1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,631 Hi, thanks for joining us and welcome to "The Family Plot: 2 00:00:03,631 --> 00:00:05,098 Gardening in the Mid-South." 3 00:00:05,098 --> 00:00:08,064 Today, we're going to have a sneak preview of Memphis Area 4 00:00:08,064 --> 00:00:10,964 Master Gardeners' big event coming up this weekend, 5 00:00:10,964 --> 00:00:12,431 Spring Fling. 6 00:00:12,431 --> 00:00:14,998 We'll show you how to make a humingbird feeder and Master 7 00:00:14,998 --> 00:00:18,598 Gardener Tom Mashour gets our garden started with a few cool 8 00:00:18,598 --> 00:00:19,631 season vegetables. 9 00:00:19,631 --> 00:00:22,231 And if moles have taken over your yard, 10 00:00:22,231 --> 00:00:23,231 stay tuned. 11 00:00:23,231 --> 00:00:26,564 Mister D is here to show us one way to get rid of them. 12 00:00:26,564 --> 00:00:29,198 That's just ahead on "The Family Plot: Gardening in the 13 00:00:29,198 --> 00:00:31,664 Mid-South" so stay with us. 14 00:00:31,664 --> 00:00:35,464 This is a production of WKNO-Memphis. 15 00:00:35,464 --> 00:00:38,031 Production funding for "The Family Plot: Gardening in the 16 00:00:38,031 --> 00:00:40,831 Mid-South" is provided by.. 17 00:00:40,831 --> 00:00:45,631 Good Winds Landscape and Garden Center in Germantown since 1943 18 00:00:45,631 --> 00:00:48,898 and continuing to offer it's plants for sucessful gardening 19 00:00:48,898 --> 00:00:51,331 with seven greenhouses and three acres of plants plus 20 00:00:51,331 --> 00:00:54,331 comprehensive landscape services.. 21 00:00:56,931 --> 00:01:17,731 ♪♪♪ 22 00:01:17,731 --> 00:01:19,731 Hi, welcome to "The Family Plot." 23 00:01:19,731 --> 00:01:21,298 I'm Chris Cooper. 24 00:01:21,298 --> 00:01:23,598 Joining me today is Callie Bolyard. 25 00:01:23,598 --> 00:01:26,464 Callie is a Master Gardener right here in Shelby County. 26 00:01:26,464 --> 00:01:27,831 And Amanda Rideout. 27 00:01:27,831 --> 00:01:31,431 She's also a Master Gardener right here in Shelby County. 28 00:01:31,431 --> 00:01:35,698 Okay Amanda, Spring Fling is coming so could you tell us a 29 00:01:35,698 --> 00:01:36,831 little bit about it? 30 00:01:36,831 --> 00:01:40,798 Spring Fling is this Friday and this Saturday at the red barn at 31 00:01:40,798 --> 00:01:41,798 the Agricenter. 32 00:01:41,798 --> 00:01:42,798 Okay. 33 00:01:42,798 --> 00:01:43,798 It's a free event. 34 00:01:43,798 --> 00:01:47,231 It's open to the public 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. 35 00:01:47,231 --> 00:01:50,331 And we will have speakers, demonstrations, 36 00:01:50,331 --> 00:01:54,231 plants, things for the kids and a lot to do. 37 00:01:54,231 --> 00:01:56,931 Today, we've got Callie here and shes going to show us one of the 38 00:01:56,931 --> 00:01:59,764 demonstrations that we're going to have at Spring Fling which is 39 00:01:59,764 --> 00:02:04,031 how to build a bird feeder out of a wine bottle. 40 00:02:04,031 --> 00:02:05,031 Okay. 41 00:02:05,031 --> 00:02:06,498 Callie, we like demonstrations. 42 00:02:06,498 --> 00:02:09,064 (laughter) Lets get to it. 43 00:02:09,064 --> 00:02:13,064 Well, here are hummingbird feeders that I've made already. 44 00:02:13,064 --> 00:02:15,798 And I just want to tell you that it's not my original idea. 45 00:02:15,798 --> 00:02:19,298 I found this on Pinterest on the internet but I thought that this 46 00:02:19,298 --> 00:02:22,798 would be a really good project because it's recycling. 47 00:02:22,798 --> 00:02:24,731 It has to do with our Spring Fling. 48 00:02:24,731 --> 00:02:25,731 It was fun to make. 49 00:02:25,731 --> 00:02:26,731 It was real crafty. 50 00:02:26,731 --> 00:02:28,564 So what you're going to do is you're going to take a wine 51 00:02:28,564 --> 00:02:31,564 bottle and you're going to soak it for a couple of hours to take 52 00:02:31,564 --> 00:02:32,564 off the labels. 53 00:02:32,564 --> 00:02:34,298 And then this is what you come up with. 54 00:02:34,298 --> 00:02:36,864 Either green or white, doesn't matter. 55 00:02:36,864 --> 00:02:41,598 Your wire is a 16 gauge wire. 56 00:02:41,598 --> 00:02:45,264 You need your hummingbird feeders that you can get online. 57 00:02:45,264 --> 00:02:48,364 And glass and bead glue. 58 00:02:48,364 --> 00:02:54,364 You need wire cutters, some glass beads and we're ready to 59 00:02:54,364 --> 00:02:55,464 start the project. 60 00:02:55,464 --> 00:02:56,798 Okay, let's get it started. 61 00:02:56,798 --> 00:02:57,798 Okay. 62 00:02:57,798 --> 00:03:02,264 I cut this wire just to be, just to work it out a little bit. 63 00:03:02,264 --> 00:03:04,664 And what we're going to do is we're going to wrap it around. 64 00:03:04,664 --> 00:03:08,398 And the nice thing about this wire is that it is bendable and 65 00:03:08,398 --> 00:03:09,831 you can bend it. 66 00:03:09,831 --> 00:03:12,498 You can make whatever design you want. 67 00:03:12,498 --> 00:03:14,131 And so whatever you want it to be, 68 00:03:14,131 --> 00:03:15,131 you can do that. 69 00:03:15,131 --> 00:03:20,131 That's the neat thing about this but you just tighten it up and 70 00:03:20,131 --> 00:03:22,998 you just wrap it around. 71 00:03:22,998 --> 00:03:26,198 And then we're just going to wrap it around here again. 72 00:03:26,198 --> 00:03:27,198 Okay. 73 00:03:27,198 --> 00:03:29,031 And we'll call that done. 74 00:03:29,031 --> 00:03:31,231 (laughter) And I'll show you how it works. 75 00:03:31,231 --> 00:03:35,798 The one neat thing with that wire is you can maybe roll 76 00:03:35,798 --> 00:03:36,798 beads. 77 00:03:36,798 --> 00:03:37,898 If you didn't have the glass beads, 78 00:03:37,898 --> 00:03:40,864 you could add some beads and kind of circle them around. 79 00:03:40,864 --> 00:03:42,498 After you got comfortable with that wire, 80 00:03:42,498 --> 00:03:43,498 I'm sure. 81 00:03:43,498 --> 00:03:44,498 Exactly. 82 00:03:44,498 --> 00:03:45,598 And what I'm going to do is I'm going to take a little piece of 83 00:03:45,598 --> 00:03:48,231 wire and just bend the ends here. 84 00:03:48,231 --> 00:03:51,831 And I'm going to put it on the bottom. 85 00:03:51,831 --> 00:03:54,164 And then you've got your handle like that. 86 00:03:54,164 --> 00:03:59,398 And for time's sake, what we're going to do is we're going to 87 00:03:59,398 --> 00:04:06,231 hot glue gun the beads instead of using the glass and bead 88 00:04:06,231 --> 00:04:12,298 adhesive because that will take about 24 hours to set up. 89 00:04:12,298 --> 00:04:16,731 And what I'm going to do is I'm just going to push some glue in 90 00:04:16,731 --> 00:04:17,898 some areas. 91 00:04:17,898 --> 00:04:21,064 And yeah, you can do that for me. 92 00:04:21,064 --> 00:04:22,331 And it just sticks right on there. 93 00:04:22,331 --> 00:04:23,331 Mhmm. 94 00:04:23,331 --> 00:04:28,331 And the adhesive, the glue adhesive will a take a little 95 00:04:28,331 --> 00:04:31,398 while longer and you can just keep putting beads everywhere 96 00:04:31,398 --> 00:04:32,598 you want. 97 00:04:32,598 --> 00:04:35,398 And the hummingbirds love the color. 98 00:04:35,398 --> 00:04:37,931 They don't have a sense of smell. 99 00:04:37,931 --> 00:04:39,198 They have a sense of sight. 100 00:04:39,198 --> 00:04:40,198 Okay. 101 00:04:40,198 --> 00:04:42,964 So, what you want to do is you just want to make it nice and 102 00:04:42,964 --> 00:04:44,631 colorful and there you go. 103 00:04:44,631 --> 00:04:46,131 And add that red. 104 00:04:46,131 --> 00:04:50,764 And then you put the bird feeder stopper feeder on the top. 105 00:04:50,764 --> 00:04:51,764 Alright. 106 00:04:51,764 --> 00:04:53,431 And you make sure you fill it. 107 00:04:53,431 --> 00:04:55,131 And there it is for hanging. 108 00:04:55,131 --> 00:04:56,564 Alright, well we appreciate that Miss Cathy. 109 00:04:56,564 --> 00:04:57,564 Well, sure. 110 00:04:57,564 --> 00:04:58,964 That's real nice. 111 00:04:58,964 --> 00:04:59,964 Okay. 112 00:04:59,964 --> 00:05:02,164 Alright Amanda, what are some other Spring Fling events that 113 00:05:02,164 --> 00:05:03,198 will be going on. 114 00:05:03,198 --> 00:05:05,331 Well, we're going to have some speakers that are going to be 115 00:05:05,331 --> 00:05:08,131 talking about hummingbirds and how to attract them to your 116 00:05:08,131 --> 00:05:09,131 yard. 117 00:05:09,131 --> 00:05:11,098 And flowers and things that you can plant. 118 00:05:11,098 --> 00:05:17,098 Also, just basic food that you can feed the hummingbirds which 119 00:05:21,331 --> 00:05:27,331 is generally the four parts water to one part sugar. 120 00:05:34,531 --> 00:05:40,531 We don't add any dyes to that food because that is harmful to 121 00:05:51,731 --> 00:05:54,798 the hummingbirds. 122 00:05:54,798 --> 00:06:02,531 We'll also have a children's area on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 123 00:06:02,531 --> 00:06:03,531 4:00 PM. 124 00:06:03,531 --> 00:06:07,964 And there we're going to have a lot of hands-on activities for 125 00:06:07,964 --> 00:06:08,964 the kids. 126 00:06:08,964 --> 00:06:10,964 They're going to get to plant seeds and eat celery and 127 00:06:10,964 --> 00:06:11,964 carrotts and things that.. 128 00:06:11,964 --> 00:06:13,298 Stuff they don't want to eat. 129 00:06:13,298 --> 00:06:16,531 Stuff they don't want to eat but we're promoting it in a fun way. 130 00:06:16,531 --> 00:06:18,831 And the volunteers that we have are teachers and-or Master 131 00:06:18,831 --> 00:06:21,098 Gardeners and they have a love for kids and education. 132 00:06:21,098 --> 00:06:23,164 And they mix it in a fun, great way. 133 00:06:23,164 --> 00:06:24,164 Good! 134 00:06:24,164 --> 00:06:26,431 We'll also have our app Ask a Master Gardner which is one of 135 00:06:26,431 --> 00:06:27,431 my favorites. 136 00:06:27,431 --> 00:06:28,431 Us, too. 137 00:06:28,431 --> 00:06:29,431 Well yes, it is. 138 00:06:29,431 --> 00:06:30,431 I do encourage everyone to bring their gardening problems, 139 00:06:30,431 --> 00:06:31,431 dillemas. 140 00:06:31,431 --> 00:06:33,131 It may seem simple but there might be an easy solution. 141 00:06:33,131 --> 00:06:34,131 Sure. 142 00:06:34,131 --> 00:06:36,131 And then of course, ask a Master Gardener who loves a challenge. 143 00:06:36,131 --> 00:06:37,998 So, I always encourage people to bring that, 144 00:06:37,998 --> 00:06:38,998 too. 145 00:06:38,998 --> 00:06:40,998 Right, the can bring their weed samples or whatever the case may 146 00:06:40,998 --> 00:06:41,998 be. 147 00:06:41,998 --> 00:06:43,798 Yeah, we'll have soil boxes and all those other kind of 148 00:06:43,798 --> 00:06:44,798 publicaitons. 149 00:06:44,798 --> 00:06:45,798 Definitely. 150 00:06:45,798 --> 00:06:46,798 We'll make sure we'll get them the right answers that they're 151 00:06:46,798 --> 00:06:47,798 looking for. 152 00:06:47,798 --> 00:06:48,864 Is there a theme for this year's? 153 00:06:48,864 --> 00:06:51,664 This year's theme is Eat Up and that's mainly for the kids. 154 00:06:51,664 --> 00:06:53,964 And that's why we're going to have root vegetables and 155 00:06:53,964 --> 00:06:55,131 different parts of the plants. 156 00:06:55,131 --> 00:06:57,898 Lettuce as far as the leaf, the things that they can eat. 157 00:06:57,898 --> 00:06:59,531 We'll also have our junior daffodil show. 158 00:06:59,531 --> 00:07:02,831 And so, we encourage the kids to go out in their yard or their 159 00:07:02,831 --> 00:07:05,864 neighbors yard if they allow and pick a daffodil or two and bring 160 00:07:05,864 --> 00:07:06,864 it in. 161 00:07:06,864 --> 00:07:08,864 And there will be little viles, little tubes with water that 162 00:07:08,864 --> 00:07:11,864 they'll get to put their name on and get to compete in the 163 00:07:11,864 --> 00:07:12,864 daffodil show. 164 00:07:12,864 --> 00:07:15,098 okay and I understand that was a lot of fun last year. 165 00:07:15,098 --> 00:07:16,498 That was a lot of fun. 166 00:07:16,498 --> 00:07:19,264 I think we had almost 100 entires and just a long table 167 00:07:19,264 --> 00:07:20,198 full of daffodils. 168 00:07:20,198 --> 00:07:22,698 And the children really enjoyed it because they get to see how 169 00:07:22,698 --> 00:07:23,831 many different types there are. 170 00:07:23,831 --> 00:07:25,231 It's amazing what's in everyone's yard. 171 00:07:25,231 --> 00:07:27,564 Good and daffodils are up and blooming right now so. 172 00:07:27,564 --> 00:07:28,564 Yes, yes, definitely. 173 00:07:28,564 --> 00:07:30,098 Yeah, get those on here for that contest. 174 00:07:30,098 --> 00:07:31,264 This weekend they're still there. 175 00:07:31,264 --> 00:07:32,264 That's right. 176 00:07:32,264 --> 00:07:33,264 We'll have lots of plants. 177 00:07:33,264 --> 00:07:35,431 The Master Gardeners will have their best plant sale where the 178 00:07:35,431 --> 00:07:37,731 Master Gardeners have grown these plants over the winter and 179 00:07:37,731 --> 00:07:39,598 the fall and we will be selling those. 180 00:07:39,598 --> 00:07:42,131 Our vendors will also have arts and crafts garden items whether 181 00:07:42,131 --> 00:07:43,131 it's bird feeders, birdhouses. 182 00:07:43,131 --> 00:07:44,698 And there will also be food available. 183 00:07:44,698 --> 00:07:45,698 There will be food. 184 00:07:45,698 --> 00:07:47,931 We're working with the Memphis Food Truck Alliance this year. 185 00:07:47,931 --> 00:07:50,931 And they are having a couple of food trucks there so we're going 186 00:07:50,931 --> 00:07:53,264 to have some good barbecue and just some different southern 187 00:07:53,264 --> 00:07:54,398 food that will be great. 188 00:07:54,398 --> 00:07:56,398 That should be good. 189 00:07:56,398 --> 00:07:58,364 So you can shop all at the same time. 190 00:07:58,364 --> 00:08:00,331 And have a wonderful time. 191 00:08:00,331 --> 00:08:04,964 Okay, now last year I understand there weer over 2000 people. 192 00:08:04,964 --> 00:08:10,798 Over 2000 people came so it was a great two days and we're 193 00:08:10,798 --> 00:08:15,531 looking forward to a great time this year, 194 00:08:15,531 --> 00:08:16,531 too. 195 00:08:16,531 --> 00:08:17,898 Good, we just hope mother nature cooperates with us. 196 00:08:17,898 --> 00:08:19,064 (laughter) Yes, we always do. 197 00:08:19,064 --> 00:08:21,831 Hey we are prepared because the speakers are inside a tent and 198 00:08:21,831 --> 00:08:23,464 the gardeners, the vendors that are outside, 199 00:08:23,464 --> 00:08:24,898 they have tents and they're prepared. 200 00:08:24,898 --> 00:08:26,298 So, rain or shine, we're there. 201 00:08:26,298 --> 00:08:27,631 We've got it all available. 202 00:08:27,631 --> 00:08:28,764 Alright, so there you have it. 203 00:08:28,764 --> 00:08:32,298 Spring Fling, come on out and have a good time. 204 00:08:32,298 --> 00:08:37,931 Up next, Master Gardener Tom Mashour gets our garden started 205 00:08:37,931 --> 00:08:39,931 with a few cool season vegetables. 206 00:08:39,931 --> 00:08:42,864 But first, here are a few gardening events going in the 207 00:08:42,864 --> 00:08:46,398 next couple of weeks that might interest you. 208 00:08:47,598 --> 00:09:10,864 ♪♪♪ 209 00:09:10,864 --> 00:09:14,231 What we're doing today is planting a cool season crop. 210 00:09:14,231 --> 00:09:18,198 We already planted three little hills of leaf lettuce. 211 00:09:18,198 --> 00:09:21,464 And I plant them in the middle so around the circumference, 212 00:09:21,464 --> 00:09:26,931 I plant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower and hopefully they 213 00:09:26,931 --> 00:09:29,698 will help shade the leaf lettuce and they'll last a little bit 214 00:09:29,698 --> 00:09:34,164 longer than they would be if I just planted them by themselves. 215 00:09:34,164 --> 00:09:36,964 Next thing we're going to plant is bulbing onions. 216 00:09:36,964 --> 00:09:38,531 Now bulbing onions.. 217 00:09:38,531 --> 00:09:43,364 What I like to do is plant the onions very shallow so that when 218 00:09:43,364 --> 00:09:48,398 they form the bulb, the bulb will sit on top of the soil and 219 00:09:48,398 --> 00:09:49,398 not in the soil. 220 00:09:49,398 --> 00:09:51,331 And again like I said, very shallow. 221 00:09:51,331 --> 00:09:54,931 About three inches apart is more than enough. 222 00:09:54,931 --> 00:09:56,931 Don't even havwe to use a trough. 223 00:09:58,698 --> 00:10:02,331 Being a retired military man, I like things in rows, 224 00:10:02,331 --> 00:10:04,864 uniform. 225 00:10:04,864 --> 00:10:07,498 These are called onion sets. 226 00:10:07,498 --> 00:10:10,964 They look like miniature onions but they'll get to be big boys 227 00:10:10,964 --> 00:10:12,964 as they get a little bit older. 228 00:10:14,664 --> 00:10:17,498 And by the way, any time you put in new plants, 229 00:10:17,498 --> 00:10:21,131 ones that you grow or ones that you buy, 230 00:10:21,131 --> 00:10:23,498 before you plant them you want to make sure you water them in 231 00:10:23,498 --> 00:10:27,998 their container to give them that little extra drink before 232 00:10:27,998 --> 00:10:31,364 they encounter the real world where they'll spend the rest of 233 00:10:31,364 --> 00:10:33,064 their life. 234 00:10:33,064 --> 00:10:35,831 On this side of the bed, we're going to go ahead on plant 235 00:10:35,831 --> 00:10:36,831 cauliflower. 236 00:10:36,831 --> 00:10:41,098 When you take it out, put your fingers on both sides of the 237 00:10:41,098 --> 00:10:42,098 plant. 238 00:10:42,098 --> 00:10:45,464 Push on the bottom and out it comes. 239 00:10:45,464 --> 00:10:48,098 Now, if this was really heavy rooted, 240 00:10:48,098 --> 00:10:51,998 I'd want to take a knife and cut those roots otherwise the roots 241 00:10:51,998 --> 00:10:53,698 will just grow in a circle. 242 00:10:53,698 --> 00:10:56,331 By taking a knife and slicing down through the sides, 243 00:10:56,331 --> 00:10:58,598 it forces the roots to grow out and that's the way you want to 244 00:10:58,598 --> 00:10:59,598 do it. 245 00:10:59,598 --> 00:11:01,664 But this is not that bad. 246 00:11:06,331 --> 00:11:09,931 Sometimes you see people take and pulling the plant out of the 247 00:11:09,931 --> 00:11:11,031 container. 248 00:11:11,031 --> 00:11:15,398 That may or may not work but it may also pull the plant right 249 00:11:15,398 --> 00:11:17,398 off the roots. 250 00:11:17,398 --> 00:11:18,398 There we go. 251 00:11:18,398 --> 00:11:20,331 Good, a good root structure. 252 00:11:22,464 --> 00:11:25,464 The same depth as it was in the container. 253 00:11:28,798 --> 00:11:30,798 Okay, we'll do the last one now. 254 00:11:34,564 --> 00:11:37,898 Now this cauliflower came with it's own little markers. 255 00:11:37,898 --> 00:11:41,431 However, when you grow your own you probably don't have a 256 00:11:41,431 --> 00:11:42,764 marker. 257 00:11:42,764 --> 00:11:47,598 One of the tricks that Master Gardeners use is we use cut-up 258 00:11:47,598 --> 00:11:50,364 mini blinds that's probably in your attic. 259 00:11:50,364 --> 00:11:52,131 And use a number two pencil. 260 00:11:52,131 --> 00:11:57,131 It does not wash out, doesn't fade in the sun whereas ink ones 261 00:11:57,131 --> 00:11:58,298 do. 262 00:11:58,298 --> 00:12:03,464 I like to write down what it is and the date I put it in the 263 00:12:03,464 --> 00:12:04,464 ground. 264 00:12:04,464 --> 00:12:08,064 We're going to plant some broccoli now. 265 00:12:08,064 --> 00:12:10,998 And depending on how much space you've got available in your 266 00:12:10,998 --> 00:12:14,631 garden, preferrably about two feet apart. 267 00:12:14,631 --> 00:12:18,031 However, if you're kind of tight like I am with a smaller garden, 268 00:12:18,031 --> 00:12:22,131 then 18 inches is sufficient. 269 00:12:22,131 --> 00:12:23,898 That'll work. 270 00:12:23,898 --> 00:12:28,264 Now I did prewater the plants before I put them in. 271 00:12:28,264 --> 00:12:31,098 I want to give them the best head start I can. 272 00:12:31,098 --> 00:12:35,498 You want to plant them about the same depth as you had in the 273 00:12:35,498 --> 00:12:36,498 container. 274 00:12:36,498 --> 00:12:38,098 Now these, I grew from seed at the house. 275 00:12:38,098 --> 00:12:44,764 When you take it out again, put your fingers around the plant. 276 00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:47,731 Flip it over, push on the bottom or squeeze it, 277 00:12:47,731 --> 00:12:51,131 comes out in a ball. 278 00:12:51,131 --> 00:12:56,031 Put it in the soil about the same depth it was in the 279 00:12:56,031 --> 00:13:01,164 container and firm the soil around it. 280 00:13:01,164 --> 00:13:07,164 This one's going to be about 18 inches apart. 281 00:13:10,298 --> 00:13:14,931 I do reuse my containers for starting more seeds. 282 00:13:14,931 --> 00:13:18,531 Fingers, both sides of the plant, 283 00:13:18,531 --> 00:13:23,631 flip it over, push on the bottom or the sides and it comes out. 284 00:13:23,631 --> 00:13:26,631 You notice it's got good root structure all the way around. 285 00:13:32,698 --> 00:13:40,631 Firm the soil around it. 286 00:13:40,631 --> 00:13:42,864 If you don't get it exactly 18 inches, 287 00:13:42,864 --> 00:13:45,731 I guarantee that no one's going to go out there with a ruler and 288 00:13:45,731 --> 00:13:46,898 measure it. 289 00:13:46,898 --> 00:13:48,898 Well, my wife maybe. 290 00:13:57,831 --> 00:13:58,864 Not very difficult. 291 00:13:58,864 --> 00:14:00,664 Very fun. 292 00:14:00,664 --> 00:14:04,464 And I go out and check my garden everyday to see how much it's 293 00:14:04,464 --> 00:14:06,464 grown from the previous day. 294 00:14:07,898 --> 00:14:11,531 Alright, Mr. D is here and we're going to talk about moles which 295 00:14:11,531 --> 00:14:15,431 happens to be one of the questions we get a lot this time 296 00:14:15,431 --> 00:14:16,431 of the year. 297 00:14:16,431 --> 00:14:17,431 Those moles. 298 00:14:17,431 --> 00:14:18,798 How can we get rid of them, Mr. D? 299 00:14:18,798 --> 00:14:19,764 Can you help us out? 300 00:14:19,764 --> 00:14:22,264 I can, I can help you out. 301 00:14:22,264 --> 00:14:25,331 You know, unless it's changed, it's the number one question 302 00:14:25,331 --> 00:14:28,831 that extension offices get nation wide. 303 00:14:28,831 --> 00:14:31,231 The number one question. 304 00:14:31,231 --> 00:14:35,164 And we always help people that need help. 305 00:14:35,164 --> 00:14:39,398 But the best way in my opinion to control moles is by using a 306 00:14:39,398 --> 00:14:40,398 trap. 307 00:14:40,398 --> 00:14:42,998 We've got a couple of examples here with us today. 308 00:14:42,998 --> 00:14:46,898 This is the harpoon style right here. 309 00:14:46,898 --> 00:14:51,698 And you simply pull this up, you set it over a tunnel, 310 00:14:51,698 --> 00:14:53,298 a transportation tunnel. 311 00:14:53,298 --> 00:14:54,831 And remember I said transportation. 312 00:14:54,831 --> 00:15:01,064 And you should have pretty good luck of catching your mole. 313 00:15:01,064 --> 00:15:04,098 And this is a choker-type trap right here. 314 00:15:04,098 --> 00:15:06,198 And im my opinion, this one. 315 00:15:06,198 --> 00:15:10,031 Personally, I've had more luck with this type of trap than I 316 00:15:10,031 --> 00:15:11,831 have with the harpoon style. 317 00:15:11,831 --> 00:15:16,898 As a matter of fact, I've caught four in my yard this spring. 318 00:15:16,898 --> 00:15:18,831 And my yard is not that big. 319 00:15:18,831 --> 00:15:20,831 And so this is an extremely deadly trap. 320 00:15:20,831 --> 00:15:22,698 It's a choker trap. 321 00:15:22,698 --> 00:15:27,264 You simply push this down in to the ground over the tunnel. 322 00:15:27,264 --> 00:15:29,764 And again, a transportation tunnel, 323 00:15:29,764 --> 00:15:31,264 not a feeding tunnel. 324 00:15:31,264 --> 00:15:35,631 You step on this and it opens. 325 00:15:35,631 --> 00:15:38,098 And when the mole comes underneath, 326 00:15:38,098 --> 00:15:41,331 it taps the trigger as it raises the tunnel. 327 00:15:41,331 --> 00:15:45,431 And these jaws come together and it chokes. 328 00:15:45,431 --> 00:15:48,264 It basically squeezes the breath out of him. 329 00:15:48,264 --> 00:15:49,264 It's bloodless. 330 00:15:49,264 --> 00:15:56,364 This one however is not bloodless. 331 00:15:56,364 --> 00:16:01,931 But the key to being successful with a mole trap is placing the 332 00:16:01,931 --> 00:16:05,631 traps over a transportation tunnel. 333 00:16:05,631 --> 00:16:07,364 And let's explain between the two, 334 00:16:07,364 --> 00:16:08,931 the transportation. 335 00:16:08,931 --> 00:16:12,231 You know, most of the tunnels in your yard are feeding tunnels. 336 00:16:12,231 --> 00:16:13,231 Okay. 337 00:16:13,231 --> 00:16:18,264 A mole can tunnel over 200 feet in one night. 338 00:16:18,264 --> 00:16:20,364 And you know, I've got four moles. 339 00:16:20,364 --> 00:16:25,431 That's 800, almost 1000 feet of tunnels that I have stopped 340 00:16:25,431 --> 00:16:28,864 happening in my yard in the past few weeks. 341 00:16:28,864 --> 00:16:32,998 There are two ways to determine transportation tunnels. 342 00:16:32,998 --> 00:16:36,464 There's a quick way that works most of the time and then 343 00:16:36,464 --> 00:16:39,031 there's a slow way that probably works every time. 344 00:16:39,031 --> 00:16:40,031 Okay. 345 00:16:40,031 --> 00:16:45,231 The quick way is to try and find a long tunnel that may be 10 or 346 00:16:45,231 --> 00:16:50,564 15 feet long that doesn't have braches off the side where it 347 00:16:50,564 --> 00:16:52,364 look like it's been feeding. 348 00:16:52,364 --> 00:16:54,864 The feeding tunnels, many times they'll feed this way for a few 349 00:16:54,864 --> 00:16:57,531 minutes and then they'll go back this way and they'll go back and 350 00:16:57,531 --> 00:16:58,531 forth. 351 00:16:58,531 --> 00:17:00,231 And it's a lot of branches. 352 00:17:00,231 --> 00:17:03,198 But if you can find a long, straight line, 353 00:17:03,198 --> 00:17:05,864 put this in the middle of that long straight line and you 354 00:17:05,864 --> 00:17:07,364 should be successful. 355 00:17:07,364 --> 00:17:11,198 Another way is if you have a lot of energy and need exercise, 356 00:17:11,198 --> 00:17:15,298 you mash down all the tunnels in your yard. 357 00:17:15,298 --> 00:17:18,198 And go back and do it before dark. 358 00:17:18,198 --> 00:17:23,398 Go back the next morning and flag or mark the tunnels that 359 00:17:23,398 --> 00:17:25,164 were raised again. 360 00:17:25,164 --> 00:17:28,131 Mash them down again and do that two or three nights. 361 00:17:28,131 --> 00:17:31,664 And then if you find a tunnel, then you can identify the 362 00:17:31,664 --> 00:17:33,098 transportation tunnel. 363 00:17:33,098 --> 00:17:34,331 That's the slower way. 364 00:17:34,331 --> 00:17:40,598 However, it's 100 percent effective because and if you do 365 00:17:40,598 --> 00:17:45,764 that, you will be successful in controlling them. 366 00:17:45,764 --> 00:17:47,298 Be careful with these traps. 367 00:17:47,298 --> 00:17:52,531 And I've got a warning here on this one right here because you 368 00:17:52,531 --> 00:17:53,798 can get squeezed. 369 00:17:53,798 --> 00:17:55,931 The springs are pretty strong. 370 00:17:55,931 --> 00:17:59,231 These tines are pretty sharp. 371 00:18:01,664 --> 00:18:03,264 You want to be careful with them. 372 00:18:03,264 --> 00:18:08,731 But you know, and that works better. 373 00:18:08,731 --> 00:18:12,231 I know you can purchase toxicants and posions and things 374 00:18:12,231 --> 00:18:14,464 like the poison peanuts and things like that. 375 00:18:14,464 --> 00:18:17,364 But moles are primarily carnivorous. 376 00:18:17,364 --> 00:18:19,798 Most of their diet consists of insects. 377 00:18:19,798 --> 00:18:23,331 Mostly grub worms and earth worms. 378 00:18:23,331 --> 00:18:27,131 That probably makes up probably 80 or 90 percent of their diet 379 00:18:27,131 --> 00:18:30,164 is grub worms and earthworms. 380 00:18:30,164 --> 00:18:34,298 They also will eat many, many other types of insects and other 381 00:18:34,298 --> 00:18:35,298 things. 382 00:18:35,298 --> 00:18:39,798 but they're primiarily carnivorous and I don't think.. 383 00:18:39,798 --> 00:18:42,431 I can't understand why a mole is used to eating a nice, 384 00:18:42,431 --> 00:18:45,631 juicy earthworm or grub would bite in to a poisoned peanut. 385 00:18:45,631 --> 00:18:48,164 I can't understand that. 386 00:18:48,164 --> 00:18:54,298 Right now, they are giving birth to young by March and April. 387 00:18:54,298 --> 00:18:57,731 The average litter is three to five moles. 388 00:18:57,731 --> 00:18:59,531 So, you know, I probably.. 389 00:18:59,531 --> 00:19:00,698 I could have.. 390 00:19:00,698 --> 00:19:05,464 I'm assuming that two of the ones I caught were males and two 391 00:19:05,464 --> 00:19:06,464 were females. 392 00:19:06,464 --> 00:19:10,964 So I probably saved myself from having from six to ten more baby 393 00:19:10,964 --> 00:19:12,798 moles running around my yard. 394 00:19:12,798 --> 00:19:15,331 And as you're saying all of this, 395 00:19:15,331 --> 00:19:17,898 the ladies are just moaning and groaning. 396 00:19:17,898 --> 00:19:20,464 it's a cold, cruel word out there. 397 00:19:20,464 --> 00:19:24,498 You know, you either can handle the tunnels in your yard. 398 00:19:24,498 --> 00:19:27,698 And really, moles, you know, they aerate your lawn. 399 00:19:27,698 --> 00:19:32,331 But they actually can do some damage to your turf by, 400 00:19:32,331 --> 00:19:35,098 you know, exposing the roots to air and things like that. 401 00:19:35,098 --> 00:19:38,931 And you know, also, it can cause you to trip and fall and break 402 00:19:38,931 --> 00:19:40,664 hips and bones and things like that. 403 00:19:40,664 --> 00:19:44,164 I know if especially if they're elderly people around. 404 00:19:44,164 --> 00:19:45,798 So,it's something to consider. 405 00:19:45,798 --> 00:19:47,298 But if you don't have any of that, 406 00:19:47,298 --> 00:19:52,331 you're not worried about that, let them go because they're 407 00:19:52,331 --> 00:19:54,531 probably not doing much physical damage to your, 408 00:19:56,764 --> 00:19:59,031 you know, turf grass and your ornamentals and things like that 409 00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:00,798 unlike voles. 410 00:20:00,798 --> 00:20:02,064 We're talking about moles here. 411 00:20:02,064 --> 00:20:03,798 We're not talking about voles. 412 00:20:03,798 --> 00:20:06,098 There are a couple of really good publications out there. 413 00:20:06,098 --> 00:20:09,498 This is probably one of the best. 414 00:20:09,498 --> 00:20:12,764 This publication is in the prevention and control of 415 00:20:12,764 --> 00:20:15,064 wildlife damage publication from, 416 00:20:15,064 --> 00:20:17,264 I think, the University of Nebraska. 417 00:20:17,264 --> 00:20:21,631 And this tells you a little bt about the biology of the mole. 418 00:20:21,631 --> 00:20:26,631 Really, it will tell you more than you want to know about the 419 00:20:26,631 --> 00:20:27,631 mole. 420 00:20:27,631 --> 00:20:31,498 It tells you how much they weigh, 421 00:20:31,498 --> 00:20:36,564 exactly what they eat and everything that you want to know 422 00:20:36,564 --> 00:20:37,564 about moles and a few things that you don't. 423 00:20:37,564 --> 00:20:38,564 And we do have that publication in our office. 424 00:20:38,564 --> 00:20:39,564 So come on by and get that. 425 00:20:39,564 --> 00:20:40,564 This is about a 12 page publication. 426 00:20:40,564 --> 00:20:41,564 Alright Mr.D, we definitely appreciate that and hopefully 427 00:20:41,564 --> 00:20:42,731 people can get rid of their moles. 428 00:20:42,731 --> 00:20:43,764 Happy hunting! 429 00:20:43,764 --> 00:20:49,564 (laughter) Alright, this time of year we're getting lots of calls 430 00:20:49,564 --> 00:20:52,698 from folks who are getting their vegetable gardens going. 431 00:20:52,698 --> 00:20:56,264 And one of the things they want to know about is fertilizer. 432 00:20:56,264 --> 00:21:00,898 So, what is the best fertilizer for vegetables? 433 00:21:00,898 --> 00:21:04,131 So Mr.D, how can we help them out with the fertilizers now? 434 00:21:04,131 --> 00:21:05,698 That is an easy answer. 435 00:21:05,698 --> 00:21:08,231 The best fertilizer for vegetables is whatever you the 436 00:21:08,231 --> 00:21:12,564 soil test that you've taken recommends. 437 00:21:15,531 --> 00:21:18,364 With that being said, you know, most vegetables need N, 438 00:21:18,364 --> 00:21:19,364 P and K. 439 00:21:19,364 --> 00:21:24,164 This is an example of a complete fertilizer that is balanced. 440 00:21:24,164 --> 00:21:29,064 It's triple-13 and it has 13 percent nitrogen, 441 00:21:29,064 --> 00:21:32,698 13 percent phosphorous and 13 percent potassium. 442 00:21:32,698 --> 00:21:36,531 Completely balanced and that's perfect if that's what you need. 443 00:21:36,531 --> 00:21:41,998 However, one example of where this fertilizer would not be 444 00:21:41,998 --> 00:21:44,998 suited is for a lagoon like beans, 445 00:21:44,998 --> 00:21:48,664 snap beans, peas, english peas, southern peas. 446 00:21:48,664 --> 00:21:51,164 Things like that are lagoons and they don't need any nitrogen. 447 00:21:51,164 --> 00:21:54,531 They take nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil. 448 00:21:54,531 --> 00:22:00,998 So, this would not be suited for those types of plants. 449 00:22:00,998 --> 00:22:04,798 Another case is if you have routinely used this complete 450 00:22:04,798 --> 00:22:07,998 fertilizer year after year after year after year, 451 00:22:07,998 --> 00:22:11,131 I guarantee you the middle number, 452 00:22:11,131 --> 00:22:15,431 the phosphorous levels in your soil are high. 453 00:22:15,431 --> 00:22:20,464 And if you have extremely high levels of phosphorous in your 454 00:22:20,464 --> 00:22:26,064 soil, it can actually interfere with the uptake of the nitrogen 455 00:22:26,064 --> 00:22:27,831 and posttasium and the micronutrients. 456 00:22:27,831 --> 00:22:30,498 It interferes with the uptake of the other nutrients and it makes 457 00:22:30,498 --> 00:22:33,598 your plants look like they're starving to death which in fact, 458 00:22:33,598 --> 00:22:34,598 they are. 459 00:22:34,598 --> 00:22:37,031 But it's not because you don't have enough fertilizer in them 460 00:22:37,031 --> 00:22:38,931 but because you have too much phosphorous. 461 00:22:38,931 --> 00:22:39,931 And it's tied up. 462 00:22:39,931 --> 00:22:43,964 So, if you have routinely used this every year and I have known 463 00:22:43,964 --> 00:22:45,564 of folks that have used. 464 00:22:45,564 --> 00:22:49,431 They put, you know, six pounds of triple-13 out in my garden 465 00:22:49,431 --> 00:22:50,931 and they tell me that. 466 00:22:50,931 --> 00:22:54,298 And I know they're going to have problems on down the road. 467 00:22:54,298 --> 00:22:56,198 And you can't take phosphorous out of the soil. 468 00:22:56,198 --> 00:23:01,998 The only thing that will take that out is time and plants. 469 00:23:01,998 --> 00:23:04,831 You know, and it will take years to get those levels down. 470 00:23:04,831 --> 00:23:08,698 You only want them at, you know, medium to high levels. 471 00:23:08,698 --> 00:23:14,064 And if you've got medium levels of phosphorous and potash in the 472 00:23:14,064 --> 00:23:16,464 soil, you don't need a complete fertilizer. 473 00:23:16,464 --> 00:23:19,298 Becuase you know nowadays, you can actually get fertilizers 474 00:23:19,298 --> 00:23:21,464 without the middle number, without the phosphorous. 475 00:23:21,464 --> 00:23:28,064 15-0-15, you know, 34-0-0 is just nitrogen. 476 00:23:28,064 --> 00:23:33,564 Muriate of potash is just the last number. 477 00:23:33,564 --> 00:23:36,398 And then Super Phosphate, if that's the only thing you need, 478 00:23:36,398 --> 00:23:38,131 you know, you can get that, too. 479 00:23:38,131 --> 00:23:40,631 Yeah, people don't realize but they use a lot of phosphorous. 480 00:23:40,631 --> 00:23:42,364 Just think about blooms, you know, 481 00:23:42,364 --> 00:23:44,431 phosphorous for blooms. 482 00:23:44,431 --> 00:23:47,131 Super phosphate is something that a lot of people use. 483 00:23:47,131 --> 00:23:49,264 Miracle-Gro, that's what it is. 484 00:23:49,264 --> 00:23:51,364 And I've seen people use that stuff everyday, 485 00:23:51,364 --> 00:23:53,464 you know, in their gardens or at least once a week and they don't 486 00:23:53,464 --> 00:23:56,531 realize they're putting a lot of phosphorous into their soil 487 00:23:56,531 --> 00:23:57,564 beds. 488 00:23:57,564 --> 00:24:00,731 The most important thing that you can take from this is the 489 00:24:00,731 --> 00:24:01,731 soil. 490 00:24:01,731 --> 00:24:02,731 You know, check. 491 00:24:02,731 --> 00:24:03,731 You're not checking it every year. 492 00:24:03,731 --> 00:24:05,131 And what does a soil test cost now? 493 00:24:05,131 --> 00:24:08,498 Seven dollars and that's the best seven dollar investment of 494 00:24:08,498 --> 00:24:09,498 your money. 495 00:24:09,498 --> 00:24:12,364 You know, this bag of fertilizer probably cost 10. 496 00:24:12,364 --> 00:24:13,531 Yeah, 10 or 15. 497 00:24:13,531 --> 00:24:14,998 Or 15 maybe. 498 00:24:14,998 --> 00:24:19,764 And you know, chances are this fertilizer will last you 20 499 00:24:19,764 --> 00:24:21,898 years if you follow a soil test. 500 00:24:21,898 --> 00:24:23,698 How often do we need the soil test? 501 00:24:23,698 --> 00:24:28,464 Every two to three years. 502 00:24:28,464 --> 00:24:31,031 And I would probably three years. 503 00:24:31,031 --> 00:24:34,131 Would be the, you know, the most often that I would do it. 504 00:24:34,131 --> 00:24:35,398 So Linda, you've done it? 505 00:24:35,398 --> 00:24:39,231 I've done a soil test and it's amazing to me how different 506 00:24:39,231 --> 00:24:41,731 areas in your yard, no matter how close they are.. 507 00:24:41,731 --> 00:24:45,664 if you're vegetable gardening in one and then you have shrubs and 508 00:24:45,664 --> 00:24:50,631 just your regular landscape, how much the soil varies and what 509 00:24:50,631 --> 00:24:52,598 items it needs and what items it has. 510 00:24:52,598 --> 00:24:55,398 So, I definitely see the benefit in it. 511 00:24:55,398 --> 00:24:57,564 You can't beat the recommendations. 512 00:24:57,564 --> 00:25:00,898 They're from the state and they've got the equipment to do 513 00:25:00,898 --> 00:25:01,898 all of that. 514 00:25:01,898 --> 00:25:03,898 Alright, well there you have it. 515 00:25:03,898 --> 00:25:06,398 Be sure you put all the plants that you want to. 516 00:25:06,398 --> 00:25:07,798 Put everything, blueberries, azaleas. 517 00:25:07,798 --> 00:25:10,231 You know, if it's 20 different plants, 518 00:25:10,231 --> 00:25:14,064 list them all and they'll give you at no extra charge 519 00:25:14,064 --> 00:25:16,164 recommendations on each of those plants. 520 00:25:16,164 --> 00:25:18,564 Alright, well there you have it from the experts. 521 00:25:18,564 --> 00:25:21,331 Alright, our Master Gardeners and Mr. D. 522 00:25:21,331 --> 00:25:22,931 That's all we have time for today. 523 00:25:22,931 --> 00:25:26,598 Don't forget, we love to see some picture of your family plot 524 00:25:26,598 --> 00:25:30,031 so send us an e-mail or letter with some photos and let us help 525 00:25:30,031 --> 00:25:31,231 answer your gardening questions. 526 00:25:31,231 --> 00:25:32,964 I'm Chris Cooper. 527 00:25:32,964 --> 00:25:36,064 Thanks for watching and be sure to join us next time for "The 528 00:25:36,064 --> 00:25:38,531 Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South." 529 00:25:38,531 --> 00:25:40,331 Be safe. 530 00:25:40,331 --> 00:25:55,731 ♪♪♪ 531 00:25:55,731 --> 00:25:58,198 Production funding for "The Family Plot: Gardening in the 532 00:25:58,198 --> 00:26:00,531 Mid-South" is provided by.. 533 00:26:00,531 --> 00:26:05,364 Good Winds Landscape and Garden Center in Germantown since 1943 534 00:26:05,364 --> 00:26:08,631 and continuing to offer it's plants for sucessful gardening 535 00:26:08,631 --> 00:26:11,931 with seven greenhouses and three acres of plants plus 536 00:26:11,931 --> 00:26:15,931 comprehensive landscape services..