NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
July 9, 1998
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist
North Dakota State University
Q: I would like information on perennial wild flowers that can be seeded. (Turtle Lake, N.D.)
A: For reference, here is an old Wildseed Farm Catalog. Their address is: Wildseed Farms 1101 Campo Rosa Rd., Box 308, Eagle Lake, TX 77434. Phone: 1-800-848-0078.
You will get a mixture of annuals (that will selfseed), biennials (that flower second year) and perennials. Annuals are included in mixes to give color early on, while the other two classes of plants are getting established.
If you look on page 15 of the catalog, you'll see the North Central Wildflower mix. To that mixture, I'd suggest add 1 ounce of Dame's Rocket (pg. 25) and ¼ pound of Corn Poppy (pg. 24). These will give you a wider and more continuous blooming period. Good luck.
Q: Enclosed are a few evergreen branches. I use micro acid early in the spring and later I use Miracle-Gro. The needles get brown and dry up. I do water them at times and have tried Diazanon plus. (Fredonia, N.D.)
A: Your spruce has classical symptoms of rhizophaera needle cast. All you can do is protect the newly emerged needles with a fungicide spray containing chlorothalonil (Bravo, Daconil 2787, etc.).
Apply some immediately, and twice again next spring at the end of May and June.
Q: I have a Norlan linden that has been leafspotting two of its three years of life. Last year it lost its leaves three times, but it leafed out again each time. The leaves discolor and soon dry up and become brittle. Can you please tell me what I can do to remedy this problem? Enclosed is a sample. (Mohall, N.D.)
A: The linden sample was very symptomatic of anthracnose. You can spray with Bordeaux mixture to help control the spread when it is in leaf.
Next spring before leaf-out, but just as buds are swelling, spray with lime sulfur. After leaf-out, spray with Bordeaux mix two to three times more at two-week intervals.
Q: I have some poplar trees with bugs on them. I have enclosed a sample, and if you open the ball they are full. What can be done? (Steele, N.D.)
A: The poplars have what is known as leaf petiole gall, most likely formed by small gall wasps that lay eggs at that point.
When the young hatch, their feeding activity causes this gall (or cell proliferation) to take place.
No harm and nothing to do. Just enjoy another wonder of nature.
Q: Can you tell me what this plant is? It's in my flower garden, but I don't know if it's a weed or flower. (Manfred, N.D.)
A: Sorry, but I'm unable to identify the sample. If it tends to be aggressive, or has other qualities you find objectionable, get rid of it—no matter what anyone may call it!
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Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866