Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Oct  9 12:36:49 1997


Hortiscope
 
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist                 
North Dakota State University
 
Q. Please identify the enclosed weeds if the samples are not too
  dry.   
 
  We enjoy reading your articles. Thank you. (Marion, N.D.)      
        
A. From what I could figure out, they are; (1) annual sowthistle,
  (2) smooth hawksbeard, (3) not enough of a sample to identify,
  sorry, (4) don't know.                
                
 
Q. This plant has been growing in an even bigger plot slowly each
  year. I thought years ago it must be a garden run-away.
 
  It has to be in the mint family because of the square stem. It
  reminds me of Agastache foeniculum, but does not have the
  anise smell. Could it be A. scrophulariaefolia? It was at peak
  bloom the middle of July. Thank you for checking on it.
  (Bowman, N.D.)
                
A. Thanks for the good sample and photo. I am sorry, but my
  references cannot get down to the species you suspect it is.
  It is a hyssop, I agree, but which one I cannot say with any
  certainty. You are correct in that the foliage lacks the anise
  odor. It could be the A. foeniculum without the odor--all
  other characteristics fit!                 
 
  Sorry I am not more of a help.
               
 
Q. Someone told me that if I send a sample of plant to you, you
  can tell me what is wrong with it. Enclosed is a spray of snow
  on the mountain which I have planted on the north side of our
  cabin at the lake. I have tried for three years to get snow on
  the mountain to grow without any success. I transplanted these
  plants early this summer and they started out looking very
  well, but as the summer wore on they didn't seem to be growing
  and then developed all this brown rust on the leaves. I would
  appreciate it if you can tell me what is wrong.
 
  I also would like to know what kind of plants are planted in
  the center of many of your plantings on the campus. They are
  the tall ones in the center of the plantings. Some were kind
  of a salmon color.
                
  Thank you. (Harwood, N.D.)
 
A. Your letter came to me, the State Extension Horticulturist.
  Dave Decock is the Cass County Horticulturist. Either one of
  us can help you and since I received your letter and sample,
  it looks like I'm the one.
                
  Your snow on the mountain has a bad case of salt burn, or very
  poorly drained soil. I suggest a soil test.
                
  The plants you are referring to are canna lilies. We start
  them in the greenhouse in February so they look good for our
  short summers.                
                
 
Q. Long ago I sent you a small branch of a tree with tiny black
  berries growing along the branch, and a small sprig of a small
  plant that grows here and there by the base of other trees,
  and has quite an odor when you squeeze a leaf.                 
 
  Have been waiting for your answer in the green section of our
  Fargo Forum.                 
 
  Hope it got to you OK, I wrapped it carefully. Would sure like
  to know what that tree is, we didn't plant it. It's about 8
  feet tall now. (Maddock, N.D.)                 
 
A. If you sent me something with a return address, you should
  have received a personal answer from me--usually within two
  weeks or less.                 
 
  As for publication in the green section, or any other
  newspaper, I have no control over what does and does not get
  published. That is an editorial decision.                 
 
  If you did not include a return address, I discarded the
  letter and any samples for reasons that are obvious. There is
  also the possibility of oversight on my part, but that is
  rare--more like the chance of getting struck by lightening.    
              
 
  I encourage you to send me another sample, with a return
  address and I'll do my best to get back to you ASAP with an
  answer.
               
                
Q. Could you please tell me what kind of tree these leaves are
  from? It has small black berries on it. Thank you. (Colfax,
  N.D.)
                
A. Your tree is known as common buckthorn, which is a shrub that
  often finds itself unwittingly showing up in landscapes by the
  design expertise of birds.                                 
 
 
Q. I read your column all the time and enjoy your expert advice
  and knowledge.             
 
  I am sending some leaves from our grape vines. Two out of
  eight plants have this condition. They are in their second
  year. We have not used any chemical on them.  We water them
  about once a week--a good soaking. We have put Miracle-Gro in
  the water at times.
                
  Please advise what we can do this year or next year to have
  healthier plants.                 
 
  Thank you. (Verona, N.D.)
                
A. Don't use a phenoxy herbicide near the plant. Grapes are very
  sensitive to broad-leaf herbicide esters or droplets,
  especially of the 2,4-D class.                  
 
  Generally, they out grow these effects within a couple of
  years. Most grapes that I am familiar with don't need a lot of
  encouragement to grow. If they are hardy, once established,
  they can become vine-spreading monsters unless they are
  regularly cared for.
 
  Thanks for being a faithful reader of the column. I appreciate
  your interest.                
 
 
Q. Enclosed find a sample of a weed that has literally taken over
  my three lots of lawn.  I would like to know what the name of
  it is and how I can get rid of it. Can it be sprayed
  successfully without making the ground dormant? Should it be
  treated this fall or is it best applied in the spring when
  it's lush and green. Right now most of it has gone to seed.
  Thank you. (Butte, N.D.)                 
 
 
A. Your sample was on the way to becoming compost, but from a few
  of the whole leaves that had not rotted, I could identify it
  as chickweed, a very prolific seed producer.
                
  There are herbicides you can use for control next spring that
  are available on the market. Dacthal, or commonly designated
  as DCPA, is quite an effective chickweed preventer. Another
  one, perhaps more commonly available on the market is
  pendimethalin, sold under a couple of trade names with one
  being Pre-M.                
   
  Follow label directions for proper application rates and your
  desirable permanent grasses should not be affected.
               
                
Q. Could you please help me get rid of this weed. It has taken
  over places in my garden. I want it out because it chokes my
  produce.
                
  Also in our pasture we have Russian thistles? Is there
  anything we can do? We used 2,4-D. Thank you. (Estelline,
  S.D.)
                
A. Your weed sample was of crabgrass, a warm season annual that
  is a prolific seed producer. This, along with many other weeds
  are controlled with Treflan, a preemergent you can spread
  before the weeds begin showing.                 
 
 
Q. What do you do with clematis growing on a trellis after a hard
  frost? Do you cut it back to the roots or leave it alone? The
  black leaves and stem look unsightly. Thank you. (Orient,
  S.D.)
 
A. You can prune clematis now as it produces blooms on new growth
  that will emerge next spring.                                  
  
                               ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication       
Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161
Editor: Naomi Dahlberg (701) 231-7263