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SOIL THAT MOVES? YOU NEEDED TO HAVE BEEN THERE
Some of the strangest things happen in the garden. I had an astilbe seedling in a 4-inch pot that I intended to transplant when it got bigger. The pot was in a tray of young plants that I walked by frequently.
During several walkbys last week, it appeared that the soil in that pot moved as I passed but I didn't stop to examine the situation more closely. Soil's inert; it doesn't move, right?
Next trip by, the soil moved again. This is too weird, I thought, as I set down my pails to take a closer look. Sure enough the soil was moving. The reason? A toad had taken up residence in the center of the pot and scrunched down low each time I walked by.
The toad had uprooted the astilbe plant to make a comfortable lair in the cool, moist peat. I didn't get too upset over the loss of the astilbe. I mean, how many gardeners have mastered the art of growing toads in pots?
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For all the sprinkles and clouds lately, it's easy to assume the ground is saturated. Fact is, the ground is bone dry, especially around trees that are drawing up hundreds of gallons of water to produce leaves, flowers, fruit and nuts. I'm trying to establish a perennial garden under a basswood tree and the soil surface resembles a desert.
If you have young trees, shrubs or perennials that aren't fully established, don't forget to give them a healthy drink at least once a week. It's been a peculiar year for weather. The High Plains and Texas Panhandle are experiencing a drought that rivals the dust bowl days. In between, in Missouri and Iowa, rains have flooded rivers and streams and delayed planting. And here in the north country, the rains seem to pass just to our north or south.
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It's time to keep a close watch for sawfly larvae feeding on new growth of spruce and pine. Sawfly larvae are slightly less than 1 inch in length and have a black head and yellow-green striped body. They feed in groups and can defoliate a spruce or pine in days.
The key to control is to stop defoliation before it becomes excessive. Insecticides that control sawfly larvae include malathion, carbaryl (Sevin) and acephate (Orthene). These chemicals are mixed with water and sprayed on the tree. If you notice an infestation and attempt to spray your trees yourself, follow mixing and applications directions carefully.
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If you've been gardening this spring, perhaps you've become aware of how good you feel. An article on healing in the June/July Minnesota Horticulturist states that, when people get in touch with nature, their heart rate slows, their muscles loosen and their blood pressure drops. Even the way skin conducts electricity suggests a positive emotional state, the article reports.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum completed in 1995 its Clotilde Irvine Sensory Garden. The garden serves as "a regional resource for professional therapists, disabled individuals and residents of nursing homes." All surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Check it out.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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