Deterring squirrels and other IPM tidbits

Posted on October 8, 2012 by rhallberg

If you have as many squirrels in your yard as I have in mine, Ciscoe Morris, Seattle Times garden writer, has some interesting–if not amusing–advice, in addition to some information about cover crops.

It’s prime time to plant tulips and other spring blooming bulbs, but if squirrels frequent your garden, you are undoubtedly aware of how difficult it is to keep those varmints from digging up and eating the bulbs. In the past I often recommended planting the bulbs surrounded by chicken wire or hardware cloth. Now there’s a new way to protect bulbs that is much easier and just as effective.

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Filed under: Crop rotation, Urban IPM | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

What’s in a name? A species common name, that is

Posted on October 4, 2012 by rhallberg

When scientists discover a new species–whether it is an insect, pathogen, weed, animal or aquatic species–they give it two names. One is the scientific name that will be used for the rest of the species’ existence to refer to the species, and the other is the “common name,” or the name that you will usually see in media reports. These names can take months, sometimes years or research before scientists formally present them, but while scientists are debating back and forth what the best name is, others will choose a common name just so they have a reference to the species, especially if they are trying to alert the public to be on alert.

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Filed under: Insects, Invasive species, Urban IPM | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Great weekend for planting, but learn what you’re getting

Posted on June 15, 2012 by rhallberg

Often the plants that are the cheapest at the garden store are not always the easiest to maintain. According to the Wilmington Star, some residents in Wilmington are seeking an ordinance to prevent the planting of running bamboo, an attractive plant sold at garden stores. In the right conditions and not properly pruned, the plant can spill over into other yards, as a homeowner at Carolina Beach discovered after she returned from a long assignment out of town.

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Filed under: Invasive plants | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

One Person’s Beautiful Plant; Another’s Invasive Nightmare

Posted on October 22, 2009 by rhallberg

Although the distinctive sweet scents of honeysuckle and wisteria have always assured me that spring is on its way, by midsummer I find myself battling them in my backyard. While some people welcome these plants, and others with similar growth habits, neither of the plants is native to the United States, and in most cases, are considered invasive pests.

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Filed under: Invasive plants, Invasive species, Urban IPM | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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