Home and Garden

June 13, 2013

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:31:40 +0000

This is the 11th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Larkspur); Perennial (Red Hot Poker); Woody (Sweetbay Magnolia); Vegetable (Okra); and Weed (Common Pokeweed).
2. HORT SHORTS: Name That Tree.
3. BUG BYTES: Leafcurl Ash Aphid; Oak Apple Wasp Galls; Midge Galls on Oak; An Unusual Goldenrod Leaf Gall; and Porch Lights Shed Light on Cockroaches (Wood Cockroach).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Quince Rust on Hawthorn; What Exactly do You See?; and Rose Rosette Virus Disease.
5. TURF TIPS: Hard-to-Control Turfgrass Weeds.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: ODA Scheduled to Begin Gypsy Moth Pheromone Flaking Next Week and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinar: July 10.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus; Diagnostic Walkabout for the Green Industry; and Thousand Canker Disease of Walnut Workshop.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

June 6, 2013

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:55:35 +0000

This is the 10th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday
morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:
1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Vinca, Rose Periwinkle); Perennial (Amsonia or Blue Star); Woody
(Beech); Vegetable (Broccoli); and Weed (Wild Parsnip).
2. HORT SHORTS: It’s Newt Another Species (Red-Spotted Newt)!; Who-Who-Whoo Is That Calling (Great
Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Barred Owl); and Rarely Seen By The Uninitiated.
3. BUG BYTES: Calico Scale Crawlers; Seeing Red (Red Mite); Lace Bug Potpourri (Hawthorn, Basswood, and
Oak); Hickory Gall-O-Rama; Fiery Searchers Are On The Hunt (Fiery Searcher Caterpillar Hunter); and Flying
Scorpions.
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Moist Chamber.
5. TURF TIPS: BuckeyeTurf – A Website Favorite.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Sampling Error: Oak Wilt; and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinar II – June 12.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus; Diagnostic
Walkabout for the Green Industry; and TCD Workshop.
9. BYGLOSOPHY

May 30, 2013

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:11:35 +0000

This is the 9th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (New Guinea Impatiens); Perennial (Garden Lilies); Woody (American Yellowwood); Vegetable (Sweet Potato); and Weed (Japanese Knotweed).
2. HORT SHORTS: Digging Deeper – Tree Topping.
3. BUG BYTES: Swarming Honey Bees; Bagworm Eggs Hatch; Galling Report (Elm Pouch Galls, Maple Spindle Galls, Maple Bladder Galls and Others); and Windshield Wipes (Fourlined Plant Bug, Azalea Lace Bug and Golden-Backed Snipe Fly).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Rust Never Sleeps and New Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Factsheet Online.
5. TURF TIPS: Turfgrass Fungicides.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Emerald Ash Borer Adults Take Flight and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinar II.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus; Diagnostic Walkabout for the Green Industry; and TCD Workshop.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

May 23, 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:49:47 +0000

This is the 8th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Calibrachoa); Perennial (Peony); Woody (Red Horsechestnut); Vegetable (Green Beans); and Weed (Cressleaf Groundsel).
2. HORT SHORTS: Fruit Thinning in Apples; Squirrel Litter; and Dog Vomit Slime Mold.
3. BUG BYTES: Annual Maple Leaf-Drop Commences (Maple Petiole Borer); Scarlet Oak Sawfly; Balsam Twig Aphid; Woolly Beech Aphid; Hydrangea Leaf-Tier Moth; Mosquitoes Buzz Ohio Landscapes; Pigmy Hummingbirds? (Hummingbird Clearwing and Snowberry Clearwing); Winter Honey Bee Loss; and Windshield Wipes (Columbine Leafminer and Luna Moth) .
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Black Rot Control in Grapes and Sycamore Anthracnose Heavy Again.
5. TURF TIPS: Billbug Control.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinar II.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz (BLBB); Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus; and Diagnostic Walkabout for the Green Industry.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

May 16, 2013

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:06:34 +0000

This is the 7th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’); Perennial (Allium or Ornamental Onion); Woody (Sassafras); Vegetable (Sweet Corn); and Weed (Wild Onion).
2. HORT SHORTS: Weather Note; Freeze Damage to Fruit Crops on May 13; Rarely seen by the Uninitiated; and Still a Good Time for Birding.
3. BUG BYTES: “Flying Ticks” Return (Yellow Poplar Weevil); Boogie-Woogie Aphids (Beech Blight Aphids); Holey Thistle! (Thistle Tortoise Beetle); Black Locust Blooming – What Else is Happening (Bronze Birch Borer and Emerald Ash Borer); Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week; and Windshield Wipes (Erineum Patches (Eriophyid Mite)).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Beech Anthracnose.
5. TURF TIPS: Wildlife Around The Home: Skunks And Moles.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Treatment for Gypsy Moths has Begun and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinar II.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Southwest Ohio BYGLive!; Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz (BLBB); and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

May 9, 2013

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:01:22 +0000

This is the 6th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Stocks); Perennial (Creeping Phlox); Woody (Crabapples); Vegetable (Spinach); and Weed (Ground Ivy).
2. HORT SHORTS: Growing Strawberries in the Home Garden; Rarely Seen by the Uninitiated; Coyotes, Dens, and Pups; and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Damage.
3. BUG BYTES: Corrugated Birch Leaves (Spiny Witch-hazel Aphid); Roseslugged Leaves (Bristly Roseslug Sawfly, Roseslug, and Curled Rose Sawfly); Fourlined Plant Bugs; FactSheet Revised; and WINDSHIELD WIPES (Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Pine Needle Scale, Euonymus Scale, Basswood Leafminers, and Elm Flea Weevil).
4. DISEASE DIGEST. No Report.
5. TURF TIPS: Seedy Lawns and Digging Deeper – Where Can I Get 2,4-D to Treat My Dandelions?.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Invasive Pest Found in Summit County; Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Update; and Get Your Green Industry Fix I.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Plant Discovery Day; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; Southwest Ohio BYGLive!; Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz (BLBB); and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

May 2, 2013

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:01:05 +0000

This is the 5th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Phlox); Perennial (Heartleaf brunnera); Woody (Silver Linden); Vegetable (Lettuce); and Weed (Common Teasel).
2. HORT SHORTS: Crablandia (Crabapples); Solamente Por Los Arboles (“But For The Trees”); Rarely Seen by the Uninitiated; Select Disease Resistant Apple Cultivars; and Growing Blueberries in the Backyard.
3. BUG BYTES: Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz; Buckeye Leafmining Fly; Carpenter Bees Buzzing; Green Tigers on the Prowl (Six-Spotted Tiger Beetles); Buzz-Bumbling Beetles (May/June Beetles); Grasshopper Rebound (Green-Legged Grasshoppers); Viburnum Leaf Beetle Egg Hatch; and Windshield Wipes (Buckeye Petiole Borer and Pine Needle Scale).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Mayapple Rust.
5. TURF TIPS: Dandelion, Dandelion, Puffball.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Monitor for Spruce Spider Mites; Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinars; and The Gypsies are Coming, the Gypsies are Coming (Gypsy Moth).
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

April 25, 2013

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:41:50 +0000

This is the 4th 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Snapdragons); Perennial (Wild Columbine); Woody (Three-Flowered Maple); Vegetable (Onions); and Weed (Purple Deadnettle and Henbit).
2. HORT SHORTS: Life-Long Learning: The Callery Pear Story; Rarely Seen by the Uninitiated; It’s Turkey Time!; Geese Goslings Waddling About; and Birds, Bats, and Dragonflies – Oh My!
3. BUG BYTES: Boxwood Leafminer; Sawfly Leafminers Fly; and European Elm Flea Weevil Chewing on Leaves.
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Cedar Rusts.
5. TURF TIPS: Crabgrass Management.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: All Borers are not Equal! and Get Your Green Industry Fix Webinars.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: New Applicator Training, Fulton County; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

April 11, 2013

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:40:05 +0000

This is the 2nd 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Perennial (Pasque Flower); Woody (Star Magnolia); Vegetable (Peas); and Weed (Lesser Celandine).

2. HORT SHORTS: Fighting Ohio’s Invasive Species: Everyone can be Part of the Battle with an App; Useful Publications on Fruit Production; Spring has Sprung for Ohio Birds; Salamander Meanders; and Arbor Days at OSU.
3. BUG BYTES: Make Way for the Queen! (Bumble Bees); Eastern Tent Caterpillars Arriving Soon; Ground-Nesting Bees on the Wing; Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Update; and Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update.
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Impatiens Downy Mildew and New Mushroom Book.
5. TURF TIPS: Recommendations for Spring Turf Nitrogen Applications.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: White Pine Weevil Warning.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Wildlife in Your Woods; Wildlife Conflicts Workshop; New Applicator Training, Fulton County; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

April 18, 2013

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:30:33 +0000

This is the 3rd 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Pansies and Violas); Perennial (Large Flowered Trillium); Woody (Saucer Magnolia); Vegetable (Asparagus); and Weed (Hairy Bittercress).
2. HORT SHORTS: Woodlot Invasives (Honeysuckle, Privet and Multiflora Rose); Voracious Voles; and But I’m Not an Orphan! (Baby Wildlife)
3. BUG BYTES: Firewood Beetles Flare-Up (Banded Ash Borers, Painted Hickory Borers, and Locust Borers); It’s Springtime and It’s Tick Time (American Dog Tick); Planning to Protect Ash Trees from EAB – Timing is Important; Digging Deeper
Discussion: Getting All Oiled Up: Dormant Oil vs Horticultural Oil; and Windshield Wipes (Eastern Tent Caterpillar and European Pine Sawfly).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Dang Scab-It (Apple Scab).
5. TURF TIPS: Spotted Lawns? (Nimblewill) and Holey Moley (Moles).
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Be on the Lookout for Ambrosia Beetles and Possible Avoidance of Oak Wilt – Cease Pruning.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Wildlife Conflicts Workshop; New Applicator Training, Fulton County; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

April 9, 2013

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:06:47 +0000

This is the 2nd 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Perennial (Pasque Flower); Woody (Star Magnolia); Vegetable (Peas); and Weed (Lesser Celandine).
2. HORT SHORTS: Fighting Ohio’s Invasive Species: Everyone can be Part of the Battle with an App; Useful Publications on Fruit Production; Spring has Sprung for Ohio Birds; Salamander Meanders; and Arbor Days at OSU.
3. BUG BYTES: Make Way for the Queen! (Bumble Bees); Eastern Tent Caterpillars Arriving Soon; Ground-Nesting Bees on the Wing; Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Update; and Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update.
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Impatiens Downy Mildew and New Mushroom Book.
5. TURF TIPS: Recommendations for Spring Turf Nitrogen Applications.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: White Pine Weevil Warning.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Wildlife in Your Woods; Wildlife Conflicts Workshop; New Applicator Training, Fulton County; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

April 4, 2013

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:20:08 +0000

This is the first 2013 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Perennial (Snowdrops); Woody (Witchhazel); Vegetable (Kale); and Weed (Poison Hemlock).
2. HORT SHORTS: Introducing the New Plant Pathology Faculty Member; Them Bushes are Smokin’! (Pollen Shed); What do they Say about Ohio Weather? Just Wait a Day (or Year) and it Changes!; Spring Clean Up has Begun!; Still Time to Rejuvenate Deciduous Shrubs if Needed; and April is Invasive Species Awareness Month.
3. BUG BYTES: Boxelder Bugs are Afoot – Beware of a Look-Alike.
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Just Peachy…Dang Leaf Curl.
5. TURF TIPS: Spring Turfgrass Recovery.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Woodpeckers and EAB.
7. WEATHERWATCH: Weather Update and Growing Degree Days (GDD).
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Southwest Ohio BYGLive!; Urban Wood Utilization Webcast; Pros and Cons of Urban Mechanized Tree Removal, Emerald Ash Borer University (EABU); Landscaping for Wildlife; Your Woods, Water, and Wildlife; Wildlife in Your Woods; Spotted Wing Drosophila Workshop; Wildlife Conflicts Workshop; New Applicator Training, Fulton County; Ohio’s Non-Native Invasives; Tree School; and Ohio’s Invasive Species Series, June 2013, OSU Mansfield Campus.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

The deer won

Denise Ellsworth — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:16:00 +0000

Why not pick on someone your own size?? The deer vs Kathleen’s Japanese maple…

Denise Ellsworth is a horticultural educator with Ohio State University Extension. If you have questions about caring for your garden, call the Master Gardener hot line from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at 330-928-GROW or write: Horticulture Educator, Summit County, 2525 State Road, Suite 250, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Include your phone number. E-mail questions to mgsummit@ag.ohio-state.edu.

Hellebores greet spring

Denise Ellsworth — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:30:00 +0000

On quick trips through my snowy winter garden over the last few weeks, I’ve been greeted by plump pink flower buds. Not barely-pink-if-I-squint-my-eyes flower buds, but thick, fleshy, mauve buds, promises of greater things yet to come. These buds are on the downward arching stems of my ‘Red Lady’ hybrid hellebore. The buds are almost certain to open in the early weeks of March. More mauve than red, the ‘Red Lady’ buds are a sight for winter-weary eyes.

Like other members of the buttercup family, hellebores have showy sepals but reduced petals. Sepals are the protective flower bud coverings, which are green on most plants. Because hellebore sepals retain their colors for weeks on end, sometimes remaining showy for several months, these perennials provide a long lasting floral effect in the shady perennial garden.

The true petals of a hellebore flower are reduced into tubular nectaries, formed in a ring around the flower’s sexual structures, the stamens and pistils. These nectaries hold a sugary reward for visiting pollinators. Visit this site for amazing up-close images of hellebore flowers. The female portion of the flower matures first, followed by the surrounding male stamens, which then shrivel and fall from the flower after their pollen is shed.

Thanks to modern breeding and marketing, the hybrid Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus) is widely available, and makes a lovely addition to any shade garden. In 2005, the Perennial Plant Association named the hybrid Lenten rose perennial plant of the year; the resulting breeding and sale of the plant has made it easy to find and much more affordable.

The related Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) can bloom from early winter to early spring. The white flowers of Christmas rose sometimes bloom in November, but they typically flower from late winter through spring. This hellebore goes by an assortment of traditional names tied to its bloom time, including Holy Night rose, rose of Noel, and the Christmas bloom.

Legends have long been associated with Christmas rose. According to one tale, a poor young shepherdess, Madelon, followed other shepherds to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus. Madelon shed tears because she had no gift for Jesus, The angel Gabriel then appeared and touched his staff to the cold ground where the tears had fallen. Roses sprang from the ground, which the shepherdess gathered and laid in the manger.

Stinking hellebore

Several centuries-old folk carols use the Christmas rose as a symbol for the Christ child, including a German carol from the 1800’s entitled Winterblumlein, or “The Little Flower of Winter.” Long before its Christian association, however, this plant was known for its toxic and medicinal uses from at least the time of Hippocrates. In the Middle Ages, Helleborus niger was grown in monastery gardens for its medicinal uses. The plant was also associated with witchcraft. Apparently it was favored for witches’ charms because one “finger” of the lobed leaf was evil, and only a witch knows which one!

Stinking hellebore

Another species, the stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), is named for the skunk-like odor emitted from the leaves. Anyone who has transported this plant in the back seat will attest that the leaves do not have to be rubbed or crushed to produce the smell. Thankfully, the odor isn’t noticeable in the garden. The leaves are very attractive with their deeply cut, narrow leaflets held on two-foot tall stems. Showy clusters of green, bell-shaped flowers are produced on stinking hellebore from winter through spring. This hellebore resents being moved because of its fleshy root system, so be sure to locate plants where they can stay put.

Hellebores are long lasting in the garden and easy to care for. They are often described as needing dense shade, but hellebores can perform well in partial sun if the site has rich, well-drained soils high in organic matter. As a rule, hellebores resent being moved, and so should be sited where they can stay put. While plants are evergreen in warmer zones, our hellebores usually need to have winter-damaged leaves trimmed back in spring to remove brown tissue. If soil conditions are right, seeds will sprout around mother plants; dig the seedlings and move them to new locations, where they will usually flower in three years.

Hellebores are an excellent plant choice for gardens with moderate to severe deer pressure, although keep in mind that a very hungry deer will eat just about anything. The toxic (and odiferous) properties of hellebores make them a last choice for browsing deer. Over time, hellebores will form impressive masses in the garden, making them an excellent ground cover for partially shaded sites. When their flowers come into bloom from December through May, it’s easy to see why hellebores have been loved by gardeners for centuries.

Witch hazels for every garden

Denise Ellsworth — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:55:00 +0000

Witch hazel blooms despite snow cover

‘Aurora’

‘Embrace the Weather’ could be the motto of the tough, winter-ready witch hazels. These remarkable plants laugh in the face of winter, blooming in frigid temperatures and even under layers of snow. At least one of the five species of witch hazels deserves a spot in your garden, if for no other reason than to offer a breath of hope during the grayest days of winter.

‘Diane’

Why are they known as witch hazels? One theory on the name’s origin comes from the use of witch hazel branches as dowsing rods, used by dowsers or “water witches” to help locate water sources. Dowsers use their intuition, coupled with specialized tools such as dowsing rods, to “tune in” to the site and lead them to water. This tradition is thousands of years old; pictographs from the Tassili-n-Ajjer caves in southeast Libya, dating back 9000 years ago, depict a group of people watching a dowser with a forked branch. Witch hazels aren’t the only branches used by dowsers (there are no witch hazels native to Libya); twigs from elm, willow and some fruit trees have also been traditionally used as dowsing rods.

Common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) in autumn

Another possibility for the name witch hazel comes from an unlikely plant ally, the Scotch elm (Ulmus glabra). This European elm is also known as the wych elm, ‘wych’ an Anglo-Saxon word meaning bending. It’s thought that early colonists saw a resemblance between the two plants in their branching patterns, and took to calling the plants ‘wych’ hazels, now transformed into witch hazels.

Despite the doubts surrounding the origin of the name, there is little doubt as to the merits of the various witch hazels in the garden. No other plant offers flowers with such color and fragrance through the winter months. The clear yellow flowers of common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) begin to bloom in late autumn, although they are often masked under the plant’s leaves. As the leaves turn lemony-apricot and drop, the flowers are exposed; by mid-November the branches may be covered to the tips with masses of flowers. Strap-like petals unfold to reveal a spicy-sweet fragrance. Plants may hold their bloom for weeks, depending on the weather.

Common witch hazel is at home in the forest understory, where it adds light and interest in the middle layer of the forest. This small tree matures at 20 to 30 feet with an equal spread, so it should be given ample room to grow when planted in the landscape. Vernal witch hazel, our other native species, matures at about ten feet high and wide with a suckering habit. Native to the Ozarks, vernal witch hazel is cold hardy in our area. The leaves turn brilliant yellow color in fall, but often mask the flowers. The brown leaves are held on the plants through winter giving the plant an untidy look.

The Victorian era saw the introduction of two Asian species, the Japanese and Chinese witch hazels (H. japonica and H. mollis). Japanese witch hazel forms a wide spreading shrub about 10 feet high and wide. Yellow flowers with long, strap like petals often compared to crepe paper are borne in winter, but have less fragrance than the Chinese species. Japanese witch hazel does offer brilliant fall color, with leaves turning shades of yellow, red and purple. Chinese witch hazel produces yellow and red flowers with a delightful spicy fragrance.

‘Primavera’

A cross between these two Asian species (H. x intermedia) was first described in 1945 from plants growing at Arnold Arboretum. Positive attributes of both species are carried through in the hybrid witch hazels, including good fall color, profuse flower production and good fragrance. Many hybrid cultivars are now available, so many that even the witch hazel experts have trouble differentiating them.

All witch hazels grow best in average soils with good drainage. For best flowering, they should be located in full sun, but many are tolerant of shady conditions. Be sure to locate witch hazels along a pathway or near an entrance where the colorful flowers and spicy fragrance can be appreciated in the cold days of winter.

‘Arnold Promise’

‘Arnold Promise’– Masses of bright yellow fragrant flowers bloom in mid- to late-winter. Reaches a mature size of 20 feet high and wide.

‘Aurora’ – Long flower petals are bright yellow with orange-red bases, giving a two-tone effect. Very fragrant in bloom, with good fall color.

‘Diane’ fall color

‘Diane’ — This handsome shrub is smaller than ‘Arnold Promise,’ with copper-red flowers lacking some of the fragrance of other cultivars but with good fall color.

‘Jalena’ — Fowers in hues of red, yellow and orange create a copper glow. Fall color is orange red.

‘Pallida’ – Bears sweet-scented, pale yellow flowers with a reddish-purple base. This cultivar is alternatively listed as a cultivar of H. mollis.

Studies Show a Link to Nature Makes Us Healthier

Denise Ellsworth — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:03:00 +0000

OCVN volunteer naturalists explore a stream
in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Have you made a resolution to get healthier this year? If so, plants have a role to play. For centuries, gardeners and nature lovers have known intuitively that plants do a body good, and now research agrees. Whether you grow a few houseplants, live near a green space, or simply have a green view out your window, plants can add to your good health.

The relationship between plants and people has been studied by and incorporated into many fields, including environmental psychology, landscape architecture, geography, urban forestry, urban planning, horticulture and horticultural therapy. What researchers and practitioners across these disparate disciplines have found is that whether living in cities or in the country, at home or at work, humans have a basic need to keep nature close.

One of the best-known studies on the benefits of nature was conducted in the 1980’s by Roger Ulrich, professor and director of the Center for Health Systems & Design at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture. Dr. Ulrich compared hospital recovery rates of surgery patients who had either a view of a brick wall or of a natural scene. Those with the view of nature had shorter hospital stays and took fewer painkillers than those without. These findings and others like them have helped to make the case for courtyards, garden areas and green spaces on hospital grounds.

Living in close proximity to green space has been associated with decreased anxiety, depression and other health conditions, as a recent study out of the Netherlands concludes. Investigators found that the closer people live to green space, the lower the prevalence of many health problems, especially mental health conditions.

Plants have been shown to reduce stress, whether it’s the stress of sick patients, employees in work environments, or prison inmates. In his research studies, Roger Ulrich has found that viewing natural scenes after a stressful situation causes marked decreases in muscle tension and pulse in just five minutes. The Davey Resource Group has quantified many benefits of plants and natural environments, including reduced negative emotions, increased positive feelings, increase sociability and reduced need for health care.

In the workplace, plants deserve a spot in almost every environment, whether that means houseplants on a desk or simply green views through windows. Dr. Rachel Kaplan, professor at the University of Michigan, has found that desk workers who can see nature from their desks take 23% less sick time than those who cannot see any nature. Other studies have found that workers rate job satisfaction higher when they can see nature.

Even brief encounters with nature have been shown to improve concentration and aid in recovery from mental fatigue. Research by the Landscape and Human Health Lab at the University of Illinois has shown that natural experiences can even reduce symptoms of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) in children.

Plants help to build positive social ecosystems outdoors by creating pleasing environments where people tend to gather and visit, as opposed to deserted environments without trees or landscaping. Studies have shown that plants and landscaping in urban environments can reduce aggression, domestic violence and crime.

How can we make practical use of these research findings? One general theme is that surrounding ourselves with plants, gardens, trees and natural scenes can improve our health and well-being. Sending sick friends flowers and plants makes even more sense knowing how plants reduce stress and stimulate healing. For an ailing family member, select a hospital or nursing home room with a natural view, or create a pleasing view with potted plants of varying sizes and textures.

In the home, locate a beautiful plant where it can be seen often – near the bedside table, or close to the kitchen sink. Create a view through the kitchen or dining room window to establish a calming natural focal point. Design welcoming outdoor areas that include trees for shade and places to sit. Even small changes to increase green views can have big payoffs in terms of reduced stress, improved outlook and overall improvement in health.

For a steady dose of nature in 2013, consider enrolling in the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program, co-sponsored by OSU Extension and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The program consists of 30 hours of hands-on nature education on topics including tree identification, insect appreciation, nature interpretation and more. Participants then give back 20 volunteer hours teaching others about nature.

OCVN classes begin in early April and run through mid May. Learn more at an open house on Thursday, January 24^th from 7-8 PM at Hines Hill Conference Center (1403 W. Hines Hill Rd., Peninsula, OH 44264). Contact Stacey Heffernan (SHeffernan@forcvnp.org) or Danae Wolfe (Wolfe.540@osu.edu) for more information.

Caring for Holiday Plants

Denise Ellsworth — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:23:00 +0000

Blooming plants make great gifts, especially for a busy hostess or that hard-to-buy-for relative who just doesn’t need any more “stuff.” At yesterday’s Ohio State ATI holiday plant sale, I purchased assorted poinsettias and a few Christmas cacti for friends and coworkers. With some care, these holiday plants can continue to look great into the New Year. Here are some tips to care for some of the most common holiday plants.

Poinsettias

The showy bracts that make poinsettias so attractive will retain their color for weeks, making poinsettias a good choice to brighten up the indoors well into January. High indoor temperatures will shorten a poinsettia’s life, so choose a location with daytime temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees and a nighttime temperature of about 55 degrees. Plants can be moved into a cooler room at night if needed. Water poinsettias when the soil is just dry, and don’t allow excess water to sit in the foil covering the pot. Both excessive watering and under-watering can cause poinsettia leaves to drop prematurely.

Amaryllis

These bulbs are grown for their large, lily-like flowers. Hybrids are available in red, white, pink, salmon, some with stripes or double petals. The unusual cybister hybrids have narrow, pointed petals with a more tropical look. Amaryllis bulbs usually come ready-to-plant in boxed ‘kits.’ If you purchase this kind of kit, be sure the container has drain holes in it; if not, add a few holes before planting the bulb.

If you’ve purchased just the bulb, plant it in a container two inches larger than the diameter of the bulb. The bulb should be placed so that the top two-thirds sits above the soil line. Keep the soil barely moist, and place the pot in a cool room until leaves or a flower bud appears. Once this happens, move the plant to a warmer room, and water it regularly.

After the flowers have faded, remove the flower stalk and feed with a diluted fertilizer through the summer. Gradually begin to withhold water to encourage the bulb to become dormant. After the leaves die back, store the bulb dry, in its pot, at about 55 degrees for eight weeks. Begin watering lightly until the plant is actively growing.

Amaryllis bulbs are often difficult to bring into flower the second year, but may bloom in subsequent years once roots have become reestablished.

Paperwhites

These non-hardy daffodils are forced for their showy flowers. To keep paperwhites from flopping, force them in a very bright location in cool temperatures. With less light, the stems will continue to stretch in the search for light. Paperwhites can be forced in pebbles and water, or in soil. Bulbs grown in soil tend to be more compact and less likely to topple over. Many people find the fragrance of paperwhites to be disagreeable (something like a naughty cat), so site them accordingly.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen produce bright pink, white or red flowers held upright over dark green, heart-shaped leaves. This is the ideal plant for the energy-conscious gardener: cyclamen thrive in cool environments, ideally between 50 and 65 degrees. Cyclamen flowers are long-lasting, with individual flowers sometimes lasting for 3 or 4 weeks, provided temperatures are low. Warm temperatures and dry air will reduce the health and shorten the life of cyclamens. These plants perform best when kept moderately moist, and don’t recover well if allowed to dry out.

Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus

These holiday cacti, commonly called Christmas cactus, are the easy to grow. They are also the easiest of all holiday plants to bring into bloom again next year. Christmas cactus prefers bright light and moist soil when in bloom, with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. After flowering, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant benefits from monthly fertilization from spring through summer. In autumn, bring plants into a cool room (50 – 65 degrees) that receives only natural light to encourage flower production.

In general, all of these blooming plants need at least 6 hours of bright light each day. Keep them out of both warm and cold drafts, and don’t allow the soil to dry out completely. Pull plants back from windows so the leaves don’t touch window panes. With some care and attention, these holiday plants can thrive for weeks to come.

October 18, 2012

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:55:20 +0000

This is the 28th 2012 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

****BYGL NOTICE. This is the last BYGL (Beagle) for the 2012 season; the BYGL is retreating to its doghouse for a long winter’s nap. The BYGL survey is complete for 2012, but we still have to review the result. However, we do look forward to your comments and appreciate everyone’s suggestions for improvements. There is one point we’re sure we all agree on: the 2012 BYGL season went too fast, doggone it!

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Perennial (Little Bluestem); Woody (Fall Foliage); Vegetable (Sweet Potato); and Weed (Jimsonweed).
2. HORT SHORTS: Outdoor Houseplants Become Indoor Houseplants Once More!; The Wascally Wabbit: Prep Against Winter Rabbit Damage to Plants; and White-Nose Syndrome in Bats: Report Signs of Infected Bats.
3. BUG BYTES: Dancing White Puffballs on Alder (Woolly Alder Aphid, Beech Blight Aphid and Maple Blight Aphid); and Home Space Invaders (Hackberry Psyllids, Boxelder Bug, Western Conifer Seed Leaffooted Bug, Attic Fly, Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug).
4. DISEASE DIGEST: Invasion of the Dome-Headed Gnomes? (Shaggy Mane Mushrooms).
5. TURF TIPS: Time to Finish Up Lawn Care Chores for the Season.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Sorting Through Quarantines.
7. WEATHERWATCH.
8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Risk Management Workshop to be Held in St. Louis Park, MN; Your Woods, Water and Wildlife; OSU Nursery Short Course; Pesticide Recertification; Save the Date – 2013 Tri-State Green Industry Conference; and Ohio ISA Winter Meeting.
9. BYGLOSOPHY.

Keeping stink bugs out of the house!

Denise Ellsworth — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:42:00 +0000

David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, BugwoDavid R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Mike Raupp, Professor and Extension Specialist with the University of Maryland, shows how to rid the home of pesky stink bugs. More information on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

October 4, 2012

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:00:04 +0000

This is the 27th 2012 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

Table of Contents:

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