The Garden this Week (Sept. 19th)

We’re starting to see the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle showing up in the garden this week. Don’t worry—these little yellow-and-black bugs are actually helpful! They feed on flower pollen, and their larvae eat grasshopper eggs. So, no need to kill them.

Now, one insect you might want to deal with is the armyworm. Their eggs are hatching, and if you notice a heavy population in your lawn, it’s a good idea to treat it with a lawn insecticide before they cause too much damage.

This is also the right time to spray for perennial weeds and winter annual weeds. A 3-way spray containing 2,4-D plus Dicamba works well since it kills the roots. Just be careful if you’re spraying around trees.

If you’re seeing new growth on your trees or shrubs, resist the urge to prune it off. Just keep watering until they go dormant, and hold off on fertilizer—no woody plants should be fertilized this late in the season.

I’ve also had a couple of calls about mushrooms growing out of tree trunks. Unfortunately, that’s usually a sign of internal rot, which weakens the tree. If the tree is close to a house, shed, or other structure, it may be worth removing it before it comes down on its own.

And finally, some folks are noticing raspberries and blackberries are not setting berries this year. I’m seeing the same thing. The culprit? Our hot, dry summer limited pollination, so that is what is happening in the garden this week.