April 7th 2013
Stacy and Caitlin reporting from campus. The name of the game this weekend was litter. This time of year is always bad for litter in the gardens after the snow banks melt.
We cleaned the garbage and leaf litter out of the gardens around the Fowler Kennedy Clinic and they are looking a lot better!
There were a few prime examples of the wrong plant being chosen for the wrong spot. The Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ needs to be pruned away from the side of the building several times a year and serves as an effective garbage and leaf trap.
The Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ is damaged by snow from the building beside which has ruined it’s form. We’re calling it character.
Otherwise we cleaned the leaf litter and the garbage litter out of the gardens and pruned and removed some shrubs that had lost the battle. Gardens are looking a lot better!
One of our challenges this weekend was dealing with field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). It is notoriously difficult to destroy bindweed once it is established because of its vigorous root and shoot growth. There are cultural and biological controls that can increase bindweed manageability. Bindweed does not do well in heavy shade or dry conditions. So plant large shrubs or trees that tolerate dry conditions; that way the bindweed will be in unfavourable conditions and it will take longer for it to come back after it is forked out. In addition, an effective biological control that can make bindweed more manageable is the field bindweed gall mite (Aceria malherbae). These mites will reduce flowering, and cause stunting and leaf curling. These mites prefer dry conditions so using them in conjunction with drought tolerant shady plants will help keep it under control.
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