be on the lookout for these this weekend!
beware these threats in the garden!
After a long, hot summer, August is ending on a beautiful note! Except for the little Devils lurking in the garden waiting to wreak havoc. This weekend, BOLO for:
Pine sawfly larvae: these little buggers can and WILL defoliate your precious ornamental pines. I lost a stunning pinus contorta in my own garden earlier this year, and we recently discovered them fully intending to destroy our beloved ‘Hindu Pan’, also a pinus contorta, in the Community Hospice House gardens. Removal by hand and by blasting them with water can slow them down, but unfortunately the only way to stop them is with a carefully applied herbicide. There are over the counter foliar sprays that use Spinosad that can be effective. However, it’s important to understand the life cycle of pine sawfly. Here is an excellent article from a trusted source for your reference. At CHH, we enlisted the expertise of our master arborist who is licensed to tackle such tricky matters in the landscape. He eliminated the current threat, and treated the surrounding soil to prevent future outbreaks. We dodged a bullet…this time.
Note: you all know my guiding principle of gardening is ‘don’t poison the food chain’. This is one case where I make an exception due to the immense threat the larvae pose to trees.
Non-native/invasive vines: New Hampshire is under attack from a wide variety of invasive vines. I’ve been pulling them throughout the growing season, but they are easier to identify in the landscape now due to their size and their colorful berries. It’s important to eliminate them NOW before the berries ripen and are consumed and dispersed by birds. Here are links to reliable sources to help you identify these dangerous invasives:
Asian bittersweet can quickly climb and consume large trees. You may need professional help with this one!
Black swallow-wort is a threat to our forests and potentially disrupts Monarch butterfly reproduction.
Japanese hop vine is very sticky and quickly entangles herbaceous plantings.
Proper disposal of invasive vines is always the trash. Never put them in your compost or in the lawn bags taken to the city dump.
Note: our native Virginia Creeper is a beautiful AND beneficial vine and should not be confused with the invaders listed above. If you need to pull this plant, use caution and protective clothing as some folks are sensitive to it and may develop a rash!
natural lawn care
I’m not much into lawns. Mine is simply a green border around my garden beds. However, I want to give it what it needs, and now is the time for a fall application of organic nutrition! My friends at Nashua Farmers’ Exchange have everything we need for healthy lawns, including my favorite, the Blue Seal ‘Safe & Simple’ lawn care system. I got lucky yesterday and applied the fall lawn food an hour before an extended rain! Hurrah, I finally got it right!
The Nashua Farmers’ Exchange folks are offering a free seminar on natural lawn care next Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 am. Learn about proper fertilization, seeding and more. Check them out!
Until next time, stay calm and garden on!
~ Barb