Joshua Siskin offers gardening suggestions each week.
5 things to do in the garden this week:
1. There are two types of insect pests, chewing and sucking. With the exception of grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets, which are chewing insects, most of the insect pests we see suck sap from plants. These are five sucking insect pests that are widely seen: scale, white fly, aphid, thrips, and mealybug, the first letter of each conveniently found in SWATM, a handy acronym by which to remember them. The other pest we commonly see is spider mite, which is not an insect but an arachnid. Spiders are beneficial and help in controlling the pests. When it comes to those five damaging sucking insects, they take up residence where air circulation is limited or there is too much shade and the surface of leaves and stems stays constantly moist. For this reason, it is a good idea to make sure your plants are not overly crowded and there is good ambient light since even shade-loving plants will struggle in dark corners where little if any light reaches them.
2. If you are seeking a medium-sized shade tree, around 30 feet tall with a 30-foot spread, possessing unusually ornamental and gustatory qualities, consider the persimmon (Diospyros kaki). Although its fruit are Halloween orange and hard to miss, the persimmon tree generally flies under the radar when backyard fruit tree selection is under discussion. This is a shame since persimmon fruit are highly rewarding to grow. They are not known as God’s fruit (Dios = God, pyros = fruit) for nothing.
3. If blue flowers this time of year are what you desire, plant a chaste tree (Vitex Agnus-castus). Leave it alone and it will grow into a 20-foot tree, or prune it regularly to maintain a more compact form. It will defoliate during the winter and you will completely forget about it, but this temporary leaflessness is more than compensated for in late spring when it begins to show off its incomparable inflorescences of blinding blue. Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is a ground cover with round leaves and bluish-purple flowers. It is not seen in local nurseries but should be since it is not affected by drought, wind, or salty soil. True blue lobelia is another ground cover for full to partial sun exposures.
4. The sound of moving water can provide a touch of paradise to any garden. When you hear the sound of water, you are immediately drawn to it and removed from the chaotic hubbub of life. The effect is instantly settling, tranquilizing, and therapeutic. You don’t have to build a waterfall to produce the desired result. Submersible pumps are inexpensive units that create all the splash and gurgle you need. They are effective in any water feature, whether on level or inclined terrain. A water pond need only be 20 inches deep. It can be any size or shape and should be moderately sloped on the sides. Plastic liners are what most experts recommend for holding the water. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive. You can put a plastic liner in a whiskey barrel on the balcony or in an excavation of any size in the backyard.
5. Sweet alyssum (Lobularia marítima) is the most rewarding annual flower to grow because it self-sows continuously. Plant it from starts you procure at the nursery in plastic cells or plant it from seed, making sure to keep the area moist until germination. Once a clump of alyssum is established, it needs very little water, not more than two weekly soakings in even the hottest weather.
Please send questions and comments to joshua@perfectplants.com.
