This week in the garden (May 7), after a couple of hard freezes this week, the garden season can finally start rolling. The soil is warming up enough now for cool-season crops, so it’s a good time to get radishes, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, and onion sets planted. You can also transplant cabbage and onion plants outdoors now without much worry.
Tomatoes and peppers, though, still need a little patience. They really prefer nighttime temperatures above 50 degrees before they start growing well. Cooler nights can stunt them and even cause those purple leaves gardeners often notice from reduced phosphorus uptake. Vine crops like cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons should wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 55 degrees.
Flowerbeds are in a similar situation. Hardy flowers like pansies, salvia, and bachelor buttons can handle the cooler weather and do just fine going out now. Marigolds and zinnias, on the other hand, are much happier once the weather settles down and the nights stay warmer.
If crabgrass has been a problem in your lawn before, this is the right time to apply a preemergent. For tougher weeds like foxtail and sandburs, plan on putting down a second application in about four weeks for better control through the summer.
In the next couple of weeks, you’ll probably start noticing those bright orange “spiders” showing up on cedar trees. Those are cedar apple rust galls releasing spores that can spread to apple trees through the wind. If rust has been an issue on your apple trees in the past, that’s the signal to spray with an all-purpose orchard spray and follow the label directions carefully.
Several people have also mentioned seeing a white powdery coating on grass. Found especially on the north side of houses or under shade trees. That’s powdery mildew, a common lawn fungus this time of year. Avoid watering in the evenings, increase fertilization a bit, and try to improve airflow if possible. Long-term, planting grass varieties that are more resistant to powdery mildew is usually the best solution.
This week in the garden (May 1st) is starting out pleasantly after the rainfall. There have been several questions lately about rhubarb bolting so early this season. What you’re seeing is the plant sending up seed stalks, and it’s mainly due to the swings in weather. It was those warm days followed by a quick return to cooler temps. It’s pretty common. The fix is simple: just go out and cut those flower stalks off right at the base of the plant. That helps the plant put its energy back into producing those nice, thick stalks you want to harvest. While you’re at it, giving the plant a boost with a bag of manure or some compost worked in around it will go a long way.
As for planting season, our average last frost date around here is May 8th. That doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear—it just means there’s less than a 50% chance of a hard frost after that point. There’s still always a bit of a gamble, especially in South Dakota. So, if you’re itching to plant early, just know you’re rolling the dice a little before planting in the garden.
Honeycrisp apples
Apple trees are a great fit for this area, as long as you choose varieties that can handle our cold winters and the occasional late spring frost. Some of the most reliable options come out of the Upper Midwest, things like Honeycrisp, Haralson, Prairie Magic, and State Fair. These have proven they can take the cold and still produce good fruit year after year.
If your place is more exposed—out in the open with wind or in a colder pocket, it’s usually better to lean toward the tougher, more dependable trees like Haralson or Prairie Magic. They may not get as much attention as Honeycrisp, but they tend to show up and produce consistently. Some folks also like to include a crabapple, such as Dolgo crabapple. They’re extremely hardy and do a great job helping with pollination.
That brings up an important point, apple trees aren’t like sour cherries. Most apples are not self-pollinating, so if you want fruit, you’ll need at least two different varieties. They should bloom around the same time so bees can move pollen between them. An easy setup is two different apple varieties, or even one apple tree paired with a crabapple nearby.
So, the bottom line is this: apples grow well here if you pick the right varieties. You’ll want more than one tree to make it work. Once they’re established, they’re a rewarding addition and don’t require anything too complicated. Give them a decent spot with good sunlight and a little protection from the wind.
Each week, we’ll pick a different fruit tree and give a quick, practical rundown to help you decide what might work best in your yard, garden, or acreage.
In South Dakota, you’ll run into a handful of tick species pretty regularly, especially from spring through early fall when things start to green up, and people are spending more time outside. The main ones are well documented by groups like the South Dakota Department of Health and SDSU Extension. Once you know what to look for, it gets a lot easier to recognize what you’re dealing with.
The one most folks are familiar with is the American dog tick, often called a wood tick. This is the most common tick you’ll find statewide. They hang out in grassy fields, along trails, and even right off the side of the road. They’re a bit larger than some of the others and have that reddish-brown color with lighter markings. These are the ticks people are usually pulling off themselves, kids, or dogs after being outside. They can carry diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, so they’re not something to ignore.
Then you’ve got the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. These are found mostly in eastern South Dakota, especially in wooded or brushy areas. They’re much smaller, sometimes no bigger than a poppy seed when young, which makes them easy to miss. Even though they’re tiny, they get a lot of attention because they can transmit Lyme disease. If there’s one tick people tend to worry about the most, it’s this one. Mainly because it can go unnoticed for longer.
Another one showing up more often is the lone star tick. Its range has been expanding, and it’s becoming more common in parts of the state. You’ll usually find them in brushy areas or along the edges of woods in the western parts of the state. The females are easy to identify thanks to that single white dot on their back—the “lone star.” These ticks are a bit more aggressive than others and will actively seek out a host instead of just waiting around. They’re known to spread ehrlichiosis and have been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, which can cause a red meat allergy.
Out west, you’re more likely to run into the Rocky Mountain wood tick. They look pretty similar to the American dog tick, but they’re more tied to grasslands and shrub areas in western South Dakota. Like the others, they can carry diseases like Colorado tick fever and certain spotted fevers, being the main ones. If you’re spending time in those western parts of the state, especially in open range or prairie country, these are the ones to keep in mind.
When you’re heading out into tall grass, pastures, or wooded areas, a little planning. What you wear can go a long way in keeping ticks off you. Start with the basics, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a good pair of high boots. It might not be the coolest outfit on a warm South Dakota day, but covering up exposed skin makes it much harder for ticks to latch on in the first place. Choosing light-colored clothing is another simple trick that really helps, since ticks are much easier to spot before they can attach.
It’s also worth taking things a step further by treating your clothing and gear with permethrin (0.5%). This treatment sticks around for several washes and adds an extra layer of protection. If you’d rather not treat items yourself, you can find pre-treated clothing that’s ready to go. For any exposed skin, use an EPA-registered insect repellent. Products containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or 2-undecanone are all solid options—just be sure to follow the directions on the label so you’re getting the protection you expect.
Don’t forget about your dogs, especially if they’re running through pasture, shelterbelts, or along creek bottoms. Ticks love to hitch a ride on them and can easily end up in your home. Using a veterinarian-recommended tick preventive, whether that’s a collar, topical treatment, or oral medication, can make a big difference. It’s also a good habit to check your dogs over after they’ve been outside, paying close attention to areas like around the ears, under the collar, between the toes, and along the belly.
Around your home, a little yard maintenance can go a long way in reducing tick habitat. Keep grass mowed, trim back weeds and brush, and clean up leaf litter where ticks like to hide. If you have a yard that borders pasture or trees, consider creating a barrier with gravel or wood chips to limit tick movement into your lawn. Keeping play areas and frequently used spaces open and sunny can also help, since ticks prefer cool, shaded, and moist environments.
