It sounds like brown soft scale insects that have over-wintered as nymphs and are now young adults.  There are beneficial predators that will control small numbers of the pests.  Larger populations can be controlled with light weight horticultural oil in late winter and into early summer.  When plants are heavily infested with scales, leaves may look wilted, turn yellow, and drop prematurely.  Scales sometimes curl leaves or cause deformed blemishes or discolored halos. Bark infested with armored scales may crack and exude gum. Brown soft scale will usually not kill a plant, but large numbers can slow growth and plant vigor.  Soft scale is much easier to control with horticultural oil than the armored scale, but twigs, limbs and undersides of leaves must be sprayed.   Click here for more information.

 

My pond plants are a mess from last season, should I throw them all away and buy new plants? 

Now is a great time to remove potted plants from the Koi pond and divide and repot.  Plants can be made as good as new.  It is best to divide before spring growth begins. Bog plants and lilies will thrive in organically rich soil, but lotus plants prefer clay.  Convenient clay-based aquatic plant soils will work well for most all plants.   Have plenty of new baskets on hand for divisions.  Remove plants from their pots and rinse pots and roots with clean water.  Carefully pull apart or use a garden shear or sharp knife to divide plant roots.  Place soil in pot allowing the crown ( that part of the stem which is at ground level) to be two inches below the basket rim. Fill  the last two inches with a fish gravel, lava rock, or river rock to hold soil in place when plants are submerged.   Some recommend liquid fertilizers or tablets, but  use sparingly to prevent algae growth in the water.

 We are past the average last freeze date of April 15 and I understand it is safe to plant tender annuals now.  A friend said that I should not plant some types of annuals yet, and to wait until mid to late May.  Which ones are they? 

Tender perennial such as caladium bicolor, Madagascar periwinkle (Catharantus roseus) and petunias (Petunia x hybrid) like their roots to be warm!  Cool soil temperatures will slow the growth of these plants and they may just sit and rot or mildew.  Late spring rains can also wreak havoc by causing root rot or fungus on leaves and stems. It is best to wait until the middle or late May when rains are fewer and the sun is warmer.  

Is it too late to plant azaleas, and what do I look for in our area?

There is no other beloved plant like the azalea and no better time to plant one.  Azaleas can be evergreen, deciduous and re-blooming.  Encore azaleas bloom in spring, mid-summer and fall and come in 24 different varieties.  There are also Kurume hybrids, Girards, and others that bloom as early as February and March, others that bloom in late spring, and still others that bloom as late as September.  By choosing cultivars that bloom at different times, it is possible to have azaleas in bloom throughout the entire growing season.  Local nurseries usually carry varieties that do well in our area.  For more information click here. 

Mark Your Calendar 

• Plant watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, squash, eggplant, okra, sweet potatoes and southern peas.
• Bagworms may appear on juniper and Arbor vitae in late May. A botanical pesticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is safe and effective.

• Lacebugs may appear on azaleas this month. Call Master Gardeners for recommendations for control. 

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