Heat climate throughout March prods owners to inquire about their residence gardening issues. Under are questions posed to over the previous few weeks.

Query: I’ve his development rising throughout my bushes in my yard. What is that this and can it kill my bushes? How do I management it?

Reply: Your plant has lichens on the limbs and twigs. The expansion of lichens doesn’t trigger decline in development or demise of shrubs and bushes. Nevertheless, lichen improvement on tree or shrub is usually related to poor development or environmental stress of the plant. If sensible, the affected limbs or twigs will be pruned out to stimulate new development.

Query: I believe my redbud tree is declining and dying. Sections of the tree are lifeless. Do these bushes have a significant illness downside?

Reply: Native redbuds usually are not a long-lived shade tree as in comparison with oaks and maples. Nevertheless, one of many extra constructive facets of the tree is they typically are straightforward to develop, being a legume, and have only a few pest issues. As soon as the tree begins to say no, it normally by no means recovers. There are new redbud cultivars that includes ample assortments of colours and leaf textures that adapt nicely to our local weather.

Query: Ought to I mow my liriope this spring?

Reply: Sure, it’s finest to mow within the spring to rejuvenate new development and take away lifeless or broken leaves. Increase the mower blade as excessive as doable and ensure your mower blade is sharp.

Query: What’s that purple weed in my yard and the way do I management it?

Reply: The weed is most probably henbit or deadnettle, each associated to one another. Publish-emergence herbicides containing 2, 4-D, Banvel and MCPP are designed to regulate the winter weed. Nevertheless, throughout flowering, the weed is tough to kill. Blooming broadleaf winter annuals are tough and could also be unimaginable to kill as a result of they’re within the course of of manufacturing seed and never adsorbing herbicides. Weeds ought to look distorted and withered a number of days after software. Two functions of broad-leafed herbicides 10 days aside are an impact answer.

Query: Can I over-seed my garden now?

Reply: Fescue will be over-seeded now, particularly naked spots. Don’t wait too late within the spring.

Query: I’ve some limbs to chop again on my tree that’s hanging over my home. Ought to I exploit some form of pruning paint or sealer over the cuts to guard the wound?

Reply: No, many ask about utilizing pruning paint for uncovered cuts. Pruning paint or wound dressing doesn’t present any advantages in therapeutic or defending tree cuts. Some researchers have urged that it usually causes issues later with fungus rising behind the paint.

Darrell Blackwelder is the retired horticulture agent and director with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. Contact him at deblackw@ncsu.edu.