The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

February 1, 2013

"Ask A Master Gardener"

Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — John W. (Tarboro) Asks: A neighbor posed this question to pass along. They did nothing to winterize their yard and, as a result, have all of the winter-type weeds that survive everything. They wanted to know if there is anything they can do now to kill off the weeds and what and when do they start to try and green up their yard and kill back weeds as we head out of winter.

Answer: The site for all turfgrass questions is www.turffiles.ncsu.edu.  You can select from the list of turf varieties, but, here is the maintenance calendar for tall fescue:  

December-February:

• Mowing — Remove lawn debris (rocks, sticks, and leaves). Mow lawn at 3 inches and remove clipping debris at spring greenup. Mow before grass gets taller than 5 inches. Remember grasscycling

and leave clippings on the lawn.

• Fertilization Fertilize with 1 pound of actual nitrogen per

1,000 square feet in February. To determine the amount of product

required to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, divide 100 by the first number an the fertilizer bag.

(Example 1: A 16-4-8 fertilizer. Dividing 100 by 16 = 6.25

(100/16 = 6.25) pounds of product applied per 1,000 square feet to deliver 1 pound of nitrogen.)

(Example 2: A 10-10-10 fertilizer. Dividing 100 by 10 = 10

(100/10 = 10) pounds of product to be applied per 1,000 square feet to deliver 1 pound of nitrogen.

• In absence of soil test results, use a complete (N-P-K)

turf-grade fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio.

• Irrigation Water, if needed, to prevent excessive drying. About 1

inch of water per application each week is adequate.

• Weed Control Apply broadleaf herbicides as necessary for control

of chickweed, henbit, or other weeds. Pre-emergent weed control is

recommended in September and December for winter annual weeds and in February and May for summer annual weeds, using a root inhibitor, Pendumethulum. Pre-emergents last in the soil for 2 to 6 months. Remember to apply before you see the culprits.

• Aerification — Delay coring until fall.

• Thatch Removal — It is not necessary to remove thatch.

March through May:

• Mowing — Mow lawn to 3 inches in height. Mow at least once a week. Mow before grass gets above 5 inches tall. Then practice

grasscycling. Grasscycling is simply leaving grass clippings on your lawn. Grass clippings decompose quickly and can provide up to 25 percent of the lawn's fertilizer needs. If prolonged rain or other factors prevent frequent mowing and clippings are too plentiful to leave on the lawn, they can be collected and used as mulch. Whatever you do, don't bag them! Grass clippings do not belong in landfills.

• Fertilization — DO NOT fertilize tall fescue after March 15.

• Irrigation — Tall fescue needs 1 to 1 1/4 inches of water every

week, ideally NOT all at once. A dark bluish-gray color, footprinting, and wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. Water until the soil is wet to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Use a screwdriver or similar implement to check. Sandy soils require more frequent watering (about 1/2 inch of water every third day). Because clay soils accept water slowly, irrigate just until runoff occurs, wait until the water has been absorbed, and begin watering again. Continue until the desired depth or amount is applied. Proper irrigation may prevent or reduce problems later in the summer. Watering between 2 and 8 a.m. decreases the incidence of certain diseases.

• Weed Control — Apply preemergence herbicides to control crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. Apply by the time the dogwoods are in bloom. Check with your local garden center for specific herbicides for these weeds.

• Insect Control — Check for and control white grubs in April and

May. (Go to this website for details:  HYPERLINK "http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Insects/White_Grubs.aspx" http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Insects/White_Grubs.aspx)

• Aeration — Delay aeration until fall.

• Thatch —  It is generally not necessary to remove thatch.

Reminder, the answers provided here are based on the turf variety, tall fescue.  If your lawn is of another variety, this information is provided for all turfs at www.turffiles.ncsu.edu





"Ask A Master Gardener" is a weekly column providing our readers solutions to common problems concerning horticulture, gardening, and pest management. Trained Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have access to the research that provide answers.  

Submit your questions by email to askemgv@gmail.com or call the local Extension Center at 641-7815 and tell them you have a question for a master gardener; a volunteer will return your call with a solution to your problem, or write to "Ask A Master

Gardener", c/o The Daily Southerner, P.O. Box 1199, Tarboro, 27886.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • AIB judging under way

    The America in Bloom (AIB) judges are in town, and Tarboro’s AIB committee rolled out the red carpet for them, beginning with Sunday supper at the home of AIB committee member Candis Owens.
    “I am really excited about these judges,” Owens said “It looks like they have been selected specifically for Tarboro, because they’re both historic preservationists.”
    James R. “Jim” Abraham is a professor of historic preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design, while Ed Hooker, III is the historic architect and cultural resource manager for Fort Riley, Kan., according to the judges’ biography.

    June 17, 2013

  • lemonade.jpg Brother, sister offer relief from the heat

    Madelyn Gay, 9 left, pours lemonade in a cup that her brother Peyton Gay, 10, is holding in front of their St. Andrews Street home last Thursday. With the temperature reaching 96 degrees, the sister and brother tandem sold the refreshing liquid.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Summer Food Service Program for children kicks off

    Edgecombe County Public Schools is working to make sure that no children in Edgecombe County go hungry while school is closed this summer by sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for children. Summer meals will be offered at Carver Elementary, Pattillo, Phillips Middle, Princeville Elementary and West Edgecombe Middle schools starting today. The meals will be offered from Monday through Thursday until Aug 8. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    June 17, 2013

  • Gun permits on the rise

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department reported a spike in the number of citizens applying for gun permits and carrying concealed weapons. From Dec. 1, 2011 to June 13, 2012, the sheriff's department issued 88 gun permits as well as 213 concealed weapon permits. From Dec. 1, 2012 to June 6, 2013 the sheriff's department issued 492 gun permits and 364 concealed weapon permits.

    June 14, 2013

  • Heat.jpg Warmest day this year reaches mid 90's

    Beating the heat was the name of the game Thursday in Edgecombe County, as temperatures soared into the mid 90’s.
    “Right now the temperature is 95 degrees. This is the warmest day so far across central North Carolina,” said Shawna Cokley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, at 2 p.m. Thursday. She said the average June temperature for the Raleigh area is 86, 87 degrees.

    June 14, 2013 1 Photo

  • Art Council offers summer camps

    Art camps this summer will get children’s creativity flowing.
    Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council is offering several camps for children ages 3 to 12. Art teachers for the camps include Ashley Myers, Genevieve Govoni and Taylor Owens, as well as guest artists.
    “It will be a chance for them to create and explore different mediums that they might not be exposed to in school,” said Joyce Turner, executive director of Edgecombe Arts. “Each camp will more or less be themed.”

    June 13, 2013

  • Vines Cobb.jpg Pinetops mayor satisfied with 2013-2014 $4.6 million budget

    PINETOPS — The board of commissioners stayed in line with surrounding towns by adopting its budget without implementing a property tax increase, although water and sewer rates increased by an average of 6.5 percent.
    "It's a good budget, said Pinetops Mayor J. Vines Cobb. "There was no tax increase, so we are holding the line,"

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • Drugs found on THS student at school

    A Tarboro High School senior was hit with drug charges on campus three days before graduation.
    According to Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton, a teacher spotted Rasheen Travon Council, 18, 404 Lincoln Road,. Tarboro, engaged in suspicious activities. The teacher notified a police officer.
    Upon the officer's investigation, he found Council was in possession of 29.4 grams of marijuana in small bags. Braxton said he doesn't know whether or not Council made a transaction at the school.

    June 13, 2013

  • RIVER.jpg Rising Waters on the Tar

    The Tar River has risen to 16 feet-four inches over the past four days. On Saturday, the water levels were very low, but since the rains have come, the water levels have risen. The gates at the Tar River on River Road are shut with padlocks on them, because the water has gone over the path that runs adjacent to the river.

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • Flag.jpg WWII veteran Cobb honored at 118th flag raising

    The American Flag flying at the home of World War II veteran Walfield Cobb was only one of signs he was proud of his country.
    Cobb was honored Tuesday during the 118th Memorial Flag-Raising Service sponsored by Tarboro Golden K Kiwanis. His five children, Teresa Cobb, Tim Cobb, Polley Briley, Trudy Gallinotto and Karen Mobley attended the event.
    Cobb served in World War II from Sept. 1, 1944 to June 2, 1945. He returned to his Edgecombe County home and began a family, retiring from Glenoit after 32 years. Cobb died Sept. 30, 2011 at the age of 86.

    June 12, 2013 1 Photo