ITS STILL JUST DIRT APRIL 2022 by Angela Lassam

Everyone remembers the trees being stripped of their foliage and not being able to sit under a big Maple tree for shade, even finding it hard to go for a walk in a woodlot without being bombarded by small brown beads – yes it was the Gypsy Moth caterpillar munching away in the tree canopy. If left uncontrolled our trees and gardens will suffer dramatically.

The Gypsy moth or its new name ‘spongy moth’ was renamed because of its slur towards the Romani population as it is considered a pest. It was reintroduced to Eastern Canada arriving in soviet freighter.

After the winter when the leaves start to open on a tree the eggs will hatch and become larvae (caterpillar). The newly hatched larvae spin a fine silk thread and it is blown in the wind to infect other trees. They grow very quickly consuming up to one square metre of leaves in a short time and it is during this time we notice the devastation they create. The caterpillar is very easy to see when fully grown. It is dark brown and hairy with a row of red and blue dots. After pupation the male moth, brown in colour will fly between trees seeking the female. Its lifespan is only one week. The female moth which is a cream colour is flightless. She is very easy to see on tree trunks. She lays eggs that look like creamy sacs. There can be as many as 1000 eggs in a sac and many sacs can be seen on the trunks and limbs where they overwinter.  The cycle of the gypsy moth starts again.

There are some ways to reduce their population. When the leaves are just forming in May a bio-pesticide BTK can be sprayed on the tree as far up as you can reach. Read the instructions carefully before applying. Wear protection as suggested but it is harmless to humans as the solution has bacteria specifically for insects.

The alternative is to wrap the trunk with a band of burlap 18” wide. Tie it with string round the middle and fold downwards to create a pocket for the caterpillars to crawl into. Remove them daily into a bucket of bleach and dish soap and dispose of later. Use gloves and be careful as the hairs on the caterpillar can cause severe irritation.

Another way is to carefully scrape the egg sacs off the tree and dispose the same way as caterpillars.

There is some happy news that within three years of a severe infestation it is reported they succumb to viral and fungal pathogens.

Another problem in our garden is a tree that can be found in woodlots and many established gardens. It is the Black Walnut tree. If you have moved into a new home you may have one in your garden. They grow quickly and give a large shade canopy but it nothing will grow under it. A chemical called juglone can be found in all parts of the tree. The fruit (nuts), leaves and roots all leach juglone into the soil. Leaves and nuts should not go into the compost and the roots of this large tree make an area of 50’ from the trunk tainted with juglone. Plants will be stunted, have yellow leaves and poor flowers. There are plants that are not susceptible to its toxicity. Ones well known to gardeners are hostas, hollyhocks, astilbes, purple coneflowers, chrysanthemums, snowdrops and grape hyacinths. Also forsythia, mock orange and yucca will do well. Once any flower has been planted under a black walnut tree it cannot be transplanted in another area as the juglone can live on in it and taint the area around it.

Angela Lassam

Perennials are the backbone of any garden and show continuous color throughout the year. They are so versatile giving structure and texture to create a pleasing picture at any time. You buy them only once for years of pleasure and they need little care and attention.

A perennial is a flower that returns in the garden every year when the soil warms up putting up small buds or tips to remind us where they are.

Most perennials are good to stay in the garden. They go dormant and wait for Spring but there are some that have been introduced from warmer climates and these need to be dug up every Fall and stored to be replanted in the following year. Learning of the types of perennials will help.

Whether you are starting a new bed of flowers or adding to your landscape you will need to read the tags on your choice. The height, width, how much sun and drought tolerance are important. The time of blooming will allow you to have flowers blooming continually to give a glorious show all Summer. Your garden needs to be layered and will be beautiful if the selection of perennial flowers are carefully chosen. A little sketching of a new bed before you buy will give greater satisfaction. Remember they will grow much larger as years go by.

It is less expensive to buy bare root perennials from catalogues, stores or nurseries but their appearance can be disturbing unless you are aware of their characteristics. New gardeners may be surprised at their appearance so let me explain the differences.

Most plants are bare root which is a main centre with hairy roots. These can be planted directly in your garden after risk of frost and watered well to settle the roots. A name marker and a support is a good idea. They will soon produce leaves as the weather gets warmer. Remember the tallest towards the back of a bed. Names of a few are coneflower, poppy, shasta daisy and taller phlox. All of these can be divided in later years to replant elsewhere in your garden or share with fellow gardeners.

Other roots with eyes are called rhizomes, once planted can be left in the soil from there on. The eyes are small tips. The more eyes on the root you purchase the more flowers you can get. Astilbe, Hosta and Peony are in this group and do not require planting too deep, just cover the eyes with soft soil. Peonies will need a cage or other support as flower heads get heavy.

There are other rhizomes that have an underground stem, planted almost on top of the soil. The stem will send out roots, more stem with leaves, and flowers along its length. All irises are like this and will grow into a large clump in a few years. If your iris ’are not producing flowers it may be from the root borer so dig them up and cut away holey parts and replant. The following year – more flowers!

Tubers are bulbous roots with small growing tips which will be the flower. Some of these will need to be lifted in the Fall and stored in peat moss, then replanted the following Spring. They do not like to freeze. Their appearance in packages are tubular with thick skins. For the first year these can be potted and started indoors to give you early flowers. They need to be dug up in the Fall and stored in a dry place preferably in peat moss. Replant the following year for more joy. Dahlias are the best ones which come in all sizes and maturity dates for a continual summer color. Be sure to check the package details.

Of course bulbs should be considered perennial flowers as they will come back year after year. Spring bulbs once planted in the Fall return every year and will naturally multiply and are the first splash of color in the garden-  daffodils, tulips and crocus to name a few. Summer bulbs are the Allium and lilies which are very showy planted in groups.

The choices are endless and all gardeners have some of them in their garden because they are the basis of all landscaping both formal and heavily planted beds. They are rewarding every year and need only deadheading and watering with a fertiliser mix to give a wonderful show.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society has returned to its monthly meetings in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Complex.

Come join us at our monthly meeting and meet like minded gardeners. See you there, become a member for $20 per year or $4 meeting (refunded on membership). Check out our website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca and Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural for all about gardening.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg Norfolk News – May 2021
by Angela Lassam 

There are many good reasons for us to give dandelions some space.

Dandelions have been given a bad name by the gardeners who wish for a perfect lawn. It is not the invasive weed most people think it is. 

It is a perennial herb introduced to the U.S. and Canada by the pilgrims who brought dandelions with them to use as a medicine and food crop. The yellow flowers are the first color we see after the winter and you will see fields of permanent pasture and roadsides covered with the flowers. They pop up in lawns every year even if you try to eradicate them. Many people consider them to be weeds.

The flowers are the first pollen and nectar for bees and other insects and the leaves and seeds feed birds, chipmunks and other wildlife. Later the fluffy heads will be used by hummingbirds to line their tiny nests.

For the gardener the roots will go deep (it is said they will grow 10’ to 15’ deep) and will open the hardest, poorest soil. When the plants are cut and composted they can add nutrients to the soil as they are rich in calcium, iron and potassium.

All parts of a dandelion are edible. It has a bitter, peppery taste. The root can be dried and used as a coffee substitute as it is in the Chicory family, or roasted and used as you would use turnip. The leaves can be added to a salad, pizza or made into pesto. They can be made into chips similar to kale. Remember if using leaves pick from where there has never been any pesticides or herbicides applied. The flowers can be added to a salad or make a refreshing tea. You can use the flowers to turn your hand to making a good wine.

Dandelions have been used medicinally for centuries. They are rich in vitamin A, C and K. They can be used to detoxify the body and support healthy liver and kidney function. They are reputed to be an appetite stimulant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and able to balance blood sugar also lower cholesterol. The sap/milk in the stem is latex. It is said to cure warts and can be used to heal scrapes and cuts.

For spinners and weavers who use natural dyes the dandelion has many colour variations. The root with alum create magenta, added to tin and vinegar gives a purple, and the flowers produce a vivid yellow. 

Maybe with this knowledge you may give the ‘weed’ a second thought. It gives us our first glow of outdoor colour in the spring. Every part of a dandelion has been proven good for our gardens and our health.

I used dandelions as my subject as it is yellow. It is the colour of hope and Communities in Bloom and all gardeners are encouraged to plant ALL yellow. It is our hope to end the pandemic and get back to a new normalcy.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society has had a positive response to a modified Junior Gardeners Program. For any information contact Pat Zeyen –  email patzeyen@gmail.com.

There will be a Zoom meeting for members on June 1st@ 7.30 p.m. featuring Denis Flanagan. The topic will be Gardening Trends, New Varieties and Fusion Gardening. Watch for email.

All updates to Society news will be posted on the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca and Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural. 

  Stay safe, stay well until we can all meet again.  

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg Norfolk News – April 2021
by Angela Lassam

We are all enjoying the beautiful days and doing the cleanup in our gardens. The sunshine gives us the energy to get active but temperatures will drop and aggressive gardeners may be sorry for their haste.

It is acceptable to remove all leaves left as a false mulch around perennials to allow them to shoot. Remove all dead pieces surrounding the bottom of perennials and pull any dead leaves from the centre to prevent mold /fungus from killing them. It is also a time to relocate them to a more suitable spot if they are not performing as you expected or divide them to control their size and shape. 

Pruning is a good task as branches are easier to take out without leaves and removing crossed branches. Shrubs need bottom cleaning to deter attacks from insects and keep their shape. You may see small new growth beside a shrub and this can be carefully removed to plant elsewhere to make a new one or give away. 

Hoeing will loosen the soil around plants to help them start regrowing and you can remove any early weeds.

Lawns need care and now is the time. Pick up any trash and fallen branches and assess bare patches for later repair. Then roll to flatten out holes and trails made by rodents over the winter. As the grass grows you will need to fertilize.

It is not the time to plant annuals as they need a soil temperature of 20 degrees C. and cannot take air temperatures below 10 degrees C. Plants will be stunted if placed in cold soil. Soil in raised beds is generally warmer and can be planted sooner. There are some vegetables which can be sown or planted preferring the cooler days to start. Potatoes, peas, carrots, swiss chard and radish are in this group.

Planning where to use annuals is a rainy day thought and there is an initiative this year in the gardening world to grow “all that is yellow”. It is called “Hope is Growing” and Communities in Bloom is promoting yellow as it is the color of hope. The country could be aglow with yellow if everyone plants predominantly yellow. Public gardens, planters, front yards and anywhere flowers can be seen are encouraged to be yellow. For those people who are interested in participating in the “yellow” summer go to https://www.hopeisgrowing.ca .      

There is a David Austen rose launched especially for this year which is yellow. It is called ‘Nye Bevan’  to honour Aneurin Bevan who founded the National Health Service in the UK after World War II  and in recognition of the healthcare workers around the world. Sadly it is unavailable in Canada but there are many yellow roses you could purchase.

Tillsonburg Horticultural Society has decided to renew the Junior Gardens Program this year. There will be a limit of 100 gardeners of all ages. The theme this year is “Plant a HOPE Garden” to partner with Communities In Bloom, ‘yellow for hope’ using yellow 4 o’clocks, sunflowers and yellow beans as part of the planting package. More information to follow as the program has been redesigned for the safety of our gardeners and volunteers. This will be co-ordinated by Pat Zeyen  contact patzeyen@gmail.com.

Tillsonburg Horticultural Society opened a Zoom meeting on April 6th which was all about birds. This was to connect members and an email follow-up was sent with very interesting media sites for all to enjoy. No new updates for the future due to Covid restrictions. Check the website and Facebook for constant updates. Stay home, stay safe, stay well.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg Norfolk News – September 2020
by Angela Lassam

It is the time of year to take a look at our lawns and decide if we can make a change. We have drier summers needing constant watering and grubs ‘munching’ away on the roots of grass. Every year we struggle with brown, patchy lawns. Racoons and skunks are no help as they dig holes in our lawns searching for the white grubs to eat giving us many hours of repair work.

The common treatment for this in the fall has been to use nematodes to kill the larvae of the beetles laid in the grass and needs to be repeated every year. For full information look online www.heemans.ca/garden-guides/nematodes .

New seed mixtures are becoming more available for the average gardener and worth considering whether you are redoing a lawn or over seeding.

 Micro clover and tall fescue as a mixture is an ideal replacement for lawns. Micro clover is a legume which fixes the nitrogen in the soil, naturally fertilizing it. It gives the lawn a richer colour and needs less watering. It is not a tiny version of regular clover as when mowed the leaves grow smaller and generally multiply with fewer flowers. It is hardy to zone 3 so ideal for our winter. Tall fescue (turf type) is a perennial grass, hardy to zone 4 which does not create a thatch bottom and is complimentary to micro clover. It is a good alternative for reseeding. It should be done in the fall 2 weeks before frost to allow some growth.

 Japanese beetles and chafer beetles in the white grub stage are the ones that feed on the roots of grass and kill it but they will not eat legumes and do not like the open growth of the tall fescue. An added bonus of micro clover is that it is not affected by pet urine (white patches).

Other alternatives to grass can be easily listed:

• Stones laid in a mosaic in a small area can be very effective using a variety of coloured stones and various sizes.
• Large river rock interspersed with ornamental grasses can create a privacy curtain and would have low maintenance.
• Paving stones spaced apart with stepable plants – red creeping thyme, Irish /Scotch moss, New Zealand brass buttons, blue star creeper, creeping speedwell to name a few create interest.

There is always new ideas worth considering and now is the time to think of next summer when you will be enjoying your revamped space.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will not have any meetings for this year, please check the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca and Facebook – Tillsonburghorticultural for any updates. Stay well and stay safe.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – July 2020
by Angela Lassam

In our gardens during the Summer we look forward to watching the hummingbirds feeding and the Monarch butterflies settling on the milkweed that we grow specifically for them. Both are in the group called pollinators although we think only of the bees and other flying insects. Our gardens need these to pollinate our plants to produce food. Every year gardening is a challenge but there is the constant balance of our plants and the butterflies and birds. 

Monarchs are the butterflies most people are familiar with as they are on the endangered list and there has been plenty of exposure and speculation to their demise. They are the big orange and black butterflies that arrive from Mexico in June who are searching for their host plants milkweed to lay their eggs on. The eggs are very small and pale green. They can be found on the underside of the leaves. They feed on the sap which is toxic to any predators (including humans). The caterpillar is quite large and a vivid green and yellow. It remains on the host plant feeding. When it is time to pupate it moves to a nearby bush even into lavender. The chrysalis is a pale green pendular shape and the butterfly emerges and feeds on the flower nectar. Other plants they like are butterfly weed (a bush) which is orange, purple coneflower and liatris. They migrate south to Mexico usually in groups in September. They can be seen resting in the evening on the lakeshore trees in huge numbers if you are lucky.

There are many butterflies that visit our gardens and the Swallowtail is worth a mention too. This is the large black and yellow one that lays eggs on the parsley and carrots. The caterpillar is similar to the Monarch but added white stripes and devours all foliage as it grows. Parsley is considered a sacrificial plant to grow to help the eco-system of our gardens.

The arrival of hummingbirds to our gardens lets us know summer is here. They return to the same place from the far south to breed and will leave again the end of August /September. They are the most recognized and popular small birds and encouraged to our yards with sugar feeders (homemade nectar is easy with one part sugar to four parts water changed every two days). They eat half their body weight daily consisting of nectar and insects. You cannot miss the ruby-throated hummingbirds as they have an iridescent green back, white bib with a red spot above on the male and a long beak, only weighing approx. 4 grams. They hover by the feeders or flower heads to feed and a thrumming sound of their wings can be heard. They are speedy flyers and can fly in reverse and vertically, making them a pleasure to watch. Common flowers to grow for them – Trumpet vine, daylilies, cleome, petunias and any trumpet-like flower head.

They make a tiny nest of leaves, lichen, moss and spider webs and lay two eggs, well hidden from predators like bats. They are hard to find as they are only the size of a walnut shell. The mother is the sole caretaker. Adults usually live three to five years. 

These are just a few of interesting facts but for a detailed website look at  https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-hummingbirds/ 

For great information on migrating patterns take a look at www.journeysnorth.org where you will find maps for various sightings and other information.

There is still no activity for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society. Check out the website www.tillsonburghortical.ca for any updates. When there browse the archives of It’s Still Just Dirt. Also  take a look on Facebook – Tillsonburghorticultural and become a friend. Stay well and stay safe!

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – June 2020
by Angela Lassam

Everywhere you look there are hanging baskets and patio containers full of color to brighten our outdoor living spaces. They will not stay that way without some care and attention. There are three things you must do to keep them looking as good as when they were purchased – watering, fertilising and deadheading.

Watering daily may not be necessary depending on where they are placed. Check the moisture in the pot first, then if needed you can water until the water runs out the bottom. Many pots are very full so heavy watering is necessary to get to all the roots. A good check to see if you are watering properly is to lift the pot before watering. If it is light and the soil is light brown it needs water. A light sprinkling is not enough and can damage the leaves.

Planters and hangers that you buy, normally have a hole for drainage but if you assemble your own make sure there is adequate drainage in the bottom. If there is no hole you must make one otherwise your plants will remain water logged and get root rot. Patio planters will benefit from being slightly raised off the ground, porch or deck. A hoop of some sort or a trivet– check out the $ store is a suggestion.

To keep your plants growing well they will need fertiliser at least once a week. Usually it is powder which is mixed in a watering can and poured on the soil, not on the leaves as if they are too warm they will burn. There are fertilisers especially for good blooming and worth the investment as a container will go a long way and if stored correctly it will last a long time. Fertiliser is an important part of keeping your planter vibrant and continuously flowering. It is better to start with a solution of half strength. Make it a weekly routine to fertilise all containers. Most arrangements have a slow release fertiliser added before it is sold. Home planted ones will need this when planted as well as regular fertiliser watering. Miracle Gro make spikes or sticks specifically for this. 

A daily thing to do when checking the dryness of your containers is to deadhead which means to remove all dead flowers and if necessary dried, damaged leaves. If the heads are left on they will form a seed and not continue blooming. Later in the season you can cut back the long  ‘leggy’ ones and they will branch out again making new growth. Some gardeners take the main bloom away as soon as they buy their planter to allow the plant head to split into many bracts making more flowers per plant. As the season flows you may need to remove dead or unsightly plants and replace with later flowering ones. This adds the chance to follow the flowering season.

When a container is not doing well consider moving it as there are both shade lovers and sun worshipers in flower categories and plants are not usually labelled so it can be difficult for a first-time buyer. Try to ask at the nursery as it will make a big difference to your display of summer color. Begonias, fuchsia, impatiens especially the African type, coleus and trailing lobelia all prefer shade.

People buy flowers to surround us with color but whatever you grow take the time to enjoy the bright natural colors that summer gives us. 

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is continuing with a Covid 19 watch and will inform members of any updates so watch Facebook or check in on the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca . Meanwhile be well, be safe.