NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota
State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
November 19, 1998
Hortiscope
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist
North Dakota State University
Q: Our Haralred apples are speckled with gray-green mold or fungus. What causes this, and what can I do next year to prevent it? (Leola, S.D.)
A: Your apples have picked up some low-grade fungi known as sooty blotch and fly-speck. These are cosmetic fungi that may make the apple unappealing to look at, but neither affects the eating quality.
These fungi overwinter in the twigs and branches and develop on the fruit during mild, wet weather in the spring or fall. You'll find that the specks can be rubbed off.
Next spring, spray the tree with lime-sulfur before leaf-out. This usually acts as a good sanitizer of any overwintering diseases.
Q: Enclosed is a sample leaf from a tree that was planted in my back yard in the early 1980s. I know it is a maple, but I would like to know what kind. I have been trying since then to find another maple tree exactly like it, but I haven't had any luck. The one that was planted grew fast, and the ones I have found are slow growers. (Jud, N.D.)
A: It is a silver maple. Try one of the cultivars such as Blair or Silver Queen. They usually do better than seedling forms.
Q: Can you tell me what kind of bush the enclosed leaves and seeds are from? They are really beautiful in the fall, and we would like to plant some in our yard. I would also like information on Amur maple trees and Canadian red cherry trees. (Garrison, N.D.)
A: It's a small irony that you requested information on a tree you wanted identified, the Amur maple—Acer ginnala. I have one in my back yard by the patio and I love it!
Q: I had an apricot tree that I had to cut down, but I didn't remove the stump. The stump seemed viable, so I cut off an apple branch with a long narrow tip at the cut end. I split the stump and jammed the apple branch into the cleft made by the ax. I packed the rest of the cleft full of peat and sprayed some stump sealant on it. I am wondering if I have any chance in hell of growing an "applecot" tree out of this? I would also like to know some good books on the basics of horticulture. (Bismarck, N.D.)
A: Perhaps in hell it would work, but not here on Mother Earth! Apricot is Prunus while apple is the Malus genus. If it should work, let me know and I'll come out and we'll celebrate together at your favorite location!
Concerning books, here are two good ones that will not break the budget and are written by a master gardener: "Best Flowers for Midwest Gardens" and "Best Plants for Midwest Gardens," by Laara K. Daggan. ISBN numbers, respectively, are 1-55652-263-0 and 1-55652-284-3.
Q: I have little tiny bugs on my impatiens and now they have spread onto my azalea. What can I use to kill them without killing my plants? I have tried soap water, but that is killing my plants. (Napoleon, N.D.)
A: Try Insecticidal Soap, which is formulated to kill bugs and not plants. It is available anywhere garden supplies are sold.
Q: Can you identify this plant that is popping up all over the lawn? I also would like to know how to control them and how we got them on our lawn? (Parkston, S.D.)
A: I can answer most of your questions. First, thanks for the good samples of seedlings of burdock (Arctium minus). Although too late this year, burdock is easily controlled with a broadleafed herbicide: Weed-B-Gone, Trimex, etc. The seedlings appear so tender that they may winter-kill for you. But even if that happens there is every chance that there are more seeds ready to germinate next year.
Burdock is a biennial that stays as a rosette the first year, then bolts and grows to 3 to 10 feet tall the second year and produces the infamous burs that hitch rides on animals and humans to new locations. Thanks for the good samples.
Q: Can you identify the enclosed plant? It keeps coming up each year, and fills in pretty good. (Rogers, N.D.)
A: Your sample was pretty much in many small pieces by the time it got here. Identification was impossible, but the odor reminded me of it possibly being horehound—an herb. Try again!
Q: Can you tell me what the enclosed white stuff is that is growing up my 10-year-old North Star cherry tree? The tree has been basically healthy, except for eight years ago when our dog scraped up the bark with a chain. Will the tree survive? (Willow City, N.D.)
A: Thank you for the good description of the injury that occurred to your tree eight years ago.
What you have on your tree is a wood-rot or decaying fungus—that may or may not form a canker girdling your tree. You can remove this organism by surgical means (carefully, with a pocket knife) and do whatever you can via cultural practices (fertilize, water etc.) to improve the tree's vigor.
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Do you have a gardening or houseplant questions? Write to Hortiscope, Box 5051, NDSU Extension Service, Fargo, ND 58105 or e-mail to Ron Smith at ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu.
Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161 ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136