Yardening Summer 2013 Part 2

My poor weeping cherry. It is literally weeping now--sap. It's been going on since early June and has gotten worse. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Oh dear, Cat, your poor weeping cherry!! I may be wrong, but it sure looks like canker to me ( Pseudomonas syringae). Anyone here, please correct me if I'm wrong, but if this is what it is, then now is a good time to take care of it. Spring and Fall are when the bacteria are most active. You'll need to actually prune OUT the affected areas, HOWEVER, you'll need to be really meticulous about cleaning your tool(s) with alcohol after each and every cut, so-as not to re-infect the tree. Cut-clean-cut-clean-cut-clean... etc. Then, according to package directions, use a copper-containing fungicide to prevent further problems. Ya might also consider a systemic insecticide as well, to prevent any icky critters from taking advantage of the tree's weakened state.

Meanwhile, Is it otherwise very healthy? Keep it well (but not over) watered, give it a good organic feeding, make sure there are no weeds around the base of the trunk competing for water and/or nutrients.

You know--I said it earlier--this Thread-or somewhere else....
I do not know WHERE I heard this--but it is stuck in my "memory bank"...

***Cherry trees are prone to "weeping sap"....Might be why they are called
"Weeping Cherries"--other than the stems hanging down. ???????

We need someone to research this. Yoooo...Hoooo...Coleup!!!

I would NOT go with what speedie said (Sorry, pal)---that seems drastic.

Maybe you need to ask this question on the fruit tree Forum (is there one?)
Maybe an "Orchard Forum"??

Gita

Cat: You might look at:

http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/bleeding-cherry-tree-gum-on-bark/ -- pretty useful.

Canker: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/cankers/gummosis-of-fruit-trees.aspx

Peach tree borer: http://www.bhg.com/advice/gardening/trees-shrubs/weeping-cherry-tree-bleeding-to-death/ ; http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2001/101301.html

Word of the week gumosis.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!! This is why I asked "anyone" here to please correct me if they thought I was wrong; you guys are awesome!!! Happy, those are some excellent links that you provided. I apologize for failing to mention that Cat should try to 'scrape off' some of the gum to look at what is underneath.... and maybe share some pics of what you find under there, Cat? The fact that you mention that it was never in terribly good health from the beginning is telling; it sounds like it's been susceptible to any number of things from its youth.

Scrape back the gum, get a good look at what's under there, and share some pics if ya could please, Cat. That may (should) tell us more.

Thank you Gita, Happy, and Judy, for keeping me on the straight and narrow. =)

Thanks, Gita, Happy, Coleup, and Speedie. I wiped the sap off and took a couple photos. It is rather high up on the trunk, and there is nothing going on at the base of the trunk, so it doesn't seem like borers. Also, when it began it was just in one spot, but now it is bleeding in a few spots. Maybe it is canker?

The sorrel I have is much coarser than the one you pictured. I'll have to see if I can find one to get a pic.

Catmint: American Plant is a pretty nice store -- they might well give you a new plant even without the receipt -- but are you a "member"? If so, they might retain a record of your purchase.

Once again I have posted a question on the Plant Identification forum. If you would be so kind to take a peek and see if you recognize it, I'd be grateful.

Has anyone heard from Aspenhill or Greenthumb? They've been very quiet of late.

Happy, I will take a peek over there for you gladly. :)

Ric, take a bite of your sorrel; if it makes your eyeballs suck into the inside of your head, then it just might be the one that I had. ;)

Cat, the second pic you shared;.... all the way on the right side of the trunk, about halfway down, it sorta looks like a yellowed-ish line or trail going downward from what looks to me like a wound. Any way you could get a more close-up shot of that please? And, look around really closely to make sure it's not a raised little trail-like thing, as if from a borer.

If all that 'tests negative', then it really does sound like canker to me. < =/ Sounds like Happy is onto something here for you, regarding a return or exchange. I would check into that for sure.

Another cool day and another ugly job done. Took a stroll behind the Leland Cypress today. Took my hand clippers and loppers with me. Man what a mess behind there on the neighbors side of the trees. They have two big metal storage containers along that side of their driveway so the area between their containers and our trees is a no mans land of wild grape, wild roses, honeysuckle, Virginia creeper and small junk trees. I cut my way thru and let the mess fall where it will. I'll go back this fall and rake it all out and cut more back. Ric use to be able to run the mower thru there but the trees are too big now.
Ric got all the mowing done.

Holly: I can't wait until you decide you are ready to host another swap: I find it so inspiring to see the fruits of all the work the two of you have done.

We sure will do it again. We like to give everyone a chance to host if they want and having it in different areas makes it nice so everyone doesn't have to travel as far all the time.
It doesn't look like I spent a good bit of time today back there but I cut my way thru and in the next couple of days a good bit of this will die back. When I get a chance I will head back there with a rake and pull out the dead stuff and tackle more of the weeds that I missed there is a good size tree that needs cut with something bigger than my loppers. I can get that with the reciprocating saw.
Here are a few pics of the good side and the bad side from both ends.

Holly, the "good side" could not be more gorgeous!

This message was edited Jul 29, 2013 7:47 PM

I pruned this sweet thing out of my awful front hill by mistake when I was pruning some coreopsis. Any guesses as to what it is? I might have acquired it at a swap -- I only have one plant of it. Or it is a volunteer. Could it be some kind of campanula?

Campanula rapunculoides?
http://www.missouriplants.com/Bluealt/Campanula_rapunculoides_page.html

or Adenophora stricta (Lady Bells)?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/589/

Wow, catmint, I'm awed. Thanks! Not sure which it is, but you have definitely steered me right.

I have another question: Are there any perennial Rudbeckia that are tough but not weedy? The Goldstrum-type I have in the back yard reseed everywhere. I'd love to have some on my awful front hill. Just without all the volunteers.... only because it is way too hard to work on that hill without inviting trouble....

Happy, maybe Rudbeckia hirta Irish Eyes? OK, after this post, gonna head over to the plant ID forum for you.... (didn't have time last night, sorry!)

Cat, I sure hope that works for you -- but keep a close eye on it! And keep a lookout for any holes or 'trails' where borers may have gotten in.

Here are some more close-ups of the cherry from this morning.

There is a soft spot in the tree right above one of the oozy spots.

Happy, all I did was use google images to bring up pics of different kinds of campanula, then when I clicked on the one that looked most similar, it brought up other pages about Lady Bells, which looks similar! :-) I had not heard of Lady Bells before--it looks pretty.

Can't remember which thread had our discussion of crape myrtle, but here is my brave little guy, started from a bare stick with some roots (a freebie from Pepco in April). Took forever to sprout some leaves, but has about doubled in size since the first week of July!

Sweet little treelet! Wish I had answers about your cherry... I lost a pie cherry tree and a young weeping cherry this spring, just never leafed out, no idea why. (The other Montmorrency Cherry is going strong)

Holly, great work cutting a pathway through that jungle! I really hate the row of leland cypress my back yard neighbor put in, although I don't miss him moaning about my lack of "uninterrupted green grass" (his idea of landscape perfection). I'm about to give up on having an "orchard" along there... the trees have become crowded, despite my attempts to prune them back, and with the cypress there's just not enough sun. I'm thinking if I cut half of them down & just keep a few favorites, that area might fare better.

Cat, your Crape Myrtle Baby looks very happy! That baby is going to really take off next year, you just watch!! =)

Holly, wouldn't it just be awful if your chainsaw 'accidentally slipped' over and over and over near those leylands? ;) (Ooooops!)

Well, we're finally taking the plunge and getting 2 trees removed from the back yard. GULP!! One was/is a big oak and leaning terribly toward the back, toward the backyard neighbor's house... don't like that very much!!
I tried to get some "during" shots, but for safety's sake one of the guys suggested that I stay away... in a very gentlemanly manner of course. ALL of the guys are SUPER gentlemanly, WOW, I'm impressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a few shots that I was able to get. Most of 'em are through the kitchen window, sorry. < =/ Safety First! =)

LOL Speedie, We actually planted the Leylands to improve the view. Shipping containers and old cars don't make for much of a view, unless it's the one I'm currently driving. The problem is the uncontrolled growth coming from the other side.

Sheesh, Critter, that's rather rude of him to complain about the style of your garden! The world would be so boring if every garden was all green grass and conifers. ;)

Holly and Ric, I can't wait to go back to your place! I was so late to the swap and then so caught up in the swapping that I barely got to see anything. I don't think I even went inside the greenhouse.

Happy, my Rudbeckia are well behaved for me, but I have no idea what kind they are. Wait, they actually may be heavy self seeders, but I'm so bad at seedling ID that they probably get weeded out. I've seen pictures of R. hirta and goldstrum, but I can't tell them apart. They all have dark centers and yellow petals...

I think this might be the last year for my butterfly bush. It gets all floppy and doesn't bloom well, even with 6 hours of afternoon sun. Even though it's a shorter variety and it was drastically pruned in late winter, I had to prune off half of it last week. I just couldn't stand looking at the floppy mess anymore.

speedie, I didn't realize you have such a great shady tree full backyard. It hurts to cut trees but that was the right thing to do. You can now choose the next generation if you want to.

ssg too bad the BB didn't work out for you.

I love having the windows open for the morning and hearing birds, crickets, cicadas,...much more than hearing my vacuum cleaner...UGH

I needed to water some things and that has been a rare event this year.

Speedie -- Thank you for the suggestion of Rudbeckia hirta "irish eyes", http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/49951/ . I thought all the hirta were annuals -- it sounds lovely! I'll hunt down some seeds!

Edited to say -- grr -- Swallowtail has it. http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/annuals/rudbeckia.html I wouldn't grumble except I just ordered seeds from them that arrived in yesterday's mail, so I'll have to pay for shipping all over again!

This message was edited Jul 30, 2013 9:47 AM

Critter your neighbors lelands could be a BIG problem for you they get huge. They can be trimmed to keep them somewhat manageable. Ours are back along the old pasture line and far enough from the neighbors drive that their size shouldn't be a problem for anyone. They sure don't belong in a smaller development type yard unless you are planning on keeping them trimmed and then you are working against the trees natural inclination to grow really big.
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone

Ric, ... Ooops, I'm sorry, that comment about the Leylands was actually meant for Critter! < =x

Yeah, we really did have a LOT of shade back there, but the way that tree was leaning back toward that house just made it so scary every time there was a big storm. We would sooooooooo hate to have something bad happen if that thing had ever come down... oh no, can't even think about it! Now we won't have to worry about it anymore. :) The Big Plan is to put a shed into the spot that is now all vacant and inviting. No more using the basement as a shed, time to move the mower and blower and all that stuff OUTSIDE of the house where it belongs! That will be sooo nice! =)

Now they are all done and gone, time for me to move the trucks back into the driveway where they belong... then take some new pics. :)

Speedie, I thought you might have meant that for Critter, it fit better to her post. They have such nice sheds now you could have something really nice in that spot maybe even a little porch and sitting area. I have seen some magazines with all kinds of shed ideas.

We're really looking forward to getting a shed put there, and then some sort of tree between the end of my 'shade bench' and the shed... something smallish with a nice crown. I actually think a dogwood would work there 'cause it still doesn't get a whole lot of direct sun, most of it is still dappled from the rest of the trees still around there AND in the back-neighbor's backyard... A dogwood would have the perfect type of crown for filling in that 'blank spot', and an excellent height, without being too tall. ... Gonna be a while though, still paying off other stuff... what I really need to find is a Money Tree.. with REAL MONEY growing on it! < =D

Shed and dogwood would look lovely there. And I know what you mean about the money tree--wish I had one of those!! LOL! :-)

Do dogwoods grow from cuttings? I have a lovely pink dogwood in my front yard which I'd be happy to share with you if such a thing is possible.

When you find that Money tree I would like a rooted cutting please.
I have some nice Red Buds that I need to dig up and transplant.

Speedie, I have several large Japanese Maples living in containers that I would be honored to pass a long to you. They would be so happy to get their roots into real dirt. They are about twelve feet tall now. I raised them from babyhood! Oh, they want me to tell you that they love to grow with dogwoods. One of them is an Emperor I and grows taller rather than wider and has excellent red color. Please say you'll consider one and you can see them at the fall swap. You are coming? Bring your truck!
L. Judy

Here is a link to my "Parting Out" thread which I will update for Fall Swap.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1319224/

This message was edited Jul 31, 2013 6:49 AM

I promise, when I find that Money Tree, I will root cuttings for you guys!! =)

Judy, ya know, honestly I was actually thinking about a Japanese Maple before DH mentioned the dogwood... I LOVE Japanese Maples so very much, and there are so many yummy ones, and Emperors are FABULOUS!! (I'm not sure we'd have room for both a dogwood and JM, gotta wait to see what the shed looks like first.) Let me peek around on your thread and then post there... gotta see what you have that is still available... I'll meet you over there about this. I actually would really prefer a JM. =)

Oh yeah, and that reminds me, I need to post my "YES, please, thank you" RSVP in the Fall Swap thread, too! =)

Yeah, I know what a problem the leylands could be... expressed my opinion at the time, but his "landscaper" told him they'd only get 20 feet tall & 6 feet wide, and he wasn't taking the word of a "nonprofessional." The conversation where he mentioned uninterrupted green grass ended when he asked why we hadn't just moved to a farm, and I asked in return why he hadn't bought a home in a golf course community? LOL

I'm hoping he's sufficiently type A to trim them when they start crossing the line, probably in the next year or 2... my real concern at the time of planting was what would happen if they moved and the next owner was laid-back? LOL, that's when chain saw "accidents" could happen. I know I can prune anything on my side myself, but I really don't want the job of pruning back a dozen huge leylands.

I have several young BB's that I hope will be fuller next year... this year, I just let them grow & flop... next year, I'll prune them to about a foot off the ground in early spring. I do have one that I keep threatening... been there forever, never gets as full as it "should," but either I'm sentimental about it (got it from the Boy Scouts) or I just never quite get around to it before it starts sprouting up in spring, and then I think it will do better this year! LOL

Does anyone grow Elderberry Black Lace? I've fallen in love with this plant and would like to know if they do ok with our heat and humidity and clay soil. It looks like we're at the upper range of their heat tolerance.

This message was edited Jul 31, 2013 10:01 AM