Anson Farm & Garden July 2022

Pond Weed ID Help

Aquatic pond weed identification can be made easier with an online diagnostic tool: AquaPlant: A Diagnostic Tool for Pond Plants and Algae.

Designed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, it's designed to help land owners identify and manage plants in their ponds. Not all aquatic herbicides are effective on all pond weeds. Use the "identify plant" section to correctly ID, then review the "how to manage this plant" for available chemical, physical or biological control options.

For example, pictured left is an emergent plant, meaning it is rooted at the shoreline and emerges above the surface of the water. Often, the leaf of this plant floats on the pond surface like a mini lilypad. Within the emergent plants section of the tool is a pictorial guide from which you can find your plant. We can observe that the leaf is roughly the size of a half-dollar, the stem originates from the center of the leaf, and the leaf margins are somewhat wavy or shallow lobes. It's Pennywort! This site tells us if the plant has any wildlife value and a tab for management options and efficacy.

Alternatively, Anson Extension can assist with ID and recommendations. We would need a whole sample in a jar or ziplock bag with water (to keep it fresh), including roots if applicable, or call Anson Extension to speak to an agent regarding a site visit.

Photo Credit: Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood

Tomato Blossom-End Rot

Tomato blossom-end rot (BER) is a common disorder seen in the vegetable garden. It also occurs in pepper, eggplant, pumpkin, squash, and watermelon. The blackened, water-soaked blemish on the blossom end widens as the fruit ripens. BER is a sign of calcium deficiency in the fruit. This may mean a nutrient deficiency in the soil or inconsistent soil moisture in which the soil is too dry for plants to uptake calcium along with water.

Best management practices include maintaining proper pH between 6.5-6.8. Spraying affected plants with a calcium chloride solution may temporarily alleviate symptoms. Have your soil tested every 3 years to ensure your pH essential nutrients are in the upper range for good yield and fruit quality. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers like ammonium nitrate. In addition to agronomic lime, 1-2 lbs/100ft2 of gypsum, or land plaster, is can add calcium and improve soil tilth.

Equally important is regulating adequate soil moisture by mulching, limiting root pruning, and irrigation (1" per week). Inadequate or excess moisture favors BER.

What are proper moisture levels? One should be able to dig into the soil a few inches, grab a handful of soil and form a ball that holds it's shape, but is not dripping wet. In addition to the above, remove affected tomatoes when symptoms appear to help in the development of future fruit.

Photo credit: NCSU

Balding Cardinals

It's summer! The young have been raised and are on their own. What do most adult birds do right after nesting season? They molt and shed their feathers. Songbirds generally lose a few feathers at a time and we hardly notice. But some cardinals and bluejays have been known to lose many feathers at once. So if you catch a glimpse of one, don't worry they aren't sick. Within a month, their stately crests and plumage will be refreshed and bright as ever.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

N.C. Forest Service
Seedling Sale

The N.C. Forest Service is accepting orders in its annual tree seedling sale. Conifers and hardwoods are sold in units as low as 10, and as high as 100. For bulk orders, seedlings sell by the hundreds and thousands. Orders will not ship or be ready for pickup until Dec. 1, 2022. Demand for tree seedlings is up, so order early while stock is available.

Genetically improved stock exists for loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf, and other species. Improved stock offers better volume growth, form, disease resistance, straightness, and other characteristics needed to produce quality forest products. Containerized understory grasses and herbaceous plants are also available at $70 per box or unit of 334. They include wiregrass, Indian grass, little bluestem, big bluestem, and a longleaf savannah mix. For the complete species listing and online ordering, see the online store at N.C. Forest Service Catalog.

Other ways to order:
Tree seedlings can be ordered by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337).
Anson Extension and Anson County Forest Service have hard copy catalogs available that contain a mail-in order form. Accepted methods of payment are check, money order, Mastercard and Visa. All orders are first come, first served.

Photo credit: NC Forest Service

Hammerhead Worm Sightings

Recent heavy rains seem to be bringing hammerhead flatworms out of hiding. If you haven't noticed them before, they have a head similar to a hammerhead shark.

There are 5 species of hammerhead worms. They are also called planarians and terrestrial flatworms, Non-native hammerhead worms have been in North Carolina since the 1950's. They are typically orange, yellow, or brown, shiny, slimy, with a flattened body. They range from just a few millimeters to 12" long.
Generalist predators, they feed on earthworms, snails, slugs, insect larvae, springtails and other invertebrates.

Health threats:
Do not mistake them for earthworms. Two members of the hammerhead genus, Bipalium produce the same toxin as pufferfish which is thought to help them overcome prey and self-defense. If these worms are handled it is advised to avoid touching eyes and mouths and wash hands thoroughly.
Some species carry the infective stages of an internal parasite, rat lungworm. While infection is possible, it is rare since one would potentially have to eat the worm to get infected.

Management:
It is nearly impossible to eradicate existing populations, but it is advisable to destroy hammerhead worms found in the lawn and landscape since many are considered invasive. They can be destroyed by applying salt over them, dropping into rubbing alcohol, or placing in a bag and freezing. Cutting them will only generate new worms from each section. Read more about hammerhead worms here.

Photo credit: Maggie Wott