Weed control

Denny,

What product should I use in my flower beds to prevent weeds? I've heard you talk about Dimension and Barricade.

For flower and landscape beds you need to use Dimension. Barricade which is now called Prodiamine is used on the lawn. Both of them should be applied around the middle of March. The only exception would be you will need to wait to apply the Prodiamine to the lawn if you have planted grass seed this winter. If this is the case you need to wait until the grass seed has germinated before you apply the pre-emergent.

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Planting in a raised bed

Denny,

We put in raised flower beds around our house three years ago. On the southeast corner it was about a foot drop. We added top soil, a retaining wall and planted a Miss Kim lilac bush. It looks nice in the spring, but by the end of summer the leaves are turning brown and is now straggly after several years. I’m sure it is because of the raised bed over clay and dries out quickly. Any suggestions on how to salvage the situation?

The rate at which the bed dries out is related to the dimensions of the bed. If the bed is small or narrow you won't have enough soil to insulate the roots from wind and sun. If the bed is larger there is more soil to retain moisture. Also if the bed is bordered and supported with stone or some other type of material these materials will also help retain moisture.

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Two questions

Denny:

1. When can I cut my Knock Out roses back and how far can I cut them back?

2. I put step one and two of the Ferti-Lome on my yard last fall, will put step 3 on this spring (March/April). I also have a bag of Ferti-Lome Weed Free Zone plus lawn fertilizer. When should I put the Weed Free Zone on?

Thanks for your assistance.

Sharon

Sharon,

You should cut your Knock Out Roses so that each branch is about six to eight inches long. You need to do this when you start to see the leaf buds forming on the roses.

Your next step in the three step program would be the All Season Weed Preventer with Prodiamine. If you haven't planted any grass seed this winter it needs to be applied this month as the snow melts and the soil dries. The Weed Free Zone should be applied when you start to see broad-leafed weeds like Dandelions and Clover. You have the Weed Free Zone with fertilizer. This really isn't a product we recommend because you do not need the fertilizer at the time you would be killing the weeds. The only Fertilizer you need this spring is the fertilizer that comes with the Prodiamine. We recommend the Weed Free Zone in liquid form that you spray. There is no fertilizer and you only spray where the weeds are. Maybe you can take the Weed Free Zone with Fertilizer back to where you bought it and trade it for a bottle of the liquid.

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Weeping cherry tree pruning

Hello, Denny

I had my weeping cherry planted in late summer 2008 and did not do any pruning to it last summer at all. The branches are very thick now and I am not sure what to do and how to prune. It definitely needs to be shaped up. What do you recommend?

Thank you-

Becky

Becky,

Pruning questions are extremely difficult to answer in an email. There isn't one method that always applies to a particular variety of tree. There should be a purpose to accomplish a certain look by pruning the tree. The tree needs to be seen. If it needs to be shaped up we need to see what shape it is now. As a general rule Weeping Cherries need to have their branches thinned every three to four years. Thinning is a method of pruning where you remove about 1/3 to 1/2 of all of the branches to allow room for the future branches to grow. When you do this you remove the existing branches all the way back to the trunk or the lateral branch they are growing from.Your tree was just planted two seasons ago. It shouldn't be large enough to require this type of radical pruning.

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Black spot on roses

Hello Denny,

I listen to your show on my way to work on Sat. mornings, but can't remember the name of the wash you use to take care of black spots and bugs on knock out roses. I did checkout this webpage, but am not sure if Systemic Soil Drench is the right stuff. Thanks for your help. Joyce

Joyce,

There is an insecticide from Fertilome called Tree and Shrub Systemic Soil Drench. It contains Imidacloprid which is an insecticide that is absorbed through the roots into the plant. It works for an entire season. It is great for keeping the rose slugs, and rose midges from chewing holes in the leaves. Black Spot which is a rose disease usually does not affect Knock Out Roses. You may have another type of fungus problem. If you do you can treat those with Fertilome's Triple Action Plus.

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Pruning climbing vines

Denny,

When is the appropriate time to prune our climbing vines (trumpet) on our pergola coving our deck? We are looking for the vines to provide shade.

John

John,

If you want the vines to grow on the pergola and provide shade you shouldn't need to prune them, unless you're trying to encourage then to get thicker. If this isn't the case pruning them will only remove any growth you gained in the last growing season. Also they bloom better on older growth. You will get more flowers if you minimize your pruning.

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Transplanting

Hi Chris & Denny,

I have a well established, 3 year old, knockout rose bush. I need to move it, transplant it. Should I cut it back first, dig it up & move it? What is the best way to prepare the soil for it's new resting place? I live in Fairfield. Thanks for any info you may be able to give me.

Maryanne

Maryanne,

You can cut them back and move them at the same time. You should first cut it back so that all of the branches are eight to ten inches long from the center of the plant. Once you have cut it back you can move it. You don't need to do anything special to the soil when you move it. Make sure you chop up the soil so it is fine and not clumpy when you backfill. You'll need to water it in to get the soil to settle around the roots. You will need to wait to do this until the soil is reasonably dry so it is easy to move and the new hole is easy to dig.

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Winter seeding

Denny,

I wanted to winter seed my lawn, but with the snow still melting I am not sure if I missed my chance. I was going to try and put seed down this weekend, but noticed that next week there is rain in the forecast. Also, I looked at the temperatures and it does not appear to go below freezing. There is one area of my lawn that stays wet longer then other areas and I have heard you say that the ground should be dry. I also have just recently switched over to the Fertilome 3 step lawn process, so I know I will need to wait until the seed germinates before I can put down the first step. Have I missed my window of opportunity? Also, I purchased Executurf Tuff Turf Fescue Blend to overseed my lawn. Thanks Denny.

Brian

Brian,

You're right the one thing the weather forecast doesn't look good for is winter seeding, for now. This however is Cincinnati and the temperature will go below freezing again. The seed just needs to be on the top of the soil for you to achieve the benefit of the freezing and thawing loosening the soil. You are also correct that you have to wait for the seed to germinate before using the pre-emergent weed control.

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Trees

Denny,

Love listening to you on B105. I need your advice on trees. I need to trees for my backyard. My yard is about a half acre looking at a lake. I have 2 Bradford pears and 2 puprple plums in the front yard. I would like to have something fast growing and with some size already, and with some color in the fall.

Eric

Eric,

You have many choices when it comes to trees. First you need to determine if you want an ornamental tree or a shade tree. An ornamental tree is any tree that would grow to be 25 feet tall or less. A shade tree would be any tree growing larger than this. Some great ornamental trees are Flowering Crabs, Ornamental Cherries, Serviceberry, and Redbuds. Some great shade tree choices are the Red Maples, Sugar Maples, or newer verities of Elm. I would recommend that you go to a good family owned nursery or garden center with good employees to see what they have and would recommend.