How do I deal with pesky wasps & bees?
Mid August is when we really begin to notice what a pest the wasps and bees can be. They become very aggressive as they search for sugar sources. Your can of soda becomes their target almost instantly when you open it. Why are they so aggressive? The queen bee sends out the worker bees to gather food for her new offspring. These workers remember where they got the sweets, they will be back and they will bring their friends. They are interested in getting the sweets and will generally leave you alone unless you swat or shoo them away. They are persistent. Be careful with little ones, bees love their juice cups and bottles. Take caution, make sure they are covered and wash off their faces. Bees are not picky on where they feed. Getting stung is a traumatic experience for little ones.
Homeowners will notice that the nests of these are huge and all over, around their homes, garages and any little nook they can find to build a nest. If you find you can not share your space with them, use a wasp or hornet spray, but do it at night. Find your target in the daylight and go back in the dark with a flashlight. Locate the nest, aim your spray, and turn off the flashlight and spray. Get out of the area and stay away for at least a half an hour. Go back and check, if you see any more activity, repeat the process. The next day, be sure to remove the nest. Put the nest in a plastic bag and throw it away. This will ensure that the pupae are destroyed as well.
Household ammonia is a great way to treat ground nests. Use full strength ammonia in a jar. Again, do it at night. Using your flashlight, locate the nest, turn off your light and rapidly pour all the ammonia down the hole. Get out of the area and don’t go back until morning. If you do not see anymore activity you have got them. Open up the nest and fill with soil so no surviving pupae emerge later.
Seek professional help if you have yellow jackets in a wall or attic. They have protective clothing and products to eliminate these pests.
How should I provide winter protection for my roses?
Garden roses are hardy and can usually withstand the varying temperatures of Ohio’s winters. But to ensure their protection, mulching is advised. Mulching means applying an organic material to the soil to prevent the soil from heaving up due to freezing and thawing. You should wait for a hard freeze before mulching. In Ohio, that usually means the end of November or early December. Good materials to use for mulch include Canadian sphagnum peat moss, wood chips and shredded bark. Mound up around the plant 8 to 10 inches for good weather protection. Stop in to ask for fact sheets on winter protection for roses - they're free!
Why is my evergreen turning brown or yellow?We have received numerous calls from our customers who want to know what is happening with their evergreens. Many are noticing browning or yellowing. Here is the scoop we have received from Ohio State Extension Offices. They believe that the browning is more wide spread and more severe than other years because of the early cold weather we had last fall. Once it turned cold, it stayed that way. many plants were not acclimated to such cold temperatures so fast. Along with the cold came snow and ice, which meant a lot of road salt. those along the highways and those planted in the prevailing winds seem to suffer the most.
Other factors that can cause the browning include winter desiccation (drying), drought, insects, disease and poor planting sites. If soil moisture is low or the root ball was not watered properly, or if roots are unhealthy from a poor planting site the needles will turn brown. these visible symptoms do not appear till spring.
What to do? Do your best to keep tree healthy. Fertilize this spring. Water when necessary. Call or stop by for our watering guide. Cross your fingers!
How do I know if I have spider mites?
Early detection of spider mites, before damage is noticed, is important. The tiny spider mites can be detected by taking a piece of white paper or cardboard and striking some plant foliage on it. Tiny specs that walk slowly or smear when rubbed are an indication of mites. Once detected, the use of a miticide can be helpful in controlling and eliminating them. Some over the counter products that can be purchased are Orthene, Cygon, Dursban or malathion.
How do I get my trees ready for winter?
Most of us have not forgotten how hot and dry this past summer has been. These weather conditions put stress on the landscape plants. Now is the time to take measures to help these trees and shrubs out. Before the soil freezes, it is important to water them in well. Mid to late fall is a good time to get this done. Put a garden hose on a slow trickle and allow this to run for a good 15 to 30 minutes. Good saturation is needed for the root system.
Another item a lot of people fail to think about is fertilizing these plants. One of the best times to feed these plants is October and November or before ground freezes, usually in December. Shrubs and small trees are easily done with granular or slow release fertilizer stakes. However, larger more mature trees are more difficult. They need a professional to do the fertilizing. Liquid fertilizer is injected into the ground. This should be done by professionals. Here at Richards we offer this service. We can come out to your location and measure the trees. An estimate can then be given. We do this in late fall.
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle or “Those Darn Ladybugs”
Many customers have asked our staff about this common little critter. We will share what we have learned. they really are beneficial predators that consume aphids, scale insects and a lot of other pests that injure plants in the gardens and landscaping. in the United States they seek over-wintering sites in and around buildings. Many find their way into homes through cracks and openings, often showing up heavily in late October. While being beneficial they do have some bad habits. Many homeowners become aggravated at the large numbers that take up residence in their homes. When disturbed they emit a smelly yellow-orange fluid that can permanently stain carpet, curtains or walls. Therefore, do not crush them. Best way to get rid of them is to bag them. Get the vacuum cleaner out and sweep them up. Prevention is your best weapon against this beetle. Seal up cracks around windows, doors and other openings with caulk. Installing tight fitting door sweep or thresholds at all exterior doors can be helpful. Use insect screening over attic and exhaust vents to prevent their entry. Keep door and window screens in good repair. Chemical control is available but should be done by a professional if the number of these beetles is unbearable.