Controlling earwigs without chemicals
by
Margaret Inwood, Lanark County master gardeners
Earwigs live for only one year and may
die during the winter months. In early spring, any surviving females
lay their eggs in tiny nests in the top 5 cm of the soil. It is a
good time to dig around all plants to disrupt the larvae and expose
them to air which kills them. Also, cultivating the soil during the
summer will prevent larvae from thriving. In the fall, remove all
debris that could provide overwintering sites. Favourite hiding
places for earwigs include cracks, curled leaves and crotches on
trees and shrubs. They also like to hide in the blossoms of flowers
with many petals or have deep throats.
One can create instant traps with
anything that will provide shelter. Newspapers folded or rolled can
be placed near damaged plants and the earwigs will take cover in the
folds in early morning. In mid-morning, you can shake the newspaper
out into a pail of soapy water, which will kill them. Hollow bamboo
canes or pieces of old garden hose can be placed along house
foundations or wherever earwigs are found and shaken into soapy water
in the morning. You can also use a spray of 20-25 mL of liquid soap
to 4.5 litres of water and spray on the plants at dusk. The reduction
of a season’s population will also reduce the population of
subsequent years as earwigs only breed once a year.
Ginkgo biloba - the tree that fed the
dinosaurs
by Judy Wall, Lanark county Master
Gardeners
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs as big
as houses ate their way through ginkgo groves in North America,
munching on the trees’ leathery fan-shaped leaves as they went.
Today, we only know about dinosaurs because of their fossils, but the
ginkgo tree is still with us. The ginkgo became almost extinct when
continents shifted and glaciers bore down during the Ice Age. But
about 300 years ago a specimen was discovered in a Japanese temple
garden. The ginkgo tree which was cherished by gardeners in Japan,
was reintroduced to Europe, and reached North America again about
1800. It was a homecoming for the tree after millions of years.
Besides its ability to thrive in
cramped conditions, the ginkgo is virtually immune to pests and
diseases. It tolerates smog and city conditions, too. In the fall
after the leaves have turned golden yellow, the ginkgo sheds all its
leaves at once, rewarding the gardener with a one-time rake-up job.
Ginkgos are dioecious, meaning male and
female flowers are on separate plants. Male trees have catkins that
flower in spring. Female ginkgos have tiny greenish seed-bearing
flowers that turn into plum-like fruit. As these ripen and fall, they
rot, giving off an unpleasant smell. So, be sure to select a male
tree. Sex is hard to determine until it begins to fruit – in about
ten years.
Mature trees can reach nearly 80 feet
and have a pyramidal shape when young. They are hardy in our area and
nurseries should have them available to gardeners wanting an
interesting garden specimen.
It is possible to grow your own ginkgo
tree from a cutting taken during the growing season. Pull a new shoot
away from a heavier branch so that a “heel” from the older wood
is attached. Cut off lower leaves. Fill a container with a mixture of
peat moss and sand and moisten it well. Poke a hole in the centre of
the soil about 2” deep. Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone for
semi-hardwood cuttings and insert your cutting in the hole. Firm the
soil around it. Place a stake in beside the cutting. Enclose your pot
and cutting with a clear plastic bag and secure it to the top of the
stake. Leave the mini greenhouse outside in bright light but away
from direct sunlight. Condensation will form inside the bag. After
about six weeks, start opening the bag for short periods, gradually
exposing it to outdoor conditions. After about a week, remove the bag
and water plant as required. On a cloudy day you can then transplant
it to its new location. Water frequently, especially in dry weather.
