Shade Trees and Shrubs, Tree and evergreen pests

Die-back

Trees and shrubs in South Dakota have been slow to leaf out due to the winter. A lot of woody plants are showing signs of die-back or total death. Most likely due to the winter going through warm and cold periods.

My honeylocust tree is over 10 years old and is only showing 30% growth. Guess it is time to take a chainsaw to it.

Honey locust tree showing winter die-back.
Winter die-back on a honeylocust

If your plant in showing die-back and you do not want to replace it, you can try saving it. Start a good water and fertilizer regime to keep it in good health this summer. Prune out all the dead limbs and twigs to the nearest branch and trunk to prevent a disease or insects from entering the plant.

Watering

Drip Irrigation System

A drip irrigation system allows water to be dispersed along the base and roots of the plants instead of using overhead sprinklers. My mother used a drip system which was digging trenches with a hoe along the plants with bisecting channels to other areas of the garden. My job was damming the channel and allowing water to go to another channel.

Drip irrigation system setup

Why use drip irrigation to begin with?

  1. Conserve water without losing any to wind and evaporation. Since the water comes out slowly, the water goes into the soil easier with running off. Saves on the money.
  2. It keeps the leaves of the plants dry, meaning there will be fewer fungus diseases like Septoria in tomatoes. Also does not wash off the insecticide or fungicide you may have spray allowing for fewer applications.
  3. Saves time. I turn mine on in the morning and turn it off early in the evening.
  4. It is easy to install and leave in place all summer and fall. I drain the hoses in late fall, roll them up, and put back the following spring.
  5. You can get a cheap fertilizer injector making fertilizer application very easy.

Most common systems are a ½ inch delivery hose where you can insert ¼ inch drip lines (with pre-punched holes spaced 12 inches). Always get the little water pressure reducer for the system. Then you do not have to guess if your pressure is too high or low.

Pre-punched line with hole spacing 12 inches

Soaker hoses are a form of drip irrigation, however, if you have a large area, they can get expensive.

Drip tube running down onion rows
Drip line going under plastic mulch with tomatoes.
DIY Projects, Home Improvement

Walkway

The focal point of your front yard should be your entrance into your home. The walkway to the door should be inviting. Is your sidewalk nice to walk on or is walking on the lawn safer?

walkway with paving stones and bark mulch

One way is to use paving stones and bricks instead of concrete with a sand sub-base. There are many designs you can try. You can use gravel in between stepping stones. Gravel comes in many colors and sizes from pea gravel to larger rock. They even have smooth glass mulch in a variety of colors. If you are adventurous try growing low thyme or clover between the stepping stones.

Even concrete can be colored and textured in different ways. It is no longer the drab cement of the past.

Finally, you can use a bark mulch. It is budget-friendly for a natural look that ties all the planting beds together.