In The Backyard

The forsythia bloomed in short order. That signals about the last chance to try and control, or reduce, crabgrass in the lawn with a preventative product. There is a good chance some crabgrass has already germinated, but the main germination will be happening in a few days. There are some postemergence products liks MSMA or DSMA for use on newly germinated crabgrass, but they can be a...

Read More >

Henbit This time of year we are getting quite a few questions about certain lawn weeds. The questions are generally related to identification, and then what to use to get rid of the stuff. Henbit is the number one weed of the week, and chickweed is a very close second. Chickweed and henbit are weeds that get going very early in the spring. We even call them winter annua...

Read More >

Week ending Rainfall in inches Week ending Rainfall in inches 3/11 .14...

Read More >

The most often asked about pest this past week has been the millipede. As a matter of fact, most callers have been almost beside themselves due to large numbers invading homes. Millipedes are hard shelled animals that are worm-like with many segments. They also curl up when disturbed. Most body segments have 2 pair of legs, except for the 3 behind the head. Adults are 1-2 inches long and can be...

Read More >

Nuisance Fruit Removal One of the main things to discuss today is the removal of nuisance fruit. You may be thinking about those apples or peaches, but really the nuisance fruit category includes things that are much more a nuisance like sweet gum balls, maple seeds, and crabapples. I used this topic a few years ago in a column and then there was a product shortage locally, but I thi...

Read More >

Logan County Extension Office Week ending Rainfall in inches Week ending Rainfall in inches 3/11 .14...

Read More >

With moisture falling around the county in the past week, many may be willing to gamble on trying to establish some grass from seed. Along with seeding, timing in the spring is critical for some additional operations. Let's start with crabgrass control. Crabgrass is an annual grass, meaning it comes up from seed every year. One of the best ways to control annual weeds is to use a seed germinat...

Read More >

As a new feature, I'll be tracking rainfall and publishing it on a regular basis. The chart looks a little empty with just one entry at this time, but the cumulative chart should be helpful over the growing season. 2007 Weekly Rainfall Logan County Extension Office Week ending...

Read More >

What a way to usher spring in! At least temperatures have been mostly mild this winter. Many trees and shrubs are showing those effects with plump buds on many of the early species. When it comes to spray programs for apple and pear trees, the two rules are to be consistent and be persistent. Quality fruit these days takes these two things, and time. It seems like quality fruit must be...

Read More >

Explore the world of honey bees and steps to becoming a beekeeper at "Introduction to Beekeeping." This program is sponsored by Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association and University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit. This three part series will cover all aspects of beginning beekeeping. Session date...

Read More >

We generally have through mid-March to finish our pruning chores, and this time also applies to grapes. It seems like nothing "bleeds" like a grape vine pruned too late. Grapes pruned too late shoot plant sap to a distance that puts most drinking fountains to shame. If you are training your grapes on wires, you basically want one runner per line in each direction. Choose a vigorous vine...

Read More >