Winter Damage

Each and every year, in the dead of winter, we have a string of warmer weather, as this past week has shown.  Then it moves to get colder again.  Slowly the days are getting longer and the sun is getting stronger.  But it is still winter, and this season takes its toll on us and the landscape around us.  Extreme cold, a short thaw, and inches upon inches of snow can damage the hardiest of trees and shrubs.

The most obvious kind of damage can come from winter storms.  With the high winds, ice buildup and snow we typically receive, it is important to prune any broken or damaged limbs as soon as it feasible.  Make certain when the cuts are made no further injury is made to the bark. If a tree or shrub is leaning or bent, consider staking it to see if it will straighten out.

Drying out, or desiccation, is overlooked.  It seems strange with all the snow on the ground that plants dry out. Needles and leaves on evergreens transpire all winter long.  The extreme winds and dry air can cause excessive water loss, as can milder temperatures and sunny days.  This type of injury is usually seen as discolored, burned evergreen needles or leaves.   Watering during the nicest days in the upcoming months will help offset winter dehydration.

Freeze damage may occur in different ways.  If you notice plants looking like they have been pushed out of the ground, that is a result of frost heaving.  As soon as the soil thaws, replant it.  Be careful not to damage the root system and make sure it is entirely covered.  Dead branch tips are indication of late season growth which did not harden enough to survive.  Also, because of the fluctuation of temperatures, bark and trunks may split or crack.  Sometimes this is called southwest injury.  Most often the plant will repair itself so no action is needed, but be careful not to injure the plant as they are vulnerable at this stage.

Common and controllable is salt injury.  This type of damage is visible later in the year.  Burnt looking leaf edges are the usual sign of salt injury.  Most affected are plants along a driveway or road where splashing and runoff is prevalent.  To reduce this damage, use much less salt, shovel more, and try not to let snow piles build up around the plants.  Salt builds up in the soil and will interfere with the plant’s ability to access essential nutrients vital to good growth.  If salt build is found, flush the area with regular intervals of water in the early spring.  Try using sand or sawdust as an alternative to salt too.

For more information on winter injury please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu and we will send you the free publication “Winter Injury to Trees and Shrubs.”


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension in  Lackawanna County

Bedbugs!

The holiday season brings with it a series of challenges: finding the right tree, fixing the one bulb in the string of lights, the crowded malls, highways choked with travelers… Whether you visit friends and family, or entertain sojourners in your home, it seems like we always wind up with unexpected guests.

With the increase of travel comes the potential of another unwanted guest: bedbugs. They are successful hitchhikers, finding their way around in clothing, bedding, luggage, and boxes. You or your visitors can bring them into your home without knowing it.

First, if you suspect bedbugs, make certain that is what you have. There are other biting insects, and many pantry pests are confused with bedbugs. The Penn State master gardeners can help identify a possible bedbug, or there are many helpful tools on the internet. Proper identification of the pest problem is the first and only way to a solution.

If you travel this holiday season here are a few tips:
--Use luggage racks to unpack and pack, instead of placing your luggage directly on the floor.
--Check the headboard and mattresses before sleeping.
--When you are home, unpack directly into the washing machine and inspect your luggage.

If you suspect infestation in your home:
--Wash and heat-dry all bedding and clothes lying on the floor. It is better to use a plastic bag, and only once, for this laundry to prevent bedbugs from moving through the home.
--A cluttered home provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes locating and treating them harder. If bed bugs are in your mattress, using special bed bug covers (encasements) on your mattress and box springs makes it harder for bed bugs to get to you while you sleep. Leave the encasements on for a year. Be sure to buy a product that has been tested for bed bugs and is strong enough to last for the full year without tearing.
--Don’t pass them along to others. If you throw out a mattress or furniture that has bed bugs in it, you should slash or in some way destroy it so that no one else takes it and gets bed bugs.
--Thorough vacuuming can get rid of some of your bed bugs. Carefully vacuum rugs, floors, upholstered furniture, bed frames, under beds, around bed legs, and all cracks and crevices around the room. Change the bag after each use so the bed bugs can’t escape. Place the used bag in a tightly sealed plastic bag and in an outside garbage bin.

The EPA has a helpful website with information on homeowner pest-management tools. Included on this site, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/index.html,  are certain pesticides you can apply yourself. These have been tested by the agency and shown to be effective, when used according to the labeled directions. If you decide to call a professional, make sure they are licensed to apply pesticides for bedbugs. The applicator should do a thorough inspection of your home and give you a comprehensive plan to control bedbugs.  Be certain to ask for the active ingredient in the products in case of adverse reactions, especially on children, and if it is registered for use on bedbugs.  Also, inquire about precautions for pets too.

For more information on bedbugs, the Penn State master gardeners in Lackawanna County have an information packet on them. Contact us at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu and request a free copy.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Lackawanna County