Hort Shorts

Mulch Volcanos are Erupting

boggs.47@osu.edu — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 19:53:50 +0000

Mulch Volcanos are Erupting

boggs.47@osu.edu Sat, 04/07/2018 - 15:53

Why in the name of all that is horticulturally holey do we continue to see mulch piled around tree trunks to stratospheric heights? What is the appeal? And, why can't we stamp out these mulch monstrosities despite years of educational efforts?

Hort Shorts

Published on

April 7, 2018

Authors

Joe Boggs

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Weed of the Week - Hairy Bittercress

stone.91@osu.edu — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 21:40:34 +0000

Weed of the Week - Hairy Bittercress

stone.91@osu.edu Fri, 04/06/2018 - 17:40

Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsute)

While temperatures remain cold, and even an occasional snow flake takes flight, there is weed that is giving it is all this spring. That weed is hairy bittercress. While it has been lurking in gardens all winter long, it is flowering its little heart out and setting seeds right now in northwest Ohio.

...

Hort Shorts

Published on

April 6, 2018

Authors

Amy Stone

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Purple Haze All in My Eyes

boggs.47@osu.edu — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:26:38 +0000

Purple Haze All in My Eyes

boggs.47@osu.edu Fri, 04/06/2018 - 16:26

Driving south on I-71 on Wednesday, I was mesmerized by a deep purple veil creeping across fields like smoke on the water. The purple haze, all in my eyes, made me wanna drive 'til I ran out of highway into the purple sky.

Hort Shorts

Published on

April 6, 2018

Authors

Joe Boggs

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Cold Weather Offers an Extension on Poison Hemlock Management

boggs.47@osu.edu — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:41:45 +0000

Cold Weather Offers an Extension on Poison Hemlock Management

boggs.47@osu.edu Mon, 04/02/2018 - 16:41

Our slowly developing spring is a real boon to us procrastinators. If you exercise caution by performing a close inspection of what lies beneath, there may still be time to make a non-selective herbicide application to control Poison Hemlock without wiping out preferred plants that have not yet sprung for spring.

Hort Shorts

Published on

April 2, 2018

Authors

Joe Boggs

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Distinctive Dogwoods Demand Discernment

dehaas.2 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:56:55 +0000

Distinctive Dogwoods Demand Discernment

Red twig or yellow twig dogwood! Who knew? When people think of dogwoods, they typically think of flowering dogwood or maybe Chinese dogwood. However, there is a whole world of dogwoods specifically selected for their twig color in the winter. Against the snow as a backdrop, they can be stunning.

Hort Shorts

Published on

March 6, 2018

Authors

Thomas deHaas

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Invasive Species Awareness Week - ORIENTAL BITTERSWEET - Invasive Species of the Day

stone.91@osu.edu — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 15:39:35 +0000

Invasive Species Awareness Week - ORIENTAL BITTERSWEET - Invasive Species of the Day

stone.91@osu.edu Sat, 03/03/2018 - 10:39

Sometimes referred to as the "kudzu of the north", oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a non-native species that continues to grow and spread in Ohio. The vine is popping up in our woods, fence rows, landscapes and places in between.

It is important to know that we do have American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens). It has more elliptical shaped leaves, rather than the rounded of the Oriental bittersweet. American bittersweet can also be distinguished from Oriental bittersweet by its leaves when they are just beginning to emerge from...

Hort Shorts

Published on

March 3, 2018

Authors

Amy Stone

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National Invasive Species Awareness Week - GYPSY MOTH - Invasive Species of the Day

stone.91@osu.edu — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:15:30 +0000

National Invasive Species Awareness Week - GYPSY MOTH - Invasive Species of the Day

stone.91@osu.edu Wed, 02/28/2018 - 12:15

We are going way back in time for this invasive species during the 2018 National Invasive Species Awareness Week.

In the 1860's a French artist and amateur entomologist, Leopold Trouvelot, brought the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) to North America for what he thought was a good reason. He hoped to use the gypsy moth as the foundation for a silk industry in the United States. The "silk threads" of the gypsy moth did not prove to be a reliable source, and unfortunately the insect escaped Trouvelot’s Boston home-laboratory.

The gyspy moth was ...

Hort Shorts

Published on

February 28, 2018

Authors

Amy Stone

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National Invasive Species Awareness Week - Japanese Knotweed - Invasive Species of the Day

kulhanek.5 — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 22:13:18 +0000

National Invasive Species Awareness Week - Japanese Knotweed - Invasive Species of the Day

kulhanek.5 Tue, 02/27/2018 - 17:13

I have noticed Japanese Knotweed (I've seen it listed as: Polygonum cuspidatum or Fallopia japonica or Reynoutria japonica) around the county the last few summers, so I chose it as Tuesday's INVASIVE of the DAY for National Invasive Plant Awareness Week.

Japanese knotweed is a non-native erect, semi-woody perennial that can grow up to and likely beyond 10 feet tall and create dense stands when unchecked. It was introduced, as so many invasives were, as an ornamental in the late 1800's and soon escaped the garden-scape and found its way into disturbed...

Hort Shorts

Published on

February 27, 2018

Authors

Ashley Kulhanek

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Wonderful Witchhazels Welcome Warmer Weather

dehaas.2 — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 20:22:40 +0000

Wonderful Witchhazels Welcome Warmer Weather

dehaas.2 Tue, 02/27/2018 - 15:22

Witchhazels….the forgotten wonder! The flowers are so small and dainty; you could miss them. However, the fragrance is heavenly. Which is why designers, landscapers and homeowner should put them close to an entryway or high traffic area. Since witchhazels flower anytime between mid-February through March, they can easily be missed.

Hort Shorts

Published on

March 2, 2018

Authors

Thomas deHaas

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Silver Maples Blooming Away

kulhanek.5 — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 20:10:04 +0000

Silver Maples Blooming Away

The Silver Maples, Acer saccharinum, in my neck of the woods are blooming. February or not... feels like "spring" to me!

Silver Maple trees are among the first to bloom in Ohio clocking in at 34 growing degree days (GDD) for first bloom and 42 GDD for full bloom. I caught these photos at 51 GDD. You can check your own location by visiting the OSU Phenology...

Hort Shorts

Published on

February 27, 2018

Authors

Ashley Kulhanek

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