ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604220005
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: dear john
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
Q: I live in Ellett Valley in Montgomery County. We have a problem with ladybugs, the type that like the inside of your house and seem to live in colonies of millions! As much as I value the importance of ladybugs for our gardens, I detest their making such an unsightly living in my house. How do I get rid of them? Is there a pesticide that I can use?
A: Since you already understand the ``good bug'' qualities of the Japanese ladybug, let me just pass on these tips from William Robinson, extension entomologist at Virginia Tech. Since the conflict between humans and the ladybugs comes from their seeking overwintering shelter around our homes, control of the insects is probably best done in the fall when they gather in large numbers. A garden insecticide such as carbaryl (Sevin) outside will be sufficient. The only legal indoor spray homeowners have available is one of the general-purpose household insect-control aerosol or finger-pump sprays. Reduce the number of insects that gather outside with mechanical means, such as a strong water hose, stream or the vacuum cleaner.
Q: What are your opinions on mulch vs. peat moss as a soil improver? D.M., Blacksburg
A: My opinion is controlled by the fact that any organic material used for soil improvement must be of a small enough particle size, such as 1-inch pieces, in order to help the soil and become the ``humus'' component that's needed want. Also important is the ``composted'' condition of any material, which tells us that we don't want anything high in carbon but low in nitrogen, such as fresh sawdust or wood chips, without adding a supply of nitrogen ourselves. The storage history of the material, which means that any soil amendment should not be extremely acidic due to long storage in a big pile without air. Given these conditions, peat moss would win as a soil improver, but the cost factor can be high compared to free compost that we can make from yard debris.
Q: I have a 11/2-year-old pampas grass plant. It is brown from the winter right now. Should I cut it back to the ground or what? Also, please give information on the care of this plant. E.R.C., Roanoke
A: It is a good idea to cut the blades to about 10 inches sometime after the blades turn brown following one growing season but before the new blade-shoots emerge in early spring.
It might be too late now to cut the brown growth since you don't want to stunt or injure the new shoots by accidently cutting them while clipping the old. Cut the brown growth now higher than you would have earlier. Pampas grass is a southern ornamental grass that requires little care; however, frigid winter temperatures in our area can cause one of the following results in this plant: no feathery plumes produced in late summer, a weakened plant or total death.
Q: Please tell me how to stop the spread of tiger lilies. Is it possible? E.L., Huddleston
A: According to Robert E. Lyons of the Horticulture Department at Virginia Tech, it is possible to stop the spread. Since the true tiger lily (Lilium Tigrinum) produces small bulbs known as bulbils along the main stem, Lyons offered these suggestions: observe the lilies and collect bulbils so that they won't fall to the ground and begin new plants; maintain 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch around the lilies to prevent the bulbils from germinating in the ground; or give the bulbils away, since each should produce a flowering lily in three years.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to Dear John, c/o The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, VA 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered during the weeks that the subject is timely. Personal replies cannot be given. Please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples or pictures.
GREENLINE: To get quick answers to your questions about gardening, trees or shrubs, lawn care, indoor plants, insect pests and other topics considered part of consumer horticulture, call 857-6208 to reach the "Greenline" established in the Roanoke City Extension Office and staffed by Extension Master Gardeners during regular office hours Monday through Friday. Local Extension policy prohibits the return of long distance calls.
GRAFTING WORKSHOP: Call the Montgomery County Extension Office at 382-5790 to see if any slots are still open in the Grafting Workshop to be taught in Blacksburg by the New River Valley Master Gardeners Association in cooperation with that Extension Office from 7-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for late April:
Check developing broccoli plants for green worms feeding on the leaves and later around the heads; control with the biological Thuricide, Dipel, Bactur or SOK-BT according to label directions. Grow these dried flowers from seed: statice, globe amaranth, strawflowers, other everlastings.
LENGTH: Medium: 88 linesby CNB