* Spring Spruce Stress: The main topic of calls so far this spring? Spruces. Drought conditions over the last few years have hit them hard and they are dropping like proverbial flies. The vast majority are showing signs of water stress, signs that include discoloration and eventual browning and drop of needles, from the outside in.
Remember that spruces are fairly adaptable to many conditions but are not particularly drought tolerant. Their root systems are quite extensive horizontally, reaching far beyond the drip line, but are generally fairly shallow; thus their lack of drought tolerance.
Consistent moisture throughout the year is important for long-term health of spruce trees. Secondary problems are starting to show up as a result of weakening from water stress. These secondary problems so far include cytospora canker, bark beetles, and borers.
* Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: Each year we get inquiries about what plants to install that deer might not like. Here are a few suggestions.
Trees: Abies (fir), Celtis (hackberry), Crataegus (hawthorn), Fraxinus (ash), Picea (spruce), Pinus (pine), Quercus (oak).
Shrubs: Arctostaphylos (bearberry), Berberis (barberry), Cotoneaster (cotoneaster), Juniperus (juniper), Mahonia (Oregon grape), Potentilla (cinquefoil), Pyracantha (firethorn), Rhus (sumac), Ribes (currant), Salvia (sage), Syringa (lilac), Viburnum (viburnum).
Ground covers: Ajuga (carpet bugle), Vinca (periwinkle).
Perennials and bulbs: Achillea (yarrow), Aquilegia (columbine), Artemisia (sage), Centaurea (bachelor button), Cerastium (snow-in-summer), Crocus (crocus), Dicentra (bleeding heart), Digitalis (foxglove), Echinacea (purple coneflower), Festuca ovina ‘Glauca’ (blue fescue), Gaillardia (blanket flower), Hemerocallis (daylily), Iberis (candytuft), Iris (iris), Lupinus (lupine), Lychnis (crown pink), Monarda (bee balm), Narcissus (daffodil), Nepeta (catmint), Penstemon (beardtongue), Phlox subulata (moss pink, creeping phlox), Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), Stachys (lamb’s ear), Thymus (thyme), Veronica (speedwell).
Annuals: Ageratum (floss flower), Campanula (Canterbury bell), Catharanthus (periwinkle, vinca), Impatiens (balsam), Senecio (cineraria).
*From
GM Pro weekly e-mail news (Greenhouse Management & Production) – “Connecticut
invasives bill could prove costly:
Over strong objections by
Connecticut’s nursery and greenhouse growers, landscapers and florists, the
Environmental Committee of the state Legislature approved
HB 5614, "An Act Concerning the Ban of Invasive Plants." If the bill
becomes law, it would ban 51 so-called invasive plants, some of which are
worth nearly $18 million to the state's horticulture industry. The legislation
would make it illegal after Oct. 1, 2004, to import or begin cultivation of
these plants for commercial purposes. Growers, landscapers and retailers would
be able to sell their existing plant stock. After Jan. 1, 2007, it would be
illegal to import, sell, purchase, transplant, cultivate or distribute the
plants. Conn. Green Industries has filed comments with the Office of Fiscal
Analysis indicating the bill, if passed, would have an immediate impact of
close to $1 million in lost state sales tax revenue.”
*Don’t Want Fruit?: Try Florel Brand Growth Regulator from Monterey Lawn & Garden Products, Inc. Their web site is www.montereylawngarden.com or call and request a product catalog at 559-499-2100. They also produce Sucker-Stopper to minimize suckering on various types of trees and shrubs.
*In the Panter Back Yard and Zoo: Crocus, Tulipa tarda, and hyacinths are now in full bloom and many of the herbaceous perennials are also up and green. The Anemone (pasque flower, wind flower) is in full bloom too and is a beautiful sky blue. We have lots of blue in our gardens, including the just-bloomed Iris reticulata.
The lawn hasn’t needed mowing yet but mark did fertilize last weekend with a slow-release 24-5-11 fertilizer which also contains iron and sulfur (in the form of ferrous sulfate). Perfect timing, too, as it rained last night.
We haven’t had much time to plant any early veggies like snow peas, carrots, lettuce, or radishes. Between lacrosse (our younger son is now into lacrosse since hockey season is over) and several ailing family members, not to mention both boys’ birthdays this month, planting has had to wait. Maybe this weekend…
Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids are in bloom inside!
*Upcoming Events:
-Ohio Florists Association Short Course, July 10-14, 2004, Columbus, Ohio. Contact: www.ofa.org.
-American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, July 17-20, 2004, Austin, Texas. Contact: www.ashs.org.
-ISA-2004: Bridging Technologies for Trees of Tomorrow, August 7-11, 2004, David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contact: www.isa-arbor.com.
*In the Panter Back Yard and Zoo: Crocus and Iris reticulata are in bloom! It looks like we managed another winter successfully! It will hopefully snow and rain lots this spring; we definitely will need it. Forecasts are for continuing drought conditions over most of the Rocky Mountain region.
Many of our other perennials are showing signs of life (as witnessed by the sneezing attacks…ah allergy season) including the Bergenia, Veronica, Salvia, and some Penstemon, plus Tulipa, Hyacinthus, and Narcissus of course. Junipers will soon be blooming and cottonwood buds are bulging and are about ready to pop. Mark brought home some extra chives, lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria), and vinca the other day; he potted all but the Convallaria which he planted on the shady, moist west side of the house. The hostas like it over there so maybe the lily-of-the-valley will too.
The zoo has changed again. We lost the other tree frog but now have a 20-gallon fish tank in place of the frog habitat. We have red crabs (freshwater), marble angelfish, candy swordtails, green swordtails, marble mollies, cory catfish, and a plecostamus. None have gone so far as to request names, however. Hedwig the hamster seems to be happy although her wheel desperately needs some WD40; she wakes everybody up at night! Henry the Madagascar hissing cockroach also seems content so long as he’s got some sort of fruit to munch on during the wee hours. He’s pretty boring otherwise. We can’t even get him to hiss.
Our little dog Bee loves spring sunshine and is outside whenever she can manage it. The Chihuahua in her is a sun worshipper. The Boston terrier part likes to play. We’re trying to keep her from burying her rawhide snacks in the gardens but she simply insists. Maybe the soil adds a bit of texture and flavor (!).
And yes the orchids are still blooming inside!
*Upcoming Events:
-Spring Gardening Conference: Bugs, Birds, and Beyond, March 27, 2004, ARLC Building, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, Casper, Wyoming. Contact: 307-235-9400
-American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, July 17-20, 2004, Austin, Texas. Contact: www.ashs.org.
-ISA-2004: Bridging Technologies for Trees of Tomorrow, August 7-11, 2004, David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contact: www.isa-arbor.com.
Karen L. Panter, Ph.D.
Extension Horticulture Specialist
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Wyoming