Limestone County Master Gardeners

An educational and volunteer training program administered through the offices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). Volunteers receive advanced training in horticulture and environmental topics. In return, Master Gardeners share their time and knowledge on a variety of projects that benefit the community. Applications are being accepted for the next Master Gardener class.

Chinese Lilac

One of the "old-fashioned" shrubs with large, showy, flowers. Purple, violet, or white, 4" to 6" long, profusely fragrant, narrow pyramidal inflorescences, often arising in pairs from the terminal floral buds. Flowers in early- and mid-May and lasting for one to two weeks. While dead-heading will slightly improve the overall vigor and appearance of the shrub, it is usually impractical to perform except on young shrubs. Usually a vigorous, relatively trouble-free shrub, except for the annual infection of powdery mildew that arrives in late August and persists until leaf drop. Medium-sized ornamental, 10' x 10' wide. Upright oval growth habit, becoming leggy and spreading with age. Medium growth rate. Full to partial shade. Best performance occurs in full sun in moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soils of average fertility, in areas with good air circulation. It is highly adaptable to poor soils, soils of various pH, drought, and pollution, but declines under the heat and high humidity of the Tennessee Vally. A specimen shrub for borders, entranceways, large foundations, rows, group plantings, or deciduous screens.

Buckhorn Plaintain

A cool season perennial. Reproduces by seeds and roots. Forms a spreading rosette above a long, sturdy taproot. Leaves narrow, up to 8" long with distinctive parallel venation. Many small flowers tightly clustered at the ends of long stems. Flowers occur May to October. Common in low-quality turfs of low to moderate soil fertility throughout the growing season. Control by maintaining turf density and health, especially fertilization. Mechanically pull removing as much of the taproot as possible. Chemical control - apply postemergence herbicides in spring-early summer and/or mid-late autumn when weeds are growing actively. Preemergence herbicides can be applied before seed germination.

Over-watering

Symptoms include rapid defoliation, wilting, stunted plants, spotted foliage, and gray fuzzy mould. A major factor of water need is rate of evapotranspiration - the two ways that plants lose water. Evaporation is natural loss of water into the air. Transpiration is loss of water by the plant itself, usually through the leaves or the stem. To properly water: examine soil to see where it is too dry and crumbly, or where it's too wet and muddy. Checking often will avoid over watering or under watering. Water slowly to avoid runoff. Water deeply so more than just the top layer of soil receives water. Water early when it's cool. Daytime heat speeds evaporation. Watering at night causes disease and fungal growth.