Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
6/17/02
Contacts:
James Romer, Horticulture, (515) 294-2336, jromer@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning June 21
More Ask Dr. Grow-It-All
By James Romer
Extension Horticulture Specialist
Iowa State University
Dear Dr. Grow It All,
This year I decided to let my grass go to seed. The neighbors have been
threatening to call the local authorities if I don’t mow soon, but
they don’t understand the natural look I’m going for this season.
Besides what will it hurt? I’m providing cover and food for wildlife.
Right?
Correct in Correctionville
Dear Correct,
When lawns go to seed, they do so at the cost of the health of the lawn.
Seedhead development requires considerable amounts of carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates are diverted from other vital plant parts, such as the rhizomes
and crowns. These two plant parts need large quantities of carbohydrates
to help the turfgrass recover from damage caused by high temperatures,
drought, insects, or diseases. Turfgrass plants regenerate new plants
from the buds on the crown and nodes on the rhizome. Consequently, if
the carbohydrates have been taken from the crown and rhizome to be used
for seed production, the health of the plant will suffer.
Home gardeners should keep their lawns well mowed and not allow the grass
to go to seed. Lawns that have been allowed to grow tall should be mowed
as soon as possible. Set the mowing height to the highest level, then
gradually reduce the height of the grass in later mowings. The ideal height
of a bluegrass lawn during the summer months is 3 inches.
Dear Dr. Grow It All,
I knew I was doomed from the start of the growing season. While dinning at a Chinese restaurant recently, my fortune cookie read, “Rice is your best friend”. Well, Dr. Grow It All, it made perfect sense when the river next to the garden went out of its banks and flooded my entire garden in early June. Fortunately, the waters receded within a few hours. My father-in-law told me to till everything under and start over.
What do you suggest?
Sinking in Sabula
Dear Sinking;
All may not be lost if some of the plants survived the flash flood. Far
be it from me to contradict what your father-in-law said, but you may
not have to start from scratch. All joking aside, food safety is an important
and serious issue. Leafy crops such as lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard
should be tossed into the compost pile. I would also discard radishes,
beets, and carrots. Most of the warm-season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers,
sweet corn, and melons are still quite small and have not produced any
fruit. Since plants don’t absorb harmful bacteria, the fruits that
develop later this summer should be safe to eat. However, be sure to avoid
any produce that has soft spots, blemishes or cracks and wash everything
thoroughly before eating.
Dear Dr. Grow It All,
I have noticed a disturbing trend with my hackberry tree in the front yard. A few leaves have been dropping periodically from the tree. I can’t see any squirrels building a nest or insects chewing the foliage and there has been no damage done to the bark of the tree. This whole experience has been a little embarrassing as I have the perfect yard. Last year I was awarded the yard of the month three times!
Dr. Grow It All, what’s wrong?
Leafless in Lone Tree
Dear Leafless:
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Reports of hackberries losing their leaves have been coming in from across Iowa this spring. There should be nothing to worry about if your tree is losing a small percentage (5 percent or less) of leaves. The loss of foliage is probably due to weather-related or other environmental stresses. The tree should come through just fine.
-30-
ml: isugarden
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