars. 732 00:23:50,296 --> 00:23:51,830 - Caterpillar, okay. 733 00:23:51,830 --> 00:23:54,466 - Of course they're gonna   be feeding on the foliage 734 00:23:54,466 --> 00:23:55,934 of the tree.   - on the foliage. 735 00:23:55,934 --> 00:23:58,971 - The Oak tree will be able   to maintain its growth, 736 00:23:58,971 --> 00:24:00,839 even though   it's being eaten on. 737 00:24:00,839 --> 00:24:02,574 - Yeah.   - So I wouldn't consider that 738 00:24:02,574 --> 00:24:03,809 to be a major problem. 739 00:24:03,809 --> 00:24:06,812 But if you will like to   have the tree sprayed, 740 00:24:06,812 --> 00:24:09,315 I would contact a certified arborist 741 00:24:09,315 --> 00:24:10,649 to come out and spray that tree. 742 00:24:10,649 --> 00:24:12,151 - Yeah. - They have products. 743 00:24:12,151 --> 00:24:15,387 Bt will probably be one of the products that they will use 744 00:24:15,387 --> 00:24:18,223 to control the yellow-necked caterpillar. 745 00:24:18,223 --> 00:24:20,459 So keep those trees as healthy as possible, 746 00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:23,095 because, if they're stressed, then here comes what? 747 00:24:23,095 --> 00:24:25,631 The fungal diseases and the caterpillars. 748 00:24:25,631 --> 00:24:27,032 - And those dead limbs in there too. 749 00:24:27,032 --> 00:24:28,500 All that'll cause a problem in there. 750 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:29,702 You need to prune those out of there and everything. 751 00:24:29,702 --> 00:24:31,203 And if you think you've got a fungal disease 752 00:24:31,203 --> 00:24:32,638 on those dead limbs, 753 00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:33,639 you might wanna sterilize your prunin' shears 754 00:24:33,639 --> 00:24:35,140 after each cut. - Sure, sure. 755 00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:37,076 But yeah, we were talkin' about your large trees. 756 00:24:37,076 --> 00:24:38,477 - Large trees, yeah. - Large trees, 757 00:24:38,477 --> 00:24:39,945 certified arborist. - Certified arborist, yeah. 758 00:24:39,945 --> 00:24:42,247 - Will assess the plant health. 759 00:24:42,247 --> 00:24:44,550 So thank you for that question, Ms. Paula. 760 00:24:44,550 --> 00:24:46,952 Here's our next viewer email. 761 00:24:46,952 --> 00:24:49,088 "Can the clippings I   collected from my lawn 762 00:24:49,088 --> 00:24:52,558 "be used for a mulch   or in my compost pile? 763 00:24:52,558 --> 00:24:54,259 What if I sprayed my lawn?" 764 00:24:54,259 --> 00:24:56,328 And this is Mary. 765 00:24:56,328 --> 00:24:58,230 - If you sprayed your lawn with any kind of chemical. 766 00:24:58,230 --> 00:24:59,465 - Okay. 767 00:24:59,465 --> 00:25:01,066 - And then let those clippin' in there, 768 00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:02,000 you need to make sure you make 769 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,936 at least three cuttings on there 770 00:25:03,936 --> 00:25:05,604 before you start usin' those clippings, 771 00:25:05,604 --> 00:25:07,973 especially in your and your compost pile, 772 00:25:07,973 --> 00:25:09,308 especially if you're gonna use that compost pile 773 00:25:09,308 --> 00:25:10,809 in your vegetable garden, 774 00:25:10,809 --> 00:25:13,112 you need to make sure you make at least three cuttin' 775 00:25:13,112 --> 00:25:14,580 on there before you do that. 776 00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:17,249 Then all the chemicals and things should be gone. 777 00:25:17,249 --> 00:25:20,586 Then make sure you had that compost pile to heat up 778 00:25:20,586 --> 00:25:22,054 to a certain temperature in there, 779 00:25:22,054 --> 00:25:24,156 and try to kill all the stuff out of there in there. 780 00:25:24,156 --> 00:25:26,725 But, if you're gonna use those clippin' 781 00:25:26,725 --> 00:25:29,361 in your vegetable garden, do those three cuttin'. 782 00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:30,796 - Right, do those three cuttings. 783 00:25:30,796 --> 00:25:32,231 - Be cuttin' on that before you start doin' it. 784 00:25:32,231 --> 00:25:33,532 And make sure you heat it up good, 785 00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:34,933 and how you make it heat up, you have to turn that. 786 00:25:34,933 --> 00:25:36,268 It'll cause you to work to do that there, 787 00:25:36,268 --> 00:25:39,138 to turn that compost pile in there. 788 00:25:39,138 --> 00:25:41,106 And I did a compost pile, [Chris chuckles] 789 00:25:41,106 --> 00:25:44,343 and you turn it and get it to heat up in there, 790 00:25:44,343 --> 00:25:45,811 and that that'll kill a lot of those spores 791 00:25:45,811 --> 00:25:48,480 and things in there, all of that still in there. 792 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,082 But there bein' three cutting's the most important thing, 793 00:25:50,082 --> 00:25:52,050 though, mm-hm. - Okay, three cuttings. 794 00:25:52,050 --> 00:25:52,985 - But it can be used though. 795 00:25:52,985 --> 00:25:54,286 It'll be good organic material. 796 00:25:54,286 --> 00:25:55,854 - Okay, so it can be used as a mulch, 797 00:25:55,854 --> 00:25:56,789 and it can be used in the compost pile. 798 00:25:56,789 --> 00:25:58,090 - The compost pile, yeah. 799 00:25:58,090 --> 00:25:59,458 Once you've had three cuttings on there, 800 00:25:59,458 --> 00:26:00,426 you should have all the chemical out of there. 801 00:26:00,426 --> 00:26:01,693 - Okay. 802 00:26:01,693 --> 00:26:02,795 Yeah, just make sure you keep it turned, 803 00:26:02,795 --> 00:26:04,029 like you mentioned. - Oh yeah. 804 00:26:04,029 --> 00:26:05,597 - And it has to be aerated and watered 805 00:26:05,597 --> 00:26:06,698 as well. - Watered, yeah. [laughs] 806 00:26:06,698 --> 00:26:07,933 - Right, so it can heat up, 807 00:26:07,933 --> 00:26:10,602 but we're talking 120 to about 140, 50 degrees. 808 00:26:10,602 --> 00:26:12,604 - Warm, yeah, it's gotta get hot down in there. 809 00:26:12,604 --> 00:26:14,473 It's gotta get hot, most of it. 810 00:26:14,473 --> 00:26:16,542 - All right, so Mary, hope that helps you out. 811 00:26:16,542 --> 00:26:17,476 - Hope so, yeah, that in there. 812 00:26:17,476 --> 00:26:18,811 - All right, we appreciate that. 813 00:26:18,811 --> 00:26:20,078 It's fun as always. 814 00:26:20,078 --> 00:26:21,380 - Always fun, always good to be on here. 815 00:26:21,380 --> 00:26:23,649 I thank you again. - Thank you much. 816 00:26:23,649 --> 00:26:26,151 Remember we love   to hear from you. 817 00:26:26,151 --> 00:26:27,853 Send us an email or letter. 818 00:26:27,853 --> 00:26:31,490 The email address is   familyplot@wkno.org. 819 00:26:31,490 --> 00:26:33,459 And the mailing   address is Family Plot, 820 00:26:33,459 --> 00:26:38,997 7151 Cherry Farms Road   Cordova, Tennessee 38016. 821 00:26:38,997 --> 00:26:42,334 Or you can go online to   FamilyPlotGarden.com. 822 00:26:43,502 --> 00:26:44,837 That's all we have time for today. 823 00:26:44,837 --> 00:26:46,238 Thanks for joining us. 824 00:26:46,238 --> 00:26:47,639 If you want to learn more about 825 00:26:47,639 --> 00:26:49,675 anything we talked about today, 826 00:26:49,675 --> 00:26:52,511 head on over to FamilyPlotGarden.com. 827 00:26:52,511 --> 00:26:54,513 We have over a thousand videos 828 00:26:54,513 --> 00:26:56,348 on all sorts of gardening topics, 829 00:26:56,348 --> 00:26:59,651 including fall lawn care and rooting cuttings. 830 00:26:59,651 --> 00:27:01,119 Be sure to join us next week for 831 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,989 the Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South. 832 00:27:03,989 --> 00:27:05,224 Be safe. 833 00:27:05,224 --> 00:27:08,994 [upbeat country music] 834 00:27:17,870 --> 00:27:19,872 [acoustic guitar chords]