Poisonous Pokeweed
In Southern Ontario where I write from this poisonous weed can be found growing in city neighbourhoods (as the photos below were), meadows and near the edges of woodland areas. It’s a good plant to learn how to identify since all parts of this plant are highly poisonous. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), is known by many … Continue reading Poisonous Pokeweed
Cut Worms in Home Gardens
Cutworms are a destructive pest insect of a wide variety of plant material. Many home gardeners have encountered them in the vegetable garden, where they chew through the stems of their seedlings, cutting them off near the soil line. There are hundreds of species of cutworms and appearances can vary, as well as habitat, food … Continue reading Cut Worms in Home Gardens
Creeping Red Fescue For Shady Turf Areas
Growing turf grass in shady areas under and around large trees is certainly challenging. Especially trees like Maples that root close to the surface and drink up a lot of water all season long. A good turf choice in these areas is Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra). Creeping Red Fescue prefers to dry out a … Continue reading Creeping Red Fescue For Shady Turf Areas
Ornamental Garden Calendar for May
May is one of the busiest and exciting times in the garden. The days are getting warmer and longer. Plants are quickly filling out, weeds are establishing and insects are buzzing all around. The trees are breaking out in leaf and spring flowering trees and shrubs are putting on their show. Mid May is also … Continue reading Ornamental Garden Calendar for May
Slugs and Snails in the Ornamental Garden
Most people are familiar with these slimy pests, that cause extensive damage to gardens, both ornamental and food. Slugs and snails while thought of as insects to most gardeners, are actually invertebrate animals known as Molluscs or mollusks (along with oysters, clams and squid). They have been around for about 500 million years (BYJU’S, (n.d.)) … Continue reading Slugs and Snails in the Ornamental Garden
Japanese Beetles
Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) are a highly destructive and invasive pest, both in the adult and larva stages. The larvae, are white grubs that feed on the roots of mainly grasses. While the adults feed on the leaves of over 300 types of plants, skeletonizing them. The adults are able to fly up to 8 … Continue reading Japanese Beetles
Willow Leaf Gall Sawfly
What Are Galls? Galls are unusual growths or deformities of plant tissue caused by an organism; be it insect, nematodes, fungi, bacteria or viruses. The presence of these organisms initiates an increased production of normal plant growth hormones and these plant hormones cause localized plant growth. The gall-making organism feeds inside the gall. The appearance … Continue reading Willow Leaf Gall Sawfly
Spongy Moth aka. Gypsy Moth
The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), is an invasive and highly destructive pest. When their numbers are high the larvae can completely defoliate trees, even forests. Formerly known as the gypsy moth, it was renamed by The Entomological Society of America in Feb. 2022. This species has a few sub-species including: Lymantria dispar dispar, Lymantria dispar … Continue reading Spongy Moth aka. Gypsy Moth
Imported Willow Leaf Beetle
The Imported Willow Leaf Beetle (Plagiodera versicolora) is a small metallic-blue-green beetle with an insatiable appetite for willow and poplar trees. Native to Europe, the beetle was introduced to North America in 1915 and is predominantly found in the eastern U.S. and south/eastern Canada. Identification and Damage Adults: beetles are small, about 4 or 5 … Continue reading Imported Willow Leaf Beetle
How to Plant Canna Lily Bulbs
Few plants can match the tropical appeal and spectacular presence of Canna Lilies. Growing from three to over six feet in a single season, these trouble-free beauties originated in South America and the West Indies and have become a favourite here in North America. Starting Your Bulbs in Pots Indoors: March is an excellent month … Continue reading How to Plant Canna Lily Bulbs
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Horticulture For Home Gardeners 