What's In A Name?

The name geranium brings to mind several things: the stalwart red blooms we see everywhere from memorial plants marking a loved-ones grave to mass borders in a home landscape to a small container on a porch.  They come in different colors, scents, and sizes.  Nothing beats the versatility or stamina of the geranium.

Except for one matter: the plants we call geraniums are really pelargonium.  True geraniums look entirely different and are fairly uncommon in our area, but are usually called hardy geraniums.  “Pelargomium” come from the Greek word geranos, meaning crane, as the seed head looks like a crane bill.  The common geranium we use in our landscape can be found in various forms:

• SEED GERANIUMS - These are generally smaller plants than cutting geraniums, with small but more numerous flowers and a more self-branching growth habit.  They are often labeled as seed geraniums, and sold in small pots or packs. 
• ZONAL GERANIUMS - They are named this way because they have a dark ring midway on the leaf.  They tend to have bigger blooms ranging in size from three to six inches, and in all sorts of colors.  They tend to grow upright so are best suited for beddings and pots.  These can take the most sun and are drought tolerant.
• IVY-LEAVED - These are best for hanging baskets and window boxes, as they have a trailing habit.  They have a growth habit less upright than the other kinds of geraniums, and the leaves resemble the English ivy plant. Another distinction is they do better in part shade during the extreme heat of the summer.
• REGAL - Sometimes called Martha Washington, they come in pastel shades and the leaves have more serrated ends in comparison to the rounded ones of the other varieties.  They make excellent indoor plants in a sunny window, but usually do not perform well in the extreme heat of summer.
• SCENTED - These are specialty geraniums.  They are grown for their foliage more than the flowers. They come in lemon, peppermint, citronella, and even chocolate, among others.  Expect to pay a premium for these. 

Geraniums are among the easiest landscape plants to have.  They do best in well-drained soil and full sun.  Generally a 10-10-10 fertilizer is all that is required to promote continued blooming throughout the season.  Deadheading is important to the health of the plant as well as encouraging new blossoms.  Remove any yellow leaves or spent flowers and throw them away.  A mold called botrytis is spread through poor sanitation of your plants.  Not many insects bother the geranium, but whiteflies, aphids, and mealy bugs can attack them.  These pests can be managed easily with insecticides found at your local garden center. 

Besides the versatility and variety the geraniums offer, they also can be over-wintered for those who want a project for the off season.  Not many summer annuals can make the transition but some geraniums will.  But who really wants to think about winter when the growing season is just beginning?  For more information on growing geraniums, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu and request a copy of “Geraniums.”

Steve Ward

Master Gardener Coordinator

Penn State  Extension  Lackawanna County

Hemlock

Are any of you history buffs? Even if you are not, you have a physical connection to the past via the newspaper. On June 22, 1931, the Pennsylvania Legislature adopted the eastern hemlock as our state tree:

"Whereas, The hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis Linnaeus) is still today, as it was of old, the tree most typical of the forests of Pennsylvania; and 

Whereas, The hemlock yielded to our pioneers the wood from which they wrought their cabin homes; and

Whereas, The hemlock gave its bark to found a mighty industry;  and

Whereas, The hemlock everywhere lends kindly shelter and sure haven to the wild things of forests; and

Whereas, The lighted hemlock at Christmas time dazzles the bright eyes of the child with an unguessed hope, and bears to the aged, in its leaves of evergreen, a sign and symbol of faith in immortality."

The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), is not exclusive to our state, and it is also called Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce. It is a slow growing tree, and lives quite well in shady areas, unlike other trees. It can take 200 - 300 years for a hemlock to reach its maturity. The record height is 175 feet tall and seventy-six inches in diameter. This hemlock was used in the past in construction, and the tannin found in the bark was used to die leather goods. Today, the eastern hemlock is primarily a landscape tree. However, its main industrial use is for wood pulp, especially for newsprint. So thanks to the eastern hemlock, you can have your Sunday paper.

Just before the eastern hemlock was adopted as a state tree, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was introduced accidently in this country in the late 1920’s. Some thirty years later the HWA was seen in the East. It is a serious threat to our state symbol. Not being a native insect, it has few predators to keep the population in check. This insect can kill a tree in as little as four years.

The easiest way to tell if your eastern hemlock has HWA is to look at the branches. If you notice small white clumps, it may be HWA. Other symptoms include the needles that turn greyish green then drop off, and limb die back from the bottom up. Once the tree is weakened from HWA, it is vulnerable to other pests and diseases.

To help reduce the spread of HWA, do not place bird feeders in hemlocks as they will use the bird to hitchhike to other eastern hemlocks. If you have an infected tree, do not fertilize it. Research has shown nitrogen fertilizers enhance the insect and doubles its reproductive rate.

The homeowner can attempt to manage the pest. The newly hatched nymphs are unprotected and exposed. Once the HWA is under those white cottony-masses, it is difficult to treat. So with timed applications of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, the eastern hemlock can be treated. A licensed commercial applicator can use stronger pesticides to manage the insect. It is important to remember that treatment is lifelong for the tree. Continued applications must be applied. 

For more information on the hemlock woolly adelgid, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu  We have a free factsheet on this insect.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State e Extension
 Lackawanna County

Pansies

The calendar does actually say winter is officially over. But, as experience has shown us, the weather is very unpredictable. Some areas just this week had snow, rain, and sun all in one day. Mother nature pays no attention to what month it is. The home landscape this time of year is in need of cheering up. There are better and brighter days ahead even though things look dirty and old. It would be nice to see some color around the yard.

Right now, at your local garden center, you can have your choice of a host of colors, as greenhouses are full of pansies. Few other flowers give you the wide variety of colors and excellent weather tolerance than pansies do.

Throughout the world, there are almost 500 species of pansies with three different patterns:
The single color, or often referred to as “clear” type; single color with black radiating from the center; and “face” type - these have dark centers. You will also find single, semi double, and full double blooms. Most often you find a mix of all these kinds in packs or trays.

Johnny Jump-ups are closely related to pansies. They have much smaller blooms, come in fewer colors, and can tolerate warmer temperatures. As a result, they will bloom longer in the season than regular pansies.

Pansies can be planted outside as soon as the soil can be worked and loosened. They usually can handle a frost, and once established, can survive a freeze. Considered biennials, you may see them again, as they will re-seed themselves to complete their life cycle. Pansies prefer part sun to shade locations. This will also keep them blooming longer than in direct sun. Continually dead-heading or removing spent blooms will encourage new flowers to form. Pansies perform well in containers and baskets. They are an easy choice for a deck or porch if do not want to toil in the soil so early in the season. Another advantage to pansies is they are very disease resistant so you can have a healthy looking yard when everything else is still dormant.

An additional benefit of pansies is a fun activity: collect and press the blooms. You can make it an easy family adventure. Starting at your local greenhouse, pick the color combination everyone likes, take them home and plant them. Once they are in full bloom, you pick them and preserve them through pressing.

For more information on pansies, and pressing them, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu, and request the “Pansy: Home Grown Facts” publication.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
 Lackawanna County

Clover

This Sunday was the day to “go green”! Being St. Patrick’s Day, whether you are of Irish decent or not, most people celebrate by wearing or displaying something green. In gardening, “going green” is often understood as using environmentally sound practices. It is worth considering, in light of it being March 17th, to blend the two meanings. Probably the most recognizable symbol of Ireland is the clover leaf. While it is rare to find a four leaf clover, the plant itself used to be a mainstay in the home lawn. Now, unfortunately, it is viewed as a weed.

White clover, also known as Dutch clover, has many benefits, and if you are trying to go green in your own landscape, it may be worthwhile adding it. Clover is lush, has a rich green hue, and has a low and dense growth habit. White clover makes even more sense in a home landscape, if you have large areas to mow, as it is a low maintenance ground cover. As water becomes a more precious resource, white clover is a good choice, because it can withstand a drought.

Some additional benefits to white clover are:

• Grows four to eight inches high.
• Tolerates low mowing.
• Spreads to fill empty spaces, and looks best when blended with other grasses.
• Tolerates dog urine better than grasses.
• Great source of nitrogen for your lawn, cutting down on the need to fertilize.

White cover does have disadvantages though. It can be hard to find. Some garden centers sell forage types, like red clover. It does not hold up well to a lot of foot traffic, and the stains on clothing are difficult to remove. Depending on your particular circumstance, clover attracts honey and bumble bees, which can be a plus or a minus. If you want to promote native pollinators, white clover is an excellent feed source for them. It may be a concern if you are allergic to stings.

If you do choose to add white clover to your home lawn, remember not to use any kind of broad leaf herbicide. White clover is killed by these products. For more information on this or any other topic, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension  Lackawanna County

Brown Marmorated Stinkbug

Gradually, the winter season is coming to a close. The weather pattern is still unpredictable; cycles of warm and cold will taunt us for a while longer. The days have become longer, and the sun is stronger warming things in its path, even though it can still get quite chilly. One unforeseen consequence of this solar heating is it causes some insects to start coming out of hibernation, especially the brown marmorated stinkbug, or BMSB. You may have been alarmed by the site of this triangular-shield shaped bug crawling around your home.

Accidently introduced in the late 1990’s the BMSB is originally from Asia. It has become a nuisance pest because it has no natural enemies in the states, and it has a very wide variety of host plants on which it can live. A homeowner often can see large gatherings of them around the landscape, especially in the fall. More than likely then, they are looking for a place to hibernate. Stink bugs have the unique ability to give off a scent, alerting other BMSB’s that there is a suitable site for the winter. So, you will see large groups of them before the cold sets in. You may notice them on occasion in your home as their slumber is coming to an end. It is important to know, though, there is no cause for alarm, if you see them.

Unlike carpenter ants or termites, the BMSB, does not do any structural damage to the home. They do not sting or bite either. The only defense they have is their offensive odor. In addition,, the stink bug does not reproduce indoors, nor does it eat this time of year. Basically, your home is a rest stop for this pest. In the fall they often enter through holes in screens, exhaust fans, and especially window air conditioners. It is important to check those areas to prevent an infestation.

This time of year, controlling the BMSB is on the mind of anyone who has seen this pest in their home. The use of pesticides indoors is not effective in controlling stink bugs. The use of aerosol-type foggers, "bug bombs," or other insecticides may kill stink bugs but will not prevent more from entering a structure. These materials are also not labeled for this purpose and therefore not legally allowed. Their use may also create a hazard to people using the structure. Plus, leaving large numbers of dead BMSB’s  in hard to reach places like attics may attract other pests such as carpet beetles and mice. Manually ridding your home of these bugs is the best way to manage them. You can use a shop vac to gather them, but that may cause your vacuum to smell like the stink bug for a while.

Stink bugs are nothing more than a unwelcome guest in your home this time of year. Using more than manual control on them will do much more damage than good.  For more information on the BMSB, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu. We can send you a free publication on the stink bug.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State e Extension
   Lackawanna County