I really like this mulch

Mulch
Mulch is one of the most important ways to control weeds and even more importantly it helps cool and dampen roots around trees.

Mulch is normally created in a forest environment by leaves or pine needles dropping from trees and protecting the root area around the tree. However in an ornamental setting we rake up these leaves and needles.

A good way to keep the ornamental setting looking nice yet build an environment that will give your tree roots water retention, oxygen and prevent weeds is to create a tree well around the tree and add a nice mulch.

I really like Scott's Nature Scapes - it comes in an easy to transfer bag. The wood chips are slightly broken down and even smells like good earth. Dye is added so it does not fade as fast as most mulch. 

How to avoid Powdery Mildew

My wife asked me what was on our plants in the back yard...hmmm married to a Master Gardner and guess what we have?
Powdery Mildew!

This weather is perfect, cool to hold moisture then hot to promote fungus growth on a roller coaster ride and the plants are showing it.

Couple of rules to keep in mind. Plants (including your lawn) needs to be dry by nightfall - fungus grows when wet in the dark.
Number two is air movement is important - many back yards (especially with the plastic fences) have little to no air movement and create a humid enviroment that is ideal for problems.

If you don't want to tear down the fence we can spray a fungicide but it needs to be done sooner than later.
Which means I'm headed out to the back yard to spray right now.

Fire Blight Alert is out

Rain vectors bacteria and fungus - combine that with this heat and we have a serious situation now.

Copper is an old standby but discolors - I use products that actually attack bacteria - the main point is you need to spray now if you have trees and shrubs vulnerable to fire blight conditions.

Here is a link for more information
http://www.pnwpestalert.net/

Spray Sycamores NOW!

If your Sycamores lost leaves in June last year and they are just starting to put leaves on now...you need to spray a fungicide for Sycamore Anthracnose.

This has to be done twice at bud break to get the fungicide into the buds.

I prefer a preventive systemic injection in the fall but if you did not do that you need to spray now. It is too late if you wait until leaf drop.

Spring has Sprung!!

Time to overwork parts of our body we haven't used all winter, get some blisters and re-learn the lesson of sunburn pain.

I see a lot of tree pruning this time of year and I just shake my head in saddness for the poor tree. It is not wrong to prune in the spring but this is a time when the tree is the most active and it does put that much more stress on it. The best time to prune is when it is dormant and I do that in November and all through those cold winter months.

If you have pruned watch the water - too much is as big a problem as too little.

Sacrificing to Jack Frost

I remember a great line from the mentor that taught my Master Gardners class, "every spring my wife does her yearly tomato plant sacrifice to Jack Frost."
We all get spring fever and want to get our gardens going but don't be tempted by the 70+ degree weather just yet.
The old timers in the area always used Squaw Butte (Big lone peak with no trees to the North) as a gauge - never plant until ALL the snow is off the Butte. It's worked for me for years.

WASP

Wasp

They see you - They follow you - They attack

Aggressive little foes; Wasp control is one of the most asked questions I get in a day.

Wasp work in a colony much like ants where there is a Queen who over wintered this year and started a brood that will grow up to 1200 workers and protectors of the colony. The paper hive you see hanging around from last year will not be used again however it will attract the next years colony so get rid of it. Most hives are underground which means you need to look for those as well as the obvious ones on the eve and the ones in pipes, trailers even cars sitting idle for a few weeks. You must spray the nest or hive to get real control. Even after you think they are gone - respray the nest hole because the larvae can still hatch after the adults are gone. Be very careful when spraying and do it when it is cool in the morning - not when it is hot and they are most active.

More Info