Flagging branches on oak trees can indicate the presence of the oak twig girdler.
Category: Insects
Moles and Grubs
It’s been a good year for moles. A nice amount of rain keeps soils moist and workable—the perfect environment to enable mole movement as they “swim” through the soil. Many people approach the problem of moles by focusing on grubs—that if the grubs are gone, then moles won’t be in the lawn. Though not accurate,…
Straw Foxglove
Unlike foxglove that are biennial, straw foxglove (Digitalis lutea) is a true perennial. The light yellow bell-shaped downward-facing flowers are smaller than their biennial relatives, but what is lost in flower size, straw foxglove makes up for in reliability and ease of growth. Straw foxglove does best in average garden soil in a site…
Rose Diseases
Unfortunately, roses are not care-free plants, at least not in the Midwest. They are susceptible hosts to several diseases, namely powdery mildew, rust, black spot and rose rosette. Powdery mildew: The name is apt for this disease, as the foliage of affected stems turns to a whitish cast as if dusted with flour. Powdery…
Woodland Phlox
Woodland phlox, Phlox divaricata, also known as wild sweet William, is a shade-loving perennial that produces lavender blue five-petalled flowers in spring. It has a wonderfully long bloom season. In my garden, it has been sending out flowers for a solid month now. Woodland phlox does best under trees in soils rich in humus….
Tick Time – Check Yourself!
High tick season in Nebraska is generally April through June, but ticks can be active all year round when temperatures are above freezing. With the arrival of spring and an increased involvement in outdoor activities, Nebraskans must be prepared to practice tick safety to prevent tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are blood feeders and have the potential…