Cedar apple rust is a fungal disease that requires juniper
plants to complete its complicated two-year lifecycle. Spores overwinter as a
reddish-brown gall on young twigs of various juniper species. In early spring,
during wet weather, these galls swell, and bright orange masses of spores are
blown by the wind where they infect susceptible apple and crab-apple trees. The
spores that develop on these trees will only infect junipers the following
year. From year to year, the disease must pass from junipers to apples to
junipers again; it cannot spread between apple trees.
Rust gall on juniper
On apple and crab-apple trees, look for pale yellow pinhead
sized spots on the upper surface of the leaves shortly after bloom. These
gradually enlarge to bright orange-yellow spots which make the disease easy to
identify. Orange spots may develop on the fruit as well. Heavily infected
leaves may drop prematurely.
Rust on apple leaves
If your apple tree is prone to this disease, use an orchard
fungicide spray or an all-purpose orchard spray. Some varieties immune to this disease are:
Goldrush, Pristine, and Redfree.
Container gardening is a super-easy way to dress up your
front porch, add a splash of color to shady areas, or cope with poor soil in
your yard. Many plants thrive in containers. The most important thing is good
drainage. Make sure there’s a hole in the bottom of your pot so plants don’t
drown and read the tag or talk to the nursery to learn which plants do well in
your specific conditions, such as full sun or shade.
Copper plant container
With spring just around the corner, there’s no better time to start shopping for the perfect pot to display your greenery and showcase your aesthetic. Consider this collection of oversized pots that are sure to add visual interest to your space.
Old refurnished metal pails
Terra-Cotta
Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, terra-cotta pots
look great just about anywhere and their earthy color will enhance the beauty
of almost any plant. Made of a porous clay rich in iron, terra cotta has the
ability to “breathe,” which keeps potting soils cool and wicks excess moisture
away from plant roots, keeping them healthy. The main problem with using terra
cotta, is that it is relatively fragile (watch for hard frosts that can crack
containers) and it can dry out quite rapidly, especially in sunny locations.
Note: Some growers prefer glazed terra-cotta pots
because they hold water much more effectively.
Plastic
If you’re not concerned about container appearance or have plants that eventually grow to cover the pots they are planted in, plastic is a great choice. Plastic nursery pots are durable, retain moisture well, and are relatively inexpensive. They are also very lightweight, which makes them an excellent choice if you like to re-arrange your gardens.
Do not use black, or dark colored plastic pots if your
container garden will be located in a very sunny location. These colors absorb
heat and will get very hot, which can damage tender roots. Light colored
containers reflect the heat and keep the roots cool.
Plastic, self-lit pots
Concrete
One thing about concrete – it’s heavy! Which makes it ideal
for containing large plants or trees that require more support to keep
them…well, “contained.” It also has good insulating properties, protecting
tender root systems by maintaining a comfortable soil environment. When
planting in exposed or public areas, concrete has the added advantage of
discouraging anyone from “accidentally” walking off with your prized plants or
pots. Concrete planters can be left outside over the winter without harm, which
is good since you’re probably not going to want to move them.
Wood
One of the most practical and natural containers for
gardening. Wood planters look great, retain water well and are relatively
lightweight. When selecting wooden containers, make sure that they are made
with rot-resistant woods like cedar or redwood and check for quality
construction, since wood will shrink and expand in the elements. Planters made
out of pine or other softwoods can also be used but should be painted with a
non-toxic paint or stain to prevent rot. As for expense, you can easily
manufacture a wooden planter in no time with a few nails, some scrap wood and a
creative idea.
Gardening in not a solo activity. I garden with my dogs, so I created a term called dog gardening. Issac, the white dog, likes to dig. I watch him toss a chunk of wood, he barks, howls; he furiously claws, daring the evil stick to make a run for it. Dig, dig, dig, deeper it goes. Bite the stick—chew the stick—now he’s proud. He’s also proud of the hole he’s made. I think my dog wants to garden with me.
I have a friend who’s done a study on dogs digging holes. She asserts that her dogs have more tendencies to dig up the lawn and garden once they’ve watched her dig. Doggy see, doggy do is her theory. I have doubts. There are no doubts, however, that dogs like to dig. They dig to hunt prey, such as mice and gophers. They dig to bury bones, and then dig them up again which he does with his milkbones. Dogs dig because it’s a fun, completely normal canine activity. We need to watch and protect your garden from unwanted dog activity. Also, we need to protect you pet from your garden.
Always seal and safely store all lawn and garden chemicals. Keep your dog away
from sprayed areas until they dry. When watering, prevent excess run-off from
drifting toward your dog’s favorite spot. You don’t want your pup lapping from
puddles of dissolved garden chemicals.
Carefully
consider plant selection. Many ornamentals and some vegetables can poison a dog
who consumes vegetation. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Deadly
Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis) and
even potato foliage (Solanum tuberosum) have toxic effects on the heart
and circulation. When dogs eat large amounts of onions, they may suffer red
blood cell destruction. Rhubarb leaves (Rheum rhabarbaram) contain
oxalic acid. In quantity, it damages kidneys.
If you
dog loves to chew wood, avoid trees with toxic bark, such as cherry (contains
cyanide-like components). Some nut trees are risky (black walnut is notorious)
when dogs consume rotting shells, which contain fungal organisms that produce
nasty toxins. Depending on your dog’s dietary tendencies (and digestive tract),
stone fruit trees (apricots, plums) can provide raw material for obstruction by
indigestible pits.
I’ve lately noticed that my dog has more fun digging in his
garden than I do in mine. Perhaps when the carrots are ready to pull, we’ll be
on even terms. Maybe I’ll even share one with him.
