Watch out for the Asian longhorned beetle

This past week, scientists confirmed the presence of the Asian longhorned beetle in Boston. There has been huge publicity because of this finding, which may be surprising for some people. It's just a beetle, right?

The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) isn't just your ordinary garden variety beetle. This non-native species is a monster that can kill a large number of different tree species, including many favorite street and backyard trees. It burrows beneath the bark of trees and shuts down the plumbing systems that feed the tree. Once this beetle is found in a tree, all of the trees within the surrounding area need to be removed and destroyed to prevent it from spreading.

One scary thing about this infestation is that it was near the Arnold Arboretum. Imagine how boring an arboretum would be without its trees!

Here is some info on how you can help spot future infestations of the ALB in your area, taken from the Boston Globe:

1) Look for the insect crawling about. The beetles are quite striking.... they are shiny and black beetles with white spots and long, banded antennae

2) Keep your eyes open for ALB exit holes in trees. These are dime-sized, perfectly round holes, especially in maple, but also in birch, elm, horse chestnut, willow and other hardwood trees

3) Also look out for ALB egg-laying sites, which are divots in the bark ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inches across. If these pits were recently made, they will be oozing.

South End Garden Tour this Weekend!

Be sure to check out the South End Garden Tour this Saturday (June 19th) to get new ideas for your own garden. The tour is from 10am - 4pm, starting at the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library on Tremont St. Check out their website for more info.

Peonies and Pasque Flowers

Today we installed a sunny perennial garden on Rutland Street. It was a pleasure to design because we are usually confined to working in shady conditions. Two very interesting plants were part of our design: a newly introduced peony and pasque flowers.

The Itoh peony (shown in the background of the photo) was originally developed in Japan in the 1940's. It's a cross between an herbaceous peony and a tree peony. It has large yellow flowers and long lasting blooms. And it was the talk of the town. People walking up and down the street loved these showy flowers.

Another interesting plant included in this garden is the pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris). These plants have finely-dissected leaves and delicate seedheads (show in the photo) that make for an intriguing addition to a mixed perennial garden. Pasque refers to Easter (Passover), as these plants tend to flower around that time of year. A closely related species to the one that we planted is the state flower of South Dakota.

Something knotty in your backyard?

Many invasive plants that grow in urban environments are easily removed with a little bit of elbow grease. But Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an aggressive weed that can become a huge nightmare for urban gardeners. In heavily infested areas it forms 6-8 foot tall thickets that will displace overgrow garden plants, and it's really hard to get out of your garden.

Japanese knotweed grows from underground root systems called rhizomes. These strong root systems can damage the foundations of buildings and sidewalks. Once a root system establishes, it is difficult to mechanically remove all pieces of the root system so the plant continues to return even as you valiantly try to remove it. If your neighbor on the other side of your fence has an infestation, you will always have Japanese knotweed popping up in your garden because the roots will grow under the fence.

The best way to remove Japanese knotweed from your backyard is to apply a systemic pesticide, such as glyphosate. The pesticide will travel through the whole plant, and will kill the root system.

(Photo from nycgarden.blogspot.com)

Is my tree growing a sweater?

If you have an eastern hemlock tree on your property and you live in the Northeast, chances are that you've noticed that it gets woolly at this time of year. Is the tree growing a sweater?

Actually, it's a invasive insect from Asia, the hemlock woolly adelgid, producing egg sacs that have the appearance of wool. The photo above was taken today and shows egg sacs on the underside of a hemlock in Cambridge, MA. These insects suck nutrients from the tree while also injecting a toxin into the tree. After several years of a heavy infection, the tree will die.

If you only have a few hemlocks on your property, you can treat your trees with chemical treatments that kill the adelgid. There are also some more environmentally friendly biological control approaches being developed that use insect enemies of the adelgid to reduce infestations.

Sophisticated gardens increase property value

The gardens that create a lush frame around a home are one of the first things that potential buyers notice. A recent article in the Boston Globe points out that attractive landscaping can increase property value by almost 13 percent. This study by Virginia Tech scientists noted that the level of sophistication of the landscaping can raise the value of a home by up to 42 percent. If you are thinking of selling your home, now may be the perfect time to spruce up your garden to attract more potential buyers.

Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast

What's that pesky plant that keeps popping up in your beautiful urban garden? Chances are that Peter Del Tredici can help you figure that out in his new book, Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast. Del Tredici is a research scientist at Boston's Arnold Arboretum. This book isn't a "how to kill a weed" book, but is more of a "how can I appreciate this amazingly persistent plant" book. It will likely change how you view the little green monsters poking up through the sidewalks and urban habitats of the South End.

Peter is giving a talk about this book at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, tomorrow, April 11th.