Submitted by: agcomm, Thu Sep 11 08:38:26 1997 Hortiscope Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist North Dakota State University Q. I read you column in the Minot Neighborhood paper and it is very informative. Now I have a question. What is this plant that I have enclosed? This volunteer grew in my whiskey barrel planter that was planted with double white petunias. Surely this must be some type of ornamental; witness the variegated leaves. It grows rapidly and branches profusely, having come from a single stalk that first appeared in mid-June. The main stalk is now 36 inches tall and each of its 10 branches are nearly as long. If it is an ornamental, is it worth trying to bring indoors for the winter? If so, how should I transplant it? Thank you for your information. (Minot, N.D.) A. Thanks for the excellent sample. I had not come across this plant before, but to my good fortune, Dr. Duane Berglund was walking by while I was pondering the plant's identity and he immediately identified it as Lady's Thumb Smartweed. Now that I have seen one, I will never forget it--conspicuous dark "thumbprints" near the center of the leaves and, equally apparent, clear leaf sheath membranes. This annual weed is in the buckwheat family, often found in wet or moist undisturbed sites. They can get 3 plus feet tall and can become troublesome if allowed to set seed. I don't think you want to encourage this as an ornamental. Q. I read your garden tips every week and find them very interesting and helpful. I have never seen a question about pigeon grass. It is growing in our lawn and I would like to know what to do to get rid of it or control it. Redfield, S.D.) A. Pigeon grass is a regional name given to green and yellow foxtail. It is a bunch-type annual that sets seed in late summer, and is generally only a lawn pest when the turf is getting initially established from seed, or when the turf has become thin from low nutrition, excessive wear or extended drought. It is easily controlled with preemergence herbicides in the early spring. Dacthal (DCPA), Pendimethalin (PREM), and Siduron (Tupersan) are three examples. Also, keep your lawn vigorous through regular fertilization, mowing and irrigation. Q. I always read the write-up you have on plants in the Weekly Peddler, but somehow I missed the one on quackgrass in iris. This is a regular pain for me as I have a lot of them. Could you please send me some information on this matter. Your write-ups are welcome to those of us who need help. Keep them up. (Lakota, N.D.) A. Quackgrass in iris can be a real problem, in that I have found the rhizomes of the quackgrass can penetrate through the stout rhizomes of the iris. My suggestion is not widely embraced by many gardeners, but if you are wishing to grow those iris where they are, you must be determined in your attack on this obnoxious weed. Here it is: 1.Carefully dig out the entire iris planting. Discard any rhizomes that have been penetrated by quackgrass. 2.Going down 4 to 6 inches, remove every quackgrass rhizome you can find. Be sure there are no quack rhizomes along the border of your planting bed. They will only reinvade once the iris are reset. 3.Once you are sure the area is clean, reset the iris and keep future invasions to a minimum with carefully sprayed Roundup. Q. I waited too long this spring to apply dry fertilizer/weed killer to my lawn. Can it be applied in the fall, and if so, when is the best time to apply it? Thank you. (Hannaford, N.D.) A. The best thing to do is make separate applications of fertilizer and herbicide, around Labor Day weekend. Apply the fertilizer first and either water it well or get it down just before anticipated rain. Then apply your herbicide in liquid form, concentrating on the weed-infested areas and ignoring those which are weed free. This two-step approach is more economical and effective, giving you more of the results you are after. Q. I so enjoy your column in the Fargo Forum. Hope you can help me with my problem. I bought a "Crown of Thorns" plant about two months ago. It had nice pink flowers on it. Since they fell off, I never get any more blossoms. It grows taller, but no flowers. None of my friends have heard about this "Crown of Thorns." Please advise. (Mahnomen, Minn.) A. Thank you for the nice words about the column. "Crown of Thorns" is Euphorbia splendens prostrata. It, along with other flowering houseplants, requires ample light before it will reflower. It should be located in a sunny location to produce flowers. You also need a little patience. Every flowering houseplant needs a period of rest after flowering. It is kind of like you or me running a mile at full bore--exhausting. Q. I am looking for yellow shrub roses. The seed catalogs and nurseries I have checked have several other colors, but not yellow. Could you direct me to a source? Or perhaps a reader of your column would have a shrub or two they are willing to sell. Thank you for your assistance. Your column is most useful. (Mayville, N.D.) A. You can contact your local garden center, Town & Country Gardens, as they handle shrub roses and could very likely locate the yellow flowered ones you want. I try to encourage people to shop locally if they can, before going to catalogs. The satisfaction is usually guaranteed and the quality better. ### NDSU Agriculture Communication Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161 Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866