May 1997 - Indiana Yard and Garden - Purdue Consumer Horticulture

May 1997

Q. It looks like moss. It is killing out the grass and taking over my lawn. It started in the shade but keeps spreading. Can you tell me what it is, and what to do about it? – Janice Alward, Kingman, Ind.

A. “It” is probably moss, but you could take a sample to your county Extension office to be sure. Moss takes over when conditions aren’t suitable for turf. Infestations are associated with low fertility, poor drainage, too much shade, soil compaction, wet conditions, poor air circulation, or a combination of these factors. Contrary to popular opinion, low soil pH is rarely the cause.

Using chemicals provides only a short-term effect, and repeated applications can cause damage to existing turf. The only permanent control is to make the area more appealing to grass. Start by fertilizing at least once each year, preferably in September. If the area is constantly wet, you’ll need to grade it or install drain tiles to move the water away. “Limb up,” or remove bottom branches of, low-branched trees to increase air circulation and sunshine. Remove any undesirable trees and plant shade tolerant grasses.

Q. We like to raise Half Runner green beans. But for several years, there have been so many tough beans in the seed. Do you know why? It is very annoying and wasteful to have tough beans mixed in with the others. – Marjorie Frye, Metamora, Ind.

A. Pick your beans just as soon as the pods are large enough to eat. Allowing them to age on the pod makes the seed walls toughen.

Q: We have several burning bushes against the west side of our home. Our problem is that they never turn the beautiful red color they’re so well known for. Since they are situated close to our home, we trim them several times in the summer to keep them from getting too large. Could this be why they don’t get the beautiful red color, or could it be another problem? Do you know of anything we can do to get the color to emerge? – Art Meyer, Batesville, Ind.

A: The lack of color is usually due to shady conditions. Are there large trees shading them from the western afternoon sun? You may be able to trim back any overhanging branches from nearby shrubs and trees.

If your plants already receive direct sun, a soil test may be the next step. Burning bush prefers a slightly acidic soil and will not color well in an alkaline soil. A concrete foundation or limestone driveway can make the soil alkaline. Regular fertilization is always a good idea, and it is possible that your shrubs, if severely deficient, will respond to fertilization.

Finally, genetic makeup determines many characteristics. Burning bushes self-seed easily, and you may have seedlings that are not endowed with the genes for good fall color.


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