Garden Pests

Hackberry Galls

Hackberry psyllids are small aphid-like insects that cause hackberry galls commonly seen on the underside of hackberry tree leaves.  An alternative name is hackberry “gall-maker.”  They are most commonly noticed, however, as a household nuisance in late summer and fall.

Psyllids (pronounced: Sill – ids) are called jumping plant lice.  They resemble miniature cicadas and have powerful hind legs that allow them to jump and fly away quickly.  The hackberry psyllids are 3/16″ long and have lightly colored wings mottled with tiny dark spots.

This species is specific to hackberry trees and does not develop anywhere else.  Adults fly to hackberry trees in early spring and lay eggs in leaf buds.  Eggs hatch into tiny nymphs that stimulate the raised galls or swellings in which the insect lives and feeds for the rest of the summer.  Infested hackberry trees are not harmed by the galls.

When psyllids complete their development in late summer the adults leave the galls to pass the winter.  They normally spend the winter in cracks and crevices of tree bark and other sheltered locations.  However, like many other nuisance pests, they may be attracted to houses in the fall and enter into walls through cracks and gaps around windows or in the siding.  From there they wander on indoors.  This is when they can be a temporary but very aggravating annoyance.  The size of the population and extent of the annoyance varies greatly from year to year.

Psyllids are annoying because of their presence.  They do not feed on humans although some people report that they “pinch” when they land on exposed skin.  They cannot sting and they do not carry disease.  They will not attack pets, house plants, stored products, or furnishings.

Although psyllids can be very annoying, they are harmless and control may not be warranted.  Effective control of adults in late summer and winter is very difficult to achieve.  Household “ant and roach” sprays or dusts have limited effect on this pest.

Preventing psyllids by spraying hackberry trees before gall formation is sometimes suggested.  Several applications of an insecticide would generally be necessary to have a noticeable effect.  Thoroughly spraying large trees is a further complication.  In short, there is little that is practical in the way of hackberry psyllid management other than to tolerate the occasional annoyance.

DIY Projects

Focal Points in a Garden Design

Focal points in a garden design to draw and direct the eye. Think of a garden or your backyard, large or small, that was just a swath of plants. Your eye sweeps along, not knowing where to land. A sense of flow is nice, but without a focus, your garden is not really taken in and studied. It is quickly passed over.

Now think of a garden you saw with a wonderful water feature, a weeping tree or a dramatic ornament.

Small gardens can pose difficulties for creating a focal point. Obviously, you don’t want to sacrifice your entire garden space to one large plant or tree. But focal points can be scaled to the size of your garden. Even the smallest space could have one unique, flamboyant plant that calls attention to itself. Think of tall, orange-leaved cannas or a dwarf conifer design with some stones.

So What Constitutes a Focal Point?

Pretty much any striking feature in your garden:

An unusual specimen (Red Twig Dogwood)

A large, architectural plant (Cimicifuga)

A group of plants (a cluster of astilbe, bleeding heart, and ferns)

A vibrant color (orange canna)

A single white plant

An ornament (Birdbath, gazing globe, statue…)

Large boulders

A dwarf shrub or tree

You don’t have to start your garden design with a focal point, but you don’t want to throw one in as an afterthought. Think about the style of garden you want and the plants you are considering using.

Then list possible features that would complement, yet stand out from your basic design. Some designs lend themselves to the obvious focal point: a ranch garden with a small water feature, a cottage garden with a cement statue, a herb garden with an obelisk.

If you have a preexisting large tree near your garden, that will become a focal point whether you mean to or not. You might want to enhance it with a birdhouse or a flowering vine, like climbing hydrangea.

DIY Projects

Gazebos

A gazebos are freestanding, open garden structure, sometimes hexagonal or octagonal in shape, with a roof. Most gazebos are constructed of wood or metal and have ​built-in seating inside the sheltered area. To add a sense of enclosure and privacy, latticework or outdoor curtains or drapes are sometimes used. In a garden setting, a gazebo can serve as a focal point—something to be viewed and appreciated—or add protection from the sun and insects

Small cities in the late 19th century and early 20th century often had large gazebos in the town center or park, where they often served as bandstands.

History

Gazebo-like structures have been built for centuries. The Egyptians built garden gazebos to support grapes for wine and raisins. They believed that these earthly paradises—gazebos and gardens—would follow them to heaven.

Greece and Rome

Gazebos can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks built temples in public spaces that were surrounded by gardens, with marble gazebos in memory of gods and goddesses.

The Romans enjoyed their private gardens as places to relax and entertain. Garden gazebos were constructed as a beautiful outdoor feature and as a gathering place.

Medieval and Renaissance Periods

While gazebos do attract attention, they also were, and still are, built to offer privacy. Elaborate gardens of churches and monasteries used gazebos as places for meditation or to establish a shrine.

TA gazebo would serve as a destination for the lord of the manor and his guests to journey outside for fresh air while still under a roof.

English Gazebos

Garden gazebos became popular in England during the 16th through 18th centuries and could be found in parks or large private estates. In the 19th century, gazebos were built for middle-class properties and also became more functional as a shelter. The English practice of afternoon tea was enjoyed in gazebos or similar structures.

Asian Gazebos

Tea houses—or teahouses—are another form of a gazebo that has been popular in China and Japan for centuries. Tea ceremonies are a time of rest, meditation, and reflection while enjoying one another’s company and admiring the beautiful surroundings of nature

Creating a Private Place

To establish a cozy hideaway on a smaller lot, add a pergola or overhead roof to your gazebo, paving, and a path leading to the area. For added privacy, create walls with lattice panels on the sides, and plant vines to grow up and over the framework.

Different than a pergola which is the pergola often has a slatted roof and is more open on the sides.