NOTES FROM A DIRTY OLD GARDENER
They’re back. Those pesky creatures that ensure our gardens will never be Eden. I was reminded of that last weekend when two people showed me holes in the leaves of their roses, and asked me what to spray. Bugs are unfortunately a reality in our gardens, but it is also unfortunate that we reflexively reach for the spray bottle. Hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S. It has allowed access to cheaper food and even made gardening much easier.
The problem is that these chemicals don’t always stay where we put them. That is why over the next few weeks, the column will be featuring a four-part series on managing pests in our gardens. It is important that if we do choose to use pesticides in our gardens, we use them in a limited and targeted way.
The first step in management is identification. Know thy enemy. They may not be as threatening as you think, and by the time you see the damage they may be gone. The internet is a wonderful resource for that, particularly Google images. You can also try taking a specimen to Kingwood or your favorite independent garden center.
The second step is identifying your tolerance level. Although a garden center can’t tolerate holes in the leaves of their roses, perhaps you can as long as they don’t threaten the life of the plant. If you can’t and feel compelled to spray something try the least toxic method first. Oils, soaps, and neem are often just as effective as more potent chemicals that may lead to more problems by also killing beneficial insects.
Finally timing is everything in pest control, just as it is in comedy. I’ll talk more about that next week in Bug Basics. In the meantime, keep your eyes wide open but put the trigger on safety. As Rachel Carson said in her 1962 book Silent Spring, “In nature, nothing exists alone.”
Where have all the Impatiens gone?
Impatiens walleriana, the common bedding plant of choice for shade, has long been the best selling annual in the U.S.; however, problems with Downy Mildew on them has caused sales to plummet. They may even be hard to find this year because growers have stopped growing them.
The good news is that this Downy Mildew doesn’t infect other bedding plants, and New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkerii) are very resistant to Downy Mildew. They could provide some color in your shaded areas, and other options include begonias, caladiums, or torenia. For hanging baskets, fuchsia and streptocarpella would also do well. More information on Impatiens Downy Mildew.can be found here.
Plant of the Week: Sunpatiens
Ironically, the plant of the week is an impatiens; however, it has no Impatiens walleriana blood in it so it is not susceptible to Downy Mildew. It does have New Guinea blood in it so the leaves and flowers look very much like a New Guinea. According to Tom Parry, sales rep for Michell’s, a plant brokerage company, it has none of the fussiness of the New Guineas. It tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions: sun, shade, cold, hot. He says it is truly revolutionary, and as soon as people start seeing it in a neighbor’s yard, it will take the bedding plant world by storm.
I have been disappointed in the past by claims of sun tolerant impatiens, but this appears to be an entirely different beast. The breeder, Sakata, claims it spreads three times as much as traditional impatiens. That is good because you can’t buy it in cell packs. They’re too vigorous which means more money per plant, but more bang for your buck. Worth a try I think. For more information and pictures go here.
Happenings
The season for Farmer’s Markets has begun and our area has a few choices. The North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC) is sponsoring the North End Farmer’s Market on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through October. It’s located at the USW Union Hall at 376 W. Longview from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More info can be found at the NECIC’s Facebook page.
Downtown Mansfield, Inc. is again sponsoring a Farmer’s Market on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Carrousel. You can pick up some carrots for your favorite pony.
Other communities with Farmer’s Markets include Bellville and Shelby. Bellville’s was started by a nine-year-old who is now graduating from college and is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the corners of Church and Main. Shelby’s is not as old but gets better with each year. Although it won’t begin until mid-June, it is also on Saturdays from nine to noon on Main Street in downtown Shelby. Look for more information on their Facebook page.
Let me know if there are any other ones to include, and what your favorite Farmer’s Market is. Also if you have a gardening or nature related event you’d like included, let me know at jmakley@centurylink.net.