Ask Neal - Recent Questions

Hey Neal, is it better to seed or sod a new lawn? And when is the best time to do that.Thanks
It depends on the time of year really. In the fall best to seed. In the spring and summer best to sod. Water is very critical for the sod in the late spring and summer. This would apply for the cool season grasses. For Bermuda, I would recommend sodding in the late spring early summer. Seeding can work for bermuda, but it is very water and management critical in the late spring and summer.
Submitted by: Jeff Peterson, clinton
I need to no how do I transplant Ponsettias and get them to live.
Take the poinsettia to a well lit cool area. A enclosed porch, garage or backroom, that does not get below freezing and keep soil moist. In late April transplant it outside in the landscape and let it start growing. Then pinch the buds back a couple of times over the summer. In late September bring it in and give it exactly 8 hours of sunlight and 16 hours of dark and it will start to color up for the holidays.
Submitted by: Betty Spears, Harriman Tn 37748
Will these freezing tempertures effect the ever multiplying fire ant?
That is an excellent question. I think from talking to some of the experts, it will slow them down some. It will not eliminate them. They have developed some great defenses to cold weather. They actually build very deep nests and during cold snaps they move to the basement. No one seems to no if there are magic number of days we need below freezing to destroy an hill of fire ants, but some effect will be felt.
Submitted by: Holly Powers, Harriman
Hello Neal. I am wondering where you found your felt brimmed hat? I have been looking for one just like it. You were wearing it during a child safety for the holiday season segment today. Thanks,
Mast General Store in Knoxville. They have one of the best selections of hats I have personally seen.
Submitted by: Greg McKenna, Knoxville
This is the first year my holly tree has not had berries. Can you give me a reason?
Well, certain varieties of holly will fluctuate in berry production. Sometime, lack of pollination is a problem. The bees that worked the flowers may not have found a male holly to get pollen from. The other thing that happened this past year was very low fruit set on many trees. The year before they produced a bumper crop and did bare hardly anything this past year. This common in stressed plants. The drought was so severe the plant put all it energy in producing seeds for the next generation, if it died. Eventhough the weather was great for it the next year, it could not or would expend energy in fruit, berry or nut production again.
Submitted by: frankie whitaker, powell
How do I get rid of johnson grass in my garden plot?
If you have a grass plant that withstands normal mowing, it is not Johnson grass. You may have Dallasgrass, which we do not have a good control for. I would recommend good lawn maintenance with ferlization and overseeding.
Submitted by: s claxton, louisville,tn
I have 2 christmas cactus,one is abour 2yrs old,the other about 3.They have not ever bloomed,Might u tell me why???? They were cuttings from another plant.
They probably need to be put in a dark cool spot for about 3 weeks. This will force them into blooming.
Submitted by: Becky Hodges, Kodak
How is the best way to preserve a living Christmas tree during the holidays? Using just plain water or is there a special solution?
You can buy preservatives to put in the water and that will help the most. Putting sprite and aspirins in the water does help some, but not a lot.
Submitted by: G Fox, Knoxville
Are you familiar with a tree called Holm Oak or Holly Oak. Does it grow in this area and where might I find one. My nephew needs a small branch from one for a class project.
Call Jim Cortese at Cortese Tree Service. He would come the closest to know where you could find a Holly Oak and if any are in the area.
Submitted by: Gary Lee, Strawberry Plains
We removed a very large white pine almost two years ago. The stump was ground down as much as possible, but a large part of it and many large roots remain. My neighbor's tree removal person told her to pour salt on the stump, but I'm worried the salt will contaminate the soil. What's the best way to get rid of this wood?
This is a poor solution. Salt will not help rot the stump. I would put sugar on it and 3 months later put 2 cups of fertilizer on the stump. This will help decompose the stump.
Submitted by: Mary Ann Hollenbeck, Knoxville, TN
My father lives in what once was a pine thicket 30 years ago. When he built his house, he thinned 1/2 the pines out leaving the hardwood trees. The pine beetle infestation destroyed most of the remaining pines a few years ago. Now his oak trees are dying. Any ideas as to why?
Yes, I have an idea that might explain this sudden loss of oaks. Drought years have a real significant effect on red oaks particularly, but other hardwoods as well. Oaks reach basic maturity at the age of 50 or so. They do not respond well to severe swings in moisture. The 3 previous drought years stressed those trees terribly. The water movement through a tree is caused by pressure produced when water is transpired through leaves causing a pulling action which will pull water from the roots through vessels. In dry condition extreme vacuum can occur in these vessels as water resources become limited which can lead to break in the water column in the vessel. When that happens the vessel is no longer active and will not return to function in the future. Enough of these die and the tree begins to die, because when the moisture returns it cannot use it.
Submitted by: Stacy Worthington, Russellville
When is it considered too late in the year to overseed a fescue lawn in east Tennessee?
October is the last month UT recommend to seed a lawn. However, this is weather dependent. We have seen great results as late as December. It just becomes more difficult as we get later in the Fall. What does all this means? If had a lawn that is over 50% weeds, I would overseed even in November.
Submitted by: mark, lenoir city
I have several Wiegelia bushes that didn't bloom very well this year & looked dead in lots of places. Are they supposed to be pruned each year, if so how much? Would you cut them down like people do with forsythia's, almost to the ground?
If the wiegelias are older, they may need to be pruned back to 3 - 4 inches above the soil surface. This will allow them to regrow new vibrants shoots. They also require full sun. This can be a problem as the landscape matures. They can become to shaded by trees and shrubs.
Submitted by: Dale Reagan, Greenback
What is the best way to get rid of poison ivy? (besides having someone else pull it up). How odd is it that my dogwood tree is blooming in September?
Poison Ivy can be sprayed this time of year with Roundup or glyphosate products. It can be killed this time of year by Roundup products. However, you do not want to get the herbicide on plants you want to keep because it will kill it. Many trees are blooming this year in the fall. We do not know exactly why, but it may be the weather is mimicking spring.
Submitted by: Teresa, Knoxville
The gnats and fruit flies are really bad here in Kodak. We can't get rid of them. We have just about steralized the house, but to no avail. We have fly strips up everywhere. HELP! please.
Two different problems. The fruit flies have to have some food source. Check potatoes, onions, garlic cloves and refrigerator evaporation pans for spills of soda or fruit residue. The gnats are bad because of the weather. They are really bad in the eastern most counties. I would keep the doors and windows closed to keep them at bay from inside.
Submitted by: Betsy Evans, Kodak