We can always count on spring, but we cannot count on how our plants will come through the winter weather. Emails and phone calls coming into our offices are revealing some trends on how our landscape plants have faired.
A couple that have looked very good this spring are flowering ornamental crabapples and the redbuds. Established PJM Rhododendrons have had a good bloom show, as well. However, gardeners would expect to see some winter damage on those marginally hardy ornamental plants. You know the ones – the ones the garden center said to be sure you plant in a protected area, cover in the winter and mulch the ground around to keep them from budding too early? Those plants. Japanese maples likely are at the top of that list right now.
What we have been surprised with are winter damage reports on some of our known-to-be-hardy large shrubs and small trees. Magnolias, Chokeberry, Euonymus shrubs, and the smaller Spirea are a few of the deciduous plants. And some landscapes have seen Boxwoods with severe damage even those that are protected or established for 10 or more years. Damage has ranged from time dieback to entire branches dead down to the crown or maybe larger limbs that have split open, but not the usual frost cracks near the soil line. While there could be a biotic cause, i.e. a living pathogen at work, more likely the cause is environmental.
Lawns have had a great spring, plenty of cool weather and just enough rain. According to the drought monitoring websites, we are actually behind on our normal rainfall amounts, which could influence how soon the lawn slows from the typical spring flush. Since the lawns have greened up well, one of the perennial warm season grassy weeds has easily been spotted, Nimblewill. It remains straw-colored in an otherwise green lawn. A recent article in the University of Illinois Home, Yard and Garden Pest newsletter now reports we can have selective control on Nimblewill with mesotrione. Prior to this, any treatments took out the desirable grasses too. If you have your lawn treated, ask your lawn care company about this option. You will get better control if treated in the spring while the grassy perennial weed is young. Read the full article for details and more information. (Always read and follow label instructions.)
Recently, a lot of press has centered around jumping worms and what, if anything, we as gardeners should be doing about them. While DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties have been identified with jumping worms, not every community, home or yard has this worm. Gardening should continue as usual in your own yard. Those who find out they have the worm should not share plants, composts or soil with family, friends or garden club plant sales. Read the latest news at extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/keep-eye-out-jumping-worms-gardening-season.
Remember, if you have questions, our Master Gardener e-Help desks are open for the 2021 growing season. Residents can get gardening and growing advice for a variety of topics. Email your question, pictures and any additional information to: uiemg-dupage@illinois.edu, uiemg-kane@illinois.edu or uiemg-kendall@illinois.edu.
• Richard Hentschel is a Horticulture Extension educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. This column originates on his blog at go.illinois.edu/overthegardenfence. To get more tips from Hentschel, watch his “This Week in the Garden” videos on Facebook and YouTube.