7 Lakes North, South cast vote for change - Seven Lakes Times

24 Seven Lakes Times March 21, 2008 GARDENS
Spring: The gardener’s favorite time of year
Spring is here, with the changing
of time, days are longer, the
weather is warmer, and showers
have blessed us earlier during
March. The daffodils and other
bulbs have emerged and
bloomed. The
b i r d s a r e
actively working
and singng;
thereby
adding to the
presence of
the coming of
a new growing
season.
The showers have improved
soil moisture and the lake levels.
According to observations made
by using a soil sampling tube,
moisture levels from recent rains
have penetrated to a depth of
eight to twelve inches in our
Seven Lakes sandy soils, which
is quite an improvement in
months. We are still under water
restrictions and should abide
by the information given us.
Many avid gardeners have
indicated they are cutting back on
their plantings of annual flower
beds and vegetable garden plantings
to comply with our water
shortage.
Questions relative to pruning
always come up during March .
. . when and how much should
I prune my Crape myrtles and
other shrubs?
There are basically three size
types of Crape myrtles. Standard
[regular] when allowed to
grow naturally will reach fifteen
to twenty feet, with a spread of
four to six feet. Dwarf-type will
reach eight to ten feet in height
and three to five feet in width, and
miniature or myrtlette type will
grow from two to three feet tall.
First determine which type of
plant you have. Do you want to
keep it small, medium, or a large
shrub or small tree? Crape myrtles
respond favorably to light,
medium, or heavy pruning. Some
gardeners do not prune at all
and allow the plant to grow naturally.
If you decide to prune it
severely, thin out enough branches
so that sunlight and air can circulate
freely through the plant.
This helps control or prevent
mildew and aphids. If you severely
cut the plant back, leave pencil-sized
or longer branches to
support heavy flowering and
seed panicles.
It’s also time for pruning fruit
trees, blueberry shrubs, everything
except early flowering
shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons,
camellia japonicas,
flowering quince, forsythia,
and dogwoods. These should
Gardening in
the Sandhills
Jim Caudill
be pruned following blooming
or flowering.
Rose growers, don’t forget to
prune your hybrid teas, florabundas,
and old-fashioned plantings.
Suggested jobs for March:
Apply pre-emergence crabgrass
control on your lawn before
dogwood trees reach full bloom.
If moisture permits consider
planting perennial herbs. They do
well here in the Sandhills.
Be on the lookout for moles
and voles. There are several
treatments sold under various
trade names on the market.
Inspect damage on pine,
pecan, and dogwood trees for
borers and if present, control
them with the chemical combining
permethrin at the recommended
rates. It is sold under
various names.
A p p ly p o s t - e m e rg e n c e
broadleaf weed control for dandelions,
wild onions or garlic
hewbit, chickweed, oxalis, and
other winter weeds.
Fertilize your Summer lawn
when new growth begins. In the
absence of a soil test analysis
recommendation report, use five
to ten pounds of a slow-release
lawn special per 1,000 square
feet.
March vegetable planting suggestions:
asparagus crowns,
beet, carrot, kale, kohlrabi, mustard,
peas [edible pod and garden],
radish, rutabaga, spinach,
swiss chard, turnip seeds, broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower, leaf
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and head lettuce plants, onion
sets, and plants also Irish potato
cuttings.
Many of us are greens lovers.
You might want to try a small spot
or bed of your vegetable garden
to grow a broadcast seed
mixture of cress, mustard, kale,
kohlrabi, radish, spinach, Swiss
chard, broccoli, and turnip seed.
I have found this combination
very productive as a March planting.
Some area gardeners like to
plant an early planting of sweet
corn during March to miss the
first-generation or early flight of
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Family Medicine
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116 MacDougall Drive
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Seven Lakes, NC 27376
910-673-2422
507 North Main Street
Troy, NC 27371
910-576-0042
the corn earworm moth. This
early planting reduces the earworm
infestation somewhat.
Corn requires abundant water,
Cutler
Tree
moisture, and necessary pollinazation
for high yields; hence
some think it chancy to plant it.
fine pruning of trees & ornamentals
tree and stump removal
plant site consulting & tree loss evaluation
692-7769
Geoff Cutler
Certified Arborist
Fully Insured
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