Gresham Outlook
Tues
March 30. 1982 Sandy Post, Thur»., April I, 1982 — 19
G ardener's n o te b o o k
W atch out fo r shrub in tru d e rs
SILKEN WEBRING an juniper and con-
ton easier shrubs means webworms have
moved into the landscape.
Webbing on junipers is likely to be on in
terior branches, while on the outer
foliageon contoneasters, says Ray
McNeilan, Oregon State University Exten
sion home gardening agent.
The juniper webworn is reddish-brown
and about 4 inch long The cotoneaster
webworm is dark brown to black and also
about 4 inch long.
Sprays containing diazinon are recom
mended and should be applied early in the
sprng. Apply the spray when the weather
permits several hours of drying time
RED RASPBERRY AND BLUEBERRY
plants won’t have much fru it to yield if
they aren’t treated for insects and disease
now.
Blueberries should be sprayed for
fungus disease and red rasbperries re
quire a drench for control of crown borers,
according to Ray McNeilan
The raspberry crown borer attacks plan
tings in early March Diazinon is recom
mended Apply two to three pints of drench
to each plant crown.
Rain doesn’t interfere because it's a
drench, not a spray.
The fungus diaseas afflicting blueberry
plants is called “ mummy berry.” This
disease prevents berries from ripening, in
stead causing infected berries to turn
reddish-buff or tan before shriveling and
hardening.
Eunginex, Benlate or captan sprays
recommended for mummy berry Use two
or three applications through the blossom
ing period, which ususally lasts from the
end of March to mid-April
ped portion with moist soil
The planting hole should be one foot
wider and the same depth as the root-soil
ball. Be sure it is in a well-drained locatjon
or set on a mound of sil This w ill raise the
root system above a high water table
BALLED AND BIRLAPPED TREES
Untie all twine from the base of the trunk
and lay back the burlap so that none ex
tends above the soil level.
usually get off to a faster start than bare-
root transplant trees because roots aren’t
d is tu rb e d m uch in p la n tin g , says
McNeilan
However, even though the roots of the
trees are covered, they are susceptible to
damage moving from the store
. After getting the tree home, plant it as
soon and possible. Or heel it in, by digging
a shallow trench to put the plant in an
upright position and covering its burlap
If the soil around the roots is tight, the
burlap can be removed before planting
Don’t fertilize in the hole Water enough to
soak the entire root area, but don’t over
water
Apply a two to three inch mulch layer of
wood chips, shredded bark or other
organic material on the soil surface above
the tree’s root system, if possible.
Tractor injuries avoided by
some precautionary moves
The first warm days of spring bring out an abun
dance of flowers, birds and people anxious to get at the
job of farm ing or gardening. Unfortunately, the well-
meaning person who starts his tractor after a long
winter rest is often careless and rusty with his safety
techniques.
Just as surely as the flowers bloom in spring, we can
anticipate some fatal accidents to farmers in
Clackamas County in 1982 In fact, most farm ac
cidents occur between May and October each year
Clackamas County has the dubious distinction of ex
periencing from one to three tractor fatalities each
year, usually as a result of tractor overturns
This column is written to alert the novice and the ex
perienced farm er alike to the dangers of tractor use,
especially the use of older tractors which are more pro
ne to upsets and often do not have roll-bar protection.
This warning goes particularly to younger or less ex
perienced operators who may be operating equipment
on the weekends for the first time in their lives Please
take some time now to think safety as you plan to use
tractors and heavy equipment this spring
Nearly all fatal accidents with tractors are caused
by overturns to the side which are caused by hitting a
raised object such as a stump, operating the tractor
with a front-end loader or operating the tractor on a
steep incline. In most such fatal accidents, a farm im
plement was attached to the tractor or was being tow
ed Personal experience and comments from others in-
dicate that being in too big a hurry is often a major con
tributor to tractor accidents
Here are some points to think about before operating
a tractor:
1. Be sure to get enough sleep; dress comfortably;
don’t overtax your tractor driving abilities; take occa
sional breaks
2. If you are sick, distressed emotionally, taking
strong medicines, or otherwise unable to operate safe
ly, don’t drive the tractor that day.
3. Do each tractor job at the most efficient speed, but
go more slowly if conditions are bad, rough, slick or
muddy ground, poor visibility, or tall growth so that
you can’t see hidden obstacles, slopes, etc.
Clackamas County is blessed with many types of te r
rain. Unfortunately, many of our small farms are
located on rather h illy ground This should alert every
fam ily who owns a tractor to the built-in dangers of
their property. Each day, attention should be given to
careful operation of the equipment.
The Clackamas County office of Oregon State
University has available detailed information on the
safe operation of tractors and other farm equipment.
OSU Extension also has a handbook on ways of preven
ting accidents and the steps that can be followed if an
accident occurs. This pamphlet, titled "F arm Accident
Rescue,” covers a ll types of farm accident causes The
bulletin may be purchased through the Clackamas
County Extension office, 655-8631.
No shrub is safe
Fungus flourishes in wet areas
Fungus diseases of plants flourish in wet, warm
weather In western Oregon, even landscape trees such as
hawthorn, sycamore and willow don’t escape the fungus
onslaught.
Aa the new leaves of these trees appear in the spring,
they are attacked by a variety of fungus diseases, says
Ray McNeilan, Oregon State University Extension home
gardening agent.
Leaf and twig blight in sycamores causes the young
leaves to turn brown and die as they emerge from the
buds. Leaves that survive later develop brown spots on
either side of the main leaf vein The spots eventually can
merge and cover most of the leaf. Severe infections can
cause the tree to lose most of its leaves.
Brown spots along the mid ribs of new leaves on willow
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trees are a tell-tale sign of willow twig blight The leaves
become scorched and withered and eventually drop
CALL 666-1610
Small reddish-brown spots on the upper surface of
hawthorn tree leaves means hawthorn leaf spot is present
After a wet spring, the spots can be numerous and the in
fection severe.
These diseases can be controlled through use of a cop
per fungicide spray Copper fungicide is most effective if
the first spray is applied when the buds first open and the
leaves are unfolding Spray two or three more times at ten
day intervals.
Also, prune and destroy infected twigs and branches
where possible, McNeilan advises Clean up and remove
fallen leaves and twigs regularly to prevent re infection
tor Shop Al Home convenience'
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