Mid-American Gardener: spring pruning, incoming California strawberries, and more

>>> HELLO, GARDENERS.
WELCOME TO MID-AMERICAN GARDENER.  WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SPRING THINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET SPRING TO BE HERE IN FULL FORCE BY JUST TALKING ABOUT IT.
THAT’S OUR PLAN!
I AM DIANNE NOLAND.
I TEACH HORTICULTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN THE CROP SCIENCES DEPARTMENT.  SO I WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, OH, MAYBE CUT FLOWERS, IDENTIFYING FLOWERS.
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE HERE WITH ME.
SO I AM GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE!
SO THEY WILL BE ANSWERING SOME OF THE VIEWER MAIL AND BRINGING SOME SHOW AND TELLS.
THAT’S KIND OF FUN FOR US TO SEE.
I WILL START FIRST WITH YOU, BILL ERICKSON.
THANK YOU.
>>YES.
MY NAME IS BILL ERICKSON.
I AM A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HERE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
I BROUGHT IN A LITTLE REMINDER HERE FOR SPRINGTIME PRUNING.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS PLANT ISN’T DOING TOO WELL.
IT HAS DIED BACK.
IT IS AN ORNAMENTAL GRASS, MISCANTHUS.
THIS IS THE CORRECT TIME OF YEAR TO PRUNE BACK MISCANTHUS DURING THE LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL BEFORE GRASS COMES UP IN THE DEAD LEAVES.
IT IS MUCH EASIER TO DO IT NOW.
YOU WANT TO PRUNE GRASS BACK TO ABOUT TWO INCHES TO SIX INCHES TALL.
DON’T SCALP THE SOIL BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE GETTING INTO THE LIVE CROWN OF THE PLANT.
YOU CAN USE A LITTLE BIT OF FERTILIZER IN THE SPRING.
GRASSES DON’T NEED MUCH.
DON’T OVERDO IT BECAUSE THEN THE GRASS WILL GET FLOPPY.
BUT YOU CAN USE A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER LIKE OSMOCOTE IF YOU LIKE.
AND MULCHING IS GOOD TO KEEP WEEDS DOWN.
THAT’S THE BEST METHOD THERE AROUND ORNAMENTALS.
ALSO, IF YOUR GRASSES ARE GETTING TOO LARGE, THIS IS THE CORRECT TIME OF YEAR TO DIG THEM UP AND DIVIDE THEM AND RECENTER THEM AND RESPACE THEM.
>>THAT LOOKS AMAZINGLY UNKEMPT.
>>YEAH.
>>BUT IT IS A GOOD REMINDER.
>>RIGHT.
>>BECAUSE IT IS TIME TO DO IT, AND WE ARE READY TO GET OUT THERE!
GREAT.
THANK YOU BILL.
>>ON SUNDAY, I WENT OUT AND CUT MY GRASSES ALL BACK.
>>YEAH, I DO MINE IN STAGES BECAUSE I HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM.
YOU IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BE DOING IT.
>>DON’T PUT IT OFF.
>>THAT’S TRUE.
BECAUSE ONCE THE GREEN IS THROUGH THERE, IT IS A MESS!
>>A MESS.
>>IT TAKES FIVE TIMES AS LONG.
THANK YOU.
NOW IN THE MIDDLE, WE WILL GO TO DR. BOB SKIRVIN.
HELLO BOB.
>>I AM BOB SKIRVIN AND I TEACH HORTICULTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME—A LOT OF REAL INTERESTING THINGS COMING IN THE STORES.
AS YOU KNOW BY NOW, I REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE STUFF IN THE STORES.
TODAY I BROUGHT THIS RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU SEE IT UP CLOSE ENOUGH.
THESE ARE STRAWBERRIES.
THE STRAWBERRIES ARE COMING IN.
THEY ARE HUGE.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS ONE.
AS BIG AS MY HAND ALMOST.
AND ANY WAY THE BIG ONES, IN CASE OF THE GIANT STRAWBERRIES, WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
FROM CALIFORNIA.
WHEN THEY PRODUCE FLOWERS, THEY PRODUCE CLUSTERS OF FLOWERS.
WE CALL THE ONE HERE KING BLOSSOM.
THEY PRODUCE GIANT FRUITS.
IF YOU PICK STRAWBERRIES, YOU WANT TO GET THERE EARLY TO GET THE BIG ONES.
IF YOU WAIT UNTIL LATE IN THE SEASON, GET LITTLE BITTY ONES.
THEY ARE EASY TO PICK.
AND CAP THEM TO MAKE JAM, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT.
THESE ARE REALLY GOOD.
REAL GOOD.
YOU WILL LIKE THEM.
>>AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU TELL PEOPLE TO EAT STRAWBERRIES.
>>YOU CAN ENJOY IT IN ONE BITE.
ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU THERE IS SOME ANTI CANCER ACTIVITY.
>>I LOVE THIS PART.
>>IN THE CROWN HERE.
THE CAP, AND IT ACTUALLY HELPS PREVENT—AFFECTS BREAST CANCER, HORMONE INDUCED CANCERS.
I TELL MY STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE EATING THE STRAWBERRY, USUALLY THEY ARE NOT THIS BIG, BUT YOU CAN EAT THE CAP, TOO.
TASTE LIKE LETTUCE.
MOST PEOPLE THINK YOU WILL DIE (LAUGHING) I ALWAYS TELL MY STUDENTS BEST THING TO DO WHEN YOU GO HOME WITH YOUR MOM, EAT THE STRAWBERRY IS SIT THERE VERY CASUALLY OR SHE IS WATCHING YOU EAT THE WHOLE STRAWBERRY, INCLUDING THE CAP, SHE WILL HAVE A FIT.
SHE WILL FALL OUT OF HER CHAIR.
>>BECAUSE MOMS CAREFULLY CUT THAT PART OUT.
>>MOM, IT IS GOOD FOR YOU.
DR. SKIRVIN SAID IT IS OKAY.
>>I TELL STUDENTS THAT, TOO, BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT IT, AND THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
AND GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
>>IT IS LIKE EATING LETTUCE.
NO BIG DEAL.
>>GOOD.
THANK YOU, BOB.
>>GET STRAWBERRIES.
THEY ARE GOOD.
>>FANTASTIC, WE WILL CHECK THEM OUT LATER ON IN THE SHOW.
>>GO AHEAD AND EAT IT.
>>SURE.
YOU CAN.
>>EAT THIS THEN.
>>JIM IS NEXT, YOU CAN EAT WHILE JIM IS TALKING.
WE HAVE A TROUBLEMAKER ON HERE.
JIM, LET’S’ GET TO YOU NEXT.
NEXT TO ME IS DR. JIM APPLEBY.
>>HI, DIANNE. I AM ENTOMOLOGIST IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, AND I DEAL WITH INSECTS, AND MITES.
DIANNE, I GOT A CALL FROM MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN OHIO, NEAR TWINSBURG, OHIO.
AND SAID WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THESE BUGS?
SHE SAID THINK THEY ARE STINK BUGS COMING IN HER HOME.
I SAID MAYBE IT IS THE MAMORED STINK BUG INTRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES.
I SAID KILL A COUPLE OF THEM AND SEND THEM TO ME AND SEE IF IT IS.
WELL, INDEED, IT IS.
IT IS THE BROWN MAMORED STINK BUG.
SO WE HAVE ONE HERE ON A TOMATO.
THIS WAS A—AND WE WILL SHOW CLOSE UPS OF THAT VERY SHORTLY.
>> HOW DO YOU SPELL THE NAME OF THAT STINK BUG.
>>MAMORED.
>>MAMORED.
>>BROWN MAMORED STINK BUG.
IT IS NATIVE CHINA, JAPAN, AND KOREA AND THAILAND.
FIRST FOUND IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, IN 1998.
NOW IT IS LOCATED ACTUALLY IN 40 STATES.
SO IT SPREAD QUITE A BIT.
IT HAS A VERY WIDE HOST RANGE.
IT IS STARTING TO COME INTO THE MIDWEST NOW.
SO IT COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS PEST ON A LARGE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HOSTS.
>>RIGHT THERE.
>>YEAH.
IT HAS A HABIT OF INVADING HOMES IN THE FALL MONTHS, HIBERNATING.
SO IT COMES INTO THE HOME.
THERE WAS ONE PLACE IN NORTH EASTERN STATES.
THEY FOUND 26,000 OF THESE IN A SINGLE HOME.
SO IT IS ONE OF THESE—IT IS JUST LIKE THE ASIAN LADY BUG BEETLE THAT WOULD COME IN DROVES.
THIS ONE DOES THE SAME THING.  SO IT CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM.
I’D LIKE TO READ THE HOST THAT IT ATTACKS.
I WROTE THIS ALL DOWN HERE.
APPLES, PEACHES, CHERRIES, PERSIMMON, GREEN BEANS, LIMA BEANS, SOYBEANS, SWEET CORN, FIELD CORN, TOMATOES, RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES.
IT HAS A VERY WIDE—PROBABLY MORE IT WOULD ATTACK.
>>PROBABLY.
>>AND IT CAN BE, I THINK, IN THE FUTURE A VERY, VERY SERIOUS PEST.
>> IS THERE SOME BARRIER BETWEEN HERE AND OHIO THAT WE CAN—IT IS PROBABLY ALREADY HERE.
>>I AM SURE IT IS ALREADY HERE.
IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN OUR STATE ALREADY.  SO IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN THE POPULATION WILL INCREASE.
NOW IF WE COULD SHOW THOSE PICTURES OF THE CLOSE UPS.  I TOOK—MY SISTER SENT THESE DEAD INSECTS.
I PUT THEM ON A PLANT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
THE BROWN MAMORED STINK BUG.
IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
THEY ATTACK, LIKE I SAID, A LARGE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CROPS.
THEY OVERWINTER IN THE ADULT STAGE.
THEN THEY GO OUT MIGRATE OUT INTO THE FIELDS.
SO IF WE SHOW THE NEXT PHOTOGRAPH, CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE STINK BUG—WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF INSECTS, STINK BUGS IN THE MIDWEST. CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN OF THIS, THERE ARE THE LEFTHAND SIDE YOU SEE POINTED ALONG THE EDGE.
IT HAS ALTERNATING SORT OF REALLY DARK BROWN AND THEN LIGHT SPOTS ALONG THE EDGE.
THEN THE OTHER ARROW WHERE IT SHOWS THE TWO, ON THE ANTENNA, IT HAS THE LIGHT SPOT THAT’S HOW YOU CAN TELL FROM OTHER STINK BUGS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STINK BUGS IN THE STATE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A VERY, VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM ON MANY OF OUR CROPS.
RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT REALLY TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM YET, BUT I THINK IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
THE NEXT SLIDE HERE SHOWS WHERE TO SEND—OR CALL IF YOU NEED INFORMATION.
I WILL BE GLAD TO SEND OUT A PUBLICATION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY BY PENN STATE EXTENSION.
IT IS ON THE ONE THAT WE LIKE BECAUSE THAT WAS FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA FIRST, FIRST TIME.
SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I WILL BE GLAD TO SEND THEM THE LEAFLET IF THEY WANT TO CALL THIS NUMBER AND JUST ASK FOR THE STINK BUG LEAFLET, WE WILL SEND THAT OUT TO THEM.
BUT THIS IS A REALLY POTENTIAL SERIOUS PEST IN THE STATE.
>>THAT’S THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF IT.
HOPEFULLY IT IS THE LAST—BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT’S THE CASE.
WELL, THANK YOU, JIM, VERY MUCH.
>>SURE.
>>I ALSO HAVE A VIEWER QUESTION FROM VERN AND SUE MEYER FROM SPRINGFIELD.
THEIR QUESTION IS “CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY WHAT THIS FLOWER IS.”
SO YOU I HAVE THIS PICTURE HERE, AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL—THEY MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE BE AND THESE ARE ALL OVER.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT, I SAID WANT TO ANSWER THIS.
THIS IS A WINTER ACONITE.
THAT’S ACONITE.
WINTER ACONITE.
THE SCIENTIFIC NAME IS ERANTHIS HYEMALIS, WINTER ACONITE.
THESE PICTURES, THEY FLOWERED IN MARCH, THE PICTURES YOU ARE SEEING HERE ON THE SCREEN.
IF YOU SEE THIS, THIS IS A PICTURE OF THEIR CAR KEY.
IT IS REALLY A VERY SMALL LITTLE FLOWER.
THEY WILL MULTIPLY.
THEY ARE FROM LITTLE TUBERS.
I HAD A STUDENT WHO WORKED AT OUR ARBORETUM AND WAS PLANTING WINTER ACONITE, I WENT THROUGH THE PACK AND DIDN’T FIND ANY TO PLANT.
HE THOUGHT THEY WERE SOIL, LITTLE DIRT CLODS.
HE THREW ALL OF THEM OUT.  THEY LOOK LIKE SWOLLEN TUBERS AND YOU PLANT THEM TWO INCHES DEEP, SOAK THEM OVERNIGHT OR AT LEAST HALF OF THE DAY.
THEY WILL SPREAD, AND ALSO SPREAD BY SEED, AND NOT INVASIVE AT ALL.  THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THESE WERE FOR 13 YEARS.
I WAS EXCITED TO SHOW THEM.
WINTER ACONITE, SNOWDROPS.
THEY ARE COMING UP IN MARCH, AND OFTEN UP IN FEBRUARY, JANUARY.
SO THIS IS A IT LATER YEAR, AS WE WELL KNOW.
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME UP IN SNOWDRIFTS.
LET’S GO TO A SPECIAL “DID YOU KNOW” NEXT. 
THEY ARE VITAL.
EARTHWORMS ARE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.
SO THAT’S A GOOD ONE.  NOW, LET’S THROW IT BACK OVER TO YOU, BILL.
>> OKAY, WELL I HAVE GOT A QUESTION FROM DANVILLE FROM NANCY.
IT SAYS MY SISTER GROWS BAMBOO IN WASHINGTON.
WILL BAMBOO GROW IN DANVILLE?
WHAT KIND AND WHERE WOULD I GET IT?
THAT’S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO ANSWER ON EXACT TYPES BECAUSE THERE IS OVER A THOUSAND DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF BAMBOO.
BUT THERE ARE TWO GENERAL CATEGORIES THAT THEY HARDY BAMBOOS WILL FALL UNDER.
THE FIRST ONE IS PHYLLOSTACHYS AUREOSULCATA.
>>EASY FOR YOU TO SAY!
(LAUGHING)
>>YEAH.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS FARGESIA
OR FARGESIA.
I AM SORRY.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THESE ON THE SCREEN.
THERE WE GO.
>>PHYLLOSTACHYS IS SPREADING TYPE.
IT SPREADS UNDERGROUND.
THAT’S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH IT.
IT IS VERY INVASIVE.
IT IS HARDY TO MINUS 10, THOUGH.
SO YOU CAN USE IT HERE, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTROL THE ROOT SYSTEM IF YOU HAVE A SMALL AREA THAT YOU ARE GROWING IT IN.
THE WAY THAT THAT’S DONE IS DIG A TRENCH ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BED OF BAMBOO AND KEEP MAINTAINING THAT TRENCH SO THOSE SPREADING ROOTS CANNOT GET OUT INTO NEIGHBORING YARDS.
THERE ARE SOME PLASTIC BARRIERS THAT CAN ALSO BE USED, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE 30 INCHES DEEP INTO THE GROUND TO KEEP THE SPREADING TYPES FROM ESCAPING.
BUT THAT TYPE WILL WORK HERE.  YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET DIEBACK IN SEVERE WINTERS.  NOW THE OTHER TYPE, THE FARGESIA IS A CLUMPING FORM.
IT DOESN’T SPREAD AS RAPIDLY.
IT IS PROBABLY ONLY GOING TO SPREAD ABOUT A FOOT A YEAR.  IT IS MUCH EASIER TO CONTROL.
IT IS A SMALLER TYPE.
THE FARGESIA ONLY GETS ABOUT MAYBE FIVE OR TEN FEET TALL IN THIS AREA WHERE OTHER ONE GETS ANYWHERE FROM TEN TO 15 FEET OR SO.
THEY BOTH WILL DIE BACK IN SEVERE WINTERS.  SO YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOME REAL GOOD SPECIFICS ON THIS, THERE IS A GREAT WEB SITE BAMBOOGARDEN.COM, AND IT WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GROWING BAMBOO IN THIS AREA.
>> GOOD TIP.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HEAR SPREADING UNDER GROUND ROOTS.
>>YEAH.
>> IT WILL LITERALLY GO IN THE NEIGHBOR’S YARD.
IF YOU PLANT BY YOUR FENCE, IT WILL GO IN THE NEIGHBOR’S YARD.
>>IT IS A LOT OF WORK.
>>PANDAS ARE A GOOD BIO CONTROL.
>>WHAT?
>> PANDAS.
>>HAVE A FEW PANDAS!
>>THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID!
(LAUGHING) OH, GOOD, BRING IN PANDAS.
>> EVERYBODY LIKES PANDAS.
>>BOB, LET’S HAVE A SEGWAY FROM PANDAS RIGHT TO YOUR E-MAIL QUESTION.
>>GOT SOME QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT FRUIT PRODUCTION.
THIS IS FROM PAULA VALPARAISO, WATCHING THE PROGRAM A LONG TIME.  SHE HAS APPLES, PLUM AND PEACH.
THE QUESTION IS SHE HAS APPLE TREES, BUT THE APPLES ARE STAYING REALLY SMALL.
SHE DOESN’T HAVE ANY BIG APPLES.  WHAT IS WRONG?
WELL, WHAT HAPPENS YOU GOT TOO MANY APPLES.
IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
APPLES, WHEN THEY START TO FLOWER, ESPECIALLY A NICE YEAR, YOU HAVE APPLES, AND THE PLANT WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO TRY TO KEEP THE APPLES GOING, AND IT WILL HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF LITTLE BITTY APPLES ON THERE.
LUNCHBOX SIZE APPLES WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT.
IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY BIG APPLES, YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER.
COMMERCIALLY, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE AN INSECTICIDE CALLED SEVIN, AND THEY SPRAY THE SEVIN ON THE FIELD.
YOU DON’T DO IT WILLY-NILLY.
YOU HAVE TO MEASURE IT.
BUT IT WILL CAUSE MANY OF THE FRUITS TO—FLOWERS TO ABORT AND FALL OFF, AND YOU GET THE NUMBER THAT WAY.
SO YOU CAN, JUST BY HAND, GO OUT AND TAKE AND REDUCE THE CLUSTERS FROM FOUR OR FIVE APPLES PER CLUSTER TO MAYBE ONE AND WOULD STAY BIG.
THE THING WHAT IS INTERESTING WITH THE PEACHES, ALSO GOING TO GET BIG PEACHES, YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER.
IT IS INTERESTING, AS FAR AS I KNOW, STILL SPRAY.
I WATCHED WHEN I WAS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, PEOPLE WOULD GO OUT WITH A STICK AND LITERALLY BEAT ON A TREE.
IT IS REALLY KIND OF A HORRIBLE—LOOKS LIKE CRUEL TREATMENT OF YOUR TREE.
BUT YOU GOT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FLOWERS THERE, TOO, IN ORDER TO GET THE LARGER SIZE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION WAS DOWN HERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORMS AND BUGS AND STUFF.
JIM IS THE PERSON TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT THE MAIN THING IS, AGAIN, YOU DON’T GO SPRAYING JUST WILLY-NILLY.
YOU HAVE TO GET A LIST, ON THE INTERNET THERE IS A MIDWEST FRUIT GROWERS GROUP.
IT IS ACTUALLY A CONSORTIUM OF OHIO STATE, ILLINOIS, AND INDIANA, AND MISSOURI, AND EVERY YEAR, THEY PUT OUT A PROGRAM.
MIDWEST FRUIT, I THINK YOU CAN FIND IT UNDER THERE IN YOUR GOOGLE.
THEY HAVE THE UP-TO-DATE SPRAYS AND TIME TO PUT IT ON IN ORDER TO CONTROL IT.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER SPRAY, IS EVERY YEAR THINGS CHANGE.
SOMETHING PERFECTLY LEGAL LAST YEAR MAY NOT BE LEGAL THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
>>MIDWEST FRUIT.
SO MIDWEST FRUIT GROWERS VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
MAYBE SHE WILL GET BIGGER APPLES NEXT YEAR—
>>RIGHT.
>>OR THIS YEAR.  IT IS NOT TOO LATE.
THIS YEAR.
LET’S GO ON TO YOU, JIM.
WELL, WE HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRISTY OHLICK, AND I BELIEVE THAT’S HOW IT IS SPELLED.
SHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH SCALE AS WELL AS MEALYBUGS ON SOME OF HER GREENHOUSE PLANTS.
SHE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THESE SCALES AND MEALYBUGS.
SHE HAS BEEN USING AN INSECT SPRAY CALLED PYOLA. IT CONTAINS PYRETHRINS AND CANOLA OIL.
THE PROBLEM IS MEALYBUGS AS WELL AS SCALE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE REPEATED APPLICATIONS.
THEY NEED TO BE AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR APPLICATIONS AT WEEKLY INTERVALS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THEM ON WEEKLY INTERVALS AND GET ON FOUR DIFFERENT SPRAYS BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
ADULT SCALES AS WELL AS MEALYBUGS, WHEN THEY ARE IN THE EGG STAGE, YOU CAN’T KILL THEM WITH THE SPRAYS, BUT YOU CAN KILL THEM WHEN THEY ARE IMMATURE.  THAT’S WHY, AND, OF COURSE, ALL DIFFERENT STAGES PRESENT ON THE PLANT.  YOU REALLY NEED TO GET ON ABOUT FOUR APPLICATIONS AT ABOUT WEEKLY INTERVALS.  IF YOU DO THAT AND GET GOOD COVERAGE, YOU WILL GET THAT UNDER CONTROL.
>>OKAY, VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU, JIM.
AND NOW, LET’S GO NEXT TO OUR MID-AMERICAN GARDENER QUIZ.
>>> JIM SAID HE COULDN’T COUNT THAT HIGH.
I COULDN’T GUESS IT!
(LAUGHING) THAT’S A LOT OF SPECIES.
NOT GENUS, BUT SPECIES.
UNDER ANTS, THERE COULD BE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS.
THAT’S WHY IT IS SO HIGH.
SO I AM SURE THAT THEY ARE ALL GOOD BUGS, AREN’T THEY, JIM?
>>THEY ARE ALWAYS GOOD BUGS.
THAT’S WHAT ENTOMOLOGISTS ALWAYS SAY.
>>MY SON, AN ENTOMOLOGIST, SAYS INSECTS.
INSECTS, JIM JUST BROUGHT IN.
>>INSECTS AND BUGS VERSUS SOIL AND DIRT.
>>RIGHT.
>>WE SHOULD SAY INSECTS AND SOIL.
ISN’T THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT’S CORRECT.
>>I CALL HIM DR. BUG.
SO I ALWAYS SAY BUG.
>>HE IS A BUG!
>>HE IS A BUG.
LET’S GO NEXT TO YOU, BILL.
>>OKAY, I HAVE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS UP IN WAUCONDA.
THIS ONE ASKS “SO MANY YEWS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD APPEAR BURNED AND SCORCHED ON SOUTH SIDES AND WHY?”
I BROUGHT IN A FEW SAMPLES OF WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU CAN SEE THE BROWN NEEDLES ON THE SURFACE OR ON THE ENDS OF THE BRANCHES HERE ON THIS YEW.
IT ALSO, HERE IS A BOXWOOD THAT HAS THE SAME TYPE OF CONDITION.
THIS IS SOMETHING CALLED DESICCATION.
IT IS WHERE THE GROUND FREEZES, AND THE PLANT STILL WANTS TO TAKE UP WATER, BUT IT CAN’T BECAUSE OF THE FROZEN GROUND.
SO THE SUN AND WIND WILL AFFECT THE PLANT NEGATIVELY, AND IT WILL BROWN AND SINGE ON THE END OF THE BRANCHES.
THIS IS USUALLY SOMETHING THAT IS A TEMPORARY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH YEWS.
YEWS ARE THE ONLY EVERGREEN I KNOW OF THAT CAN GENERATE FROM BARE WOOD.
THEY HAVE VEGETATIVE BUDS ALONG THE BRANCHES THAT CAN PUT OUT MORE NEEDLES.
DON’T TRIM YEWS BACK THE MOMENT YOU SEE BROWN ON THEM.
I WOULD WAIT UNTIL JUNE BEFORE YOU PRUNE ANYTHING OFF BECAUSE THEY MIGHT RESPROUT, AND YOU WOULD BE LOSING A LOT PLANT IF YOU PRUNE THEM NOW.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HINTS.
YOU CAN FERTILIZE THE EVERGREENS A LITTLE BIT TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN, AND THEN BE SURE TO WATER THEM INITIALLY THROUGH THE DRY SEASON.
IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB TO KEEP EVERGREENS IN GOOD SHAPE GOING INTO THE WINTER.
THAT MEANS WATERING IF WE HAVE A DRY FALL, MULCHING THE BEDS AND KEEPING THEM IN GOOD SUPPLY OF MOISTURE.
>>GOOD, PREVENTATIVE TIPS.
ON TO YOU, BOB.
EAT MORE STRAWBERRIES?
>> I WILL WAIT.
>>GOT ANOTHER QUESTION HERE THAT A PERSON DOWN IN BROOKFIELD SAID HE PLANTED DWARF APPLE TREES FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
THEY LOOK NICE, BUT THERE ARE NO FRUIT.
HE IS GETTING KIND OF ANXIOUS.
PLANTED FRUIT TREES, AND NO FRUIT.
WHAT PROBABLY HAPPENS ON SOME OF THESE TREES AND MANY PLANTS, THEY ARE JUST TOO YOUNG.  I WOULD IMAGINE GETTING FRUIT THIS YEAR—IF YOU ARE ON DWARFING ROOT STOCK APPLE TREE, IT WILL PRODUCE FRUIT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
AND STOCK IS PROBABLY M7 OR M111, ONE OF THE ROOT STOCKS.
IT PROBABLY IS FIVE OR SIX YEARS I WOULD GUESS.
MY GUESS YOU WILL GET APPLES THIS YEAR.
>>OKAY!
(LAUGHING).
>>DIANNE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY.
>>RIGHT.
I SEE HOW YOU ARE.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT—WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY WAIT, BUT I HOPE HE DOESN’T HAVE TO AFTER THIS YEAR.
SHOULD BE SOON ANYWAY.
IT WILL BE COMING.
>>WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU, JIM.
WELL, WE HAD A QUESTION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH OAK TREES, PIN OAK TREES.
>>YEAH, UH-HUH.
WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HORNED OAK GALL.
I BROUGHT IN HORNED OAK GALLS.
THIS IS SOMETIMES A VERY SERIOUS PEST ON PIN OAK AND SHINGLE OAK.
IT IS A NATIVE INSECT, BUT IT IS A LITTLE TINY WASP.
WHEN THEY START FEEDING IN THE TISSUE, THEN THE PLANT REACTS BY FORMING THIS STRUCTURE WHICH WE CALL A GALL.
THIS IS CALLED THE HORNED OAK GALL BECAUSE IT HAS THESE LITTLE SPINES STICKING OUT OF IT.
>>YEAH.
THIS HAS A TWO YEAR CYCLE, AND IT CAN BE VERY, VERY SERIOUS ON SOME OF OUR OAKS, PARTICULARLY, LIKE SAID, THE SHINGLE OAK, AS WELL AS THE PIN OAKS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF RESISTENCE TO SOME OAKS.
SOME OAKS MAYBE LOADED WITH THESE GALLS, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE VERY FEW OR NO GALLS.
SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE PROPAGATING ONES THAT ARE GALL-FREE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.
BUT THERE IS REALLY NOT TOO MUCH YOU CAN DO AS FAR AS CONTROLLING THIS.
IT IS REALLY SOME PLANTS ARE—OR SOME TREES ARE MUCH MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN OTHERS.
>>WHEN YOU SAID TWO YEAR CYCLE, DOES THAT MEAN YOU DON’T—DO YOU SEE IT FOR THE WHOLE TWO YEARS?
>> YES, YOU WILL SEE IT—IN FACT, THESE GALLS WILL STAY ON THE BRANCH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
>>YES THEY ARE ACTIVE FOR TWO YEARS.
>>THE INSECT IS ACTIVE FOR TWO YEARS.  IT CAN GET SO BAD IT WILL KILL BRANCHES.
SOMETIMES THIS CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE STATE, LOWER PART OR MIDDLE PART OF THE STATE, THEY CAN ACTUALLY KILL SOME SMALLER TREES.
IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PEST.
NOW, YOU DO HAVE SOME CONTROL BY SQUIRRELS.
I BROUGHT THIS IN TO SHOW YOU THIS.
>>INTERESTING!
>>IN THE WINTERTIME, THE SQUIRRELS WILL SOMETIMES EAT THESE GALLS.
WHEN THEY DO THIS IN THE WINTERTIME, AND THE GALL FALLS THROUGH SNOW, IT IS ORANGE IN COLOR, BRIGHT ORANGE IN COLOR.
I HAVE HAD SOME PEOPLE CALL IN AND THEY SAID “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?”
I SAID, WELL, IT IS SQUIRRELS THAT WILL ACTUALLY FEED ON THE GALL.
THAT IS FUNNY.
>>THAT IS REALLY—IT IS ACTUALLY A CONTROL.
WE NEED MORE SQUIRRELS!
(LAUGHING).
>>BUT, REALLY, ONLY PROBLEM IS SOME OF THE OAKS ARE RESISTANT, SOME OF THE OAKS, LIKE SOME PIN OAKS.
>>PIN OAKS.
SOME ARE AND SOME AREN’T.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THERE IS NO CHEMICAL CONTROL.
>>I AM GLAD YOU FOLLOWED UP ON THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT WAS INTERESTING TO US.
THE SHOW GOES SO FAST.
WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US.
I WANT TO THANK YOU THREE FOR BEING HERE.
YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK GARDENING.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
BYE-BYE.