October 2009 Newsletter©
Camellias, Grass for
Shade and October Chores
We haven’t talked much about shaded lawns since the September 2006 newsletter (it should be required reading for anyone trying to grow pasture in the forest). Proper soil prep and correct care are critical for establishing a shaded turf. It’s usually not the shade that kills fescue, it’s the drought. We’ve talked about the high water demands of trees, especially mature ones, and in this war for water, grass is always the loser.
We have, for many years, recommended Five Star Turf Type Fescue Blend for shady areas. It is a blend of Crossfire II, Dynasty, Blade Runner (a spreading type), Greenkeeper and Cayenne fescue. All of these are turf type tall fescues and they’ve been top performers at the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials. We have found them to be the best performers in the Memphis area through the years. Why a blend? Because every variety has different tolerances to shade, drought, traffic, disease, heat, etc. A blend gives you the best chance of success in different situations and although your neighbor’s yard may be similar to yours, there is likely a difference in the micro-climate of each yard.
The developers of Five Star have introduced another blend they call Five Star Extreme Shade Mix.
It contains Cayenne fescue, Mustang 4 (a brand new, very drought tolerant variety), Jasper II (a new creeping red fescue), Windward Chewings fescue (which is probably THE most shade tolerant fescue) and Spartan II (a hard fescue that performs well in shade, drought and low fertility situations).
Based on the NETP trials, this blend should perform well with the heavy water competition from trees and we are pleased to offer it to you now. It should be mowed as high as possible and planted at 8-10 lbs. per 1000 square feet.
As with all fescue, the fall is the best time to plant. You have about 5 months of full sun on the turf (no leaves on the trees!) to get it established before the stress of the summer heat, shade and drought. Five Star Extreme will have a slightly coarser appearance than our regular Five Star blend which is still my choice for moderate shade, but for heavy shade and tree competition, we believe the Extreme Shade blend will prove to be an excellent choice for the Memphis area. Will you have to reseed? Yes, you probably will. We are at the southern most end of fescue’s range. An exceptionally hot, dry summer or improper care will result in the loss of some grass. How much you have to reseed depends primarily on your initial soil preparation and your follow up care.
It’s been nearly two years since we talked about one of my favorites – Camellias. Here are some new varieties here at Dan West:
Jury’s Yellow – This is a large grower to 8’ or more and 6’ wide with white flowers that have a unique double yellow center. Blooms in late February and March. Camellia x williamsii hybrid.
Moonlight Bay – This is a C. japonica with a very large semi-double orchid pink flower. It has an exceptionally long bloom period, February into April. Grows to 8’ tall by 6’ wide.
Morning Glow – Another C. japonica with a very large, pure white, formal double flower. Grows to 8’ tall by 6’ wide.
October Magic Inspiration – This is a tall growing, fall blooming C. sasanqua variety. It has a ruffled, double white flower with a picotee magenta edge. It’s a very striking flower. Grows to 15’ tall.
October Magic Orchid – A fall blooming, C. sasanqua variety with pink and white bi-color flowers, grows to 8’ tall.
October Magic Snow – Another fall blooming C. sasanqua variety with a double white, pom-pom type flower and a hint of pink along the edge. Grows to 15’ tall.
Pink Serenade – A C. sasanqua, fall bloomer with single pink flowers and yellow stamens. Slight weeping appearance to 6’ or more tall and 8’ wide.
Rose of Autumn – A rose pink, peony form C. sasanqua that has a long fall blooming period. Grows to 15’ tall.
Rosy Red – C. sasanqua, fall bloomer with a rose red flower and peony center. Grows to 6’ tall and wide. Profuse bloomer.
Spellbound – A C. japonica variety with coral rose, fully double flowers. Blooms March-April and grows to 10’ tall and 6’ wide.
Turandot – A March blooming C. japonica with very large, peony form, red flowers. Grows to 6’.
That’s 11 new varieties to go with another 45 varieties currently in stock and more on the way!
Camellias need good drainage (plant them high) and they should be protected from morning sun. If a flower is showing color, a frost and early morning sun can destroy it. I have 7 sasanqua varieties on the east side of my house, but they are protected by large trees. In extremely cold temperatures I lose a few flowers, but the shade from the limbs gives them significant protection and they bloom quite well for me. I’ve got a few showing color now and I’ll have some color until the first of the year. I would only plant very early bloomers on the east side of a house with no tree protection.
My spring bloomers are on the back of the house where I can see the spring flowers from the kitchen. They are planted on the north side of a fence and also get some protection from two huge elm trees. They give me color from mid February until mid April.
No trees in your yard? Plant Camellias on the north side of your house. They’ll do great.
We’ve got lots of heavily budded camellias! Some just starting to bloom.
It’s time for a pre-emerge herbicide on your lawn and flower beds. We recommend Hi Yield Weed and Grass Stopper with Dimension. One product, for both your lawn and your flower beds, to stop the weeds you see in the spring…annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed, etc. I’d get it down as soon as possible. With all the rains we’ve had, I’m already seeing some early germinating weeds. I’m applying now and I’m adding another application in mid-December (because of all the rain) and then again in late February. I suspect we will see a bumper crop of annual bluegrass next spring for those who didn’t use a pre-emerge.
Now that we are having fall temperatures, don’t forget to spray your broadleaf evergreens with a dormant oil spray. It will smother insects and insect eggs plus help protect your plants from the desiccation of winter winds.
Having trouble with mosquitoes? Spray your shrubs and lower tree branches with Hi Yield Lawn, Garden, Pet and Livestock Spray. It’s a great residual spray for mosquitoes and it’s probably the best all purpose insecticide to have. It can be used on fruits and vegetables, for fleas and ticks in the yard and on the dog, borers on fruit trees, wood boring pests like carpenter ants, termites and carpenter bees plus 150 other insect pests such as flies and ants (including fire ants) outside.
For broad leaf weeds in the turf, you can use ferti-lome Weed Free Zone now. The temperatures are perfect; the weeds are starting to actively grow and are easily killed. Don’t spray any area about to be
seeded.
Just a little follow-up on MSMA. We are still getting different dates for last sale. University of Tennessee has said December 31, 2009, but suppliers are telling us May 31, 2010. MSMA will be available until 2012, but the new label will not have a home lawn use listed and according to the EPA, it cannot be used on home lawns after December 31, 2010 by homeowners or lawn care professionals. (The single largest user of MSMA is the government for right of way use and they’ve given themselves until 2012.)
Last month’s contest from the left…Verbena bonariensis, Begonia grandis and Callicarpa americana.
Translated that is Brazilian verbena, hardy begonia and beautyberry.
The Verbena is considered a short lived perennial, but it comes up from seed readily and makes a nice show.
The Begonia is very hardy. Attractive foliage, fall flowers and spreads readily.
The beautyberry is a great sun shrub. It looks best if you cut it back hard every year just like a butterfly bush.
This month, name this perennial.
The contest ends on October 15th. Drop by either store to enter or you can email your entry to
questions@danwestonline.com. One winner, selected from all correct entries, will receive a
$25 Dan West Gift Certificate.
Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.