Garden almanac

This Week in the Garden

Rhubarb plants sending up a flower stalk along the side of a concrete building.
Rhubarb is sending up flower stalks (bolting)

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.

Map of South Dakota showing last frost dates throughout the state with Tripp County being between May 4th to 6th as the late frost date in the garden this week.

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.

This week in the garden show a rhubarb plant with flower stalks next to a concrete foundation.
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.

Real Estate (Farm & Ranch Land)

A Handful of Tick Species

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 image shows a reddish-brown, oval-bodied hard tick resting on a green blade of grass. It has eight reddish-brown legs and a prominent, ornate cream-colored scutum on its anterior dorsal surface. The posterior margin of its body features distinct scalloped indentations (festoons).

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.

A close-up photograph shows an adult female blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also commonly known as a deer tick, perched on the surface of a vibrant green leaf.

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.

An extreme close-up of a reddish-brown lone star tick crawling across the textured surface of a vibrant green leaf. The tick is characterized by a distinctive, bright white or silvery spot on its back.

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.

The image shows an adult female Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) perched on the tip of a green leaf.

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.

Garden almanac

Dandelions are Popping Up

Closeup of dandelions blooming in a lawn

Dandelions are popping up and blooming early this year, and honestly, it’s not much of a mystery. A milder winter and warmer spring gave them a head start. If you’re looking to keep them in check, spot spraying with a three-way weed killer can help. For best results, spray when they’re actively growing and daytime temps are around 60–75°F. Try not to mow right before or after spraying—give it a day or two so the plant can really take in the product.

That said, one of the best long-term fixes is improving your lawn itself. Increasing soil fertility and aerating will help thicken your grass and crowd out weeds naturally. And keep this in mind—fall is actually the most effective time to control dandelions since they’re pulling nutrients down into their roots. This will keep those dandelions from popping up.

Label for Roundup Weedkiller with instructions for use and ingredients

Speaking of weed control, a lot of people are asking about Roundup. It’s a nonselective herbicide, meaning it will kill just about anything green it touches. The concern usually centers around glyphosate, but some newer Roundup products now use different active ingredients. That’s why it’s so important to read the label carefully. Not all products are meant for the same use, some are for lawns, others for driveways or gravel areas.

And let’s be honest, most of us skim the label and look at the rates. But the fine print is where the important details are, like where you can safely use it and what plants it may harm. Also, try to spray on calm days. Around here, wind drift can carry herbicides farther than you think and damage nearby plants.

The same goes for “all-natural” herbicides. Just because something sounds safer doesn’t mean it won’t cause damage. Ingredients like vinegar can burn or kill any plant they touch if used improperly. Natural or not, always follow the label directions.

A group of mushrooms growing in a lawn

Now, if you’re seeing mushrooms popping up in your lawn, don’t panic. They’re actually doing good work, breaking down organic matter in the soil—often old roots or buried wood. You’ll usually see them after a stretch of rain followed by warm temperatures. Sometimes they even show up in rings, which can point to old root systems underground.

In most cases, they’re harmless and temporary. The only time you may want to remove them is if you’ve got kids or pets that might try to eat them. Otherwise, you can mow them over or let them run their course. Improving drainage and reducing thatch can help cut down on future outbreaks. And no, most lawn mushrooms aren’t edible—best to leave taste-testing off the table.

For those keeping an eye on apple trees, if the freeze doesn’t knock back your crop and you’ve had issues with leaf spotting like scab or rust, it’s time to stay ahead of it. Apple scab usually shows up as dark olive spots on leaves, while cedar rust appears as bright orange spots. An all-purpose orchard spray applied after petals fall and once fruit sets can help manage these issues. From there, you’ll want to stay on a spray schedule—usually every 7–14 days, depending on weather conditions. Good airflow through proper pruning also helps reduce disease pressure.

A tree trunk with bark splitting vertically from planting the young tree too deep

Planting trees this time of year? Whether they’re bare-root or container-grown, make sure you plant them at the same depth they were growing before. With bare root trees, look for that color change on the trunk—that marks the old soil line. Planting too deeply can lead to bark splitting and rot later on.

If you’re planting from a container and see roots circling, take a knife and make a couple of vertical cuts in two or three places. This keeps the roots from girdling the tree years down the road. After planting, water deeply and keep the soil consistently moist (not soggy) through the first growing season. Adding 2–3 inches of mulch helps retain moisture, just keep it pulled back from the trunk. In our windy conditions, staking young trees for the first year can also help keep them upright.

A Pearl Bush shrub with white flowers

Another tough shrub to consider is the Pearl Bush. It’s part of the rose family and grows about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. It’s one of the first shrubs to bloom, covered in white flowers early in the season, and even the dry seed pods add some winter interest. It does best in full sun to light shade and prefers well-drained soil. Like lilacs, it blooms on old wood, so any pruning should be done right after it flowers.

With the early spring we’re seeing, staying a step ahead on lawn care and planting now will make all the difference as we head into summer.