Tag: arboretum

Attack of the Emerald Ash Borer: Part 2

So that bring me to this year… Whenever  my husband would say “The ash looks thin this year”, I would respond, “It’s ok, it’s still leafing out since spring came so late this year.”  Then, last week I went out and stood under it to try and decide some other landscaping issues, looked up and was stunned to see all the dead branches. Probably a quarter to a third of the tree was dead. No wonder it looked so thin and my husband could see through it. On the plus side, the canopy was still alive, no random trunk branches were sprouting and no signs of adult beetles, yet.   We had a scare the other morning when we awoke to the sound of a woodpecker in the area, but it wasn’t on our tree (at least we think it wasn’t).  That’s a bad sign if the woodpeckers have moved in!

At the end of May, the tree was trunk injected with  Arborjets “TREE-äge” which is supposed to kill off any infestations and last for 2 years.  A quick google search provided a wealth of information on the product and we are hopeful that we can help the tree survivor the invaders.  It’s supposed to be quite effective at killing the beetle.  The Morton Arboretum has been very useful in general for EAB information.  They have an excellent Emerald Ash Borer brochure available.

Our Autumn Purple Ash this year.

IMG_2551

IMG_2521IMG_2522

Dreaming of Last Frost Date

The spring weather has been teasing us; every two steps forward comes with one step back.  But despite the weather antics, it’s time to start thinking of when we can really start to plant.   My church has a plant sale fundraiser every year for our Child Care Center, so time to select some annuals to plant and help a good cause all at once.  Then unfortunately, I forgot to place my order for the annual member’s Plant Sale at the Morton Arboretum in the western suburbs of Chicago, but they have tons of great plants for sale in the open sale area from April 26th-28th.  Putting the dates on my calendar right now to find some things for a few “holes” in the garden.   Hopefully, the fields of daffodils will still be bloom when I am out there.