This is the time of year when homeowners and farmers spray their crops to kill weeds, and sometimes do damage to other plants. We have already received a number of phone calls from homeowners saying their ornamental plants and fruit trees were damaged because of chemical drift.
When applying chemicals, there is a chance that some chemicals will drift to non-targeted areas. This can endanger the safety of other plants, vegetable gardens, people and the environment.
Here are several ways to reduce chemical drift:
-- Don't spray when the wind is high (over 4 or 5 mph).
-- When you are spraying, know what other sensitive plants are around you (such as vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental plants).
-- Spray when a light wind is blowing away from sensitive plants, and stay as close to the targeted crop as possible.
-- When spraying, use larger nozzle tips. This can cut down on chemical drift.
When buying bedding plants this spring, here are some things to look for:
-- Check leaf color. Plants should have healthy green leaves with no signs of yellowing. Yellow leaves could indicate insect problems, lack of fertilizer, too much water or not enough water.
-- Look at the roots. Remove the plant from the container. Its roots should be strong and healthy looking. Soft or black roots could indicate decay.
-- Pay attention to buds and flowers. Plants that have one or two flowers and lots of buds are the ones to buy.
E-mail your questions to firstname.lastname@example.org. Include your name and area where you live. For more gardening information, call the Tipton County Extension office at (901) 476- 0231 or the Shelby County Extension office at (901) 752-1207. Booker T. Leigh is the Extension director for Tipton County.
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