By OPAL W. SCHALLMO and NANCY R. VOLMAR
Published June 28, 2003
Summer is a time for camping and other outdoor activities. It also is a time when many people are accidentally poisoned from contact with harmful plants.
Poison ivy and poison oak are neither ivy nor oak species. They actually belong to the cashew family. They grow as woody vines attached to trees and trailing on the ground. Leaves, even on the same plant, may vary, but they almost always consist of three leaflets.
Poisoning usually is caused by contact with some part of the bruised plants. A small amount of the poisonous substance can produce severe inflammation of the skin. Smoke from burning plants can carry the toxin and cause severe cases of poisoning. (See related story on prevention and safety tips.)
Prune away
Prune dead parts from shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants any time they appear. (There is a misconception that plants should only be pruned once a year and that limbs, no matter the condition, should not be removed.) Dead wood and stems offer the perfect entry for disease and wood-eating insects.
Fight fig rust
Check fig leaves for rust. Fig rust disease can cause your tree to lose its leaves. Infected leaves develop small, yellowish spots that enlarge and turn brown. Remove infected leaves before spores are produced, because the spread of spores will cause future infection. Destroy fallen leaves.
The point of poinsettias
The new growth on poinsettias should be about ready to prune. Cut stems back when they reach 12 inches, and prune new growth back to four leaves.
Give azaleas the mulch
This is your last chance to prune azaleas. They can be cut back one-third to one-half. Apply a layer of organic mulch 2 to 3 inches deep around the plants. This will help conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
Summertime planting
There is still time to plant summer annuals such as celosia, marigolds, portulaca, vinca and zinnias. Pinch off faded blooms to extend their flowering season.
Pesticide timing
Avoid applying pesticides in the heat of the day. The heat combines with pesticides and causes the treated plants to burn. Apply pesticides in late afternoon or on an overcast day when rain is not in the forecast.
Wind is also a factor. When it is breezy, chemicals can spread on the plants and on the person applying them. Most pesticides are absorbed through the skin and symptoms may be delayed for several hours. Always read and follow label directions for your plants' and your own safety.
Keep it clean (and safe)
Pesticides, when used as the label directs, are relatively safe, but chemical spills can pose a threat to humans, animals and the environment.
The following items can be used to clean spills and should be kept near areas where pesticides are mixed: builders' sand, sawdust, kitty litter and a shovel.
Contain the spill with a soil dike to keep it from spreading; never hose down spills, as this spreads the chemical.
To absorb the chemical, cover with kitty litter and sawdust. If the pesticide is extremely toxic, place it in a leak-proof container and dispose of it as the label directs. Always read the label for correct disposal procedures.
Daylily upkeep
When dividing daylilies, remove parts of the clump to overhaul the entire bed or to alleviate overcrowding.
Use a knife or pruning shears to cut through the mass of roots. When replanting, space them so that the roots are not crowded. Make sure the crown is level with the soil line. Watering is important at this stage. Keep the bed moist for the first week by watering every other day unless there is rain. The second week water twice, then once a week or as needed.
This is a good time to add organic matter to the bed to enrich the soil. Organic peat, compost, animal manure or composted cow manure are all good sources of organic material. Along with the 25 pounds of organic matter, use 21/2 pounds of 5-10-10 or similar fertilizer for every 100 square feet of bed. Work the mixture into the existing soil.
Lose the lubbers
Those small, black grasshoppers seen earlier this year have turned into the large, multicolored grasshoppers called lubbers. They prefer to feed on plants of the lily family but will also feed on other plants in the landscape. The adults are yellowish with dark markings and have a red area on their wings. They can be more than 3 inches long when fully grown. Mechanical control (removing them by hand) is suggested.
Tackling termites
At certain times of the year during daylight hours, king and queen drywood termites emerge from colonies and swarm. Their goal is to establish new colonies. The appearance of winged termites in the home is an indication of probable infestation.
The wings break off shortly after they swarm and are usually found near a light source, especially on windowsills. It is important to inspect all woodwork, especially the ceiling, baseboards, windowsills, floor joists and furniture.
When drywood termites are present, you will find small piles of pellets that look like grains of sand. The piles can be tan to brown depending on the wood the termites are feeding on.
It is best to get professional help, but if you are sure the infestation is localized, replacing the wood may be enough.
Bagworms and brooms
Let's say you've found a strange-looking creature on your wall. It looks like a watermelon seed but has a head protruding from one end and moves slowly. You have a plaster bagworm.
The larvae of bagworms live in a flattened, gray case that is about 1/2 inch long. The case is made of silken fiber and sand particles, lint, paint fragments and other debris. There is a slitlike opening at each end, and the larva is able to feed from either end.
When bagworms get inside they can be found along the edge of rugs, near baseboards or on the lower edges of walls. Bagworms are common in garages and underneath buildings. The larvae mainly feed on spider webs.
There is no need to control those that are outdoors, but if they get indoors sweep down and remove any spider webs and bagworm cases.
- Compiled by Opal W. Schallmo and Nancy R. Volmar of The Pinellas County Cooperative Extension Service. If you have questions, call them at (727) 582-2100.
