Florida Betony - One Tough Weed!

Florida betony is a tough, problematic perennial weed found throughout the southeast. Also known as wild artichoke or rattlesnake weed, Florida betony is especially noticeable from fall through spring when it is actively growing. Florida betony usually goes dormant (stops growing) in summer, but its roots continue to live in the soil, sending up new shoots in fall as temperatures cool. One of the easiest ways to identify Florida betony is by the tubers (shown left) that are produced underground. These tubers are long, white and segmented, and resemble a rattlesnake’s rattle or a large grub, and are actually edible. They may be several inches long and are able to store tremendous amounts of energy for the plant, which is why Florida betony is so tough to get rid of once it is established. Effectively controlling Florida betony requires persistence, and a different strategy is needed to control this difficult weed in lawns and landscape beds.

Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+63

Extension Gardener Spring 2010 Available Online!

The Spring 2010 regional editions of Extension Gardener™ newsletter are now available online. To view the latest edition of Extension Gardener for the Coastal Plains, visit:
http://extensiongardener.ncsu.edu



In this season's issue you can learn about:

• Fragrant shrubs for all seasons
• How to Reduce Pesticide use with Integrated Pest Management
• Spring and Summer Vegetables to plant
• Spring Tips and Tasks
• Tryon Palace Gardens
• Organic Fertilizers
• 'Crown Jewel' Gardenia
• Incredible Edibles: Asparagus
• Attracting Pollinators
• and more!!!
  

More information about Extension Gardener is available on our home page: http://extensiongardener.ncsu.edu.

Control Burrweed and Other Winter Lawn Weeds Now!

If you have ever walked through your lawn barefoot in spring and thought you were stepping on sandspurs, chances are lawn burrweed has infested your yard. Lawn burrweed, also known as spurweed (Soliva sessilis), has become a common turf weed in our area that is easily identified by its low ferny foliage and sharp, spiny seed pods, which ripen in late spring. As a cool season annual weed, lawn burrweed comes up in the fall, grows slowly through winter, flowers and sets seed in spring, and then dies as temperatures warm up in late spring.

Currently burrweed is still relatively small and has not started to produce its sharp, prickly seed pods. Even though it is not very noticeable at the present time, now is the time to treat lawns infested with this and other winter weeds. Once spring arrives it will be too late to control burrweed because by then its seeds will already have ripened, ensuring a new crop of weeds next winter, and the plants themselves will naturally die as warmer weather sets in.

Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+64

Pruning Ornamental Shrubs: When, How and Why

There are several reasons to prune shrubs – to promote flowering, to improve their shape, and to maintain their size, are some of the most common. Pruning is also a topic that raises many questions – with when should I do it, how much should I cut off, and where should I cut, being the most frequently asked. The answer to many of these questions depends on what type of shrub you are pruning and why you want to prune it. The tips below can help you determine when to prune your shrubs and how much to cut off.

Learn more! Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+61

Time to Plant Spring Vegetables!

Now is the time to get serious about planting a spring vegetable garden! Vegetables that produce during the spring months are known as cool season crops, meaning they can tolerate some frost but do not like hot weather and should therefore be planted outside now to harvest before the heat of summer. Many cool season vegetables are currently readily available as seed or plants from local garden centers. These include broccoli, garden peas, carrots, cabbage, and lettuce. Before you plant, be sure to follow these tips to ensure you grow a healthy and bountiful vegetable garden this spring.

Learn more! Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+60

Growing Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is a spring delicacy, especially when it comes from your own garden. Growing asparagus though is quite different from growing most vegetables because asparagus is a perennial plant, meaning it comes back from the same roots year after year. Other vegetables, such as tomatoes, broccoli, corn, and lettuce, are annuals. They must be grown from seed and planted each year. Because it is a perennial, extra effort must be taken to get asparagus plants off to a good start, to ensure long term productivity. In southeastern NC, gardeners can expect at least 10 to 15 years of harvest from a well tended asparagus patch. The following tips will help both novice and expert gardeners to establish and maintain a healthy and productive asparagus bed in their own backyard.

Read more! The entire article is available online here from the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+59

Time to Plant Potatoes!

Though it may seem a bit chilly to be planting vegetables, now is actually the correct time to plant Irish potatoes in our area. In general, potatoes are an easy to grow and productive crop for home vegetable gardens. Varieties recommended for our area include 'Kennebec', a white skin variety, 'Pontiac', a red skin, white flesh variety, and 'Yukon Gold' with distinctive yellow flesh. Before you begin though, there are a few things you need to know to ensure a successful harvest.

To learn more, read the whole article, posted on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=AGRI+4.