Friday, January 17, 2014

Dayton "Dirt" - January 17, 2014

While the severe cold no doubt has caused plant damage on many ornamental plants, harmful insects most likely have suffered a set back as well. One such insect that may have suffered a set back is the non-native Emerald Ash borer that has been killing native ash trees around the state. According to a recent radio report, the ash borer larvae within the ash trees have suffered a kill-off as much as one third of the established population. While such a set back for the insect will not end its reign, it will at least slow it down. A native insect that has been moving northward due to mild winters is the bag worm that attacks and kills a variety of tree and shrubs. After peeling open and examining some of the “bags” on a Bald Cypress tree at the nursery, I can almost conclude that the contents of the bag are not viable as they seemed dried and powdery. Late April and May will be a test of my hypothesis of the cold weather killing these nasty insects is correct or not. Natural cycles tend to check the population of many harmful native insects. The Rocky Mountain’s pines have been dying for years because of a borer that eats the phloem layer of the trees. Scientists believe the recent warm winter weakened trees from prolonged drought and the lack of natural fire cycles due to human fire suppression has caused the insects to multiply uncontrolled. On a bus tour on the Highway to the Sun in Glacier National Park, I noticed an insect attacking spruce trees along the roadway . After questioning the native American tour guide I found out that this insect was killing trees all around the park. When I asked the guide as to what the answer to control this insect was, he answered with one word: “Fire!” In less then 2 weeks is our first seminar at the nursery about common mistakes gardeners make. The final seminar in March is the “What’s New” subject in which there are no less then 91 new plant items for 2014. With so many new items, the question is how to present the seminar without making it a 3-4 hour affair! See you soon! Tom

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