Denny's Soapbox

Eliminate a Rose problem now

Did you have small holes in your Knock Out Rose leaves last year? The damage was caused by Bristly Rose Slug Sawfly larvae (worm stage) feeding on the underside of your leaves. While this family of roses have proven to be remarkably free of most rose problems, they are susceptible to the distinctive “windowpane effect” caused by the feeding activity of the Sawfly. The larvae feed as leaf skeletonizers on the lower leaf surface. The upper side of the leaf remains intact and eventually turns white producing the “windowpane” symptom. Later instar larvae feed between the main veins producing “see-through” leaves. This is a season long pest with as many as six generations occurring during the growing season. This damage can be stopped before it begins by making one soil-drench application of Imidacloprid, the active ingredient in both Fertilome Systemic Soil Drench or a product called Merit. Damage can be prevented for this entire season by making one application now.

Container Grown VS Balled and Burlapped (B&B)

When you go shopping for a new shade or flowering tree you will notice that some trees are growing in a container while others have been field dug by hand or machine, wrapped in burlap, and are sitting on the ground at the garden center. Is one way better than the other? It depends on the size of the tree. Trees with up to 2 ½” trunk calibers (diameter of the trunk measured 6” above the ground) all is equal, larger trees it is not. No roots are cut when you plant a container tree. Larger balled and burlap trees have their roots cut when they are dug, the larger the tree, the more roots left behind. 3” caliber trees and larger have about 70% or more of their roots cut off. This equates to a larger B&B tree not putting on any new growth for several years as that tree has to replace all those cut roots before starting to grow again. Plant a 2” caliber container grown tree and with-in 4 years the smaller tree, costing a lot less to buy, will be larger than a 3” trunk caliber. In the case of trees, bigger might not be better. You can purchase some pretty good sized container trees, some as tall as 15 feet tall. Container grown trees are also easier to handle during the planting process. All flowering and shade trees will be available at all local garden centers now.