Q. “When is the best time to put down pre-emergent?”
A. Crabgrass germination is triggered by the ground temperature in your area. which means timing is everything when it comes to lawn care in Omaha. Pre-emergent needs to take place BEFORE the crabgrass has a chance to take off and start growing!
A long-standing local trick is to watch for nature’s indicator: the bright yellow Forsythia shrub. When Forsythia blooms, typically between April 1st and April 15th in the Omaha metro, soil temperatures are warming, signaling the perfect time to apply your pre-emergent. It’s a reliable Old Farmers’ Almanac method many master gardeners still use today.
Q. “When is the best time to cut back roses?
A. This is a question we get a lot from folks who have planted shrub roses in the Omaha/Elkhorn and metro areas.
Everyone seems confused as to when they should prune their shrub roses. Interestingly enough, most seem to feel it should revolve around man-made calendar dates like October 15th or April 15th! Neither of these is technically correct.
Pruning too soon may stimulate tender new growth during a warm spell that could be killed later by a freeze. You NEVER want to prune shrub roses too late in the fall. This stresses the plants terribly. Prune too late and you won’t get that great spring bloom. You have stressed the plants!
So what is the best time to prune so you don’t cause plant stress?
MOTHER NATURE KNOWS BEST- Prune when the Forsythia begins to bloom. In our growing region, the Forsythia is the bright “canary yellow” shrub that is one of the first to bloom. In the Omaha/Elkhorn and metro areas, it is typically on or around April 1st-April 15th in a normal year.
When you see the Forsythia bloom, it means the GROUND TEMPERATURE is warm enough to trim. (Hint- That means its also time to put down your pre-emergent herbicide)
Nature is telling us when it’s time to prune. The plants know. If it’s a long winter they will bloom later. During a short winter they bloom sooner (Like 2012). So keep an eye out for the Forsythia and when they start to bloom it’s time to get our your sharp shears!
Q. “If a tree trunk is damaged from weather, animals, etc. is it able to be saved?”
A. This is a little bit of a loaded question. It depends. How severe is the wound, how deep is it, and what caused the accident?
To be honest, typically I would tell a customer “its only a matter of time” before the tree will struggle and not survive. A majority of the time, it will be insects penetrating the tree’s vascular system, not the actual wound itself that will cause the tree to die.
The outer bark protects the tree’s xylem and phloem, which function like vital veins and arteries in the human body. A tree can survive damage, but it may struggle or develop long-term issues. Monitoring the tree and consulting a professional is often the best approach.
Q. “When is the time to trim back my ornamental grasses?”
A. The answer is “It’s time!” Ornamental grasses are dormant right now, because they are considered a “warm season” grass. With this in mind, the dead foliage can be removed starting about 4″ from the ground. Be sure to wear gloves and use sharp tools. Many varieties have tough stems or sharp edges. Trimming at the right time encourages strong, healthy growth as Omaha’s warm season approaches.
A. Crabgrass germination is triggered by the ground temperature in your area. which means timing is everything when it comes to lawn care in Omaha. Pre-emergent needs to take place BEFORE the crabgrass has a chance to take off and start growing!
A long-standing local trick is to watch for nature’s indicator: the bright yellow Forsythia shrub. When Forsythia blooms, typically between April 1st and April 15th in the Omaha metro, soil temperatures are warming, signaling the perfect time to apply your pre-emergent. It’s a reliable Old Farmers’ Almanac method many master gardeners still use today.
A. This is a question we get a lot from folks who have planted shrub roses in the Omaha/Elkhorn and metro areas.
Everyone seems confused as to when they should prune their shrub roses. Interestingly enough, most seem to feel it should revolve around man-made calendar dates like October 15th or April 15th! Neither of these is technically correct.
Pruning too soon may stimulate tender new growth during a warm spell that could be killed later by a freeze. You NEVER want to prune shrub roses too late in the fall. This stresses the plants terribly. Prune too late and you won’t get that great spring bloom. You have stressed the plants!
So what is the best time to prune so you don’t cause plant stress?
MOTHER NATURE KNOWS BEST- Prune when the Forsythia begins to bloom. In our growing region, the Forsythia is the bright “canary yellow” shrub that is one of the first to bloom. In the Omaha/Elkhorn and metro areas, it is typically on or around April 1st-April 15th in a normal year.
When you see the Forsythia bloom, it means the GROUND TEMPERATURE is warm enough to trim. (Hint- That means its also time to put down your pre-emergent herbicide)
Nature is telling us when it’s time to prune. The plants know. If it’s a long winter they will bloom later. During a short winter they bloom sooner (Like 2012). So keep an eye out for the Forsythia and when they start to bloom it’s time to get our your sharp shears!
A. This is a little bit of a loaded question. It depends. How severe is the wound, how deep is it, and what caused the accident?
To be honest, typically I would tell a customer “its only a matter of time” before the tree will struggle and not survive. A majority of the time, it will be insects penetrating the tree’s vascular system, not the actual wound itself that will cause the tree to die.
The outer bark protects the tree’s xylem and phloem, which function like vital veins and arteries in the human body. A tree can survive damage, but it may struggle or develop long-term issues. Monitoring the tree and consulting a professional is often the best approach.
A. The answer is “It’s time!” Ornamental grasses are dormant right now, because they are considered a “warm season” grass. With this in mind, the dead foliage can be removed starting about 4″ from the ground. Be sure to wear gloves and use sharp tools. Many varieties have tough stems or sharp edges. Trimming at the right time encourages strong, healthy growth as Omaha’s warm season approaches.
