High humidity and above-average temperatures are the normal for our summer weather. Many have questions about their landscape when working outdoors when our weather is practical. Below are some questions posed that may be of interest.

Question: I have crabgrass that is running rampant in our lawn, flowers and shrub beds. What can I do to control this weed?

Answer: Crabgrass is annual is best controlled in early spring with preemergence herbicides or with post emergence herbicides during the early summer. It is too late to control crabgrass with preemergence herbicides. Crabgrass dies out completely at the first hard, killing frost. Dead plants should be raked and seeded with fescue to fill the void in early fall. Glyphosate (Roundup) or other herbicides containing diquat quickly kills spots of crabgrass clumps to help before planting. Go to https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/large-crabgrass/ for more detailed information on crabgrass control.

Question: There are some plants along the roadway in the county near our house that are loaded with small, dark berries. Can you identify this berry plant?

Answer: The native shrub you have described along the roadways is most likely an elderberry. It’s a deciduous shrub that can reach a height of 4-10 feet the provides nectar and berries for our native butterfly and bird populations. Elderberry fruits and blooms are now grown commercially for teas, gummies, jams, jellies, syrups and wines for their medicinal properties. Please note that consumption of unripened elderberries can cause serious side effects, including vomiting and diarrhea. Go to https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/sambucus-canadensis/ for more detailed information about this interesting native plant.

Question: I was working on our flowers this week and noticed an unusual bee on my flowers. At first, I thought it was just a big bee or a hummingbird. However, I noticed it had a long antenna. What is this insect?

Answer: You have spotted a clear-winged hummingbird or bumblebee moth. Some have vivid colors while others look very much like large bumble bees in the flowers. These insects do not sting. Go to https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/bumblebee-moth-and-hummingbird-moth for more detailed information.

Question: We live near the lake and have dirt or mud daubers. The wasps will build their nests continuously on the eves in the cracks of our gazebo and other strange locations. Are these stinging insects?

Answer: Mud daubers are solitary insects and generally are not aggressive insects. Unlike yellow jackets, they rarely sting, but they will sting if they are threatened. The venom from the wasp is primarily used for paralyzing and preserving other insects and spiders. The mud dauber sting is very painful, similar to that of a fire ant. Go to http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/household_pests/biting/hgic2512.html for more detailed information about mud daubers.

Darrell Blackwelder is the retired horticulture agent and director with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. Contact him at deblackw@ncsu.edu.