Northern & Central Midwest
June, 2004
Regional Report
Watch for Grubs in the Lawn
Grubs can wreak havoc on a lawn by chewing grass roots. The turf will turn brown and you can actually roll it back like a carpet. Also, skunks may dig up the lawn looking for grubs to eat. Mid to late June is the time to treat if you have a grub problem. Beneficial nematodes and milky spore are two biological controls that can be sprayed on the soil in summer.
Pinch Herbs for Bushy Plants
Keep herbs watered in dry times but avoid overwatering. Pinch out the new top growth and prevent them from flowering to intensify the oils in the foliage. Herbs can be used all season for flavoring, and you can freeze or dry the snips you take to keep them full and bushy.
Prune Suckers and Water Sprouts
In mid-June prune out sucker growth from the base of fruit trees and serviceberries, and remove water sprouts, which grow straight up from the branches. The trees are slowing their growth at this time of year and will not usually send out more sprouts if they are pruned now instead of in spring.
Watch for Emerald Ash Borer
Watch for our newest pest, the emerald ash borer. Symptoms include unexplained or sudden dieback in ash trees and 1/8-inch, D-shaped holes in trunks and branches. The adults are oval, coppery green beetles, about 1/3 to 1/2 inch long that are active from late May to late June.
Leave Spiders Alone in the Garden
Encourage spiders in your garden. Few spiders are poisonous, and they do a world of good by eating insect pests. Help them find the way to your garden by keeping it mulched and providing nearby woodpiles and leaf piles for hiding. Keep a balance in the garden with some prey for these hunters.
