In the night sky this week, Jupiter is chilling in the constellation Taurus in the night sky this week. It’s visible high in the west after sunset and sets quickly after.
Mars is hanging out nearby in Gemini, near the twin stars Castor and Pollux, around 5 hours after sunset in the west. The red planet is getting dimmer as the Earth pulls away from it in its orbit.
The bright object you see around an hour before sunrise in the east is Venus. It is gaining in brightness as it closes in on Earth’s orbit.
Look a bit at the upper left of Venus and you’ll find Saturn. Look for Saturn above the horizon 90 minutes before sunrise, along with the crescent moon nearby, next Thursday.
Vega shines in the northeast as summer’s brightest star. It is twice the size of our sun and only 25 light years from us. Vega has been our North Star in the past and again in the distant future.
So, grab a blanket, maybe a telescope or binoculars, and enjoy the cosmic spectacle this week has to offer this week through May 22nd. The night sky is putting on quite a show this week—let’s take a look at what’s up there!
This week in the garden, you may have heard the term “drought cold tolerance” floating around in garden circles lately? It’s basically about how winter damage can be worse when we don’t get enough snow to insulate plants and provide moisture in the soil. This is especially a problem for evergreens. Right now, you might be noticing browning on the branches, particularly on the south and west sides. Unfortunately, there’s not much to do but wait and hope they fill back in. Younger evergreens tend to bounce back better than older ones, so fingers crossed!
Adult lilac borer
Speaking of timing, once the lilacs finish blooming, it’s a good time to cut out any dead canes or branches. This is especially important because it helps manage lilac borers. These pests start off as tiny, wasp-like insects that lay eggs on the canes. Once those eggs hatch, the larvae burrow in and can kill off the canes.
If you’re gearing up to plant those greenhouse veggies and flowers, remember to harden them off first. Don’t just plop them straight into the garden with the current wind and heat. Start by putting them on the east side of your house, where they’ll get gentler light. Gradually move them to sunnier, windier spots over the course of a week. This is especially crucial for more tender vining crops. Luckily, the forecast says things should cool down by the weekend.
Got problems with crabgrass or sandburs in the lawn? Now’s the time to apply pre-emergent herbicide. Look for one that includes fertilizer to give your grass a little extra boost.
Fasciated asparagus spears
Oh, and if you’re seeing some weird, thick, flat asparagus spears, don’t worry. That’s called fasciation, and it can happen with flowers too. It’s usually just a weather-related oddity and won’t harm the plant.
Blooming rhubarb
Lastly, keep an eye on your rhubarb. If it’s starting to bolt and send up flower stalks, go ahead and snip those off. You want the plant to put its energy into the stems and leaves, not into flowering.
Found the first ticks of the year this week in the garden on the dog Magdelin, I mean Her Royal Highness Queen Magdelin II Regent (and yes, she thinks she is). Time to take her in to get her tick-prevention medication.
Cedar apple rust on a juniper (first of May)Cedar apple rust on apple leaves (August)
Back to the garden, if you’ve noticed red spots showing up on your apple tree leaves in the summer, you’re probably dealing with cedar apple rust. The best way to handle it is with prevention. An all-purpose orchard spray can help keep it at bay, but make sure to read the instructions and spray at the right times. One really important thing—don’t spray during bloom! You want to leave the pollinators like bees alone so they can do their work. Depending on how the weather plays out, you may need to reapply the spray a few times throughout the season.
When planting new apple trees, it’s worth considering varieties that are resistant to rust. That way, you’re ahead of the game before any problems start. Cedar apple rust overwinters on junipers. Come spring, you might notice weird gray or reddish growths on the branches that look like they have little spider legs. That’s the fungus getting ready to release spores into the wind and head straight for your apple trees.
With summers getting warmer and drier, mulching is becoming more important. For trees, aim for about three inches of mulch around the base, but be sure not to let the mulch touch the tree’s bark. For flower beds—whether perennials or annuals—a lighter layer of one to two inches will do. In the garden, you can go a bit heavier with up to four inches of organic mulch. Just avoid using fresh green grass clippings, as they’re not ideal for mulch.
Clover Lawn in Pierre, SD
When it comes to lawns, clover often gets a bad rap, but it does some good. It helps reduce weed growth and adds organic matter to your soil. Some people are even making the switch to full clover lawns because they’re easier to maintain than traditional grass. If you’ve got a clover but don’t want it in your lawn, using a high-nitrogen fertilizer can help strengthen the grass and crowd the clover out.
AphidsMealy BugsScaleWhite Flies
As the temperatures rise, you might start seeing more indoor pests making an appearance, like aphids, white flies, spider mites, mealy bugs, scale, and even fungus gnats. A lot of these can be handled with insecticidal soaps, Neem oil, or other insecticide sprays, but you’ll likely need to apply them more than once. Always check the product label so you know how to use it safely and effectively.
