NDSU Yard & Garden Report
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North Dakota State University YARD & && GARDEN REPORT September 7, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 7 Lost & Found: Heirloom Apples Crisp, juicy apples have been enjoyed by families in America and Europe for centuries. Thousands of varieties have been grown over this time but only a few are sold at grocery stores today. Modern varieties are attractive, ship well and have a mild flavor that pleases the masses. That’s great, but we are missing the bold flavors of yesterday. To illustrate the point, come with me on a trip to the past and see what appeals most to you: Imagine going back to our Dakota homestead days and enjoying a slice of fluffy apple cake made from the ‘Duchess of Oldenburg’ tree we brought from Russia. Delicious! Or, pull up a chair in an old village pub in New England and let’s enjoy a Gardeners are rediscovering the rich flavors of heirloom apples. Shown is ‘Duchess of pint of ‘Smokehouse’ cider. Cheers! Oldenburg’, a hardy Russian apple known for its superb cooking qualities. Looking for something more chic? Go online and search for “heir- I enjoy a ‘Honeycrisp’ as much as Then imagine sitting at a street café in loom” or “heritage” apples. Several anyone, but the rich flavors of Stockholm enjoying a tangy tart made nurseries offer these trees today and a heirloom apples can delight both our from prized ‘Akero’ Swedish apples. It few will offer more than 100 varieties. stomachs and our souls as we share smells like raspberries! Spend a moment and revel at the the same delights of our ancestors. flavors and legends surrounding these Allow me to offer you a sweet varieties. Choose varieties that are apple scone made with ‘Kerry Pippin’ Inside This Issue hardy and ripen by early October. apples from an Irish bakery. w Heirloom Apples 1 The most popular heirloom apples Before coming home, let’s grab w Hardy, Tough Perennials 2 are available in limited supplies and can some apple butter made by the local w Lawn Fertilization Q & A 3 be ordered this fall for delivery next monks using ‘Lamb Abbey Pearmain’ spring. You will buy these as bareroot w Drought Watch 3 apples. Smell the pineapple essence! trees, which are easy to plant and save w Chores & Challenges I could go on, but you get the idea. you money. In many cases you can get w Nuisance Insects 4 There is a world of amazing taste these on semi-dwarf rootstocks w Trees, Fruits, Vegetables 5 experiences waiting for you with (hardy to Zone 4), which are easier to w Weather Almanac 6 heirloom apples. manage than standard types. Hardy, Drought-Tolerant Perennials Are you looking for a tough _____ Achillea, Moonshine _____ Paeonia, Coral Sunset perennial that looks beautiful? These species are hardy to _____ Asclepias, Hello Yellow _____ Penstemon, Midnight Masquerade Zone 3 (–35°F) and tolerate _____ Echinacea, PRAIRIE SPLENDOR™ _____ Salvia, May Night dry soil. Can you match the _____ Gaillardia, Arizona Sun _____ Sedum, Neon flowers with their names? Answers are on page 5. _____ Hemerocallis, Ruby Spider _____ Tanacetum, Robinson’s Red 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 NDSU Yard & Garden Report September 7, 2017 Best Time to Fertilize the Lawn Should I fertilize my lawn now? Now is the best time of the year to fertilize your lawn. The key to a healthy turf is a deep, thick root system. Lawns focus on root growth in fall. If you fertilize only once a year, it should be in early September. What fertilizer is best? Lawn fertilizers have three numbers listed on the bag: the percentages of nitrogen, phosphate and potash. A suitable winterizer fertilizer will be approximately 25-0-10, but don’t get What about weed-and-feed What is a better way to control too worried about exact numbers. fertilizers? weeds? Nitrogen promotes growth and Weed-and-feed fertilizers are conve- A Trimec formulation (2,4-D, MCPP green color. The finest fertilizers will nient but fail to control many weeds. and dicamba) is effective. New contain slow-release nitrogen, often Broadleaf herbicides applied in fall products have added quinclorac for listed as methylene urea or water need to be absorbed through the extra killing power. Such products insoluble nitrogen on the bag. Slow- leaves of weeds. Herbicide granules include Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass release nitrogen provides consistent often drop off the weeds before they Control and Roundup for Lawns. growth through fall and early spring. are absorbed. Herbicide sprays are It’s best to wait until mid to late Many lawn fertilizers contain little more likely to be absorbed. September and use a spray product. or no phosphate. That’s okay; most Weed-and-feed products offer Spot spraying weeds rather than soils in ND are rich in phosphate. fewer herbicides (usually only 2,4-D and spraying the whole yard can save Potash improves winter hardiness perhaps MCPP) compared to many money and reduce your exposure to and the lawn’s tolerance to stress. spray products. these toxic chemicals. Drought Watch Rainfall amounts over the past three weeks were below normal across the state. The western half of the state continues to suffer under a severe or worse drought status while the eastern half remains dry. Drought-stricken trees are showing scorched leaves and premature fall colors. August 15, 2017 September 5, 2017 Temperatures have been normal for this time of year and are cooling Moderately dry (crop growth slowed); >99% of state. off. Most lawns have broken out of Moderate drought (crop damage, voluntary water use restrictions); 66% of state. their summer dormancies. Details of Severe drought (crop losses likely, water use restrictions); 49% of state. our recent weather and the growing Extreme drought (major crop losses, widespread water use restrictions); 21% of state. season are presented on page 6. Exceptional drought (widespread crop losses, water emergencies); <1% of state. September 7, 2017 NDSU Yard & Garden Report 3 Chores & Challenges Nuisance Insects Mosquitoes Avoid going outdoors from dusk to dawn. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks. Use repellents (DEET is most effective) on exposed skin and clothing. Yellowjackets, Including Hornets Populations are soaring now—a single (carbaryl or permethrin) inside the hole nest may consist of thousands of using a turkey baster. Do not seal the yellowjackets. These pests can sting entrance; otherwise they will create a several times and some species will sting new hole which may be more hazardous. even when unprovoked. If the nest is in the ground, sprinkle Yellowjacket nests in an out-of the insecticide dust into the hole. way area are usually best left alone. The Yellowjackets will all be in the nest at pests will die after a hard frost. night. Kill the nest at night; a cool night Nuisance Flies If a nest is in a hazardous location and in the 50s is best. Wear protective Cluster, face and picture-wing flies enter exposed, spray the hole of the nest with a clothing (long-sleeved shirts, hat, and homes in fall as they look for a warm wasp-killing aerosol spray. socks covering pant cuffs). If activity spot to hibernate. These flies will not continues the next day, attack again. If the nest is in a hazardous location harm you or your property. They will and concealed (for example, under siding Yellowjacket traps help but capture not reproduce indoors. Seal entrances or in a wall void), shoot insecticide dust only a small percentage of the pests. around siding, windows and vents. Boxelder Bugs Grasshoppers Crickets Bugs are swarming and will gather on These pests are attracted to gardens in Seal windows, doors and foundation. sunny walls to stay warm. Seal crevices search of water and food. Protect Reduce outdoor lighting. Remove debris along doors and windows. Spray bugs veggies with carbaryl (Sevin). Spray the near foundation. Insecticides may be with detergent (3–5 tbsp) per gallon of perimeter of the garden with carbaryl sprayed near entries. Crickets die from water. Continue spraying as bugs appear. or a pyrethroid (Tempo). frost. They will starve indoors. 4 NDSU Yard & Garden Report September 7, 2017 Chores & Challenges Trees and Shrubs Scorched Leaves Spider Mites Fall Needle Drop Newly planted trees are especially Leaves/needles show yellow dots where Old needles (located near the trunk) are sensitive. Irrigate when needed. Rock the tiny mites pierced for sap. Foliage supposed to turn brown and drop. As mulches generate heat and should be becomes bronze; webbing may be long as young needles (located near the avoided; shredded bark mulch is better. found. Knock off mites using a jet spray tips of branches) are healthy, the tree is Vegetables of water, or spray with summer oils. full of life. When is Watermelon Ripe? Plant Garlic Bacterial Spot on Tomato Watermelons are ripe when the tendril Plant in fall for larger cloves next year. Corky spots (diameter of pencil eraser) next to the fruit dries. The rind will be Hardneck varieties are most hardy. Add appear on fruits. Occurs under warm faded, not glossy. Mature melons feel 1 inch of compost or peat moss and 2.5 temps (mid 70s to 80s). Spots develop heavy. The spot on the underside of lbs of 10–10–10 per 100 ft2. Set cloves on vines. Stay out of garden when vines fruit will be white/yellow, not greenish. 2–3” deep; space 4–6” in rows 12–24” are wet to prevent spreading bacteria. apart. Mulch with straw in November. Copper sprays will prevent spread. Fruits Sedum, Neon 10.