Brown is the new green this year

As the weather breaks and you get out into your landscape your very likely to find leaves that are normally green are actually brown this year.

Why you ask? Is it dead you ask?

Well this is the same boxwood from above, and as you can see there are plenty of green leaves on the inside.

This Southern Magnolia might look like it’s half dead, but actually it isn’t.

These leaves are dead, but this tree will put out new leaves sometime late May or very early June.

These Cherry Laurel look really bad, from a distance they look dead. But wait, as you take a closer look.

Do you see all of those bumps along the stems?
Those are new buds that will develop into new leaves as the weather continues to warm and the days become longer. So the answer is, no the tree or shrub is not dead or dying. So why are the leaves brown, and many of them dead? Here in the Greater Cincinnati area, as well as much of the midwest region, we have had rather mild Winters. This Winter was much colder, the winds have been very persistant, and snow on the ground has paved the way for our temperatures to plunge during the overnight hours. These conditions freeze tissue cells, and burn leaf surfaces causing the blemishes and dieback you are likely seeing as Winter slowly releases it’s grip and allows Spring to arrive.

I know it’s difficult, but be patient and the new growth will flush out and the appearence of your tree or shrub will improve. So let’s not be too quick to remove a perfectly good tree or shrub just because it’s showing some Winter damage.

Thank you for taking the time to read this short article. If you have found it useful, please press one of the social media buttons below and share it with others that might like to see it also.

~ Michael

via PressSync

Landscape Watch March 17th 2014

 

 

 

We have had a few sneak previews of Spring weather over the last couple of weeks, but Winter seems to refuse to give up. Even though we seem to be stuck in this up and down trend we have picked up some growing degree days in the Greater Cincinnati area. As of this writing on March 14, 2014 we have accumulated 37 degree days so far. I guess an explanation of growing degree days would help, this is the definition given by OSU OARDC and Extension.

Growing Degree Days are a measurement of the growth and development of plants and insects during the growing season. Development does not occur at this time unless the temperature is above a minimum threshold value (base temperature). The base temperature varies for different organisms.  It is determined through research and experimentation.  The actual temperature experienced by an organism is influenced by several factors.  These factors affect growth and development.  For instance, depending on the weather, an organism’s temperature may be a few degrees more or less than that recorded. An organism may spend its time in the shade or under direct sunlight. The fertility and nutrient content of the soil directly affect the growth rate of insects and plants.  The presence of weeds and precipitation may indirectly influence development. Due to these factors and some other scientific considerations, a base temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit is considered acceptable for all plants and insects.

Here is what to expect in the upcoming several weeks from 37 to 100 growing degree days as we accumulate them.

 Species                                           Event             GDD

Corneliancherry Dogwood         first bloom         40

Silver Maple                                  full bloom          42

Red Maple                                      first bloom        44

Speckled Alder                              first bloom        52

Northern Lights Forsythia       first bloom           58

Red Maple                                      full bloom          75

Star Magnolia                                first bloom         83

White Pine Weevil                  adult emergence     84

Border Forsythia                          first bloom         86

Eastern Tent Caterpillar              egg hatch          92

Manchu Cherry                            first bloom         93

Northern Lights Forsythia         full bloom          94

Speckled Alder                              full bloom         97

Corneliancherry Dogwood         full bloom         98

 

I’m hoping to have to post an update real soon as the degree days add up.

~ Michael