Gardening : Insects : Odds and Ends : Home & Garden Television

Master gardener Paul James inspects his landscape and talks about what he finds:

Figure A

Small green galls (overgrowths of plant tissue) the size of golfballs have formed on the leaves of his oak tree (figure A). It's a disturbing sight, but these galls are harmless. They're formed by insects or mites--in this case, a particular breed of wasps--which lay their eggs in leaves and stimulate the tissues into forming these curious, abnormal growths. The galls pose no threat to the tree. Some galls, such as those formed by bacteria on the roots of legumes are actually beneficial; however, bacterial galls can be fatal to plants. If you're in doubt about a gall, take a sample to the local cooperative extensive service or to your favorite nursery.

Figure B

Plants are a lot tougher than we think. Some time back, James cut down a dogwood tree that had suffered from years of neglect and storm damage. James cut the tree off at chest-level and placed a squirrel feeder on top. The stump is now starting to sprout new shoots (figure B).

Figure C

James has Jerusalem artichoke growing in his garden (figure C). The top growth of these plants can easily reach six feet or more and terminate in a familiar yellow flower. Below the ground, these plants produce tasty tubers. Actually, this plant is not an artichoke at all, it's a sunflower. What's more, it's not from Jerusalem. It's native to North America and can be found growing wild along the East coast. Though you may love the tubers, many people consider these plants noxious weeds: they can quickly take over a garden.

Figure D

Cauliflower and broccoli are actually nothing more than variations of cabbage. They have identical botanical names. Although they taste different, they are the same thing--a type of cabbage where the flower buds have been developed for eating. You would think that whatever likes chewing on broccoli would also like chewing on cauliflower, but that's not the case. James's cauliflower plants have been ravaged by a cabbage looper (figure D), a caterpillar that ultimately turns into a little white moth. Approximately 20 feet away are some broccoli plants, and--strangely--the little loopers haven't touched them.

Figure E

James often speaks in defense of at least a small percentage of weeds in the lawn and landscape because of their importance in providing food, cover and nesting sites for beneficial insects. But there are exceptions, of course. Spiny sowthistle is a perfect example (figure E): neat as it looks, this is one weed you don't want in your landscape, says James, because it produces thousands of tiny seeds and proliferates rapidly.

Figure F

Stones in your landscape can get dirty with all sorts of debris--leaves, small twigs, sunflower shells--in their nicks and crannies. A big broom is not delicate enough to clean out this debris. Instead, try a whiskbroom (figure F), and you'll find it's the right tool for the job.

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-524
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