THE CHAMPION, NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2019 lU'-fiafa#’ PAGE 19
Advice about brown patch, fruit trees,
zoysia grass and harvesting turnips
BY JOELETTE BEMBRY
DeKalb Cooperative Extension answers
home and garden questions in many different
ways. Call (404) 298-4080 Monday through
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or leave a voicemail
message after hours. E-mail gardening questions
to dekalbmastergardener@dekalbcountyga.gov
and all others to ugel089@uga.edu. The website
is www.ugaextension.com/dekalb. Here is a
sampling of recent questions:
Q. My landscape company informed me that
I have brown patch in my zoysia grass. I
would like recommendation on what I need
to do to treat this problem?
A. Brown patch typically causes rings and/or
patches of blighted turfgrass that measure
5 inches to 10 feet in diameter. It also
causes leaf spots and smoke rings—thin,
brown boarders around the diseased patches
that appear most frequently in the early
morning. Brown patch infestation is more
severe when the turf is cut to a height less
than the optimum for the turfgrass. Mowing
height for zoysia grass is 1 to 2 inches (raise a
half inch higher in hot weather). Remove no
more than U total height at one time.
Management for brown patch:
• Use low to moderate amounts of nitrogen, mod
erate amounts of phosphorous and moderate to
high amounts of potash.
• Avoid nitrogen applications when the disease is
active.
• Increase height of cut.
• Increase air circulation
• Minimize amount of shade
• Irrigate turf early in the day
• Improve drainage of the turf
• Reduce thatch
• Apply lime if soil pH is less than 6.5
A sign of the disease indicates an underlying
of cultural and/or environmental problem that
needs to be addressed. If fungicide are needed in
the management approach, it should be part of
the total management program.
Fungicide recommendation:
• Active ingredient: captan (Hi-Yield Captan
Fungicide 50 percent WP) Use 5 teaspoon
per gallon water, apply 1 gallon per 100
square feet. Begin application when new
growth starts in the spring. Do not exceed
two applications per year.
• Active ingredient: myclobutanil (Immunox
Lawn Disease Control—RTU, Concentrate
and Granules) 4-8 lbs. per 1,000 square
feet. Apply every 14-28 days as needed. Ro
tate with other chemicals to avoid resistance
problem.
• Active ingredient: PCNB (Terraclor 75WP,
Hi-Yield Terraclor Granular Fungicide,
Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Fungicide
containing 10 percent PCNB Hi-Yield
PCNB Granular Fungicide. Use 16 ounces
per 1,000 square feet in 3-4 ounces per
1,000 square feet in 3 to 6 gallons of
water. Treated area should be watered
following application to move material to
soil. Re-treat in three to four weeks if dis
ease reappears.
Q. I am looking for suggestions for small
trees that I can espalier (train) that would
produce fruit?
A. When planting fruit plants, there are two
cold hardiness concerns; first is whether the
plant will survive the winter and second is
spring frost. The most common fruit trees to
espalier are apples and pears. Apple and pear
trees are not in our hardiness zone. DeKalb
County hardiness zones are 7b and 8a. Ideal
small fruit trees for our area include trailing
blackberries, gooseberries, blueberries,
figs, persimmons and pomegranates. Figs,
persimmons and pomegranates would be
better trained in an informal upright espalier.
Q. I would like some tips on winter lawn care
for my zoysia grass?
A. Tips for winter care of your zoysia grass
(warm season grasses) include:
• Test soil in your lawn and amendments now
so the pH soil is optimum come growing
season.
• Spot treat with a post-emergent weed killer
for dandelions, violets and other broadleaf
weeds present in cool weather before they
set seed. As an alternative to spraying,
these weeds can be pulled with attention
to making sure the root is completely
removed.
Q. When should I harvest my turnips?
A. Harvesting almost all vegetables is best
done early in the morning. Morning
harvest produces crisper, juicer and sweeter
vegetables. Vegetable quality is highest at the
moment of harvest and begins to decrease
rapidly afterwards.
Harvesting turnip roots when they reach the size
of a tennis ball or larger (2 V2 to 2 3 A inches in
diameter). A pithiness or a very strong flavor
can develop if these crops are left in the ground
during hot weather. It is also important not
to leave them in ground during hard-freezing
weather. The roots can be stored in plastic bags
in refrigerator or in a cold root cellar for several
months.
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