These weeds are planning their annual attack on your lawn, so fight back now | Home/Garden

PREVENT WEEDS: Apply preemergence herbicides to your lawn now to prevent cool season annual weeds like chickweed, henbit, sticker weed and annual bluegrass from growing in your lawn.

I’m often asked about controlling these weeds in the spring when it is too late to most effectively control them.

Look for products like Halts, Dimension, CrabX, Crabgrass Preventer and other brands, and follow label directions.

KNOW YOUR VEGGIES: Vegetables that can be planted this month include beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collard, endive, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onion, peas (English, edible podded and snow), radish, rape, rutabaga, shallot, Swiss chard, turnip and many herbs, such as thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, French tarragon, lavender, chives, cilantro, dill, mints and parsley.

AZALEA BUGS: Azalea lace bugs will be active through November. These insects feed from the underside of the leaves causing small, white dots on the upper side of the leaves and dark brown spots on the back. Spray under the leaves with permethrin, bifenthrin or Year Round Spray Oil every 10 days or as needed. The white dots will persist after treatment even when the lace bugs are gone.

WATER RIGHT: October weather can be dry, and you should water landscape plantings as needed. Pay special attention to any newly planted trees and shrubs. If you are planting flower or vegetable seeds now, it is generally best to water direct-seeded beds of flowers or vegetables lightly once or twice every day to make sure the seeds do not dry out and germinate properly.

Dan Gill is a retired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter. He hosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9 a.m. Email gardening questions to [email protected]