Repost: Saving Elephant Ears & Canna, Part 2

Some excellent tips and information!

Nitty Gritty Dirt Man

Changing leaves and cooling temperatures can only mean one thing.  It’s time to complete the saving process.  By now, elephant ears and canna have been drying out for about a week — and now I have to get them ready for their long winter’s nap.

The final step is pretty much the same for both elephant ears and canna.  You will need peat moss, some kind of storage containers (like brown paper bags), a shovel, and a room that stays relatively dry and evenly cool so that the plants can be lulled into a deep sleep without freezing.  If the final storage location is too damp or warm, the plants never get a chance to rest and they are at risk of rotting away — and after so much work getting to this point, that would be a shame.

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Asian Longhorned Beetle Alert on Long Island

                                                                   IMPORTANT ALERT!                                  

To date, 69 infested trees infested with Asian Longhorned Beetle have been identified on Long Island.   Four infested trees were located along  Wellwood Avenue in Babylon and have been removed.  The remaining infested trees  located on the grounds of St. Charles/Resurrection Cemeteries as well as in and around Republic Airport will be removed in the upcoming weeks.  The most important thing you can do to stop this beetle and save trees is to check them regularly and encourage others to do so as well.

Early detection is crucial in the fight against this invasive pest.  To help: conduct tree checks for damage and report any sightings of the beetle or signs of damage on trees caused by this insect.

Trees at risk include:  Ash, Birch, Elm, Goldenrain Tree, Hackberry, Horse Chestnut, Katsura, London Planetree, Maple, Mimosa, Mountain Ash, Poplar and Willow.

         

Call the New York ALB Eradication Program toll free at

1-(866) 265-0301 or 877-STOP-ALB, or report online at www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com 

For more information, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov

South Seattle Community College Arboretum: a Hidden Gem of a Conifer Garden

Conifers are a low maintenance colorful addition to the landscape that add texture and all season interest. This article shows an amazing combination of these lovely evergreens photographed beautifully and worth sharing…a great read!

Repost: Saving Elephant Ears, Part 1

This is an excellent and informative post from Nitty Gritty Dirt Man on digging up and saving your Elephant Ears for next season.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Man

The October weather has been strange.  There was a moment when it felt like autumn, but then it became more mild and humid — and so I let my tropicals stay in the ground.  But how much longer will I be able to get away with that?  At some point, it will become cooler and frost will arrive — and these tropicals need to be stored for the winter.

This will be my weekend project — and since I’ll be a bit busy, I thought it was the perfect time to re-visit a previous post that chronicles the process.  Up first are the elephant ears.

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Dormant Oil: October Landscape Maintenance

DORMANT OIL APPLICATION:

Welcome to Fall!  It’s time to spray your trees with dormant oil.  Dormant oil protects your ornamental trees, shade and fruit trees by placing a protective coating on the surface smoothering out any insect larvae that can hatch in the spring and do damage to your plants. Dormant oil is an important tool to manage certain pest problems such as scales, aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars and mites during the winter while your plants are dormant.

 

WHEN TO APPLY:

Spraying of dormant oil should occur on a clear day when the temperatures are expected to remain over 50 degrees F. for at least twenty-four hours. The ideal temperatures for application is between 40 and 70 degrees F.

 

WHAT INSECTS ARE CONTROLLED BY OIL?
Aphids
Tent Caterpillars
Scale

Spider Mites
Leafhoppers
Whiteflies

Mealy Bugs

 

PRECAUTIONS:
Always read directions before application.  Avoid using on plants that are oil-sensitive.

 

SOME PLANTS KNOWN TO BE OIL SENSITIVE:  (Read Directions on Bottle)

Cryptomeria

Junipers

Weeping Japanese Maple

Eastern Redbud

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Black Walnut

Douglas Fir

Hickories
Smoke Tree

 

Having a regular spray program with proper care of your plants will increase the long-term health and vitality of your landscape and possibly eliminate any major damage due to invasive insects.  Happy Gardening!

 

Author: Lee@Landscape Design By Lee, 2013, All Rights Reserved