*Recent Problems:
--Trees outgrowing their space: Urban trees are often planted too
close together and are expected to live forever (!). They don't
though, and when old, mature trees begin to decline, it's often
difficult to tell if it's the end of their usable life or if
something else is happening. In small yards, cottonwoods and spruces
(and other large trees at lower elevations) can quickly outgrow the
area allotted to them. They then must compete with other vegetation
for water, nutrients, and often light too. This stresses the trees,
making them more susceptible to insect and disease problems. Usually
it's time for the trees to come down, although that's a tough
decision to make.
--Odd-shaped tomatoes: This probably the result of a combination of
genetics, water relations, temperature, and nutrition. Though the
shapes were atypical, the fruits ripened normally.
--Needle drop on conifers: Pines are dropping needles again, just
like they do every fall. Normal needle drop occurs in the
fall, toward the inside of the tree. The extent depends almost
entirely on the type of pine - some lose 1/3 of their needles each
year (ponderosa, Scotch) while others lose only about 1/7. It may
look like the trees are toast, but usually that's not the case.
--What variety of pear tree do I have in my back yard? It's
virtually impossible to tell. There are hundreds of varieties out
there and it is not feasible to determine which one it might be. The
same goes for apples.
*Next Horticulture
Train-the-Trainer: We are scheduling our third
Horticulture Train-the-Trainer session for Tuesday afternoon and
Wednesday morning, November 28 and 29, here on campus. Two of the
topics for this session include Vegetables and Vegetative Plant
Propagation (cuttings, etc.). We are looking into two others.
Registration information will be sent out in the next week or two.
*Update on Help for
Choosing Trees Web Site:
The Northern Trees site (http://orb.at.ufl.edu/TREES/index.html) mentioned
in the last issue of Short Hort Notes is useful for some things,
but not searching for suitable trees for the western United
States. It is geared toward the eastern half of the country.
(Thanks Rik!)
*Abstract from Article
in HortTechnology:
'The Economic Impact of the Green Industry in the
United States' by Charles R. Hall (University of Tennessee), Alan W.
Hodges (University of Florida - Gainesville), and John J. Haydu
(University of Florida - Apopka), HortTechnology, 16(2):345-353,
April - June 2006.
"The United States environmental horticulture industry, also known
as the Green Industry, is comprised of wholesale nursery and sod
growers; landscape architects, designers/builders, contractors, and
maintenance firms; retail garden centers, home centers, and mass
merchandisers with lawn and garden departments; and marketing
intermediaries such as brokers and horticultural distribution
centers (re-wholesalers). Environmental horticulture is one of the
fastest growing segments of the nation's agricultural economy. In
spite of the magnitude and recent growth in the Green Industry,
there is surprisingly little information regarding its economic
impact. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the
economic impacts of the Green Industry at the national level.
Economic impacts for the U.S. Green Industry in 2002 were estimated
at $147.8 billion in output, 1,964,339 jobs, $95.1 billion in value
added, $64.3 billion in labor income, and $6.9 billion in indirect
business taxes, with these values expressed in 2004 dollars. In
addition, this study evaluated the value and role of urban forest
trees (woody ornamental trees); the total output of tree production
and care services was valued at $14.55 billion, which translated
into $21.02 billion in total output impacts, 259,224 jobs, and
$14.12 billion in value added."
So where does
Wyoming fit in the big picture? Our output impact
for all sectors of horticulture (production/manufacturing,
horticultural services, and trade) was $174 million.
Number of jobs? 2,581 for all sectors. Value added
impacts? Another $109 million. Not bad for half a
million people!
*In the Panter Back Yard:
The growing season is pretty much over with. When you can barely see
the grass because the back yard is covered with yellow cottonwood
leaves, you know it's autumn! We pulled out the tomato plants a week
ago - but not before removing all the fruit we possibly could. The
raspberries are still ripening, however, despite the cold
temperatures. And the broccoli is still producing. There are many
plants still blooming outside: asters, rudbeckia, coneflower,
Russian sage, plus the annuals in containers that we move in and out
of the garage depending on weather. Impatiens and basil in flower
beds bit the dust several weeks ago, with the first hint of freezing
temperatures. Most of the cottonwoods in the neighborhood are at
least yellow/gold and many are already bare of leaves. The
Montmorency cherry in the back yard is still green! Tough tree. We
(more accurately Mark) sunk all the small containerized woody plants
in the ground on the east side of the garage for the winter. They
are buried pot deep in the soil. This way, they are protected from
temperature swings as the soil moderates these fluctuations. They
also don't blow over in the wind and they're easier to keep moist
through the winter too.
Inside, the orchids are still
in bloom - it seems to be constant. We brought the containerized
geraniums inside a couple of weeks ago, so they can drop their
flowers all over the floor in the den.....they are sooooo messy.
*Upcoming Events:
--Association of
Specialty Cut Flower Growers National conference and Trade Show,
October 26-29, 2006, San Jose, California. Contact:
www.ascfg.org.
--American Society
for Plasticulture conference, November 2-5, 2006, San Antonio,
Texas. Contact:
www.plasticulture.org.
--Tree Care Industry
Expo, November 9-11, 2006, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore,
Maryland. Contact: Tree Care Industry Association at 1-800-733-2622.
--Wyoming
Groundskeepers and Growers Association Annual Conference, January
17-19, 2007, Parkway Plaza Hotel, Casper, Wyoming. Contact:
www.wgga.org.