Ask the Experts

ing. Mitigation efforts for both will likely need to be made proactively instead of reactively with fall vegetable crops.

Benefits Of Cover Crop

Question: I’m interested in trying a cover crop in my vegetable garden this year. Which one should I go with? Is there a benefit to one over the other?

Anthony’s Answer: Cover crops can offer numerous benefits to a vegetable garden, including protecting the soil from erosion, requires heavy equipment for sowing in. The list goes on.

The truth of the matter is that any type of cover crop is going to provide its own unique set of both benefits and challenges. Doing your research on those unique individual plant types is going to be how you know which to choose.

Know what you are trying to achieve by using your cover crop. Know just how much labor you are willing to put into maintenance. There are numerous options out there, from perennials, to summer ing, do you know if the oak itch mites will be back? It has been several years since I have had issues.

Dennis’ Answer: Oak itch mites about did us in a few years back. Our office receives calls all the time about itch mites. The good news bad news is that there are always a few issues each year but a major outbreak seems to be few and far between. We still know little about their life cycle and all their hosts. We do know one of their main food sources is the oak marginal gall mainly associated with Pin oak.

Oak marginal gall caused by an insect does not seem to be high this spring and summer. Hopefully there will be less issues as move into the fall season. With that being said there can still be pockets in aerating the soil, fixing nitrogen into the soil, and assisting with fertility. Thus, determining which of these benefits you are looking to achieve will be your first step in cover crop selection. Keep in mind, not all plants only offer one benefit. Alfalfa, for example, is an extremely deep-rooted legume, which means that it is both efficient at reducing soil erosion AND fixing Nitrogen.

That same alfalfa, however, may need occasionally mown down. It is expensive to establish; it will need to be worked into the soil to get the nitrogen benefits; it annuals, to winter annuals. There are grains with deep roots that will hold the soil in, radishes with wide roots that will till the soil up, and legumes with giant beans that will fix nitrogen. The possibilities are wide for exploring.

When you have a more narrowed idea of what benefits you’re looking for, selection is as simple as determining the amount of labor you are willing to do and matching that to the plant’s maintenance requirements.

Oak Itch Mites Status

Question: With fall approach- your area. For now, enjoy the summer and we will just need to wait until fall with the peak emergence of the itch mite as they prepare for winter. Personal protection and limiting time outdoors is still the best defense.

Control Poison Ivy Without Chemicals

Question: I have found a small amount of poison ivy and I prefer not to use chemicals. Can I control the poison ivy with vinegar?

Dennis’ Answer: Poison ivy is a perennial woody plant. Perennial plants are always more difficult to

DENNIS PATTON |Horticulture Agents | ANTHONY REARDON

Dennis and Anthony are the horticulture agents for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, each specializing in ornamentals and edible crops, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

control as they have a more extensive root system. Effective control of perennial plants must kill the root system. If not, they grow back.

Organic herbicides such as vinegar work best on annual plants. Vinegar works by “burning” the foliage with a strong acid. Using vinegar to control a perennial is not going to be highly effective. It will take repeated applications to slowly weaken out the stored food reserves. The solution does not translocate to the roots to eradicate. Keep in mind horticulture grade vinegar is not the vinegar in the pantry. Cooking vinegar is 5% acid. Vinegar used for weed control is around 20% acetic acid. This strength will also burn the skin.

The best organic option may be to dig out the poison ivy. Give vin- egar a try but I think you will need to be persistent.

Use Wood Chips From Downed Tree

Question: I had a tree removed and the company chipped the wood. Can these wood chips be used as mulch?

Dennis’ Answer: Trees removed and chipped make an excellent mulch. Don’t worry about any diseases or insects being transmitted through chipped trees. Once chipped the mulch is not a suitable home for pest. The only difference between your chipped tree and the wood mulch you purchase is screening. Commercial mulches have been screened so that all chips are similar sizes. My recommendation is use your free source.