Ask Neal - Recent Questions

My father lives in what once was a pine thicket 30 years ago. When he built his house, he thinned 1/2 the pines out leaving the hardwood trees. The pine beetle infestation destroyed most of the remaining pines a few years ago. Now his oak trees are dying. Any ideas as to why?
Yes, I have an idea that might explain this sudden loss of oaks. Drought years have a real significant effect on red oaks particularly, but other hardwoods as well. Oaks reach basic maturity at the age of 50 or so. They do not respond well to severe swings in moisture. The 3 previous drought years stressed those trees terribly. The water movement through a tree is caused by pressure produced when water is transpired through leaves causing a pulling action which will pull water from the roots through vessels. In dry condition extreme vacuum can occur in these vessels as water resources become limited which can lead to break in the water column in the vessel. When that happens the vessel is no longer active and will not return to function in the future. Enough of these die and the tree begins to die, because when the moisture returns it cannot use it.
Submitted by: Stacy Worthington, Russellville
When is it considered too late in the year to overseed a fescue lawn in east Tennessee?
October is the last month UT recommend to seed a lawn. However, this is weather dependent. We have seen great results as late as December. It just becomes more difficult as we get later in the Fall. What does all this means? If had a lawn that is over 50% weeds, I would overseed even in November.
Submitted by: mark, lenoir city
I have several Wiegelia bushes that didn't bloom very well this year & looked dead in lots of places. Are they supposed to be pruned each year, if so how much? Would you cut them down like people do with forsythia's, almost to the ground?
If the wiegelias are older, they may need to be pruned back to 3 - 4 inches above the soil surface. This will allow them to regrow new vibrants shoots. They also require full sun. This can be a problem as the landscape matures. They can become to shaded by trees and shrubs.
Submitted by: Dale Reagan, Greenback
What is the best way to get rid of poison ivy? (besides having someone else pull it up). How odd is it that my dogwood tree is blooming in September?
Poison Ivy can be sprayed this time of year with Roundup or glyphosate products. It can be killed this time of year by Roundup products. However, you do not want to get the herbicide on plants you want to keep because it will kill it. Many trees are blooming this year in the fall. We do not know exactly why, but it may be the weather is mimicking spring.
Submitted by: Teresa, Knoxville
The gnats and fruit flies are really bad here in Kodak. We can't get rid of them. We have just about steralized the house, but to no avail. We have fly strips up everywhere. HELP! please.
Two different problems. The fruit flies have to have some food source. Check potatoes, onions, garlic cloves and refrigerator evaporation pans for spills of soda or fruit residue. The gnats are bad because of the weather. They are really bad in the eastern most counties. I would keep the doors and windows closed to keep them at bay from inside.
Submitted by: Betsy Evans, Kodak
My wife is concerned about grass clippings (from mowing) growing grass in the flower beds. Is this possible?
Grass clippings makes a good source of mulch. However when you put them in and around plants you can put weedy grass seeds in the beds and bermuda grass can grow from stems of bermuda cut with a lawn mower.
Submitted by: David, Seymour
I have a wild rose that has been replanted several times from La., it needs to be cut back. When is the best time and how far back?
The best time to do this is March.
Submitted by: Sandy Rayford, Seymour
My granddaughter has daylillies and we have been told that we are suppose to divide them in the fall is this true? And for this area when and how do we do this?
August and September are great times to separate and transplant daylillies. Dig the groups of plants and pull apart and replant.
Submitted by: Ethel Viles, Knoxville
I have a problem with morning glorys taking over my iris bed. Is there any way to kill the morning glory without harming the iris?
No, the only solution is to handweed the bed them mix preen in the soil to control new weeds from sprouting.
Submitted by: Lisa Hawkins, Kingston
I have two crape myrtles about two years old and 6 to 7 ft tall, they are too close to my house and need to be moved. When is the best time to do this?
When the plant is dormant would be best between November and end of February. However, they will stand transplanting most of the year (not during blooming) If you keep them well watered.
Submitted by: Lisa Hawkins, Kingston
What is the most effective way to get rid of Ground Ivy? What can I use that would not be harmful to animals (dogs), but will not kill my grass in the process?
Trimec + and Speedzone are the most effective and they are not great. I realize how frustrating it is, but I do not know what else to tell you.
Submitted by: Ann, Claxton
I have five 40' tall Leyland Cypress trees. I noticed one of them had a brown limb from trunk to tip of the limb. Whats up with that and what should I do? Can't loose these big privacy trees!
They are very susceptible to a canker disease that effects the limbs. It is very destructive to the tree if it is not dealt with quickly. I would recommend that you remove the limb and sterilize you pruners with lysol or listerine after each cut.
Submitted by: CO, Knoxville
I have a very nice green lawn (fescue)this year except that my lawn has an over-abundance of clover. What can I use to eradicate the clover and leave the fescue?
Clover eradication can be accomplished by fertilization in the fall. Nitrogen fertilization reduces the clover by promoting grass growth. Several of the broadleaf herbicides will get rid of clover after two or three applications. Things like weed be gone and trimec + can do a good job.
Submitted by: Ron Johnson, Knoxville, TN
I have a cabin at the lake. I want to have a worm box there. How can I do that?
Basically biuld a square with a water proof top and a hardware cloth bottom. Make the sides about 18 inches in height and dig a hole 12 inches deep the dimension of the box and put it in the ground. Pressure treated wood is fine. Fill it with shredded paper and moisten it and start putting kitchen scraps in. Within 3 months you will have lots of worms.
Submitted by: JR, Kingston
I have clipped and dug up yucca, but it keeps coming back. I heard that concentrated salt or lime will kill them off. What do you recommend?
Yucca is very difficult to kill. I would recommend that you spray with roundup and make absolutely sure you soak the entire plant and every leaf junction is wet with Roundup. If this does not work for you as a homeowner, then I would dig every sprout up individually. The salt and lime method might work, but salt can destroy the soil to the point where nothing can grow there for a few years.
Submitted by: Tim, Claxton