Show Date: 8 Apr 10
Mounded areas in your lawn?  Tiny aliens invading?  It’s probably the Pocket Gopher. 

gopher mounds

Aside from nasty chemicals and traps – you can consider planting a toxic plant – the Euphorbia Lathyris aka Gopher Plant is quite unpleasant to gophers, moles and other subterranean creatures. It ’s not great for humans either.  It’s loaded with latex that irritates the skin.

Euphorbia Lathyris aka Gopher Plant

Maybe your lawn looks like a racetrack?  Then you have moles.  Ugly things, they are!

Mole racetrack

 The Caster Bean plant is also unpleasant to tunnelers but if you have children, rethink planting it.  Here’s a great place for information on trapping and poisons:

Ground Moles in the Lawn [University of Michigan]

Show Date: 10 Jul 09

Japanese beetle

Beetles, aphids and mites, oh, my! 

Just a few bugs that would like to munch on your roses and maybe already are! 

Japanese Beetles like to feed on rose bushes from June through August.   Here’s a link to more information:

• Japanese Beetle Management in Minnesota [U of M Extension]

Aphids and mites will suck the plant juices leaving the leaves speckled, yellowed and distorted.  Use insecticidal soaps to control them.  This will also fend off the leaf hopper.

Show Date: 1 Jul 09

If you’re perennials are looking less than perky, don’t automatically reach for the hose.

Perennials, like lawns, need about an inch of water a week. Some may wilt during the heat of the day, this is their way of conserving moisture. Now’s a good time to dig and divide your Spring blooming perennials if they need it. This way they’re roots will establish well and they’ll flower again next spring. Add a couple of inches of mulch to help conserve moisture.

Show Date: 12 Jun 09

If you see small, uniformly shaped round spots that almost look like bb shots on leaves, it could be this critter:

4-Lined plant bug and damage.

This info is from our very own Jeff Hahn from the University of Minnesota:

• Yard & Garden Brief: 4-Lined Plant Bugs [U of M Extension]

When they’re small they are bright red. If you can get at them early, then pick them off and destroy! I personally favor squishing them. If it’s too late and you need chemical, then permethrin is an option.

Be sure to identify the bug properly, read the label so you know it will kill this specific bug and use exactly as directed. If you’re unsure, take pictures of the damage and who you think the culprit is and take them into your local nursery, look over the U of M diagnostics link or email me at .

Show Date: 11 Jun 09

Could be a fungal or bacterial disease.

Fungal leaf spot on maple.

If you see a random pattern of spots on the leaves of your plants you’ll want to check out the diagnostics link I have to the U of MN extension service. It’s on my Favorite Links page.

If the majority of the leaf is still green, not to worry. Remove the infected leaves, clean up the area and toss the debris. Do NOT compost it. Never remove more than one third of a plants leaves or you’ll do more harm than good. Air circulation is key to preventing fungal diseases. Mulch your plants to keep the humidity down as well.

Show Date: 03 Jun 09

This is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that acts as stomach poison for some pests. Colorado State University has the rest of the story:

• Bacillus thuringiensis [University of Colorado Extension]

The most pet/kid/earth friendly way to take out the bad bugs is by planting a diverse group of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that attract the good guys. Diversify your landscape to attract those beneficial bugs! Below are just a few suggestions; there are many more.

Adding flowering shrubs and trees will also attract those good bugs! Pussy Willows, Fothergilla, Dogwoods, Viburnums, and Crabapple.

Show Date: 02 Jun 09

The European Pine Sawfly is another critter creeping around to munch on your plants, specifically seeking out your Mugo pines:

European pine sawfly

As you can see, these guys are tough to see until the damage is being done. The good news is they won’t kill your pine but those needles they eat won’t grow back. If you see them, grab some gloves and pick them off. Try insecticidal soap or, as a last resort try permethrin. Ohio State University offers more information:

• European Pine Sawfly [University of Ohio Extension]

Green goddess broccoflower

There’s controversy whether this is just a green cauliflower or a cross between broccoli and cauliflower. I find that kind of humorous, a controversial vegetable! It’s easy to grow with no blanching required, more heat tolerant and loaded with good nutrition. It’s one of those veggies kids might try just because it’s “funny lookin’!”

The cabbage worm can be pesky. Here’s a link for more information:

• Catepillar Pests of Cole Crops in Home Gardens [U of M Extension]