ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997 TAG: 9704080034
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Dear John
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
Pretty perennial of year resists disease and pests
The new Salvia variety called May Night has been selected as the 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
Salvia May Night was chosen because of its long season ornamental value as well as its ease of production. It produces upright spikes of blue-black flowers during May and June.
Honey bees and other garden pollinators are attracted to its flowers, so you may want to try Salvia May Night where you need those garden helpers in late spring or early summer. The attractiveness of the plant continues after blooming with aromatic blue-gray leaves. The mature size of this perennial Salvia should be about 2- 21/2 feet tall by 1-2 feet across.
Another attractive feature of Salvia May Night is that it has no serious disease or pest problems. Selecting ornamental plants that are not susceptible to various problems is an excellent way to use less pesticides as well as save time and money while creating an attractive landscape.
In designing the right spot for Salvia May Night, be sure to select a sunny location, although light shade might help this perennial to endure the typical intense heat of Roanoke summers. Like many other perennials, placing Salvia May Night in soils that are well drained during the winter increases the plant's vigor and extends its life. The plant will grow in a variety of soils and likely will endure dry ones that occasionally stress the plant during short-term summer droughts.
This perennial can be planted as bare-root plants in early spring. The term bare root means that the roots are not planted in a ball of soil. Potted Salvia May Night, which means that the root system is surrounded by a ball or mass of soil, can be planted at any time during the growing season. New plants should be watered well but not every day, though, until they are established.
New Greenline number
Roanoke-area consumers with horticulture questions for the Extension office should now call the new Greenline phone number staffed by trained Extension Master Gardener volunteers at 776-7178.
The location of the Green Clinic where residents can bring plant or insect samples for diagnosis is now in the Roanoke County Extension office in the Brambleton Center, 3738 Brambleton Ave. S.W., Roanoke.
Q: What product will snuff out and kill zoysia grass? I have some in my yard, and it is taking over my flower gardens and shrubs. J.S.T., Clifton Forge
A: Look on the label of the plant killer glyphosate, which is sold as Roundup and other trade names, for the specific claim and permission to kill zoysia grass. Follow the recommendations for the rate to use and apply only as a spot application to contact the actively growing green parts of the zoysia or whatever else you plan to kill. Application should not be made in close proximity to the green parts of other plants or when the spray or fumes could drift onto other plants.
Also, please realize that you can kill zoysia grass but possibly not snuff it out completely. Glyphosate works by being absorbed by green parts to the roots. But, it does not work in the soil or by root uptake, so it is possible for zoysia grass to grow back from parts inches below the surface that the chemical cannot reach.
Months later, the zoysia may return.
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.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for early April:
Spring care of landscape trees and shrubs is essential: remove winter damaged parts; renew mulch to a 2-inch depth but be sure the mulch depth tapers down to very little against the trunk; prune to shape hedges and shade trees; don't overfertilize; and begin once-a-week deep watering of woody plants planted for one year or less.
Call professional exterminators rather than attempting control yourself if you find termite swarmers in or adjacent to the house; these are one-quarter inch long, dark, straight-sided insects with fragile wings about twice the length of the body.
Do not damage or remove green leaves of spring flowering bulbs.
|--| John Arbogast-is the agricultural and natural resources extension agent for Roanoke.
Correction
The Roanoke Extension Service's presentations on composting, scheduled for outdoors April 19 at Mill Mountain Zoo and Mill Mountain Park, will not be held in case of rain. Last week's column incorrectly said the programs would be held regardless of rain.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Even after the Salvia May Night's blue-black flowersby CNBdisappear, the plant continues to be atrractive with its aromatic
leaves. color.