Last year there were two shrub pests and now is the time to control them. One is the honeysuckle aphid, a small black and white aphid that attacks the plant early and leaves twisted leaves and dead twigs. The damage will not kill the plant but leaves the plant unsightly with dead tips. Spray when the leaves just come out with Neom oil or a systemic insecticide.
Cotoneaster Mites
The other is the cotoneaster mites. They are small, around .02 inches long, and cause the leaves to curl in a knot with tiny spider webs around a group of leaves. The leaves blacken with a sappy substance on them from the secretions of the mites. Shrubs will die back after a few years of infestation. As with honeysuckle, spray early with Neom oil or a systemic insecticide. Now is the time!
Looking for a good shade tree for the backyard without any hassles?
Hackberry
There are many proven trees that you can grow starting with the common hackberry. A medium-growing shade tree getting around 55 feet tall and 35 feet spread. The only drawback is the nipple gall which forms small nipples on the underside of the leaf. These insects do not harm the tree in any way. A good substitute for the American elm.
Honey-locust
The honey-locust tree comes in many varieties with some not hardy. The common honey-locust tree used to have huge thorns and those pods. New varieties of this tree have bred these two bad traits out. Some good varieties are ‘Imperial”, “Shademaster”, and “Skyline”.
Kentucky coffee-tree
Kentucky coffee tree has an exceptionally large compound leaf like the honey-locust. Its best characteristic is the dark scaly bark providing winter interest. Drought tolerant and pest-free.
Cottonwood
Where other trees can not be grown, there is always cottonwood (Popular). If you are going with a cottonwood tree, get the cottonless variety. Some good cultivars are Bigtooth Aspen, Quaking Aspen, and Northwest Poplar.
Bur oak
Bur oak is the only type of oak that can be planted in our alkaline soils. Its popularity is limited because of its taproot, so transplants must be small. This tree deserves wider popularity.
Linden
American linden is a large stately strong tree making for a great shade tree. It may get basal sprout like many lindens, however, just prune them off. It has nice yellow fall color. Some other cultivars are the little-leaf linden, Crimean linden, and bigleaf linden.
American elm
American elm was the most grown tree in the United States until the Dutch elm beetle invasion. There are now disease-resistant varieties deserving of planting. These shade trees grow over 45 feet tall with a widespread producing shade under the tree.
A home needs gutters to migrate the water away from the house. If water flows from the roof, it may cause damage to your windows and certainly to the foundation. It may also trickle down along the fascia boards (the board that runs along the roofline) and get into the ceilings. An inch of rain on a 100 sq ft roof area is about 60 gallons.
Rain train
If you have gutter, make sure they do not leak along the seam and are not clogged with leaves and debris. Also, make sure the water coming from the downspouts is directed away from your home. One downspout for about every 30 to 40 linear feet of the roofline. There is a trend of using a rain train as a downspout but there must be a way to drain water from the ground.
New gutters come in a wide-ranging color scheme and are more durable than older gutters.
Aluminum eaves and gutters
1. Aluminum gutters are lightweight, easy to install, and come in many colors. There are seamless types of aluminum gutters
Copper eaves and gutters
2. Copper gutters are used on historic homes or industrial types of buildings. The seams need to be welded and tend to be pricey.
Vinyl colored gutters
3. Vinyl is lightweight and cheaper in many colors. They are susceptible to UV sunlight and may crack in very cold weather.
Zinc eaves and gutters
4. Zinc gutters like copper do not need painting and will develop a patina over time. They are long-lasting but pricey.
