July 18, 2026 • 39 mins
Tom MacCubbin Dirty Word of the Day - Nitrogen. Special Guest Roi Levin with Environmental Pest & Lawn Services. Roi explains what to do about Chinch bug problems.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
And good morning till you welcome to our number two
at Better Lines and Gardens. Tom mccuvin here, host emeritus
for Better Lines and Gardens and Extension Agent emeritus with
the University of Florida. Lizzie's with me keeping me under control.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Here, it's cracking out whip.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Then we're having a great time. Actually, So this is
our number two. Let me do a little follow up here.
In our number one, we talked about WASP and we
mentioned the WASS controls or traps, and Howie from Peterson's
Nursery says he has that and they also have what
orchid program coming up that he talked about is that
(00:45):
next weekend?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, this next weekend, give them a call and check
in on that. I'm asked, how would I give me
a text updates? So that's why you get it. So
soon as I get it, I'll let you guys know.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Okay, well that sounds fine. Very shortly, we're going to
be talking with Roy Levin of the Environmental Pests and
Lawn Services as vice president manager, also a graduate of
the University of Florida with the greas and Entomology and
ematology and also a certified pest control operator. So he's
also a good friend. So I'm looking forward to talking
with him, and we're gonna be talking mainly about lawn pests,
(01:18):
and I want to ask him about the chinch bugs.
Are they controllable? We'll find out because we've been getting
some resistant ones out there have been giving us some
real problems. And right now we have our dirty word
of the day, which I have chosen as nitrogen. About
seventy eight percent of the air is nitrogen, but not
usable by plants in this form. Plants used nitrogen in
(01:40):
two forms. One is nitrate and the other is ammonium
ions that are taken up by the plants. Here's something interesting.
Thunderstorms produce about one pound of usable nitrogen per acre.
Have you ever noticed that after storms plants kind of
green up. It's not just the water, but it can
be the nitrogen it's coming from the air. Also the
(02:03):
storms converts over. It helps makes plants green and helps
produce growth. When you want plants to grow, you apply
in nitrogen. Most gardens apply it in a mixed form
like fertilizer of sixty sixty six sixteen zero eight or
similar products, where the nitrogen is the first nutrient in
the analysis in sixty sixty six at six sixteen O
(02:26):
eight at sixteen. There's also nitrogen just nitrogen plain nitrogen
fertilizers like sulfur coated urea plant plain urea, ammonium sulfate,
ammonium sulfate. By the way, if you want to make
the soil acid, you can try to get something with
ammonium sulfate in it. You also have blood meal and
(02:48):
there's more about there. They can be used separately or
in combination products. One way, which is kind of neat.
One way, I tell if a lawn fertilizer has been applied.
Now do get that question? Sometimes they want to know
if a company has applied the lawn fertilizer, and I
look for yellow or blue particles, and these are the
(03:08):
types of nitrogen sulfur coated urea or blue tip urea.
Plants and soil bacteria can have an interesting relationship with nitrogen.
Beans are associated with a bacteria or azobium bacteria in
the soil that takes nitrogen from the air and makes
it available to the beans. Most loogomes have the same relationships.
(03:30):
It's one reason we do not want to fertilize beans.
Listen up. We don't want to fertilize beans and other
lugoons very much with nitrogen containing fertilizer. If you overdo it,
you will cause growth in a lack of flowers. You've
heard of inoculating bean seed, maybe with a nitrogen forming bacteria.
I am told our soils are full of the bacteria
(03:52):
and it's not necessary. So with any crop you do
not want to over apply nitrogen, not just beans. They
may produce lots of growth and limit flowers and fruits.
Usually with other shrubs, two to three applications of a
slow released product is adequate a year. Studies have been
done to show established trees may not need extra applications
(04:12):
of nitrogen as they obtain enough from feedings of nearby
shrubs and flowers. Vegetables and flower beds can benefit from
fertilizer with nitrogen about every four to six weeks, except
for crops like beans. Again, if your plants do not
get enough nitrogen, they turn yellow and growth is reduced.
Nitrogen is a valuable nutrient, but don't overdo it, okay.
(04:36):
I must add that nitrogen applications to turf and landscape
plantings are prohibited in many areas during the summer to
prevent water pollution in lakes and other bodies of water.
So there you go. Dirty word today. Nitrogen. For me,
it's a great word because I really like to see
in the growth out of my plants, and if your
plants are not growing, an application of nitrogen may help,
(04:59):
but you've got to be care careful. We don't do
it during certain times of the year because it can
wash get into our lake water and underground water sources.
We've got a list of things. I've got several Let's
see if I have anything here I need to take
care of. Nope, I'm okay. One is the vegetables that
we can plant. This is the funny time of year
(05:20):
because we're ending up July pretty soon and we're heading
into August, and August starts the new garden season. For me,
I already mentioned some of the things I was doing
during first hour tilling, adding organic matter and whatever. But
right now we can still plan things like cherry tomatoes, ochres,
southern peas, southern pumpkins, seminole pumpkins. We can grow things
(05:45):
like Roselli sweet potatoes, yard long beans, and pretty soon
we're going to be putting into the August garden around
mid month, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and I'm starting to some
seed right now, so it'll be good gardening coming coming up.
As far as flowers, I do have a question here
about flowers, That's what the question is. It says, I'm
(06:07):
growing impatience and containers in the shade, but they're not
producing the blooms as expected. The stems are long and lanky.
How can I encourage more blooms? Impatients do like some shade,
There's no doubt about that. We do have the sun patience,
but in Florida during the summertime, even those can get
baked out or summer is so hot and intense here,
(06:29):
so impatients enjoy some sunlight. So what we find if
we can go through and just give them a filtered sun,
it tends to keep more compact and will cause them
to us a flower a little bit better. So if
you have impatients that are not doing very well, if
they're getting long and lanky, you might cut them back
(06:51):
and then make sure they're in the filtered sun, and
I think that will work well for it. Coming up
your questions and discussion with Roy Levin at homologe memestologists
with environmental pest and lawn services. We'll we talk about
lawn pests are chrench boat controllable? They'll tell us and
we'll be back. This is better lawns and gardens on
time of Covenant. This is as far as Talk and Entertainment Network.
(07:23):
Thank you for joining us. Are better lawns and gardens
coming to you from the summit Responsible Solution Studios. We
hope you're having a great Saturday. And I know it's
hot outside and today I've got to get out and
mode of lawns. I do my neighbor's lawn on both sides.
I have the ride and lawnmower, so I can get
out there and just a zipper zip along get them done.
That's so nice of you. Well the grass is starting
(07:45):
to get along.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Launch of gas.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Yeah yeah, well I told the story earlier. I number
when I was down there in the vegetable garden tilling,
then ran out of gas and went over to a neighbor.
They didn't have gas, so I went down and got it. Now,
I have plenty of gifts for everything. If you want
to Texas at this time, you can two three six
eight oh text line has been kind of low here
this morning. But if you want to Texas two three
(08:08):
six eight oh as, Susie, will you get done talking
with Roy, you can give us a call one triple
eight forty five Lawns or one eight eight eight four
five five two nine sixty seven. They say, I say
it too fast, So here we go one eight eight
eight four five five two nine sixty seven. How's that
(08:28):
that helped out here? That's that's right right now. It
gives me great pleasure to bring into the studio here
my good friend Roy Levin, University of Florida graduate with
degrees in entomology and dematology. Roy, as I said, as
a longtime friend, vice president and manager of Environmental Pests
and Lawn Services, is also a fellow tomato grower in
(08:49):
his home garden. Roy, good morning to.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
You, Good morning tom How are you?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I am just fine. I want to tell you you
have a good friend and a person giving you some
pretty heavy endorsement down in Hunter's Creek. I was in
a meeting with Terry and she's very proud of your
company and what they have done for her law. And
that's that's wonderful, that's for sure. And I also want
to say that you have some amazing employees. I have
(09:17):
one that does my pest control for my house, which
is Jeff and I did not know, but his daughter
recently became a veterinarian graduate with a doctor degree in
veterinary science. I'm very proud of him and her for
a daughter like that, as my daughter's a veterinarian also.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, he is very very proud of her.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Absolutely, and he's always so happy and joyful when he
comes to control my insects.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Absolutely, that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I appreciate that. Anyway, you see lots of lawns, how
well have they recovered from the winner.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
So I think, for the most parts have recovered quite well.
Every law is different, so you know, the lawns that
had a lot of these annual drafts weeds have recovered
a little bit blessed well because there's more more dead
areas to fill in. But overall, I was I was
actually quite impressed, was on how quickly these laws have
(10:17):
recovered from the cold temperature.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I don't think I saw as much damage this
year as I was expecting. I was expecting some lawns
that really have a lot of dead in them, but
they came back. I guess it wasn't as bad as
I thought. I don't know. Some years i've seen some
real damage the lawns.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Okay, absolutely, I remember twenty years ago or so some
of these lawns were just didn't come back because it
was so cold. But yeah, but yeah, yeah, they recovered
quite well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
We had twenty four degrees in my house for twelve
hours or so. Yeah, now's a good time to fill
those bare spots and weedy spots with new turf, right.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think it depends on the situation. If it's just
small areas, then yes, absolutely. If it's very large areas,
I think you you know, you may want to wait
a little bit longer until fall, just because so hot
outside and it's rainy, and the chinchbugs and subway bones
are so bad, and there are attractives of that new
sawed quite a bit, and so you may have a
(11:17):
little bit of a hard time getting it to grow.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, I'm sure chinchbugs are a problem, with saying, Augustine,
at this time, what are you seeing?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Yeah, they are every year. Chinchbugs are are quite problematic.
We do have this resistant issue with the resistant to
two different chemistry and sextaside chemistries, and so they're a
little bit more challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
But every year, you.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Know, they're they're real bad during the during the summer.
This year may be a little bit worse. Last year
was real bad as well.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
I thought the cold would knock the chinchbugs back, but
it doesn't seem to have.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yeah, my friend, you and I both it doesn't. That
is not happen.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, you know, it just seems like we would get
a reduction, but doesn't seem like it. Here's a big question,
I guess can residents still control chinchbugs with products from
the garden center or are we wasting their time?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
No, I don't think. I think that definitely you can.
The resident can definitely control chinchbugs with products from the
garden center. The key is using them correctly, not putting
follow the label, not putting way too much or too little,
using the right application techniques. And if one product doesn't work,
(12:36):
don't just go and put it over and over again.
Use something completely different with different chemistry to try to
control the chinchbugs.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah. And there are some different types of chemistries to
garden centers, and you just have to learn about them
or go to a garden center where you have knowledgeable
people that can tell you the different types.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Absolutely. Yeah, So there are different chemistries out there, and
having the knowledge of what the different chemistry is important
to manage not just pinchbugs, but other pasts.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah. Here's the problem I see it is that most
of the products that are common at garden centers are
synthetic pireethroids, and I would think if you use one
synthetic pie reethroid, probably and the chinchbugs are not controlled,
you're probably not going to get them under control with
another synthetic pie refroid. Am I correct on that?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
I think that for the most part, you are correct.
There are different chemistries of synthetic pirethroids, so one may
work a little bit better than another in some situations,
but it is definitely better to switch over to a
completely different mode of action, different chemistry of insecta side.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Yeah. Good. How frequently are you seeing resistant chinchbugs at
this time?
Speaker 4 (13:51):
I see them every day?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Do you really?
Speaker 5 (13:54):
I really?
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Do? They're that heavy? Is it worse this year than
it was last year?
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think that it's last year. We thought of the
worst towards the middle and end of the summer, just
because I had the ability the time to develop and
move around. Uh, you know where we're in, you know,
mid to beginning to middle middle of summer, So it
probably would be the same, maybe another maybe a little
(14:21):
bit worse there.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Okay, here's here's a neat question. Do the resistant chinch
bugs look any different from the common chinchbugs? How do
we know the doubt?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Yeah, they don't look any difference. They look identical. There.
You can't tell the difference between the visually.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
So what are you looking for to tell that you
have resistant chinch bugs?
Speaker 4 (14:43):
So if I put an application and I know, if
I put it down the correct rate and correct technique
and I'm not getting good control? Uh, And I go
and I switched to a different insectu side with a
completely different motive action and I'm still not getting control.
That would raised by suspicion that we may be dealing
with the resistant population. So at that point I would
(15:07):
take a look a little bit a little bit closer.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Yeah, so what are you doing? Are you just going
to different insecticides? I mean, are you getting control from
by switching like that?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, so if we try one we have a regimen
at EPLS where and I think most companies do. Whether
we try, you know, a certain systemic insecticide, we always
put it down with another contact insecticide, so we get
a dual mode of action. Then if you don't if
this doesn't work, we switch to a different chemistry. But yes,
(15:42):
we keep rotating chemistries in order to achieve the maximum
results and minimize the chance of resistance.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yep, I know. Doctor Adam Dale at the University of
Florida put out last year, was saying that switch the
things at the homeowner might get. I mean, a homeowner
can get the some of the systemics, but they normally
can't get the systemics in combination. So they'll they'll get
systemics into the corporated merit things like that, but but
(16:09):
it's not in combination with say a synthetic pyreeferoid. But
you all can can do that now. Adam Dale has
also suggested things like nemal a celoprin. Are they doing
anything for you?
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Somo has not done anything for me.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
A celo print is required for use in a very
low in a very heavy dose specifically for chinbugs, and
that is only labeled for suppression. Yeah, so so it's
uh it hasn't done as much for me as I
was scooping, but it would. And then unfortunately, we're limited
(16:50):
to a relatively few uh products as far as the
active ingredients and the low of action. There are hundreds
of products out there, but they're basically they are limited
to the different a different modes of action that they have,
and they kind of kind of like, you know, between
(17:11):
similar to which you go get you know, a paid
medication from you know kind of a you know, a
very grocery store or now the grocery store it's there
a little bit of a different name. Yeah, but it's
taking it a sick thing.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Yeah. So here's what I'm thinking. If you've got resistant
chinche bugs in your lawn, you're putting on the pesticide
and they're not working, you better call a professional.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Absolutely, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Okay, how about the side web worms? Seeing lots of
those I know in one of my communities. Uh, the
new side came in and it was loaded with side webworms.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Right, If sod web worms are a problem every year,
I've seen them crawling off of fresh salt on a palette.
So you know, it's just one of those things where
when the eggs are in there. The caterpillars have and
they're going to stop chewing. But they're relatively they're easy
to get rid of. The key is to go ahead
and get them treated early so it don't cause too
(18:06):
much damage.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Yeah, I think what people worry about that most are
the maths rather than the caterpillar damage.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Absolutely. We get many many phone calls every day that
people have moths, and you know, the moths are not treatable.
They feed on next our complaints.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, well I tell them to use fly slaughterers and
butterfly nets. That's that's control. Hey, Roy, it's been a
pleasure having you with us. We didn't get the rest
of the things that were on my list, but we'll
do it another time. And I'm looking forward to tomato
season here so we can get to tomatoes growing.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Absolutely and a little bit cooler weather that'll be nice
as well.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
That will be nice as well. Okay, Roy Levin, we
roally appreciate you being with us as for sure with EPLS,
environmental pests and lawn services. You have a great gardening.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Day, Yeah, was welcome, have goo day okay.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And always happy to have Roy full of knowledge just
for sure. Like I said, Graduate University of Florida. In
the Entomology and nematology, Roy spent a lot of time
counting nematodes. He did a lot of work with Route
night nematode and these things are little hair type things.
You can't even see him up under a microscope.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
He's obviously I got really good eyesight.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
And he was there in a microscope just looking at
the different types of routin all, ROUT nine is not
the same, so it was kind of interesting. Hey, I
tell you what, it's your turn. If you want to
give us a call, feel free to one Triple A
forty five Lawns or Texas two three six eight. Oh.
We'll be waiting for her calls. Lizzie will be waiting
for him. I'll be waiting for him. Also, we're going
(19:36):
to a break. It's a perfect time to give us
a call again. I'm Tom of Coven and you're listening
to Better Lawns and Gardens. We're coming to you from
the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. This is Flara Talking Entertainment Network.
(19:58):
I'm learning again. Welcome back to Better Guarden. Seem like
it's never enough time to get all the questions in
I want to ask my guests. Yes, and I had
one here about lawn fertilizing. It's prohibited at this time
of the year in most areas, and some lawns are
a bit yellow, and I am getting that question and
they want to know what to do to regreen the lawn,
and so I can tell you you can try iron.
(20:21):
I just put it down on my lawn. Sunny Land
has a granular iron product. You can get liquid iron
products also in minor nutrients, but sunny Land has one
and it goes to your spreader and I put it down.
In about two to three days, the lawn turned a
brighter green. So it's sometimes just an iron efficiency. But
we can't use the regular lawn fertilizer in many areas,
(20:44):
especially throughout central Florida. And if you want to try
to green them up, you might just try the iron
product and see if that helps.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Now would it be possible, because I don't know, but
it seems like it seems like if your plants turn yellow,
it's either it's not enough water or there's too much.
So could your lawn begetting too much water?
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Have too much water will do that too. It will
affect the roots. But the many of the lawns. It's
just that they're running out of iron. They're running out
of nitrogen also, which was my dirty word today. But
we can't put the nitrogen down, so Tom's sometimes the
iron will help by itself. Let's do that first text message.
I'm not getting the text message.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Okay, let's okay. It says the it did you want
to do tallahassee?
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Or yeah, let's do tallahaskay.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
It says good morning, Tom, great to hear you. This
is Susan and Tallahassee. We are finding nutgrass and spurge
in the lawn. Is there a spray to kill both? Thanks?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, well there's sprays for both of them, but I
think you're going to have to do it separately. There
is a product out there called sedge hammer, Believe it
or not, sedge hammer. That's good stuff and I found
that at ACE Hardware, for instance. You can get it
at other garden centers. Peterson's probably has it for you also.
(22:02):
You can get it and use that and it will
be a good job. Ortho also has a sedge control
they call it a nuts sedge killer that can be
put down and go after the weed. That's the worse
if it's a spurge to get one of the broad
leaf weed killers. Round Up has a good product. It's
a for southern lawns. I assume that you're having a
(22:23):
Saint Augustine lawn, but it's a round up for southern lawns.
It's the same type of product that's used by the
commercial people often, so so that might be a good
one for you. So I think you're going to have
to do two separate things, but go after the weed
that's the worst is this time. If you get the
Ortho product, I think it even has it so you
can just attach it to your hose sedge killer. I
(22:46):
think Boneye has one. Also, most companies do nice. Let's
just do Venice one all right?
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And it says, Hi, tom After planting forty years in
my landscape, I've decided to try it my first tomato plant.
I want to put it in a content on a
lattice that has southeast exposure and will get sun most
of the day. Can you recommend a type of container,
variety of tomato plant, and any special concerns. I'll be
(23:13):
buying the plant at a local nursery and only enough
for my wife and I to enjoy BLTs okay, thanks
Mike from vos Okay.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So, I guess that scratches the ones I like. I
like the grape tomatoes or the cherry tomatoes. But big
Beef is a good one. Better Boy, they're both good
tomatoes to grow. The bigger the container, the better. I
mean five gallons would be the minimum, and then you
want the bigger containers. If you can get a fifteen
gallon or even bigger, use that because the tomatoes like
(23:44):
to have plenty of room. Here's the other problem. Once
the tomato plant gets some size to it, it uses
lots of water, and quite often we can't keep up
with the water. And if it doesn't get enough water,
you get blossoming rot, which is a problem with the
bottom of the tomato. So so get a big container,
get a nice slicer. Better boy. I like one called
(24:06):
better Bell, but not better Rosie. I think is uh
but uh, it's it's probably not going to be available.
But big Boy, better Boy, there be champion will be
another one that you'll find at your garden centers. Big
Boy is good.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Always did the beef steak, And then I found the
Big Boy, and I'm like Okay, that's an upgrade for
me personally.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Big Big Boy is one that's been out there and
it's done a good job for us. And Better Boy
also is another good one. Yes, okay, so let's see
we have enough time to go to uh Diane and
Tala hassee Diane.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Good morning to you, Yes, good morning always here. Good
to hear your voice.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well, thank you. It's nice to have you with us.
How can I help you today?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I bought these beautiful flowers in planters and they look
like mandevilla's, but the flowers are just lightly smaller, but
they still have they still want to climb apparently, and
I didn't think they were going to climb that much. Well,
I just untangled all the things and they're like four
(25:10):
feet almost five feet long. Can cut them off or
is that going to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
No, you can cut them back. It may slow down
the flower's diplodemia. I think. Is the plant you're talking
about look just like banda villa. I'm not sure they
aren't the same. At least they're relatives anyway. And Dick,
anytime you cut a plant back like that, it puts
it into a juvenile state. And what you find is
(25:36):
that you may not get flowering quite as soon again. Yeah,
so oh okay, these plants, these plants are meant to climb,
so if you want to, you know, the more room
you can give them, the more you let them climb,
is it's getting out of control, then you don't have
any choice but to cut them back.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Okay, okay, well that's helpful. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Okay, you're quite welcome. You have a great gardening day,
appreciate it. If if you want to Texas, you certainly can.
And of course the number here two three six eight
oh for texting or if you want to give us
a call. Lizzie will take your call, and if she's busy,
just let it ring one triple eight four five five
two nine six seven and you can get with us
(26:16):
that way. So we'll be happy to have you with us.
I have several callers up right now, but to be fair,
we're going to have to head to break uh and
then we'll get to your call. So don't go away,
just stay there. One Bill in Georgetown wants to know
when the watermelon is ready. I assume the watermelon in
his yard. And because I am not growing watermelon, that's
(26:40):
for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Did you want to chat with them.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
We got a minute. We can we do that, okay, Bill,
Bill in Georgetown, we got a minute, Lizzie says, how
can we help you?
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Yeah, well, I've got this watermelon. I plant it from
seed and it's growing on the railing of my porch
and a hang and uh oh, it's not going to
have it's not going to have a a yellow spot
on the bottom because it's going to be all green.
When is that going to be ready to pick?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Are you good at wrapping? Wrapping the melons? And they
got that hollow sign sound that normally in the case
also what some people use as a tendril. You know
what the tendril is on the watermelon viome? Okay, Well,
when the one closest to the watermelon turns brown, that
is normal normally indication. Also, but your watermelon probably will
(27:28):
also get yellowish on the bottom, even though it's hanging
like that, it'll start to yellow up on the bottom.
So you've got the hollow sound, you got the yellowing
on the bottom, you got the tendril, it turns brown
and if you pick it at that point, you know,
if it looks like it's right, I would leave it
to go for another little bit of time.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Okay, Well, at least the fire ants are going to
get this one because it hangs.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
We that's good. How big is it.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Right now? It last week it was the size of
a walnut. This week it's a little bit less in
a soccer ball.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Wow. Okay, well you're getting you're getting a good sized
watermelon there. It's getting close.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
Yeah, I don't I don't know how many. Maybe uh,
I don't have to wait another three or four weeks
for it to get mature. It's not evening, but I
just wanted to know when to pick.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
It, did you sup? You got it supported? Real well?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I've got the vine tight onto the railing.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Yet you're you're probably going to have to support the melon. Also,
Hey Bill, it's good to hear from you. You have
a great gardening day. Take care. Okay, So we're going
to take a break right now. You still have time, okay,
lumber here's one triple eight four five five two nine
sixty seven fre you can text me two three six eight. Oh.
I'm Tom Coven and this is Florida's Talk An Entertainment Network.
(28:54):
Welcome back to Bedlunes and Gardens, Tomic Cove in here.
Lizzie's at the controls. If you, uh, you still have time,
if you still want to get a call into us,
this one triple eight four five five two nine sixty seven,
or you can text me at two three six eight
oh the number again. The call is one eight eight
eight four five five two nine six seven. And we're
(29:18):
going to go to one of those callers right now.
Bill and Orlando. Bill, good morning to.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
You, Good morning time. Could you hear your voice? You
placed our lawn again. We've had zoyja. We like the texture,
and I heard your last guest recommending not to do
anything until the fall. Are there any varieties of zoyja
that are resistant to the chinchbug problem? Or do they
attacking that all?
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Nod Zoysa does not get chinchbug, so you're okay there, okay?
Speaker 6 (29:46):
And are there any varieties? I see there's new ones
that are more preferable on zoyja.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know, I really haven't kept track of all of them,
but empires still probably out there is one of the
main ones. U. But uh, you know, the Zoysa is
not pest free, doesn't get chinch bugs, but you get
bill bugs, you get a mealy bugs. So you've got
to stay on top of it. In fact, I was
(30:13):
gonna ask Roy about that because he does a lot
of Zoyser lawns, and I just ran out of time.
But but I think he would tell you mealy bugs, uh,
tunnel mealy bug and bill bugs, they're all problems with
Zoeija also, so you're trading one lawn problem for another
when you get Zoyja.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Got you a good question. Also, we haven't had a
training house, and we have some Italian cypress and we
replaced those I don't know how many times and uh,
you know, we used time mill on it to fight
back mites. Is there anything that we could do to
uh you know, have a better crop on the Italian cypress?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Are you using the old sprays, the Summit year round.
Speaker 6 (30:59):
Old spray, the Actor year around. We just put some
starters in maybe they're about six or seven feet tall
and they're declining already.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Okay, Well, the Summit is a product called Summit Year
Round Old Spray, and that's the name of it. If
it's mites, then that should do a good job on it.
You also have an insecticidal soap, and you do have
some mitosides also out there, but you just have to
stay on top of it. I mean, it can be
a constant problem. Is it the mites that are causing
(31:30):
them to go out right now? Or is it due
to the fact that when they were planted, the root
balls were dry and they haven't been rewt There's a
lot of things to look at.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
We just got them recently, but it's been, as you know,
very rainy, so I haven't looked close to the other
than you see it's browning.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Yeah, dig down, look at the roots. I mean, if
that root ball was dry at the time of planting,
all the rains coming are not going to rewet it, probably,
so dig down. You may need to build a burm
around it and make sure the water goes down through
the root ball. You should how long ago you haven't
put in.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
Well, that's the thing I meant to tell you. I
should have said, they're still in the containers.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Oh, they're still in the containers. Okay, Well, yeah, they
shouldn't be having a problem like that at all. Just
make sure those root balls are moist, that they dry out.
You've got a problem that they're going to start to
brown out, but you shouldn't be having that big a
problem with them. How long you had them?
Speaker 6 (32:31):
Oh it's just a few months.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, well that's a pretty good period of time where
things can happen. But you know, you do get diseases
on them. Also. What you need to do, probably Bill,
is take some of the leaves something you know, they're
they're they're like any other evergreen. Take some of those
which is just starting to show the problem to your
(32:55):
extension office and see if they can tell anything. They'll
be able to tell if it's mites at scale. They
can probably even tell whether it's needle blight or something
of that nature.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
Okay, as always, thank you kindly.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Okay, good luck to you. Hope it helps you out
a little bit, have a great gardening day. The Italian
cypress can be a real problem. I mean, we do
get mice, we do get scale insects, and then we
get things such as needle blight that'll cause browning but
shouldn't cause the whole plant the brown out like that.
And that's why I'm looking for root problems. I'm looking
(33:30):
for lack of water at some time which may have
caused it to have that problem.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yes, we have a text from jac from Cocoa Beach
and he's having a problem starting his cherry tomato seeds
and a pot or starting his tomato seeds period, what
would be the right pot in location?
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Okay, jac tomatoes, you and I are starting them at
the same time now, And what I use I use
small containers. I use a little small pots, or I
use cell containers. And you know, if you have fresh seed,
you should be able to put one seed to sell
or one seed to container. And tomato seeds very reliable. Now,
(34:11):
if it's been a refrigerator for a good while or
has been sitting out, then I probably sow all the
seeds in what I call a community pot, and that
is one pot filled with either germination mix or potting soil.
Germination mixes good because the particles are smaller, but tomato
seeds are good size, so you should be able to
(34:31):
grow them in potting soil. Get that your garden center,
and one seed per sell or per container, keep moist,
keep them in the full sun. You can actually keep
them in the shade until they start to germinate, which
at this time of the year is in about five
days or less, and they'll come up, and then you
keep them in full sun and grow them on from
(34:52):
there as they get some size. Once they get four
to six inches tall, then you need to move into
a bigger container. And as I mentioned to a previous caller,
the container needs to be at least five gallons to
have good tomatoes and containers. If you want to put
them in the ground, then at about four to six
inches eight inches at the maximum, you go ahead and
(35:15):
play them in the ground. So there we go.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
We also have another text says Hi, Tom, will my
Mandaville climb and cling to a six foot PBC pipe?
Speaker 1 (35:28):
You know, I'm thinking that pipes. Those pipes are pretty slick,
and it depends on the size of it. But yeah,
you can get it to grow there. Once it starts fining,
then you have to train it to it, and you
may even have to tie it to it as a possibility. Okay,
may you may want to put up some other grids,
some other wire grid, but it will climb. There's no
(35:49):
doubt about that. We're good.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
We are good.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Okay, So let's give you some of the things that
we can be doing here in the landscape. Lawn care.
I think guys Roy pointed out most of the lawns
ever recovered from winter July in my book, is a
good time to fill the bear spots and now weedy
spots left by winter. Get the weeds out, and the
(36:13):
ones that are affected by pests. Application of an iron
only product can regreen the lawn. We mentioned that, So
here's the vegetable things to do, and start off the
program telling you that my vegetable garden was getting prepared.
I got the weeds knocked down. I'm rot of telling
it is time remove all the declining vegetables and get
(36:35):
rid of the weeds. Because weeds will harbor pests and
that can be a problem. So you get them under control,
and even those near the guard. We don't often think
of the weeds outside the garden, but if there's weeds
in the garden area, then we need to go through
and get them under control. If we don't, then we
find that you may harbor pest. Also, we can start
(36:58):
our tomato, pepper, egg play seeds at this time to
happen for July. If you want to grow melons like you, cantalopes. Also,
watermelon can be planted at that time. Bill called in
and said he had a nice watermelon gonna be ready
to pick pretty soon. But we start those around the
first of August. We can use any organic matter to
(37:19):
improve the soil. If it's maneuvers. Normally we use composted
maneuvers and that will help out. Also things to doing
the landscape. Lots of winter damage is still around. I
was at a meeting yesterday and we were talking about
winter damage. Time to get it all out. If the
plant is dead, get it out. If it's dying, back
to the ground, go ahead and prune it back to
(37:40):
the ground. And this is the time we can get
everything under control. Like that. U in summer rains have
stimulated a lot of new growth. Performed a timely pruning
to keep the plants in bounds. We had a couple
of colors about some vining plants there man the villa
for instance, if it's a vining type plant, it's better
to provide enough growing room for these type of plants,
(38:03):
and so trellis or whatever it might be. If we
cut them back, it keeps them from flowering. May keep
in compact, but it may keep them from flowering. Don't
wear out your plants, give them a little time to grow.
A lot of people have a habit of pruning back shrubs.
You know, once a month or whatever it might be,
sometime more often than that, trying to let them grow
(38:25):
a little bit. One of the big problems we have
is we wear out the shrubs. We keep pruning them
back to the same height all the time, and that
can become a problem. Use pruners to selectively remove the
stems and stems if need to, and lower leaves can
be removed from trees that interfere with traffic and work.
So those are just some of the things that you
might think about doing. I want to thank my guests today,
(38:48):
Roy Levin, vice President Manager Environmental Pests and Services. And
here's a reminder for you. If your local station doesn't
broadcast better lines of gardens, you know, I give them
a call and ask them to get us every Saturday morning.
Appreciate you. Remember to check our sponsors, Black Cow Summit,
Responsible Solutions, Quality Green Specialists with Dana Venrick in the
(39:09):
Land Peterson's Nurser with Howie and Karen and Lakeland. They
have an orchid program coming up I think next weekend.
And of course we want to thank Lizzie for keeping
us under control here and keeping us up on the air.
And of course we're coming to you from the summit
Responsible Solutions studios and this is better lines and gardens
than on Tom of Conn.
And good morning till you welcome to our number two
at Better Lines and Gardens. Tom mccuvin here, host emeritus
for Better Lines and Gardens and Extension Agent emeritus with
the University of Florida. Lizzie's with me keeping me under control.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Here, it's cracking out whip.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Then we're having a great time. Actually, So this is
our number two. Let me do a little follow up here.
In our number one, we talked about WASP and we
mentioned the WASS controls or traps, and Howie from Peterson's
Nursery says he has that and they also have what
orchid program coming up that he talked about is that
(00:45):
next weekend?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, this next weekend, give them a call and check
in on that. I'm asked, how would I give me
a text updates? So that's why you get it. So
soon as I get it, I'll let you guys know.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Okay, well that sounds fine. Very shortly, we're going to
be talking with Roy Levin of the Environmental Pests and
Lawn Services as vice president manager, also a graduate of
the University of Florida with the greas and Entomology and
ematology and also a certified pest control operator. So he's
also a good friend. So I'm looking forward to talking
with him, and we're gonna be talking mainly about lawn pests,
(01:18):
and I want to ask him about the chinch bugs.
Are they controllable? We'll find out because we've been getting
some resistant ones out there have been giving us some
real problems. And right now we have our dirty word
of the day, which I have chosen as nitrogen. About
seventy eight percent of the air is nitrogen, but not
usable by plants in this form. Plants used nitrogen in
(01:40):
two forms. One is nitrate and the other is ammonium
ions that are taken up by the plants. Here's something interesting.
Thunderstorms produce about one pound of usable nitrogen per acre.
Have you ever noticed that after storms plants kind of
green up. It's not just the water, but it can
be the nitrogen it's coming from the air. Also the
(02:03):
storms converts over. It helps makes plants green and helps
produce growth. When you want plants to grow, you apply
in nitrogen. Most gardens apply it in a mixed form
like fertilizer of sixty sixty six sixteen zero eight or
similar products, where the nitrogen is the first nutrient in
the analysis in sixty sixty six at six sixteen O
(02:26):
eight at sixteen. There's also nitrogen just nitrogen plain nitrogen
fertilizers like sulfur coated urea plant plain urea, ammonium sulfate,
ammonium sulfate. By the way, if you want to make
the soil acid, you can try to get something with
ammonium sulfate in it. You also have blood meal and
(02:48):
there's more about there. They can be used separately or
in combination products. One way, which is kind of neat.
One way, I tell if a lawn fertilizer has been applied.
Now do get that question? Sometimes they want to know
if a company has applied the lawn fertilizer, and I
look for yellow or blue particles, and these are the
(03:08):
types of nitrogen sulfur coated urea or blue tip urea.
Plants and soil bacteria can have an interesting relationship with nitrogen.
Beans are associated with a bacteria or azobium bacteria in
the soil that takes nitrogen from the air and makes
it available to the beans. Most loogomes have the same relationships.
(03:30):
It's one reason we do not want to fertilize beans.
Listen up. We don't want to fertilize beans and other
lugoons very much with nitrogen containing fertilizer. If you overdo it,
you will cause growth in a lack of flowers. You've
heard of inoculating bean seed, maybe with a nitrogen forming bacteria.
I am told our soils are full of the bacteria
(03:52):
and it's not necessary. So with any crop you do
not want to over apply nitrogen, not just beans. They
may produce lots of growth and limit flowers and fruits.
Usually with other shrubs, two to three applications of a
slow released product is adequate a year. Studies have been
done to show established trees may not need extra applications
(04:12):
of nitrogen as they obtain enough from feedings of nearby
shrubs and flowers. Vegetables and flower beds can benefit from
fertilizer with nitrogen about every four to six weeks, except
for crops like beans. Again, if your plants do not
get enough nitrogen, they turn yellow and growth is reduced.
Nitrogen is a valuable nutrient, but don't overdo it, okay.
(04:36):
I must add that nitrogen applications to turf and landscape
plantings are prohibited in many areas during the summer to
prevent water pollution in lakes and other bodies of water.
So there you go. Dirty word today. Nitrogen. For me,
it's a great word because I really like to see
in the growth out of my plants, and if your
plants are not growing, an application of nitrogen may help,
(04:59):
but you've got to be care careful. We don't do
it during certain times of the year because it can
wash get into our lake water and underground water sources.
We've got a list of things. I've got several Let's
see if I have anything here I need to take
care of. Nope, I'm okay. One is the vegetables that
we can plant. This is the funny time of year
(05:20):
because we're ending up July pretty soon and we're heading
into August, and August starts the new garden season. For me,
I already mentioned some of the things I was doing
during first hour tilling, adding organic matter and whatever. But
right now we can still plan things like cherry tomatoes, ochres,
southern peas, southern pumpkins, seminole pumpkins. We can grow things
(05:45):
like Roselli sweet potatoes, yard long beans, and pretty soon
we're going to be putting into the August garden around
mid month, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and I'm starting to some
seed right now, so it'll be good gardening coming coming up.
As far as flowers, I do have a question here
about flowers, That's what the question is. It says, I'm
(06:07):
growing impatience and containers in the shade, but they're not
producing the blooms as expected. The stems are long and lanky.
How can I encourage more blooms? Impatients do like some shade,
There's no doubt about that. We do have the sun patience,
but in Florida during the summertime, even those can get
baked out or summer is so hot and intense here,
(06:29):
so impatients enjoy some sunlight. So what we find if
we can go through and just give them a filtered sun,
it tends to keep more compact and will cause them
to us a flower a little bit better. So if
you have impatients that are not doing very well, if
they're getting long and lanky, you might cut them back
(06:51):
and then make sure they're in the filtered sun, and
I think that will work well for it. Coming up
your questions and discussion with Roy Levin at homologe memestologists
with environmental pest and lawn services. We'll we talk about
lawn pests are chrench boat controllable? They'll tell us and
we'll be back. This is better lawns and gardens on
time of Covenant. This is as far as Talk and Entertainment Network.
(07:23):
Thank you for joining us. Are better lawns and gardens
coming to you from the summit Responsible Solution Studios. We
hope you're having a great Saturday. And I know it's
hot outside and today I've got to get out and
mode of lawns. I do my neighbor's lawn on both sides.
I have the ride and lawnmower, so I can get
out there and just a zipper zip along get them done.
That's so nice of you. Well the grass is starting
(07:45):
to get along.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Launch of gas.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Yeah yeah, well I told the story earlier. I number
when I was down there in the vegetable garden tilling,
then ran out of gas and went over to a neighbor.
They didn't have gas, so I went down and got it. Now,
I have plenty of gifts for everything. If you want
to Texas at this time, you can two three six
eight oh text line has been kind of low here
this morning. But if you want to Texas two three
(08:08):
six eight oh as, Susie, will you get done talking
with Roy, you can give us a call one triple
eight forty five Lawns or one eight eight eight four
five five two nine sixty seven. They say, I say
it too fast, So here we go one eight eight
eight four five five two nine sixty seven. How's that
(08:28):
that helped out here? That's that's right right now. It
gives me great pleasure to bring into the studio here
my good friend Roy Levin, University of Florida graduate with
degrees in entomology and dematology. Roy, as I said, as
a longtime friend, vice president and manager of Environmental Pests
and Lawn Services, is also a fellow tomato grower in
(08:49):
his home garden. Roy, good morning to.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
You, Good morning tom How are you?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I am just fine. I want to tell you you
have a good friend and a person giving you some
pretty heavy endorsement down in Hunter's Creek. I was in
a meeting with Terry and she's very proud of your
company and what they have done for her law. And
that's that's wonderful, that's for sure. And I also want
to say that you have some amazing employees. I have
(09:17):
one that does my pest control for my house, which
is Jeff and I did not know, but his daughter
recently became a veterinarian graduate with a doctor degree in
veterinary science. I'm very proud of him and her for
a daughter like that, as my daughter's a veterinarian also.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, he is very very proud of her.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Absolutely, and he's always so happy and joyful when he
comes to control my insects.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Absolutely, that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I appreciate that. Anyway, you see lots of lawns, how
well have they recovered from the winner.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
So I think, for the most parts have recovered quite well.
Every law is different, so you know, the lawns that
had a lot of these annual drafts weeds have recovered
a little bit blessed well because there's more more dead
areas to fill in. But overall, I was I was
actually quite impressed, was on how quickly these laws have
(10:17):
recovered from the cold temperature.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I don't think I saw as much damage this
year as I was expecting. I was expecting some lawns
that really have a lot of dead in them, but
they came back. I guess it wasn't as bad as
I thought. I don't know. Some years i've seen some
real damage the lawns.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Okay, absolutely, I remember twenty years ago or so some
of these lawns were just didn't come back because it
was so cold. But yeah, but yeah, yeah, they recovered
quite well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
We had twenty four degrees in my house for twelve
hours or so. Yeah, now's a good time to fill
those bare spots and weedy spots with new turf, right.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think it depends on the situation. If it's just
small areas, then yes, absolutely. If it's very large areas,
I think you you know, you may want to wait
a little bit longer until fall, just because so hot
outside and it's rainy, and the chinchbugs and subway bones
are so bad, and there are attractives of that new
sawed quite a bit, and so you may have a
(11:17):
little bit of a hard time getting it to grow.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, I'm sure chinchbugs are a problem, with saying, Augustine,
at this time, what are you seeing?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Yeah, they are every year. Chinchbugs are are quite problematic.
We do have this resistant issue with the resistant to
two different chemistry and sextaside chemistries, and so they're a
little bit more challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
But every year, you.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Know, they're they're real bad during the during the summer.
This year may be a little bit worse. Last year
was real bad as well.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
I thought the cold would knock the chinchbugs back, but
it doesn't seem to have.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yeah, my friend, you and I both it doesn't. That
is not happen.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, you know, it just seems like we would get
a reduction, but doesn't seem like it. Here's a big question,
I guess can residents still control chinchbugs with products from
the garden center or are we wasting their time?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
No, I don't think. I think that definitely you can.
The resident can definitely control chinchbugs with products from the
garden center. The key is using them correctly, not putting
follow the label, not putting way too much or too little,
using the right application techniques. And if one product doesn't work,
(12:36):
don't just go and put it over and over again.
Use something completely different with different chemistry to try to
control the chinchbugs.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah. And there are some different types of chemistries to
garden centers, and you just have to learn about them
or go to a garden center where you have knowledgeable
people that can tell you the different types.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Absolutely. Yeah, So there are different chemistries out there, and
having the knowledge of what the different chemistry is important
to manage not just pinchbugs, but other pasts.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah. Here's the problem I see it is that most
of the products that are common at garden centers are
synthetic pireethroids, and I would think if you use one
synthetic pie reethroid, probably and the chinchbugs are not controlled,
you're probably not going to get them under control with
another synthetic pie refroid. Am I correct on that?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
I think that for the most part, you are correct.
There are different chemistries of synthetic pirethroids, so one may
work a little bit better than another in some situations,
but it is definitely better to switch over to a
completely different mode of action, different chemistry of insecta side.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Yeah. Good. How frequently are you seeing resistant chinchbugs at
this time?
Speaker 4 (13:51):
I see them every day?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Do you really?
Speaker 5 (13:54):
I really?
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Do? They're that heavy? Is it worse this year than
it was last year?
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I think that it's last year. We thought of the
worst towards the middle and end of the summer, just
because I had the ability the time to develop and
move around. Uh, you know where we're in, you know,
mid to beginning to middle middle of summer, So it
probably would be the same, maybe another maybe a little
(14:21):
bit worse there.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Okay, here's here's a neat question. Do the resistant chinch
bugs look any different from the common chinchbugs? How do
we know the doubt?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Yeah, they don't look any difference. They look identical. There.
You can't tell the difference between the visually.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
So what are you looking for to tell that you
have resistant chinch bugs?
Speaker 4 (14:43):
So if I put an application and I know, if
I put it down the correct rate and correct technique
and I'm not getting good control? Uh, And I go
and I switched to a different insectu side with a
completely different motive action and I'm still not getting control.
That would raised by suspicion that we may be dealing
with the resistant population. So at that point I would
(15:07):
take a look a little bit a little bit closer.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Yeah, so what are you doing? Are you just going
to different insecticides? I mean, are you getting control from
by switching like that?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, so if we try one we have a regimen
at EPLS where and I think most companies do. Whether
we try, you know, a certain systemic insecticide, we always
put it down with another contact insecticide, so we get
a dual mode of action. Then if you don't if
this doesn't work, we switch to a different chemistry. But yes,
(15:42):
we keep rotating chemistries in order to achieve the maximum
results and minimize the chance of resistance.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yep, I know. Doctor Adam Dale at the University of
Florida put out last year, was saying that switch the
things at the homeowner might get. I mean, a homeowner
can get the some of the systemics, but they normally
can't get the systemics in combination. So they'll they'll get
systemics into the corporated merit things like that, but but
(16:09):
it's not in combination with say a synthetic pyreeferoid. But
you all can can do that now. Adam Dale has
also suggested things like nemal a celoprin. Are they doing
anything for you?
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Somo has not done anything for me.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
A celo print is required for use in a very
low in a very heavy dose specifically for chinbugs, and
that is only labeled for suppression. Yeah, so so it's
uh it hasn't done as much for me as I
was scooping, but it would. And then unfortunately, we're limited
(16:50):
to a relatively few uh products as far as the
active ingredients and the low of action. There are hundreds
of products out there, but they're basically they are limited
to the different a different modes of action that they have,
and they kind of kind of like, you know, between
(17:11):
similar to which you go get you know, a paid
medication from you know kind of a you know, a
very grocery store or now the grocery store it's there
a little bit of a different name. Yeah, but it's
taking it a sick thing.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Yeah. So here's what I'm thinking. If you've got resistant
chinche bugs in your lawn, you're putting on the pesticide
and they're not working, you better call a professional.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Absolutely, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Okay, how about the side web worms? Seeing lots of
those I know in one of my communities. Uh, the
new side came in and it was loaded with side webworms.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Right, If sod web worms are a problem every year,
I've seen them crawling off of fresh salt on a palette.
So you know, it's just one of those things where
when the eggs are in there. The caterpillars have and
they're going to stop chewing. But they're relatively they're easy
to get rid of. The key is to go ahead
and get them treated early so it don't cause too
(18:06):
much damage.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Yeah, I think what people worry about that most are
the maths rather than the caterpillar damage.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Absolutely. We get many many phone calls every day that
people have moths, and you know, the moths are not treatable.
They feed on next our complaints.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, well I tell them to use fly slaughterers and
butterfly nets. That's that's control. Hey, Roy, it's been a
pleasure having you with us. We didn't get the rest
of the things that were on my list, but we'll
do it another time. And I'm looking forward to tomato
season here so we can get to tomatoes growing.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Absolutely and a little bit cooler weather that'll be nice
as well.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
That will be nice as well. Okay, Roy Levin, we
roally appreciate you being with us as for sure with EPLS,
environmental pests and lawn services. You have a great gardening.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Day, Yeah, was welcome, have goo day okay.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And always happy to have Roy full of knowledge just
for sure. Like I said, Graduate University of Florida. In
the Entomology and nematology, Roy spent a lot of time
counting nematodes. He did a lot of work with Route
night nematode and these things are little hair type things.
You can't even see him up under a microscope.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
He's obviously I got really good eyesight.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
And he was there in a microscope just looking at
the different types of routin all, ROUT nine is not
the same, so it was kind of interesting. Hey, I
tell you what, it's your turn. If you want to
give us a call, feel free to one Triple A
forty five Lawns or Texas two three six eight. Oh.
We'll be waiting for her calls. Lizzie will be waiting
for him. I'll be waiting for him. Also, we're going
(19:36):
to a break. It's a perfect time to give us
a call again. I'm Tom of Coven and you're listening
to Better Lawns and Gardens. We're coming to you from
the Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. This is Flara Talking Entertainment Network.
(19:58):
I'm learning again. Welcome back to Better Guarden. Seem like
it's never enough time to get all the questions in
I want to ask my guests. Yes, and I had
one here about lawn fertilizing. It's prohibited at this time
of the year in most areas, and some lawns are
a bit yellow, and I am getting that question and
they want to know what to do to regreen the lawn,
and so I can tell you you can try iron.
(20:21):
I just put it down on my lawn. Sunny Land
has a granular iron product. You can get liquid iron
products also in minor nutrients, but sunny Land has one
and it goes to your spreader and I put it down.
In about two to three days, the lawn turned a
brighter green. So it's sometimes just an iron efficiency. But
we can't use the regular lawn fertilizer in many areas,
(20:44):
especially throughout central Florida. And if you want to try
to green them up, you might just try the iron
product and see if that helps.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Now would it be possible, because I don't know, but
it seems like it seems like if your plants turn yellow,
it's either it's not enough water or there's too much.
So could your lawn begetting too much water?
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Have too much water will do that too. It will
affect the roots. But the many of the lawns. It's
just that they're running out of iron. They're running out
of nitrogen also, which was my dirty word today. But
we can't put the nitrogen down, so Tom's sometimes the
iron will help by itself. Let's do that first text message.
I'm not getting the text message.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Okay, let's okay. It says the it did you want
to do tallahassee?
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Or yeah, let's do tallahaskay.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
It says good morning, Tom, great to hear you. This
is Susan and Tallahassee. We are finding nutgrass and spurge
in the lawn. Is there a spray to kill both? Thanks?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, well there's sprays for both of them, but I
think you're going to have to do it separately. There
is a product out there called sedge hammer, Believe it
or not, sedge hammer. That's good stuff and I found
that at ACE Hardware, for instance. You can get it
at other garden centers. Peterson's probably has it for you also.
(22:02):
You can get it and use that and it will
be a good job. Ortho also has a sedge control
they call it a nuts sedge killer that can be
put down and go after the weed. That's the worse
if it's a spurge to get one of the broad
leaf weed killers. Round Up has a good product. It's
a for southern lawns. I assume that you're having a
(22:23):
Saint Augustine lawn, but it's a round up for southern lawns.
It's the same type of product that's used by the
commercial people often, so so that might be a good
one for you. So I think you're going to have
to do two separate things, but go after the weed
that's the worst is this time. If you get the
Ortho product, I think it even has it so you
can just attach it to your hose sedge killer. I
(22:46):
think Boneye has one. Also, most companies do nice. Let's
just do Venice one all right?
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And it says, Hi, tom After planting forty years in
my landscape, I've decided to try it my first tomato plant.
I want to put it in a content on a
lattice that has southeast exposure and will get sun most
of the day. Can you recommend a type of container,
variety of tomato plant, and any special concerns. I'll be
(23:13):
buying the plant at a local nursery and only enough
for my wife and I to enjoy BLTs okay, thanks
Mike from vos Okay.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So, I guess that scratches the ones I like. I
like the grape tomatoes or the cherry tomatoes. But big
Beef is a good one. Better Boy, they're both good
tomatoes to grow. The bigger the container, the better. I
mean five gallons would be the minimum, and then you
want the bigger containers. If you can get a fifteen
gallon or even bigger, use that because the tomatoes like
(23:44):
to have plenty of room. Here's the other problem. Once
the tomato plant gets some size to it, it uses
lots of water, and quite often we can't keep up
with the water. And if it doesn't get enough water,
you get blossoming rot, which is a problem with the
bottom of the tomato. So so get a big container,
get a nice slicer. Better boy. I like one called
(24:06):
better Bell, but not better Rosie. I think is uh
but uh, it's it's probably not going to be available.
But big Boy, better Boy, there be champion will be
another one that you'll find at your garden centers. Big
Boy is good.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Always did the beef steak, And then I found the
Big Boy, and I'm like Okay, that's an upgrade for
me personally.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Big Big Boy is one that's been out there and
it's done a good job for us. And Better Boy
also is another good one. Yes, okay, so let's see
we have enough time to go to uh Diane and
Tala hassee Diane.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Good morning to you, Yes, good morning always here. Good
to hear your voice.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well, thank you. It's nice to have you with us.
How can I help you today?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I bought these beautiful flowers in planters and they look
like mandevilla's, but the flowers are just lightly smaller, but
they still have they still want to climb apparently, and
I didn't think they were going to climb that much. Well,
I just untangled all the things and they're like four
(25:10):
feet almost five feet long. Can cut them off or
is that going to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
No, you can cut them back. It may slow down
the flower's diplodemia. I think. Is the plant you're talking
about look just like banda villa. I'm not sure they
aren't the same. At least they're relatives anyway. And Dick,
anytime you cut a plant back like that, it puts
it into a juvenile state. And what you find is
(25:36):
that you may not get flowering quite as soon again. Yeah,
so oh okay, these plants, these plants are meant to climb,
so if you want to, you know, the more room
you can give them, the more you let them climb,
is it's getting out of control, then you don't have
any choice but to cut them back.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Okay, okay, well that's helpful. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Okay, you're quite welcome. You have a great gardening day,
appreciate it. If if you want to Texas, you certainly can.
And of course the number here two three six eight
oh for texting or if you want to give us
a call. Lizzie will take your call, and if she's busy,
just let it ring one triple eight four five five
two nine six seven and you can get with us
(26:16):
that way. So we'll be happy to have you with us.
I have several callers up right now, but to be fair,
we're going to have to head to break uh and
then we'll get to your call. So don't go away,
just stay there. One Bill in Georgetown wants to know
when the watermelon is ready. I assume the watermelon in
his yard. And because I am not growing watermelon, that's
(26:40):
for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Did you want to chat with them.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
We got a minute. We can we do that, okay, Bill,
Bill in Georgetown, we got a minute, Lizzie says, how
can we help you?
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Yeah, well, I've got this watermelon. I plant it from
seed and it's growing on the railing of my porch
and a hang and uh oh, it's not going to
have it's not going to have a a yellow spot
on the bottom because it's going to be all green.
When is that going to be ready to pick?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Are you good at wrapping? Wrapping the melons? And they
got that hollow sign sound that normally in the case
also what some people use as a tendril. You know
what the tendril is on the watermelon viome? Okay, Well,
when the one closest to the watermelon turns brown, that
is normal normally indication. Also, but your watermelon probably will
(27:28):
also get yellowish on the bottom, even though it's hanging
like that, it'll start to yellow up on the bottom.
So you've got the hollow sound, you got the yellowing
on the bottom, you got the tendril, it turns brown
and if you pick it at that point, you know,
if it looks like it's right, I would leave it
to go for another little bit of time.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Okay, Well, at least the fire ants are going to
get this one because it hangs.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
We that's good. How big is it.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Right now? It last week it was the size of
a walnut. This week it's a little bit less in
a soccer ball.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Wow. Okay, well you're getting you're getting a good sized
watermelon there. It's getting close.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
Yeah, I don't I don't know how many. Maybe uh,
I don't have to wait another three or four weeks
for it to get mature. It's not evening, but I
just wanted to know when to pick.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
It, did you sup? You got it supported? Real well?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I've got the vine tight onto the railing.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Yet you're you're probably going to have to support the melon. Also,
Hey Bill, it's good to hear from you. You have
a great gardening day. Take care. Okay, So we're going
to take a break right now. You still have time, okay,
lumber here's one triple eight four five five two nine
sixty seven fre you can text me two three six eight. Oh.
I'm Tom Coven and this is Florida's Talk An Entertainment Network.
(28:54):
Welcome back to Bedlunes and Gardens, Tomic Cove in here.
Lizzie's at the controls. If you, uh, you still have time,
if you still want to get a call into us,
this one triple eight four five five two nine sixty seven,
or you can text me at two three six eight
oh the number again. The call is one eight eight
eight four five five two nine six seven. And we're
(29:18):
going to go to one of those callers right now.
Bill and Orlando. Bill, good morning to.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
You, Good morning time. Could you hear your voice? You
placed our lawn again. We've had zoyja. We like the texture,
and I heard your last guest recommending not to do
anything until the fall. Are there any varieties of zoyja
that are resistant to the chinchbug problem? Or do they
attacking that all?
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Nod Zoysa does not get chinchbug, so you're okay there, okay?
Speaker 6 (29:46):
And are there any varieties? I see there's new ones
that are more preferable on zoyja.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
You know, I really haven't kept track of all of them,
but empires still probably out there is one of the
main ones. U. But uh, you know, the Zoysa is
not pest free, doesn't get chinch bugs, but you get
bill bugs, you get a mealy bugs. So you've got
to stay on top of it. In fact, I was
(30:13):
gonna ask Roy about that because he does a lot
of Zoyser lawns, and I just ran out of time.
But but I think he would tell you mealy bugs, uh,
tunnel mealy bug and bill bugs, they're all problems with
Zoeija also, so you're trading one lawn problem for another
when you get Zoyja.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Got you a good question. Also, we haven't had a
training house, and we have some Italian cypress and we
replaced those I don't know how many times and uh,
you know, we used time mill on it to fight
back mites. Is there anything that we could do to
uh you know, have a better crop on the Italian cypress?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Are you using the old sprays, the Summit year round.
Speaker 6 (30:59):
Old spray, the Actor year around. We just put some
starters in maybe they're about six or seven feet tall
and they're declining already.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Okay, Well, the Summit is a product called Summit Year
Round Old Spray, and that's the name of it. If
it's mites, then that should do a good job on it.
You also have an insecticidal soap, and you do have
some mitosides also out there, but you just have to
stay on top of it. I mean, it can be
a constant problem. Is it the mites that are causing
(31:30):
them to go out right now? Or is it due
to the fact that when they were planted, the root
balls were dry and they haven't been rewt There's a
lot of things to look at.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
We just got them recently, but it's been, as you know,
very rainy, so I haven't looked close to the other
than you see it's browning.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Yeah, dig down, look at the roots. I mean, if
that root ball was dry at the time of planting,
all the rains coming are not going to rewet it, probably,
so dig down. You may need to build a burm
around it and make sure the water goes down through
the root ball. You should how long ago you haven't
put in.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
Well, that's the thing I meant to tell you. I
should have said, they're still in the containers.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Oh, they're still in the containers. Okay, Well, yeah, they
shouldn't be having a problem like that at all. Just
make sure those root balls are moist, that they dry out.
You've got a problem that they're going to start to
brown out, but you shouldn't be having that big a
problem with them. How long you had them?
Speaker 6 (32:31):
Oh it's just a few months.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, well that's a pretty good period of time where
things can happen. But you know, you do get diseases
on them. Also. What you need to do, probably Bill,
is take some of the leaves something you know, they're
they're they're like any other evergreen. Take some of those
which is just starting to show the problem to your
(32:55):
extension office and see if they can tell anything. They'll
be able to tell if it's mites at scale. They
can probably even tell whether it's needle blight or something
of that nature.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
Okay, as always, thank you kindly.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Okay, good luck to you. Hope it helps you out
a little bit, have a great gardening day. The Italian
cypress can be a real problem. I mean, we do
get mice, we do get scale insects, and then we
get things such as needle blight that'll cause browning but
shouldn't cause the whole plant the brown out like that.
And that's why I'm looking for root problems. I'm looking
(33:30):
for lack of water at some time which may have
caused it to have that problem.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yes, we have a text from jac from Cocoa Beach
and he's having a problem starting his cherry tomato seeds
and a pot or starting his tomato seeds period, what
would be the right pot in location?
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Okay, jac tomatoes, you and I are starting them at
the same time now, And what I use I use
small containers. I use a little small pots, or I
use cell containers. And you know, if you have fresh seed,
you should be able to put one seed to sell
or one seed to container. And tomato seeds very reliable. Now,
(34:11):
if it's been a refrigerator for a good while or
has been sitting out, then I probably sow all the
seeds in what I call a community pot, and that
is one pot filled with either germination mix or potting soil.
Germination mixes good because the particles are smaller, but tomato
seeds are good size, so you should be able to
(34:31):
grow them in potting soil. Get that your garden center,
and one seed per sell or per container, keep moist,
keep them in the full sun. You can actually keep
them in the shade until they start to germinate, which
at this time of the year is in about five
days or less, and they'll come up, and then you
keep them in full sun and grow them on from
(34:52):
there as they get some size. Once they get four
to six inches tall, then you need to move into
a bigger container. And as I mentioned to a previous caller,
the container needs to be at least five gallons to
have good tomatoes and containers. If you want to put
them in the ground, then at about four to six
inches eight inches at the maximum, you go ahead and
(35:15):
play them in the ground. So there we go.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
We also have another text says Hi, Tom, will my
Mandaville climb and cling to a six foot PBC pipe?
Speaker 1 (35:28):
You know, I'm thinking that pipes. Those pipes are pretty slick,
and it depends on the size of it. But yeah,
you can get it to grow there. Once it starts fining,
then you have to train it to it, and you
may even have to tie it to it as a possibility. Okay,
may you may want to put up some other grids,
some other wire grid, but it will climb. There's no
(35:49):
doubt about that. We're good.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
We are good.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Okay, So let's give you some of the things that
we can be doing here in the landscape. Lawn care.
I think guys Roy pointed out most of the lawns
ever recovered from winter July in my book, is a
good time to fill the bear spots and now weedy
spots left by winter. Get the weeds out, and the
(36:13):
ones that are affected by pests. Application of an iron
only product can regreen the lawn. We mentioned that, So
here's the vegetable things to do, and start off the
program telling you that my vegetable garden was getting prepared.
I got the weeds knocked down. I'm rot of telling
it is time remove all the declining vegetables and get
(36:35):
rid of the weeds. Because weeds will harbor pests and
that can be a problem. So you get them under control,
and even those near the guard. We don't often think
of the weeds outside the garden, but if there's weeds
in the garden area, then we need to go through
and get them under control. If we don't, then we
find that you may harbor pest. Also, we can start
(36:58):
our tomato, pepper, egg play seeds at this time to
happen for July. If you want to grow melons like you, cantalopes. Also,
watermelon can be planted at that time. Bill called in
and said he had a nice watermelon gonna be ready
to pick pretty soon. But we start those around the
first of August. We can use any organic matter to
(37:19):
improve the soil. If it's maneuvers. Normally we use composted
maneuvers and that will help out. Also things to doing
the landscape. Lots of winter damage is still around. I
was at a meeting yesterday and we were talking about
winter damage. Time to get it all out. If the
plant is dead, get it out. If it's dying, back
to the ground, go ahead and prune it back to
(37:40):
the ground. And this is the time we can get
everything under control. Like that. U in summer rains have
stimulated a lot of new growth. Performed a timely pruning
to keep the plants in bounds. We had a couple
of colors about some vining plants there man the villa
for instance, if it's a vining type plant, it's better
to provide enough growing room for these type of plants,
(38:03):
and so trellis or whatever it might be. If we
cut them back, it keeps them from flowering. May keep
in compact, but it may keep them from flowering. Don't
wear out your plants, give them a little time to grow.
A lot of people have a habit of pruning back shrubs.
You know, once a month or whatever it might be,
sometime more often than that, trying to let them grow
(38:25):
a little bit. One of the big problems we have
is we wear out the shrubs. We keep pruning them
back to the same height all the time, and that
can become a problem. Use pruners to selectively remove the
stems and stems if need to, and lower leaves can
be removed from trees that interfere with traffic and work.
So those are just some of the things that you
might think about doing. I want to thank my guests today,
(38:48):
Roy Levin, vice President Manager Environmental Pests and Services. And
here's a reminder for you. If your local station doesn't
broadcast better lines of gardens, you know, I give them
a call and ask them to get us every Saturday morning.
Appreciate you. Remember to check our sponsors, Black Cow Summit,
Responsible Solutions, Quality Green Specialists with Dana Venrick in the
(39:09):
Land Peterson's Nurser with Howie and Karen and Lakeland. They
have an orchid program coming up I think next weekend.
And of course we want to thank Lizzie for keeping
us under control here and keeping us up on the air.
And of course we're coming to you from the summit
Responsible Solutions studios and this is better lines and gardens
than on Tom of Conn.
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