THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603220105
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
THIS IS THE time of year to apply pre-emergent crabgrass control. It's the only kind that really works. After pesky crabgrass comes up, it's too late to get good control.
But keep in mind, there's no such thing as a weed-free lawn. As long as the wind blows, birds fly, animals run and people walk, weed and grass seeds will spread. You can prevent most grassy weeds by applying a pre-emergent crabgrass control now. TROUBLE IN THE TURF
Last week I noticed a grassy lawn covered with starlings, kicking, digging and pecking into the turf. That usually means there are grubs and worms, which you don't want in your grass. Such bird invasions can tear up your turf.
If this has happened to you, most likely you need to apply an insecticide over the entire area. Some available in retail outlets include Dursban, diazinon and a new one I prefer named Merit. MASTER GARDENERS PLANT SALE
Mark your calendars that the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners will hold their annual plant sale at Pembroke Mall on April 27. Plant donations and volunteers are needed. Call 427-4769. BRING YOUR QUESTIONS
During the next few weeks, I'll be doing many book signings around the area, but they are more than book signings. Bring in your weeds, bugs and garden questions and I'll try to find an answer for you. Book signings are listed in the calendar that runs in this section. HOLLY SOCIETY TO MEET
The Holly Society of America will meet Saturday at the Lake Wright Convention Center from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration of $28 includes lunch and should be sent to Peggy McComb, P.O. Box 117, Bena, Va. 23018. Speakers include Peter Schultz and Tom Banko from the Hampton Roads Research Center and Kunso Kim from the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Call (804) 642-2449. NATIVE PERENNIAL BOOKLET
If you're interested in native plants, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has just published a 112-page booklet, ``Native Perennials: North American Beauties.'' Each of the plants included is illustrated with a color photo. It's available in bookstores for $7.95 or for $11.70 mailed to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225. A MAYMONT TO REMEMBER
The Maymont Flower Show, recently held in Richmond, was the largest ever. Two gardens that caught my attention were built by two schools: the Lee Davis High School in Mechanicsville and the Patrick Henry High School in Ashland. Their gardens were a credit to the show.
Two plants I thought were outstanding were in a beautiful garden built by Glorious Gardens in Manakin-Sabot. They used two beautiful flowering cherries (Prunus campanulata) named ``Okame'' at the entrance to their garden. ``Okame'' is a small cherry with multitudes of pink-to-red small blooms that make it outstanding in any landscape. McDonald Garden Centers and Smithfield Gardens carry it locally.
The other outstanding plant was a small ground-cover rose called ``Snow Carpet.'' It would be ideal around a pool, in a barrel or container. I can't find it yet at any local garden centers, but similar carpet roses are available. If interested in ``Snow Carpet,'' call Glorious Gardens at (804) 784-4417. SEEDS OF CHANGE CATALOG
Seeds of Change offers organically grown, open-pollinated seeds for 444 vegetables, flowers and herbs, 42 of which are new offerings. For a catalog, write to P.O. Box 15700, Santa Fe, N.M. 87506-5700. Fax (505) 438-7052. MUSSELMAN TO SPEAK
One of this area's most entertaining speakers will appear at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Norfolk Botanical Garden when Lytton Musselman talks about ``The Gardens of Solomon.'' Musselman is professor of biological sciences at Old Dominion University and travels worldwide in his quest for botany knowledge. The lecture is free to Botanical Garden Society members and $5 to others. Call 441-5838. by CNB