NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
June 25, 1998
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist
North Dakota State University
Q: I would like the name of the plant I have enclosed. It grows outdoors and has some blossoms. (Maddock, N.D.)
A: Your plant is an excellent example of Showy Stonecrop Sedum, Sedum spectabile. The cultivar depends on the flowers:
"Brilliant" - Carmine
"Meteor" - Wine Red
"Star Dust" - Ivory White
Enjoy and thanks for the excellent sample. I'm going to propagate it myself.
Q: We currently have a large number of "garden" snakes living under our front steps. I know they are harmless, but the family does not enjoy them. Also, they seem to have holes/tunnels which seem to bring rain water to our drain more rapidly. I am curious if there is some chemical or plant which might be used to drive them away. (Hawley, Minn.)
A: I am sorry, but I do not have a remedy for your friendly snake problem! Perhaps one of our readers have dealt with this problem and can advise us accordingly.
We'll keep your letter on file for several weeks to see if we get any response. If anything comes up, we'll pass it on to you.
Q: I am sending you samples of what I think are rose bush leaves that are shriveled, stunted and tend to dry up. What kind of rose is it and what is its problem? (Munich, N.D.)
A: All I can tell you from the sample is that it is a wild rose, meaning, an uncultivated type. Since I have no idea what could be causing the problem, and since it appears to be a persistent one, I'd suggest getting rid of it and replacing it with one you can appreciate.
There are several shrub roses available that will be rewarding: "Pink Grootendorst," "Robin Hood" and "Hansen."
Q: Enclosed are a few leaves from our ash trees. The older trees are starting to die off, with the lower branches losing leaves as soon as they come out. There is also a lot of brown fungus on the back of the leaves. We have been told that it might be caused by a blight caused by too much water, but we are not sure that is true. Can you please let us know what is wrong with our trees? (Twin Brooks, S.D.)
A: Your ash trees are being hit by two problems: flowergall mites and a fungal disease known as anthracnose. Based on some of your desciptive language, your trees may also be fighting verticillium wilt. Spray the trees with lime sulfer in early spring prior to bud swelling. Then, as the buds swell, spray with something which has miteicidal activity, such as Malathion or Orthene. If the trees are being afflicted by verticillium, there is little that can be done at this stage.
Q: I have some Maple trees that are full of pink and green spots, could you tell me what is wrong with them? We really like the trees and would like to save them if possible. (Platte, S.D.)
A: Your Maple has a bladder gall caused by a mite invasion which took place about two months ago. These critters do only cosmetic damage and there is nothing one can do now. They can be controlled somewhat by spraying the tree with dormant oil spray next spring as the buds are beginning to swell (not as they are beginning to open.)
Q: I'm sending you some leaves from a hollyhock plant. They have spots that start off a light orange and small, and progress to a large, brown bump. Last year we had the same spots and some broke off, revealing a worm of some kind in the stalk. I have tried Malathion without noticeable results. (Woonsocket, S.D.)
A: There are two "evil forces" at work on your hollyhock: rust fungus, and either a burdock or European corn borer.
Combat the rust with any number of fungicides on the market, and do battle with the borer with a systemic insecticide like Orthene.
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Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866