'GardenAuthor@CorlissClips' Garden Newsletter

Friday, May 3, 2013

Your 5/3/13 Edition of 'GardenAuthor@CorlissClips'

'GardenAuthor@CorlissClips'
Friday, May 3, 2013

Greetings and welcome to the online home of our weekly newsletter.

Comments? Questions?
Just click on "Comments" at the end of this week's post.
I will address questions & comments in this section each week.
Many of these gardener questions and answers will be also be published
the following week, forming the basis of our reader feedback forum.
If you notice that comments have been left, I encourage you to browse
through "Comments" for an expanded look at the weekly topic.
This newsletter now boasts its own email address, for an additional
avenue of contact. Simply click on "Email Me!" in our sidebar ☛

Click on the 'Corliss Clips' Blog for your May
monthly newsletter, which will remain posted for the
entire month... for the direct post links,

Click on each ~ Page 1 / Page 2 / Page 3 / Page 4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MOTHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY MAY 12TH!

Take a virtual stroll through spring at our garden center...

These glimpses of spring, past & present, will remind you
what all the excitement is about as we begin in earnest this
season of renewal. Perhaps you'll find the perfect living gift
to provide joy and memories, for years to come. As you might
imagine, nursery stock sells out quickly, so please call for
availability of your chosen specimen.

'Mt. Airy' Fothergilla

'Miss Kim' Lilac

'Jet Trails' Flowering Quince

'Purple Passion' Rhododendron

'Capistrano' Rhododendron

Dapple Willow

And, in our Bedding Department, we're
highlighting German Bearded Iris,
Lavender, Echinacea and Hosta...

German Iris in bud, about to bloom...

And, we have an excellent selection of
Japanese Iris (Iris ensata)...

~ Lavender ~

Our Lavender collection is not to missed, with such
outstanding varieties as 'Hidcote', 'Blue Cushion',
Munstead', and 'Coconut Ice'.

'Blue Cushion' Lavender

'Hidcote' Lavender

~ Echinacea ~

'Coconut Lime' Echinacea

'Fatal Attraction' Echinacea

'Magnus' Echinacea

Other Echinacea varieties currently in stock?
'Milkshake', 'Hot Papaya', 'Bright Star' and
'Fatal Attraction'.

~ Hosta ~

'Big Daddy'

'Guacamole'

'Patriot'

'Sum and Substance'
(Above copyrighted perennial photos of Judy Mattson,
courtesy of "The Plant Group.")

We have a generous selection of hosta, which also includes
'Stained Glass', 'Spilled Milk', and 'Blue Angel'.

Also arriving.....

~ Annuals ~

Reminder: Err on the side of caution with annuals...
this is New England - cold rain and frosty nights can
be unkind to tender annuals and vegetables!

And, here's something we've all been anticipating...

Our entire rose inventory has arrived,
just in time for Mother's Day ~
if you've got a favorite, call for availability
and reserve that special rose today!

ROSES!

Drop by this weekend and stroll
through our spring offerings...

Come away with a few armloads
of spring color!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something you should know...

Emerald Ash Borer ~ EAB Alert!

Image Citation: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Emerald Ash Borer - Adult

Agrilus planipennis

Although not yet in Massachusetts, this destructive pest is not far from our borders, in Pennsylvania and New York. Imported in shipping containers from China, this non-native pest is capable of doing enormous damage to all ash trees. Do NOT move firewood - moving infested firewood transports this pest to new areas. Report any sitings to MA Dept. of Agriculture, MA Forestry Dept., UMass Cooperative Extension Office or USDA Plant Health Inspection Service. Or, call toll free: 1-866-322-4512.

Mixed larval stages collected from single location on tree.

Year-old galleries. Dead wood extends above area of tunneling.

Note the callus tissue surrounding damaged area.

Close-up showing the characteristic "D" shaped exit hole

of an emerald ash borer, and a woodpecker attack

that killed a larva before emergence.

Above images... Image Citation: David Cappaert,

Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

All Ash/Borer photos courtesy of Forestry Images.*

Symptoms ~ Crown Dieback

Image Citation: Daniel Herms,

The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Epicormic branches on ash,
developing after attack.

Image Citation: Joseph O'Brien,
USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Bark splits and flakes...

Image Citation: David R. McKay,
USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

*Forestry Images is a joint project of the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, USDA Forest Service and International Society of Arboriculture, The University of Georgia - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter Moth Caterpillars?

Winter moth and cankerworm caterpillars are emerging from opening leaf and flower buds. While Thuricide still offers control at this point, the fast-growing caterpillars of both species are more effectively controlled with Spinosad, as they start balloon and go into their "free-feeding" phase. Spinosad provides the control you're looking for now, through mid-June, when they enter the soil to pupate until late October. Neem oil and pyrethroid sprays are also effective during this period.

Text & Photos (other than those accredited above) © DJL/CBI 2012

EDITOR'S NOTE ~

There comes a time when life and obligations impact your week-to-week activities. Although I must suspend this weekly dialogue with fellow gardeners, know that you have but to ask your garden questions, as before, and I will gladly provide an answer.

Each week I will re-post articles that we ran a year ago. Some of the announcements may be dated, but most of the info is as current and reliable as it was at this point last season. Sidebar postings will remain informative.

Feeling ambitious? Scroll down to the Archives and poke around in there for pertinent garden tips. There's some pretty good stuff languishing back there, just awaiting the light of day ~ enjoy!

Going Forward? Garden Workshops at Corliss Bros. ~ The spring & fall semesters of "Saturday Sessions" will continue as before. My long range plans include a garden broadcast and completion of my garden book.

I'm not abandoning our shared garden experience, just changing the way I go about the communication of same, to fit evolving circumstances.

See you in the garden... Deb

Mug Up

Tune in and listen live! Rick Moore's 'Mug Up' show is broadcast live from 10:00 to 11:00 AM every Wednesday. Access it from the MSO News Page (at www.MooreStuffOnline.com). This program focuses entirely on Cape Ann, presenting guests and timely topics of interest... including a 'GardenAuthor' garden segment.

Can't listen online to the live broadcast? Scroll down through the News Page and look for the "Mug Up" icon to access previous shows. Alternatively, scroll down to "MSO/Web Radio on Demand." Select the show date and voila ~ enjoy!

We're back on ICAM
in Ipswich!

Thanks to an invitation by the "Around Town Show" host Michelle Hodge, we recently filmed another segment of interest to home gardeners... Join Michelle and I as we begin to ready the landscape for the coming winter season.

The "Around Town Show" airs on Verizon Channel 33 & Comcast Channel 9

This program will run for a few weeks on the following days...

Thursday 6:00 PM, Friday NOON, Saturday 2:00 PM,
Sunday 7:00 PM

Turn to The Ipswich Chronicle for "Around Town Show" details & programming.

FUNGUS GNATS

Those pesky fungus gnats ~ Fungus gnats are a common problem, as plants return indoors. Spraying the soil surface with insecticidal soap, neem oil or one of the other listed controls, kills adult fungus gnats on contact. This will halt at least some of the egg laying. Yellow sticky traps can be staked into each pot and will control many of the adults… most of those adults are egg-laying females. Although they feed on decaying organic matter and decaying roots, the larvae cause direct plant damage by feeding on roots for about two weeks, before emerging as adult flies. A well-established healthy plant may not show any ill effects from such feeding, but smaller specimens or seedlings will be weakened by this continuous feeding. Set up a bottle trap near plants ~ Add a few drops of soap to cider vinegar, filling the bottle about halfway. Pierce the cap with tiny holes for adult fly entry. Attracted to the vinegar, they’ll drown once inside, since soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar. One other effective control is to apply Imidacloprid granules (systemic insecticide) to the soil every six weeks, to halt the root-feeding larvae.

Control fungus gnats with a naturally occurring soil bacterium! A natural control of the larval stage of fungus gnats, blackflies and mosquitoes is Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). Bti is the active ingredient in “Mosquito Dunks.” If you are unable to locate a specific fungus gnat control, such as “Gnatrol,” or liquid Bti concentrate (such as “Knock-Out Gnats”), you can crush the dunks into fine granules, dilute in water (1 teaspoon per gallon) and apply to the soil for larvae control. After about three consecutive waterings, all hatching larvae are eliminated, thus halting the entire life cycle. Alternatively, crumble the dunks into a dust and sprinkle across the soil surface as a dry application… the fungus gnat larvae will stop feeding and die off. In all cases, be careful not to overwater. And, keep those yellow sticky traps in place to eliminate the egg-laying adult females. Last hint? Since they love moisture, you’ll often find adults hanging out around the kitchen sink… keep a sticky trap mounted there, as well.

The Complete Cycle ~ What you need to know to control Winter Moths & Fall Cankerworms

Was your landscape invaded last spring by one, or both, of these pests? They both appear as green inchworms ~ winter moth caterpillars have two pair of prolegs and cankerworms have three pair. Both float on silken threads, from one host plant to another, causing untold devastation to forests and home landscapes. They wriggle between the outer scales of leaf and flower buds and feed ravenously as the buds unfurl. Once clear of the confines of these buds, the green inch worms are now "free feeders," and will crawl or balloon on silken threads to other food sources. Fruit tress, blueberries, roses and deciduous azaleas are some of their favorites. Trees left untreated over several years, often go into decline, suffering some dieback. Latent buds are forced into opening, a stressor that may leave the weakened tree prone to other problems. Stressed trees should not be fed until mid to late fall, just tending to moisture requirements in periods of summer drought is sufficient.

Control Options:
1.) Fall Prevention: Male and female adult moths of both species emerge from pupation (since mid-June) at the base of trees in late October. In an effort to lay eggs adjacent to foliage and flower buds, the flightless female moths of both species begin climbing tree trunks and during this journey, mate with the winged males. What to do? Fasten bands of tree wrap or strips of burlap to tree trunks about three feet from the ground. For deeply fissured bark, apply a layer of flexible foam insulation first, to prevent moths from climbing up beneath the bands. Coat bands with the extremely sticky Tanglefoot® (never apply directly to trunks). Many females will be trapped and die before laying eggs. Late October/early November is when we notice the males of both species flying in our headlights and attracted to backyard floodlights. Depending on the weather, they are often active through December and sometimes into early January. Change out those used bands, as dead moths amass… usually 2-3 times as they become trapped. Remove the burlap or tree wrap bands when activity ceases - usually late December/early January, to eliminate harmful moisture accumulation on trunks for the remainder of the season.

2.) Late Winter/Early Spring:
All-seasons horticultural oil diluted at the dormant-season rate, is sprayed during March before buds swell. This will smother any exposed, overwintering eggs, before they hatch. Alternatively, just before bud-break, apply horticultural oil, at the lighter, growing season rate to coat dormant eggs. Remember, many eggs are laid in crevices or beneath lichen, where oil cannot reach them. Note: organic gardeners may opt for Dr. C's Insecticidal Oil derived from soybeans, which is applied in exactly the same manner.

3.) Early Spring: Early to mid-April is when we see the winter moth eggs hatch and they are timed to do so as bud scales at the base of flower and leaf buds begin to swell. Worms make their way to the slight openings revealed. Once ensconced within the bud, they feed and grow, literally feeding their way out. As buds unfurl foliage is badly damaged - so much so, that leaves often become brown and crisp, dropping from the tree. Flower buds may be completely destroyed. Bacillus thuringiensis Kurkstaki (Bt or Thuricide®) provides the best and safest control, if applied very early. Unless you begin application as buds swell and just start to unfurl, you will see considerable chewing damage. This bacteria is fairly benign to handle, but deadly on the newly hatched caterpillar population.

4.) Early/Mid-Spring: Spinosad is a fermentation-derived, bacterial product for control of caterpillars and other insect pests. It has proven very effective on both winter moth and cankerworm larvae, as they emerge from buds and begin to mature beyond the point of control by “Bt.”

5.) Mid/Late Spring: Pyrethrin (a botanical insecticide), along with synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, e.g. “Eight” by Bonide®) are broad-spectrum insect controls, especially effective against advanced growth stages of cankerworm and winter moth caterpillars. Alternatively, Spinosad will continue to be effective, as will the neem oil that some gardeners prefer. It's about mid-June that caterpillars of winter moth and fall cankerworm drop into the soil beneath trees and begin their pupation period, prior to emergence as adult moths late October/early November. Once in this stage, there really is no effective control, other than a few predacious ground beetles who seek out the pupae as a food source.

Japanese Bamboo

Japanese Bamboo ~ a Knotty Problem...
Japanese knotweed, fleeceflower:
Polygonum cuspidatum (or, Fallopia japonica)

This invasive perennial spreads by rhizomes and seeds and can grow to a height of 13 feet, and has stems that resemble bamboo when mature. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s from Japan (native to China and Korea, as well), as an ornamental and for erosion control. Whatever you call it, Japanese knotweed occurs as a weed of riverbanks, landscapes, abandoned fields, or other moist areas. It crowds out native species, clogs waterways and upsets local ecosystems.

 Japanese knotweed is a survivor and can grow up through six inches of sidewalk concrete. It is an invasive pest in Europe, Canada, the UK and in 39 of our states. Broadly oval leaves and small, creamy white flowers in erect racemes occur in late summer. The hollow stems with raised nodes resemble bamboo, although it is not related (but is related to buckwheat). One rhizome can run 60 feet, extending at least 3 feet deep. This plant seeks moist, sunny spots... which is why it frequents riparian sites, as well as your lawn and gardens. It does not thrive in shady, forested areas.

What’s a gardener to do? Smothering vegetative growth with a tarp, digging it out to a depth of three feet (and replacing all the soil), cutting it back frequently, applying herbicides... sometimes a combination of tactics have resulted in control. Cut rhizome segments left on the ground will quickly root, so allow pulled or cut roots to thoroughly dry on a tarp before disposal, unless you can burn them. 

Cutting new shoots back to the ground reduces vigor and root reserves, but is only effective when done repeatedly... a minimum of three times per season (every time sprouts emerge, or weekly, is most effective). After such continual cutting, allow the plants to sprout up during late summer and form flower buds. A non-selective herbicide that combines glyphosate and trichlopyr* (e.g. Roundup® Poison Ivy and Brush Killer) applied as the plants start to flower, may actually provide control after one season... but don’t let your guard down! It may take two seasons of this treatment.

Japanese knotweed factoids: Some Northeastern beekeepers value the flowers as a nectar source, which yield “bamboo honey.” Young stems are sometimes harvested as a spring vegetable (rhubarb-like flavor), with the constant cutting yielding some control. Like grape byproducts, it is a source of resveratrol and it’s prepared as a blood tonic in Chinese medicine.

*This is a non-selective herbicide, so you may prefer to paint the foliage, or use a weed glove (a thick latex glove, beneath a cotton glove wet with herbicide) to apply it. Success has also been attained by injecting stems and by cutting canes within 2” of the ground and pouring an herbicide into the well between the first and second stem node. Often, in wetland areas, herbicides and grubbing out roots are not control options and several seasons of continuous cutting are the better choice, as the Friends of the Mystic River in Massachusetts have found... that even dead knotweed roots will help control soil erosion. Please call or drop by the garden center and we’ll try to solve your own particular “knotty problem.”

DROP BY ANYTIME...

MY GARDEN AUTHOR FAMILY OF BLOGS...

☛ GardenAuthor: My original blog, on gardening and nature, from which the others have emanated...
☛ GardenAuthor's Flora: Horticultural Photography
☛ GardenAuthor's Fauna: Animal & Insect Photography
☛ Plants Behaving Badly: Miscreants of the plant world in our own backyards!
☛ Corliss Clips: Garden tips and advice... a joint effort with Corliss Bros Garden Center of Ipswich, MA
☛ GardenAuthor@CorlissClips... More garden advice, presented on a weekly basis for our valued customers.
☛ 'The Gallery @ 'Corliss Clips': Garden & Nature Photography from the staff of Corliss Bros. Garden Center in Ipswich, MA
☛ Keep Your Eyes on the Skies: Sky Photography
☛ Shutterbug on Knights Pond: New England through the lens of friend and photographer, Sam Haddock
☛ Grouse and Chortle: Slices of life, surgically removed with a rapier wit, and served up with a modicum of panache.
☛ Waltzes with Words: Poetry, essays and a general flirtation with the English language.
☛GardenPup: Share Lucy-Maude's perspective on gardening, in particular, and life, in general.
☛FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS:A remembrance blog... honoring and paying tribute to those no longer with us, who have touched our lives in ways yet to be discovered. May all our loved ones remain forever in our hearts.

DIY PROJECTS FOR GARDENERS!

THE GRAPE ARBOR PROJECT

A STEP BY STEP VISUAL PRESENTATION OF BUILDING A GRAPE ARBOR... An elegant support system.

Posted on ‘The Gallery @ Corliss Clips’
Thanks to local gardeners Peter & Billie Anne!

THE LEAN-TO GREENHOUSE PROJECT

A STEP BY STEP VISUAL PRESENTATION
OF BUILDING A LEAN-TO GREENHOUSE...
From construction, to getting a head start on spring…

Posted on ‘The Gallery @ ‘Corliss Clips’
Thanks to local gardeners Peter & Billie Anne!

"THE RAISED BED PROJECT"

A STEP BY STEP VISUAL PRESENTATION
OF BUILDING RAISED BEDS...
From construction, to established crops…

Posted on ‘The Gallery @ ‘Corliss Clips’
Thanks to local gardeners Peter & Billie Anne!

STOP MULCH VOLCANOES!

As I travel around the North shore, I’m struck with the prevalence of these dangerous mulch mounds, so I invite you to also read these ‘GardenAuthor’ posts... “Mulch Mounds, Post-Mortems and a Soapbox” as well as “And the Good News?”

A collaboration between Corliss Bros. and Coast of Maine has resulted in the production of a video on proper mulching techniques and the dangers of over-mulching, creating the mulch volcanoes so prevalent (and detrimental) in today's landscapes.

If you missed this video on YouTube, we recommend clicking on the above photo link for a quick review of the problems inherent with this faulty technique.
Help us stop this deadly practice!

'GardenAuthor@CorlissClips' Garden Newsletter

Friday, May 3, 2013

Your 5/3/13 Edition of 'GardenAuthor@CorlissClips'

Passion Flower Vine

Autumn Harvest