Plant Sciences Commons^™

Pb1637 Fertilizers And Their Use, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

An understanding of soil chemical properties is important because of their effect on nutrient availability to plants. Also, these properties may usually be favorably altered with the use of lime and/or fertilizer materials. Many plants need 18 elements (see Table 1) for normal growth and completion of their life cycle. These elements are called the essential plant nutrients. Soil amendments containing the essential plant nutrients or having the effect of favorably changing the soil chemistry have been developed and used to enhance plant nutrition. These amendments are our lime and fertilizer materials.

With the development of these modern lime and …

Sp546 Diseases Of Shade And Ornamental Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Shade trees and small ornamental trees may be affected by plant diseases. Most are simply aesthetic problems and cause no long-term damage to the tree. Some diseases can seriously disfigure trees, while others are lethal.

Sp548 Fertilizing Landscape Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees in residential and commercial landscape plantings are often fertilized to keep them healthy and attractive. Over-fertilization is common, causing excessive growth, especially on young nursery stock. Trees growing in lawn areas usually receive some nutrients when the turfgrass is fertilized. This is usually sufficient to maintain most trees in fertile soil. However, fertilization may be needed on altered soils where unconsolidated fill material has been added or the topsoil has been removed. Managed urban areas where fallen leaves are removed may also require a fertilization regime to enrich soil and replenish nutrients.

Fertilizer (plant nutrition) is no substitute for …

Sp549 Tree Topping Hurts Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

The practice of topping is so widespread that many people believe it is the proper way to prune trees. However, topping causes a variety of problems in trees that create future maintenance and growth dilemmas for homeowners.

Sp307-O-Home Apple Cider Production, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Cider making is an art that is as old as apple production itself. When properly made, fresh apple cider is a safe, natural, delicious product that conjures up images of autumn and the country.

Apple cider is simply the liquid that is released when apples are crushed. It has nothing added and nothing taken away from it. Apple cider will be cloudy due to the presence of suspended apple solids. Since apple cider contains no preservatives, it has a limited shelf life, and special attention must be paid to proper storage. The terms apple cider and apple juice are often …

Pb819 Growing Vegetable Transplants In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The production of vegetable plants for commercial and home use is increasing in Tennessee. This is partially due to the expansion of greenhouse flower and ornamental production. To meet the demand for home gardeners, growers have gradually added vegetable plants to their spring production operation. Growers are finding that production of quality plants is a profitable business in urban areas.

Successful vegetable plant production is not a simple practice, because it requires technical knowledge of production practices within an enclosed environment, careful planning and man age ment. Combining the required environmental conditions favorable for vegetable plant growth, either in a …

Pb962 Producing Cantaloupes In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Cantaloupes are a warm-season crop that requires 70 to 90 days, depending upon the variety, from seeding to marketable fruit. Their consumption has increased by 11 percent since 1958. Almost all of the increase in consumption can be credited to the installation of salad bars in fast-food restaurants. Cantaloupes are very sensitive to cool temperatures. If they are exposed to cool temperatures (50 degrees or less) for short periods of time during the growing period, growth will be severely stunted. Plants will continue to survive, but their growth rate and fruit set rate per plant decreases. About 700 acres of …

Pb962-Producing Cantaloupes In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

Cantaloupes are a warm-season crop that requires 70 to 90 days, depending upon the variety, from seeding to marketable fruit. Their consumption has increased by 11 percent since 1958. Almost all of the increase in consumption can be credited to the installation of salad bars in fast-food restaurants.

Cantaloupes are very sensitive to cool temperatures. If they are exposed to cool temperatures (50 degrees or less) for short periods of time during the growing period, growth will be severely stunted. Plants will continue to survive, but their growth rate and fruit set rate per plant decreases.

About 700 acres of …

Sp277-H-Brown Rot Of Stone Fruits, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Brown rot, caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola, is the most common and destructive disease of stone fruits in Tennessee. Brown rot occurs on peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and apricots. This disease reduces yields primarily by rotting the fruit both on the tree and after harvest. Brown rot can potentially cause complete crop loss in unsprayed orchards when environmental condi tions are favorable for disease development.

Pb1626-Ornamental Grasses In The Landscape, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Ornamental grasses add texture, contrast, color and year-round interest to the landscape. Just like other groups of landscape plants, ornamental grasses are a diverse group that expand the plant palette of designers. They come in a range of sizes from the dwarf hakone grass to the giant ravenna grass. There are golden or white variegated cultivars. Some provide shades of silver and blue. Others are tinged red. Grasses that emerge late in the spring can fill voids left by spring-flowering bulbs and early spring perennials. The seed-heads or plumes of late-season grasses add ornamental value that persists into the winter. …

Sp277-C-Bacterial Wilt Of Cucurbits, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Bacterial wilt, caused by the bacterium Erwinia tracheiphila, affects members of the cucurbit family. Cucumber and cantaloupe are most susceptible, followed by squash, pumpkin and gourd. Watermelon is resistant.

Sp503-D-An Introduction To Integrated Pest Management Of Landscapes, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

A properly maintained landscape adds beauty and value to a property. Landscapes often contain a great diversity of plants and so have the potential to attract many pests. Fortunately, natural enemies of pests often regulate pest populations to low or moderate levels and chemical control is not needed. However, pests may still cause more damage than can be tolerated. We recommend using an integrated approach to managing pests.

This factsheet was written to familiarize the home or professional landscaper with the steps to using integrated pest management (IPM) in the landscape. Using this approach, you can manage damaging pests without …

Sp277-S Black Root Rot Of Tobacco, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Black root rot has been one of the most costly diseases of tobacco in Tennessee. This disease attacks tobacco either in the plant bed or in the field. It is a serious problem where tobacco is grown repeatedly in the same bed or field. Rarely does black root rot cause spectacular damage in any one field. It is important that growers be able to recognize black root rot and take the necessary control measures.

Pb1038 Fertilization & Management, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Fertilization and liming practices based upon a soil test help ensure the most cost efficient and environmentally sound development and maintenance of lawns. A soil test is especially critical when soils test low in pH, phosphorus or potassium. A properly fertilized and limed lawn is usually greener, more vigorous, less weedy and more attractive than a poorly fertilized lawn or one suffering from the effects of low soil pH (soil pH is a measure of the soil’s acid content).

The primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) must be added to most lawns, since soils in Tennessee seldom furnish adequate supplies. …

Pb1623-Decision Making Handbook For Insect & Mite Pests Of Ornamental Plants, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Insects, Pests, Plant Diseases and Weeds

Attractive, vital landscape plants contribute significantly to real estate values. On the other hand, poorly maintained landscapes may become a liability, especially if trees or their parts fall and cause property or bodily injury. This realization, coupled with increased leisure time to enjoy our yards and more discretionary income for landscaping and landscape maintenance, has contributed to dramatic increases in the demand for nursery products and competent service personnel. At the same time, concerns for environmental quality and safe use of pesticides require that plant health care activities, including pest control, provide quality plants without creating adverse side effects. This …

Sp435-C No-Till Establishment Of Forage Crops, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Agriculture has changed in many ways during the last 50 years. One of the greatest changes has been the use of no-till planting methods. When no-till planting is mentioned, most people usually think of crops such as corn, soybeans and cotton. The problem of soil erosion with conventional row-crop production has been significantly decreased by using herbicides to kill a cover crop and planting without tillage. Though often overlooked, no-till technology is also well-suited to be used in forage crop establishment.

Pb737 Commercial Tomato Production, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Commercial tomato production requires a high level of management, large labor and capital inputs and close attention to detail. Tomato production is subject to the variations that occur in weather, which may result in severe crop damage and losses. Labor requirements for production, harvesting, grading, packaging and transporting are very intense. Prices can change daily when growers are dealing on the fresh market. Gross returns to top level growers range from $1,500 to $10,000 per acre. If you plan to enter the tomato business, be sure to first study these aspects thoroughly.

Three distinct production areas exist in Tennessee. In …

Pb737- Commercial Tomato Production, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

Commercial tomato production requires a high level of management, large labor and capital inputs and close attention to detail. Tomato production is subject to the variations that occur in weather, which may result in severe crop damage and losses. Labor requirements for production, harvesting, grading, packaging and transporting are very intense. Prices can change daily when growers are dealing on the fresh market. Gross returns to top level growers range from $1,500 to $10,000 per acre. If you plan to enter the tomato business, be sure to first study these aspects thoroughly.

Three distinct production areas exist in Tennessee. In …

Sp307-E-Thinning Tree Fruit, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

No abstract provided.

Sp284-G-Pruning Raspberries And Blackberries In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Brambles include raspberries and blackberries, plus many hybrids of the two. Although the term bramble indicates thorniness, both thorned and thornless bramble varieties exist. Likewise, some brambles have an erect growth habit, while others are classified as semi-erect and even others as trailing. In Tennessee, erect and semi-erect brambles are widely grown, but very few trailing brambles will be found.

Proper pruning and training of brambles require knowledge of their growth and fruiting habits. The root system and crown of brambles are perennial, meaning that they will live for many years, while the canes are biennial. The first year of …

Sp284-E-Pruning Blueberries In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Proper pruning practices in blueberries are important to maximize yields and quality throughout the life of the planting. Pruning should be done every year, beginning at the time plants are set. During the early years, the objectives of pruning are to promote both plant survival and growth. Once plants have attained full size, pruning is used to promote fruit yields and quality, as well as to maintain plants within desired size limits.

Sp291-G-Fall Vegetable Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Spring-grown, cool-season vegetables are frequently finished by early summer. Some warm-season vegetables also cease production before fall. The absence of fallgarden vegetable production from these crops and the open garden space when they are finished both present an opportunity for a fall garden.

Fall gardens, however, are considerably more difficult to grow than spring gardens. Problems include extreme heat, drought, difficulty in seed germination, insects, diseases and weeds. Successful fall gardens require close attention and considerable care from planting to harvest.

Sp530 Urban Trees For Wildlife, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Viewing wildlife on your property is educational and fun. The kinds and numbers of wildlife that visit your backyard regularly depends on your location, size of area, variety of vegetation and amount of habitat development. Ideally, the habitat surrounding your home should be diverse with several species of trees, shrubs and flowering plants providing food and cover for wildlife throughout the year. The more diverse the vegetation, the greater variety of wildlife that can be attracted to the area.

Sp529 Changing Colors Of Leaves, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Differing shades of red, yellow, orange and purple. Autumn in full color. What triggers the color change? What color or colors do each species of trees turn? What causes the variations in color?

The factors that influence autumn leaf color are shorter day lengths, weather (primarily cooler temperatures and less moisture) and changing levels of leaf pigments. The only constant factor from year to year is the shortening day length. As days become shorter and nights grow longer, biochemical processes in the leaf initiate changing leaf color. All the other factors vary annually, making the prediction of autumn color unreliable.

Sp533 Trees For Poorly Drained Soils In The Landscape, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Preparation for planting is the key to success in establishing landscape plants. Preparation includes site analysis, design, plant selection and installation, as well as planning for follow-up care and maintenance. Site analysis and proper planting assure rapid plant establishment and healthy growth, provided environmental factors are favorable. However, proper planting involves much more than just digging a hole and sticking a plant in it. By taking a little extra time to plant properly, you can avoid future costly maintenance problems.

Sp532 Trees To Plant In Containers Or Wells, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Landscaping in a small area is challenging, but popular. Planting trees in small areas can limit root and shoot development. Proper selection of plant material for small areas is important to ensure a healthy environment for the plant. Sidewalks, patios, decks, entrances, courtyards and other small areas can be landscaped with the use of containers or wells with restricted soil area.

Sp535 Managing Trees And Turfgrasses, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees and turfgrasses commonly share the landscape, especially our lawns, cities, parks and roadsides. Both trees and turfgrasses require space, light, water, air, essential nutrients and an appropriate temperature for growth and survival. Turfgrass professionals often struggle to maintain quality turf under healthy trees. Tree managers often have problems sharing limited water resources with turfgrass. A tree canopy filters light and actively growing turfgrasses use substantial amounts of water. Trees and turfgrasses can be managed to get the best from both, when we understand their respective needs.

Sp534 Nutrient Deficiencies In Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Our knowledge of the nutrition of ornamental trees is sparse. Most research has been conducted on juvenile plants or seedlings that are grown for a few weeks or months in greenhouses, growth chambers or even in nurseries where the controlled conditions are quite different than the environmental conditions encountered in nature and those found in larger, developing trees. Furthermore, most of the literature on nutrient deficiencies is from crop science or horticultural plants, not trees. The information available for trees is at best fragmentary. This fact sheet provides information on some of the nutritional deficiencies found in urban trees in …

Pb1616-Plant Nutrition And Fertilizers For Greenhouse Production, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

This publication is one of three in a series that covers the basics of developing a nutritional program for producing container-grown plants in greenhouses. A complete nutrition program encompasses the fertilizers, media and water used. The first section in Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers for Greenhouse Production develops background information about plant nutrition that growers need to understand before discussing which fertilizers to use. The second section covers the range of fertilizers that growers can choose from.

The second publication in the series, Irrigation Water Quality for Greenhouse Production (PB 1617), examines the effect of water quality on a greenhouse nutritional …

Pb1617-Irrigation Water Quality For Greenhouse Production, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

This publication is one of three in a series that covers the basics of developing a nutritional program for producing container-grown plants in greenhouses. A complete nutrition program encompasses the fertilizers, media and water used. The first publication, Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers for Greenhouse Production (PB 1616), develops background information about plant nutrition and discusses the important characteristics of fertilizers used in greenhouse production. This publication examines the effect of water quality on a greenhouse nutritional program. The third publication, Growing Media for Greenhouse Production (PB 1618), describes the important physical and chemical properties of growing media, media testing procedures …