Recycled Leaves Make Inexpensive Mulch

Fall brings wiener roasts, festivals, and leaf removal. I suggest making good use of the fallen leaves in your yard.

Ginkgo in Fall

The tree leaves that accumulate in and around your landscape represent a valuable natural resource that can be used to provide a good source of organic matter and nutrients for use in your landscape. Leaves contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season. Therefore, leaves should be managed and used rather than bagged or burned. According to Rhonda, there are four basic ways in which leaves can be managed and used in the landscape.

First, a light covering of leaves can be mowed. Simply leave the shredded leaves in place on the lawn. This technique is most effective when a mulching mower is used. In fact, during times of light leaf drop or if there are only a few small trees in your landscape, this technique is probably the most efficient and easiest way to manage leaf accumulation.

Second, mulching is a simple and effective way to recycle leaves and improve your landscape. Leaves can be used as a mulch in vegetable gardens, flower beds and around shrubs and trees. Leaves that have been mowed or run through some other type of shredder will decompose faster and are much more likely to remain in place than complete leaves. I use a chipper shredder vacuum to pick up my leaves, which I use instead of purchased mulch in my landscape beds.

Third, leaves may be collected and worked directly into garden and flowerbed soils. A 6 to 8 inch layer of leaves tilled into a heavy, clay soil will improve aeration and drainage. The same amount tilled into a light, sandy soil, will improve water and nutrient holding capacity. A recommended strategy for using leaves to improve soil in vegetable gardens and annual planting beds is to collect and work them into the soil during the fall. This allows sufficient time for the leaves to decompose prior to spring planting. Adding a little fertilizer to the soil after working in the leaves will hasten their decomposition.

Finally, try composting your leaves. Compost is a dark, crumbly and earth-smelling form of organic matter that has gone through a natural decomposition process. If you have a garden, lawn, trees, shrubs, or even planter boxes or houseplants, you have a use for compost.

Get extra value out of your leaves this fall. And for fun, don’t forget to jump in the pile once!

Watch my video on Fall Leaf Management.

Published as New Release on 10-6-2014

Native Pollinators Are Important for our Food Supply

When it comes to pollination, honeybees get a majority of the attention. However, many insects play a role in pollination. 

Black-Eyed Susan and Purple Coneflower

What is Pollination? Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers of the same species, or within a single flower. There are many ways that flowers are pollinated, including wind and animals.

According to the website pollinator.org about 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators and over 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. Of those, about 1,000 are hummingbirds, bats, and small mammals. The rest are insects such as beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies, and moths.

Pollination is critical for many of our food crops. Hundreds of food plants are pollinated by bats. Other pollinators of our most colorful healthy foods include native bees, other insects, birds, moths, and butterflies, and more. Honeybees are not native here but are important pollinators of many of our food crops.

Coreopsis (yellow) and Penstemon (white)

The Xerces society has great information about pollinators on their website at www.xerces.org, including how to attract them to your garden. The usual recommendation is to plant a diversity of native flowers.

Wild Geranium

The goal is to have something flowering all summer long. Examples in my yard include wild indigo and wild geranium that bloom in early spring, followed by penstemon and coreopsis in early summer. By mid-summer the black-eyed Susan’s and purple coneflowers are in full bloom. In the fall, asters and goldenrod make a show.

Typically, native plants require less care and can tolerate more of our weather extremes. However, I’ve found that some routine maintenance does help the garden perform better. This year I’ve tried very hard to deadhead individual flowers, which prolongs the blooming of many perennial plants. I’ve also cut some back when they are done flowering, which in many cases helps the plant foliage look more attractive for a longer period.

Try adding native pollinator plants to your gardens.

Originally Published in Canton Daily  Ledger Column on 8-13-16 

Moss…Friend or Foe

On a recent (June 2012) camping trip in Southern Illinois my husband Mark kept taking pictures of non-flowering plants. His pictures made the ferns, mosses, lichens, and club moss look like something right out of a fairytale. In fact, these non-flowering plants do have their very own kingdom in the plant world. Instead of reproducing by flowers and seeds, these plants use spores to multiply. We were all particularly amazed by the various mosses.  

While hiking I discovered a large patch of club moss. I had never seen it before. Club mosses are ancient, prehistoric plants that reproduce by means of spores, either clustered into small cones or in the axils of their scale like leaves. I suspect that the one I saw was a ground pine because it resembled miniature evergreens with flattened fan-shaped branches. For a plant-geek like me this was an amazing find!

Club Moss

There are more than 13,000 species of mosses, which are small, primitive, leafy, green plants that develop fine, tangled mats over a surface. Various species are often seen on old brick walls, stone paths or walls, roofs, and rocks. Moss is something that we seem to love or hate. Many people try to get rid of it in their lawns, while others try to grow it.

In the right place, I love the look of moss. It is natural and in the right combination with wildflowers and other native plants helps create a stunning landscape. Psychologically, moss has a soothing, relaxing effect on people. It is a natural component of woodlands and shade gardens.

Mosses grow where other plants won’t, preferring low soil fertility, poor soil drainage, compacted soils, excessive shade, poor air circulation, high humidity, or a combination of these conditions. Mosses are not always found in low pH soils, thus altering the soil pH may not eliminate mosses. In turf, mosses are not the cause of turf decline, but a symptom of environmental or management levels that are unsuitable for supporting quality turf.

For areas where you do not want the moss, it can be eliminated, at least temporarily, by hand raking when it first appears or by applying ferrous ammonium sulfate or ferric sulfate.  Remember, however, that moss will probably reappear unless the environment and/or turf management program is altered.

For areas where you do want moss, the basic requirements are shade; compact, bare, acid soil; and moisture. The best time for transplanting is in early spring. Once established, moss is a tough plant. It is hardy from zones 2 to 9 and able to survive severe drought.

Although we often try to control and manipulate Mother Nature, sometimes “she” really knows best. Although I do not believe in gardening exclusively with natives, I believe native habitats tell us an awful lot. Sometimes it is worth considering “giving in” to situations where a certain plant wants to grow. Moss is a good example. It is a good alternative to grass in shady areas and in the right location can be used very effectively.

Originally Published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on 6-2-2012

Don't Raise Mosquitoes in Your Yard

While doing your spring cleanup activities, be sure to look for mosquito breeding sites in your yard. The first step to fighting mosquitoes MUST begin in YOUR backyard.

West Nile Virus is most frequently transmitted through the house mosquito. Since it can only fly about 1-½ miles, this mosquito usually breeds and lives in our own backyards. After getting an adequate blood meal, the adult female mosquito lays her eggs in any stagnant water source. The eggs and larvae must have water to live. Therefore, we must remove as many water sources as possible from our yards and communities.

The water source does not have to be large. In fact, the house mosquito prefers small, nasty water pools. It can breed in water sources as small as an 8-ounce glass.

Keep birdbaths clean

Here are common areas in our yards that often hold enough water to breed mosquitoes: dirty gutters, flat roofs, tin cans, buckets, brake drums, bottles, candy wrappers, and trash. Most people know to eliminate tires, which are the Crown Plaza of breeding sites. Also, remember to keep swimming pools clean and dump water in tarps and other covers. Keep birdbaths clean and fresh.

For the gardener, remember to dump any water standing in containers or drip trays. Garden ponds should contain fountains or other features to keep the water moving or include top-feeding fish that will eat any mosquito larvae that try to develop.  Examples of top-feeding fish include Gambusia, known as mosquito fish, most bait minnows, guppies, or even goldfish. Koi are not recommended since they are vegetarians.

It’s hard to predict insect populations year to year.  Spring populations are easy to get a handle on due to winter conditions, but spring conditions have an effect on summer populations, summer weather affects fall insects, and so forth.   You really can’t predict problems for more than one season in a row.

Eliminating breeding sites can reduce mosquito problems in your yard.  This is key to any type of mosquito control program.  Fortunately, an ongoing program of eliminating these sites in your yard is easy and not time-consuming.  However, it must be done regularly – at least once per week since it takes mosquito larvae 5-7 days to develop.

For areas where the water cannot be eliminated, there are other options for controlling the larvae.

Originally Published in Ledger Column on 4-12-2003

Mosquito-eating Fish Another Weapon In Mosquito War

Last weekend (May 2003) we bought fish to add to our new pond. For now, we have mostly goldfish, except for one mosquito fish. We might add a koi later.

My new pond is quite large and when done will have a complete aquatic ecosystem of plants, water, and fish. It also has a small waterfall in one corner. The movement from the waterfall should be enough to keep mama mosquito from laying her eggs there, but if she does the fish will eat them!

 

Fish are excellent weapons in the fight against mosquitoes. The artillery includes minnows, goldfish and Gambusia affinis, also known as "mosquito fish.”  One small mosquito fish can eat up to 100 mosquito larvae each day.  They can make a big difference in a home’s water garden or small pond.

 

Mosquitoes go through their larval stage in water, whether it is a lake, river, water garden, gutter or birdbath.  Any container that holds water, and especially water that stagnates, is a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

 

Gambusia are related to and look very much like guppies. The males are cigar-shaped and are about an inch long. Female Gambusia are slightly larger and typically have a potbelly where they carry their developing young.  Gambusia are aggressive, eating young game and other fish.  They should not be released where they can escape into natural bodies of water. Introducing these fish to a new area carries some risk of introducing new diseases to existing fish.

 

Gambusia aren’t the only fish that eat mosquitoes.  Other surface feeding fish such as goldfish and minnows work well in controlling mosquito larva.  Koi, which tend to be bottom feeders, are not effective in controlling mosquito larva.

 

But none of these fish are effective at eliminating mosquito larvae when dense vegetation is present.  Dense vegetation can provide cover for mosquito larvae and make it difficult for fish to locate and consume them.  Reducing excess vegetation in and around the water garden is recommended.

 

Increasing water movement in ponds and water gardens, and eliminating standing water in old tires, gutters, and other water-holding containers are two strong tools in eliminating mosquito-breeding sites. 

Originally Published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on 5-17-2003

Lightning Bugs on the Decline

I hear a news report about the decline of the monarch butterfly almost every day, but there are other insects in decline as well. One that is a favorite of all ages is the lightning bug, which some folks also call a firefly.

As a kid I remember catching lightning bugs on warm, summer nights. We put them in empty canning jars or pickle jars, poked holes in the lids, and watched the bugs glow in our new natural lantern. Although I hate to admit it, I also sometimes ripped off the abdomen of the bug to make a glowing ring on my finger.

Source:   Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University
Bugwood.org

Lightning bugs flash light to attract the opposite sex using a chemical called luciferase. There are over 136 species of lightning bugs, each with a distinctive rate of flashes per second. Male lightning bugs flash patterns of light to females who then signal in response from perches in or near the ground. When the male sees the female's flash he continues to signal and moves closer until they finally find each other and mate.

Lightning bugs are actually a type of beetle that is very beneficial in our ecosystem. The larvae stage of this beetle is a specialized predator that feeds on other insect larvae, earthworms, snails, and slugs. The tiny larval stage is dark gray with three pairs of legs and tiny spots on their underside that sometimes softly glow.  Some adult lightning bug species are also predators, and other species don’t eat at all in the adult stage. 

Large swarms of lightning bugs are a less frequent occurrence in many areas. I can remember a midnight float down the Illinois River a few years ago when the river bank was alive with millions of flashing fireflies. This summer I saw lightning bugs, but not in large numbers. They are most prevalent away from city lights and in more open areas of vegetation.

According to www.firefly.org firefly populations are dwindling all over the country, and the world. Researchers are not sure exactly what is causing the firefly decline, although most researchers think that habitat loss and light pollution from urban development are to blame.

Most fireflies need undisturbed natural areas to survive. They overwinter as larvae buried in the soil and hide during the day under bark or stones or in decaying vegetation.  Mud is needed for the pupal stage. Human light pollution is believed to interrupt firefly flash patterns and thus their mating rituals.

If you want to help researchers learn more about this insect, consider participating in a fun citizen scientist project called Firefly Watch. You simply watch fireflies in your own backyard or favorite outdoor location and record those observations online at https://legacy.mos.org/fireflywatch.

The next time you see one of these magical insects, think about how they are more than just funny flashers. They benefit our ecosystem and are also beneficial to humans. Their luciferase has been genetically engineered as an enzyme that helps screen for human tumors, test for blood problems, and detect infections faster. Wow!

Originally Published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on 9-12-2015

Green Roofs Becoming More Popular

Recently (June 2014) I toured the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s green roof on their administration building at the State Fairgrounds in Springfield. It is an impressive sea of green sedum growing atop a structure of concrete and steel. 

Green roofs are becoming an important part of sustainable urban development. These living roofs provide many benefits, including reducing surface temperature, absorbing rainfall to reduce runoff, and even reducing indoor sound.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s green roof was installed in 2010. Here are some statistics they provided about the roof during our tour. 

• It is 28,800 square feet (2/3 of a football field) and covers about 20 percent of building’s roof.
• It weighs 28 pound per square foot when fully wet. 
• It absorbs 480,000 gallons of rainwater annually (equal to 1 ½ football fields one foot deep with water). 
• The roof contains 15 different species of sedum, a drought tolerant groundcover that grows 1/4 to six inches tall.
• Plants grow in four inches of soil in trays installed over a watertight membrane layer.

This is the second green roof I’ve toured in recent years. The National Great Rivers Research & Education Center in Alton, IL is an impressive example of construction using green technologies in accordance with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards. In addition to its many other impressive features, the buildings green living roof collects and stores 100% of all storm water. This roof is comprised of 12 inches of growing media and native prairie grass.

Roof gardens are not for everyone or for every roof. According to the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center at the University of Illinois (www.sedac.org), the first question to ask when considering a green roof is if the roof can accommodate the additional weight. The roof may be designed to hold a heavy snow load, but not a water logged garden.

A factsheet by SEDAC indicates that although green roofs have many benefits, they have long investment payback periods. In other words, it takes a long time to recoup the additional costs of installing this type of roof.

My house will likely need a new roof in the next few years, but I doubt a green roof will work for us. Although I love the idea and energy efficiency it brings, it will not work on my sloped roof.

Originally Published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on 7-26-2014