THE LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER--
TIME TO ENJOY THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF OUR LABORS.
IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO SIT BACK AND RELAX A LITTLE.
WELL, NOT REALLY. NOT IF YOU'RE A GARDENER.
WELCOME TO THE WISCONSIN GARDENER.
I'M YOUR HOST, SHELLEY RYAN.
TODAY'S PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE SUMMER GARDEN
AND SOME OF THE MANY ACTIVITIES
THAT ARE IDEAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
FOR INSTANCE, IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR
TO DIG UP AND DIVIDE YOUR IRIS
AND TO INSPECT THOSE PLANTS
FOR A REAL NASTY PEST CALLED IRIS BORER.
WE'LL ALSO VISIT THE UW-MADISON ARBORETUM
TO LOOK AT SOME SHRUBS THAT BLOOM IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.
AND POWDERY MILDEW-- WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO
IF YOU FIND IT IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD.
FIRST UP, DAYLILIES.
THEY'VE BEEN CALLED THE PERFECT PERENNIAL.
WE'LL SHOW YOU WHY.
THAT'S NEXT, ON THE WISCONSIN GARDENER.
PRODUCTION OF THE WISCONSIN GARDENER
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FISKARS
A WISCONSIN MANUFACTURER OF ERGONOMIC CUTTING TOOLS
FOR THE HOME AND GARDEN, DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE;
AND BY THE ARIENS FOUNDATION
THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ARIENS COMPANY
BRILLION, WISCONSIN.
MAKER OF LAWN, GARDEN AND SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT
FOR CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL MARKETS WORLDWIDE.
THE TOPIC IS DAYLILIES.
AND WE'RE AT THE FIELDS OF GREYSTONE
A DAYLILY FARM NEAR MUSCODA.
HERE, BILL AND LINDA LEHMAN
GROW OVER 500 VARIETIES OF DAYLILIES.
THAT'S A LOT OF DAYLILIES. WHY SO MANY ?
THEY'RE PEST RESISTANT.
THEY'LL GROW PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE.
ABOVE ALL, THEY'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S ALMOST A PERFECT PERENNIAL.
THEY ARE CALLED THE PERFECT PERENNIAL.
HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU A MATURE CLUMP, HERE.
THIS IS CALLED A CLUMP.
IT'S MADE UP OF INDIVIDUAL FANS OR PLANTS.
AND THIS LITTLE THING RIGHT HERE IS CALLED THE SCAPE OR...
THE FLOWER STALK.
YES, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WHY ARE THESE CALLED DAYLILIES ?
THEY'RE CALLED DAYLILIES BECAUSE--
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE BUDS HERE--
EACH BUD WILL TURN INTO A FLOWER
AND THAT FLOWER WILL LAST ONLY ONE DAY.
ONE DAY ? ONE DAY.
NOW, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PERENNIALS.
OUR PEONIES THAT WE HAVE BEHIND US
GOT CAUGHT IN SOME PRETTY SEVERE WEATHER THIS SPRING.
AND OF COURSE, EACH STEM OF A PEONY
HAS ONE BLOSSOM ON TOP.
THAT GOT THRASHED IN THE RAIN AND WEATHER THAT WE HAD.
IT ENDED UP ON THE GROUND.
THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR DAYLILIES ?
NO, IF WE RUN INTO SEVERE WEATHER WITH A DAYLILY
YOU GET A WHOLE NEW SET TOMORROW.
SO, THE BLOOMS TODAY MIGHT GET HAILED ON
BUT THAT'S NOT THE END OF ITS BLOOMING.
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'LL GET A WHOLE NEW SET TOMORROW.
CONSEQUENTLY, YOU'LL LOSE A DAY
YOU WON'T LOSE A SEASON, LIKE WITH THE PEONIES.
WHAT IS THE BLOOM SEASON OF DAYLILIES ?
THE BLOOM SEASON IS FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
AND THAT COVERS THE BEGINNING OF JULY
ALL THE WAY INTO SEPTEMBER.
IT'S A NICE BLOOMER FOR THE SUMMER.
ABSOLUTELY.
IT TAKES UP SOME OF THE GAPS WE HAVE
IN OUR PERENNIAL BORDERS
WHERE THINGS START TO FADE A LITTLE BIT
AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FALL PERENNIALS TO COME.
YOU MENTIONED IT'S FAIRLY LOW-MAINTENANCE
NO DISEASES AND NO PESTS--
DON'T I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ?
VIRTUALLY NONE.
YOU MAY HAVE A BUG HERE AND THERE.
WE DON'T SPRAY ANYTHING FOR PESTS HERE.
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SPRAY TO USE.
THIS SURE LOOKS HEALTHY, CONSIDERING.
ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE DO WE DO FOR A DAYLILY ?
WELL, PERIODICALLY, YOU HAVE TO DIVIDE THE CLUMP.
THEY JUST GET TOO BIG... AND CROWDED.
RIGHT, AND CONGESTED.
AND SO, I WOULD SAY THAT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS
SOMEWHERE IN THERE WOULD BE THE NORM.
THE PLANT WILL TELL YOU.
THE BLOOMS WILL GET SMALLER
AND THERE WON'T BE QUITE AS MANY.
WHAT TIME OF YEAR AM I DOING THE DIVISIONS ?
PROBABLY LATE MAY, EARLY JUNE
OR AFTER THEY'RE DONE BLOOMING.
IF YOU DO IT IN EARLY MAY AND JUNE
YOU CAN DIVIDE THE PLANT, PUT IT BACK IN THE GROUND
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BLOOM THAT SEASON.
TALK ME THROUGH IT THEN.
LET'S DIG A CLUMP.
WHEN YOU'RE DIGGING, I CAN'T HELP NOTICING
WHAT KIND OF SOIL YOU'VE GOT HERE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE CLAY.
YES, GREYSTONE IS BLESSED WITH CLAY SOIL.
SO, THAT'S OKAY FOR DAYLILIES ?
YEP, AND ALSO SAND OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF SOIL
THAT WILL MAKE THE CARPET DIRTY.
SO, ANYWHERE IN WISCONSIN.
ANYWHERE IN WISCONSIN.
OKAY, SHOW ME HOW TO DO THIS.
I STARTED TO DIVIDE SOME, I'LL JUST CONTINUE ON.
YOU JUST STICK MY TRUSTY SCREWDRIVER...
A VERY HIGH-TECH TOOL.
IN THE CROWN
WHICH IS AT THE JUNCTION BETWEEN THE GREEN AND THE ROOTS.
YOU JUST GENTLY PUT IT IN, POKE DOWN
AND THEN YOU CAN JUST GRADUALLY WORK THE FANS APART.
DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCREWING THIS UP ?
IF I'M A BEGINNER, AM I GOING TO KILL THIS PLANT ?
NO, YOU CAN DAMAGE THESE, AND RIP THE TOPS OFF.
WE'VE ALL DONE IT.
AND YOU REALLY CAN'T HURT A DAYLILY.
OKAY.
NOW, WHEN WE WANT TO RE-PLANT IT
YOU WOULD TAKE SEVERAL--
FOUR OR FIVE, LET'S SAY--
PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER
AND WE JUST TAKE THEM BACK AND PUT THEM IN THE GROUND.
IF YOU CAN'T PUT THEM IN THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THEY CAN STAY OUT OF THE GROUND FOR FOUR, FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.
I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT, BUT...
IT'S BEEN DONE.
THE ROOTS ARE FULL OF WATER
SO THEY CAN STAND BEING OUT OF THE GROUND.
YOU'VE GOT 500 VARIETIES.
CAN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THEM ?
SURE CAN, LET'S GO.
THIS IS OUR DIGGING FIELD FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
IT'S NOT IN BLOOM RIGHT NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE
BUT IN A COUPLE WEEKS, IT WILL JUST BE A SEA OF COLOR.
WHAT COLORS ?
WHAT'S UP WITH DAYLILIES THESE DAYS ?
YOU CAN FIND PRETTY MUCH EVERY COLOR
EXCEPT THE COLOR BLUE.
WE'RE GETTING REAL CLOSE ON THAT.
WE HAVE FLOWERS--
WELL, FOR INSTANCE, THIS VARIETY
HAS A FLOWER THIS BIG.
THIS RIGHT OVER HERE HAS AN EIGHT-INCH FLOWER.
THERE'S HALOS.
THERE'S EDGES.
THERE'S RUFFLES.
YOU NAME IT
WE CAN FIND IT IN THIS FIELD.
SO, HOW MANY VARIETIES
ACTUALLY ARE THERE OF DAYLILIES ?
YOU'LL BE SURPRISED.
THERE ARE OVER 43,000 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF DAYLILIES.
AND THEY'RE ALL HARDY HERE ?
NOT NECESSARILY.
SOME OF THEM ARE GROWN IN THE SOUTHERN CLIMATE.
AND THOSE ARE REFERRED TO AS EVERGREENS.
SO, THEY DON'T DO WELL HERE IN WISCONSIN
WITHOUT SOME REAL SERIOUS WINTER PROTECTION.
HOW DO I, AS A GARDENER
MAKE SURE I GET SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO THRIVE ?
WELL, HERE AT GREYSTONE
YOU CAN SEE WE GROW EVERYTHING IN THE GROUND.
WE DON'T BELIEVE IN GREENHOUSES.
WE THINK THE PLANTS SHOULD THRIVE ON THEIR OWN
NOT JUST MERELY SURVIVE.
SO, TRY TO BUY LOCALLY.
ABSOLUTELY.
WHY DON'T YOU GRAB A BAG, THERE.
THANK YOU.
BECAUSE NOBODY LEAVES GREYSTONE
WITHOUT A NICE DAYLILY.
THIS IS HOW YOU SELL THEM ? ABSOLUTELY.
THIS WILL BLOOM TOMORROW IN YOUR YARD.
IT IS HARDY.
THANKS, BILL.
BILL TAUGHT ME A GREAT LINE.
"IF YOU CAN'T GROW UP, GROW DAYLILIES !"
MID-TO-LATE SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME OF YEAR
TO BE DIGGING UP AND DIVIDING YOUR IRIS.
IT HELPS WITH CROWDING
AND HELPS PREVENT OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE GARDEN.
WE BROUGHT THESE INDOORS BECAUSE IT'S TOO WET OUTSIDE.
THIS IS A HEALTHY IRIS ROOT.
HOPEFULLY, THIS IS WHAT YOU FIND
WHEN YOU DIG THEM UP AND DIVIDE THEM.
SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, YOU RUN INTO PROBLEMS.
WITH ME IS UW-EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST, PHIL PELLITTERI.
PHIL, THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE
WHEN I'M DIGGING MY IRIS UP.
WHAT MIGHT I SEE ?
UNFORTUNATELY, IRIS HAS ONE BIG PROBLEM.
IT'S AN INSECT PROBLEM CALLED IRIS BORER.
IN ABOUT JULY OR AUGUST, ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR
IF YOU WERE TO DIG IT UP AND HAD IRIS BORER
WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IS A BIG PINKISH OR YELLOWISH
OR BROWNISH CATERPILLAR
FEEDING EXTENSIVELY ON THE RHIZOMES.
YOU CAN SEE THIS CHEWED AREA IN HERE WHERE THEY FED.
THAT IS NOT A PLEASANT LOOKING INSECT. NO.
UNFORTUNATELY, ASIDE FROM THIS PHYSICAL CHEWING
IT OPENS THE PLANT UP TO A BACTERIAL SOFT ROT
WHICH IS A DISEASE.
WE HAVE SOME SOFT ROT OVER HERE.
AND ALL YOU SEE IS A YELLOWING OF THE PLANTS.
NOTICE HOW THIS IS JUST-- THERE'S NOTHING THERE ANYMORE.
IT'S MUSH.
IT HAS KIND OF A DISTINCTIVE FOUL ODOR.
YEAH, I'M NOTICING THAT.
SOFT ROT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT.
THE IRIS BORER-- IT'S ALMOST LIKE A WOUND.
IT OPENED UP THE RHIZOME, AND THE SOFT ROT MOVES IN.
I'M AFRAID TO TOUCH THIS.
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE WET--
THE OUTER COATING OF THIS HEALTHY RHIZOME.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S LEFT.
WHEN IT GETS GOING, IT JUST BECOMES MUSH.
AS I SAID, YOU MIGHT FIND A CATERPILLAR
BUT YOU MIGHT JUST FIND THE SOFT ROT.
WHAT STARTED THE SOFT ROT, UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH
WAS A CATERPILLAR.
THE IRIS BORER.
OKAY, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT ?
I DON'T WANT TO PLANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT
BACK INTO THE GROUND. NO.
WHEN YOU'RE TRANSPLANTING PLANTS
IF YOU SEE THIS, YOU CAN CUT THAT BAD SECTION OFF
GET RID OF THE CATERPILLARS YOU FIND.
THEN YOU CAN JUST PLANT THE GOOD, SOUND, HEALTHY STUFF
LIKE YOU HAVE HERE ON THE GOOD PLANT.
WILL THAT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM ?
UNFORTUNATELY NOT.
THE IRIS BORER IS A NIGHT FLYING MOTH.
AND IT LOOKS MUCH LIKE MANY OF THE CUTWORM MOTHS.
IT BELONGS TO THE CUTWORM MOTH FAMILY.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CRITTER
IS IT WAS FIRST DISCOVERED ON DAYLILIES IN THE 1890s
AROUND THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF CHICAGO.
DAYLILIES ?
WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE OF DAYLILIES.
THE IRIS IS, BY FAR, IT'S FAVORITE.
IF YOU'VE GROWN IRISES VERY LONG
YOU'VE PROBABLY DEALT WITH THE IRIS BORER.
NOW, THE MOTH IS OUT IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.
SHE LAYS HER EGGS AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT
AND THE AREAS AROUND IT.
THAT'S HOW THE INSECT GETS THROUGH THE WINTER.
SO, TO MAYBE PREVENT SOME OF THE PROBLEM
WHEN WE'RE CLEANING UP IN FALL AFTER THE FIRST FROST
GET RID OF THE PLANT DEBRIS AND LEAVES AROUNG THE IRIS.
IT DOES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T GET ALL THE EGGS.
IN SPRING, WHEN THERE'S ABOUT THREE INCHES OF GROWTH
AS THE NAME "BORER" TELLS YOU
THEY FIND A SPOT AND START TO CRAWL IN.
YOU OFTEN SEE A DISCOLORED AREA WHERE THEY START.
OVER TIME, THEY MOVE DOWN THE PLANT TOWARD THE RHIZOME.
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE GET VERY POOR BLOOMS
BECAUSE THEY FEED ON THE DEVELOPING FLOWERS
BEFORE THEY EMERGE.
AN IRIS BORER CAUSES THAT KIND OF DAMAGE ALSO.
EVENTUALLY, WHEN WE GET INTO LATE JUNE AND JULY
THEN THEY'RE DOWN IN THE RHIZOME
CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ROOT.
WE'RE FULL CIRCLE AND HAVE MUSHY ROOTS.
IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT
OTHER THAN GET RID OF THE ROTTED PART.
SO, WE LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF CONTROL OPTIONS WE HAVE.
UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE REALLY ONLY HAD ONE.
THERE IS AN INSECTICIDE CALLED DIMETHOATE OR CYGON
WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE TOXIC INSECTICIDES.
WE USUALLY DON'T LIKE TO RECOMMEND IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THE ONLY THING
THAT WE FOUND WORKED AGAINST THE IRIS BORER.
WHEN YOU GET THREE INCHES OF GROWTH IN THE SPRING
YOU'LL APPLY IT THE FIRST TIME.
TWO WEEKS LATER, USE A FOLLOW-UP SPRAY OF THIS.
UNTIL ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO
THE ONLY SUGGESTION WE COULD MAKE
OTHER THAN CLEANING THE PLANT DEBRIS--
WAS USING DIMETHOATE INSECTICIDE.
A LOT MORE GARDENERS
HAVE INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT USING TOXIC CHEMICALS.
IS THERE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE NOW ?
THERE IS.
YOU HAVE TO DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK ON IT--
PARASITIC NEMATODES.
WHAT ARE NEMATODES ?
A NEMATODE IS A MICROSCOPIC WORM.
SOME NEMATODES ARE PLANT FEEDERS OR PLANT PESTS.
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE INSECT FEEDERS.
YOU CAN BUY THOSE COMMERCIALLY.
WE'VE BROUGHT A COUPLE TYPES HERE
THAT WE BOUGHT THROUGH A CATALOG.
I CAN'T PICK THESE UP AT THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.
NOT YET, MAYBE SOME DAY.
IF PEOPLE ASK ENOUGH, THEY MIGHT CARRY IT.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE TO ORDER THIS AND THEY'LL SHIP IT.
HERE, WE'VE GOT FIVE MILLION NEMATODES
THAT ARE IMPREGNATED ON THIS SPONGE.
IN ANOTHER FORM, THIS HAS 50 MILLION NEMATODES
THAT ARE IMPREGNATED ON AN ALMOST CLAY-LIKE RESIDUE.
A THIRD FORM THAT YOU WILL SEE AT TIMES
IS A SAWDUST-LIKE MATERIAL THAT IS MIXED IN.
THIS IS PUT ON ALMOST LIKE A SALT SHAKER.
YOU CAN SHAKE IT ON.
THE WAY THESE THINGS ARE USED THE BEST--
IS TO TAKE THIS SPONGE AND GET A BUCKET OF WATER.
ALL OF THESE, BASICALLY, GO INTO WATER.
TO WORK BEST, THEY NEED TO BE MIXED IN WATER.
PUT THE SPONGE IN THERE
AND LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE MINUTES
SO THE NEMATODES HAVE A CHANCE TO SWIM OUT INTO THE WATER.
WE TAKE THIS OUT TO THE PLANTS
AND DRENCH IT AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANTS.
THE NEMATODES WILL WORK DOWN THROUGH THE SOIL
INTO WHERE THEY FIND THESE IRIS BORERS AND KILL THEM.
JUST POUR THIS ON THE IRIS PLANTS
ON THE SOIL AROUND IT AND THAT'S IT ? RIGHT.
WHAT'S NEAT ABOUT THIS--
WE CAN ONLY USE SPRAYS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
NEMATODES ARE EFFECTIVE FOR FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS.
YOU CAN EVEN GO INTO JUNE AND EARLY JULY
AND STILL GET SOME SUCCESS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER TOXIC AFTER EFFECTS OF THIS ? NO.
IF YOU'RE AN INSECT, IT'S A PROBLEM
ANYTHING ELSE, AS FAR AS WILDLIFE IS NOT AFFECTED.
THIS IS A GREAT CHOICE.
BUT THAT'S WHY
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR THIS PROBLEM IN LATE SUMMER.
IT MAY TAKE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO FIND THIS.
NEMATODES HAVE TO BE MAILED TO YOU.
THEY KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM HERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM.
FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM
SO THEY'RE SHIPPED AT THE RIGHT TIME.
OKAY, GREAT.
THIS IS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE.
THANKS, PHIL.
NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THESE DUG UP AND YOU'RE READY TO PLANT THEM
CUT THE LEAVES OFF TO ABOUT THREE INCHES
PLANT THESE VERY SHALLOWLY, ABOUT TWO INCHES IN THE SOIL.
THEN YOU'RE SET FOR NEXT SPRING.
YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE COLORFUL BLOOMS LIKE THIS
IN EARLY SPRING
WHEN SO MANY TREES AND SHRUBS ARE BLOOMING
BUT THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.
I'M WITH DR. LAURA JULL
WOODY-ORNAMENTAL EXTENSION SPECIALIST
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON.
LAURA, ARE THERE MANY CHOICES
IF WE WANT A TREE AND SHRUB THAT BLOOM IN THE SUMMER TIME ?
ACTUALLY THERE IS, SHELLEY.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL SELECTION.
THIS IS THE SMOKEBUSH.
THIS ISN'T IT IS WONDERFUL. BEAUTIFUL ?
HOW TALL IS THIS ?
SMOKEBUSH GETS APPROXIMATELY TEN TO 15 FEET IN HEIGHT
WITH THIS KIND OF OPEN WIDE SPREADING FORM.
IT HAS A VERY AIRY LOOK TO IT.
DOESN'T IT, THOUGH ?
IT'S NATIVE TO EUROPE AND CENTRAL CHINA.
AND THIS IS THE CULTIVAR CALLED NORDINE.
AND NORDINE IS A COLD HARDY CULTIVAR.
IT'S COLD HARDY TO ZONE FOUR.
SO, A LOT OF US COULD GROW THIS ONE
IF WE CAN'T GROW SOME OF THE OTHER KINDS OF SMOKEBUSH.
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S NOTED FOR A NUMBER OF ORNAMENTAL FEATURES.
FIRST OF ALL, THE NEW LEAVES ARE KIND OF THIS PURPLISH COLOR
GRADUALLY FADING TO A PURPLISH-GREEN COLOR.
LOOK AT THESE OUTSTANDING FLOWERS.
AREN'T THESE GORGEOUS ?
THEY LOOK MORE LIKE A SEED HEAD.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL FLOWER ?
YES, IT IS.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE HAIRS ON THE PEDICEL
THAT HAVE ELONGATED
GIVING IT THIS SMOKY OR FUZZY LOOK TO IT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
FROM A DISTANCE IT MUST LOOK
LIKE THIS WHOLE TREE IS FILLED WITH SMOKE.
IT DOES, ACTUALLY.
AND THEY BLOOM FROM JULY UNTIL ABOUT MID-AUGUST.
SO, IT REALLY IS A MIDDLE SUMMER BLOOMER.
ABSOLUTELY.
THEN, IN THE FALL, IT TREATS US
TO ITS OUTSTANDING FALL COLOR OF ORANGE TO RED.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL SEASONS OF INTEREST IN THIS.
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU SAID IT'S COLD HARDY.
WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO KNOW TO PLANT THIS ?
IT PREFERS FULL SUN
TO GET THE BEST DISPLAY OF FLOWERS.
AND AN OPEN SPOT, NOT CROWDED AGAINST YOUR HOUSE, I ASSUME.
ABSOLUTELY.
IT WILL GET QUITE LARGE.
IT'S ALSO HIGH pH TOLERANT AND DROUGHT TOLERANT
WHICH IS PERFECT FOR WISCONSIN.
THERE IS ONE PRECAUTION.
IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO VERTICILLIUM WILT
WHICH IS A SOIL-BORNE FUNGUS DISEASE.
IT STAYS IN THE SOIL
AND ATTACKS MAPLES AND SOME OTHER PLANTS.
IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE VERTICILLIUM WILT
OR HAVE HAD PLANTS THAT HAVE DIED OF VERT WILT
YOU DON'T WANT TO PLANT SMOKEBUSH.
SO, MAYBE LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.
LET'S GO LOOK AT SOME OTHER SUMMER FLOWERING SHRUBS.
GREAT.
I DON'T THINK OF HYDRANGEAS AS BEING THIS MASSIVE.
THIS IS ABOUT AS TALL AS THIS HYDRANGEA WILL GET.
IT ONLY GETS ABOUT FOUR FEET IN HEIGHT.
LOOK HOW WIDE SPREADING IT IS.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE IT SOME ROOM.
I NEED TO PLANT MINE IN A LARGER SPOT, THEN.
I THINK OF MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I THINK OF HYDRANGEAS.
IT'S A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FLOWER.
THE HYDRANGEA YOUR GRANDMOTHER PROBABLY GREW
WAS THE CULTIVAR CALLED GRANDA FLORA.
THIS ACTUALLY A CULTIVAR CALLED ANNABELLE.
AND ANNABELLE IS DIFFERENT FROM GRANDA FLORA
IN THAT THE FLOWER HEADS ARE BIGGER.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL AND MASSIVE.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
THEY START OUT GREEN AND GRADUALLY FADE TO A LIGHT GREEN
AND THEN, FINALLY, WHITE.
AND THEN, IN THE FALL, THEY TURN BROWN.
THEY REALLY HANG ON THIS PLANT A LONG TIME.
A VERY LONG TIME.
SOME PEOPLE LEAVE THEM FOR WINTER INTEREST
OR BRING THEM INDOORS FOR DRIED FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS.
IT MAKES AN EXCELLENT DRIED FLOWER.
WHAT DO WE DO TO GROW THIS ?
IT'S COLD HARDY TO WISCONSIN.
IT ACTUALLY PREFERS PARTIAL SHADE TO SHADE
AND A MOIST, WELL-DRAINED SOIL.
IT IS NOT DROUGHT TOLERANT.
BUT IT IS HIGH pH TOLERANT, WHICH IS GREAT FOR WISCONSIN.
IS THERE ANY SPECIAL CARE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS ?
IN TERMS OF PRUNING
WHAT WE DO IS WE ACTUALLY CUT THIS PLANT
TOTALLY BACK TO THE GROUND
LEAVING ABOUT FOUR INCHES OF STEM MATERIAL.
THE PLANT SUCKERS BACK BEAUTIFULLY IN THE SPRING.
DO THIS IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH ?
ABOUT MARCH.
YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ANYTHING BEHIND.
REALLY CUT IT BACK.
AND LOOK HOW MUCH IT'S GROWN.
WHEN THE FLOWER HEADS ARE OUT HERE
IT MAY NEED A LITTLE STAKING, ESPECIALLY AFTER A HEAVY RAIN.
THE FLOWER HEADS ARE HEAVY AND DO TEND TO FLOP OVER.
SOME PEOPLE DO STAKE IT
OR PUT CAGES AROUND IT FOR SUPPORT.
BUT, IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL LANDSCAPE PLANT
FOR SUMMER FLOWERS.
AND JULY/AUGUST-- WHAT A GREAT THING TO HAVE.
ABSOLUTELY.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE LAST ONE. GREAT.
LAURA, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT IS THIS ?
ISN'T THIS GORGEOUS, SHELLEY ?
THIS IS THE BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE.
IT ACTUALLY ONLY GETS ABOUT EIGHT FEET IN HEIGHT
BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S A LOT TALLER THAN THAT.
IT'S DECEIVING, IT'S ON A HILL.
IT'S IMPRESSIVE THIS WAY.
IT'S A WONDERFUL, LARGE SUCKERING SHRUB
FOR THE LANDSCAPE.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I LIKE BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE
IS THESE VERY LONG BOTTLEBRUSH-LIKE FLOWERS.
ACTUALLY, IT'S THE STAMENS THAT HAVE EXTENDED OUT
GIVING IT THE BOTTLEBRUSH APPEARANCE.
THESE LOOK LIKE OLD-FASHIONED BRUSHES TO CLEAN BOTTLES.
ABSOLUTELY.
HOW LONG DO THESE FLOWERS LAST ?
THEY LAST A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEY BLOOM IN JULY.
AGAIN, THIS IS A NICE SUMMER FLOWERING SHRUB.
YOU'VE ALSO GOT NICE, LARGE, INTERESTING LOOKING LEAVES.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
AND ACTUALLY, THE BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE
IS A RELATIVE OF THE HORSE CHESTNUT
AND THE OHIO BUCKEYE
WHICH DO TEND TO GET LEAF BLOTCH.
BUT UNLIKE THOSE TREE RELATIVES
THIS DOES NOT GET THE LEAF BLOTCH.
IT ALSO DOESN'T PRODUCE FRUIT.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE FRUIT LITTER LIKE WITH THE OTHER ONES.
AND WHAT ABOUT CULTURE ?
IS IT HARDY ?
IT'S HARDY TO CENTRAL WISCONSIN ZONE FOUR.
IT'S A VERY LOW-MAINTENANCE SHRUB.
IT DOES BETTER IN FULL SUN TO PARTIAL SHADE.
IT IS ALSO HIGH pH TOLERANT
WHICH IS EXCELLENT FOR WISCONSIN.
ANYTHING SPECIAL I'D HAVE TO DO
TO KEEP THIS THING HAPPY ?
NO, IT'S VERY LOW MAINTENANCE.
IN TERMS OF PRUNING
YOU CAN REMOVE THE OLD FLOWER CLUSTERS
AFTER THEY HAVE FADED SIMPLY BY SNAPPING THEM OFF.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU REALLY NEED TO SITE THIS CAREFULLY.
IT DOES GET QUITE BIG.
BUT FOR SUMMER FLOWERS AND ALSO YELLOW FALL COLOR
IT'S A GREAT LANDSCAPE PLANT.
DON'T PUT IT IN WITH YOUR PERENNIALS.
RIGHT.
THANKS, LAURA.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN WHAT IS BLOOMING IN THE SUMMER
VISIT LONGENECKER GARDENS AT THE ARBORETUM
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, I FEEL I'VE GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD
AT HANDLING INSECT PROBLEMS IN MY GARDEN.
NOW, DISEASES ARE ANOTHER MATTER.
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, THIS BOOK CONTAINS JUST THE FUNGAL DISEASES
THAT CAN AFFECT PLANTS.
AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS.
I'M WITH PLANT DISEASE DIAGNOSTICIAN, BRIAN HUDELSON.
BRIAN IS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY.
BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
WITH DISEASES, WHERE DOES A HOME GARDENER START
WHEN THERE'S SO MANY OUT THERE ?
IT'S REALLY VERY DIFFICULT.
THERE ARE SO MANY DISEASES IN YOUR YARD
THAT IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MOST HOMEOWNERS
TO GET A GOOD DIAGNOSIS OF THEIR DISEASE PROBLEMS.
BUT THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ONE THIS MORNING
THAT I THINK HOMEOWNERS CAN GET A HANDLE ON
AND DIAGNOSE ON THEIR OWN PLANTS.
IT'S CALLED POWDERY MILDEW.
AND POWDERY MILDEW--
THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT AN ORNAMENTAL PLANT
IT'S A WEED--
THE SYMPTOMS ON THE WEED ARE VERY SIMILAR
TO WHAT WE'D SEE ON OTHER PLANTS.
IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE SPRINKLED SOME TALCUM POWDER
OR SOME POWDERED SUGAR OVER THE PLANT.
IT'S SPOTTED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT ANY PLANT CAN GET ?
I'M HARD PRESSED TO THINK ABOUT A PLANT
THAT DOESN'T GET POWDERY MILDEW.
MOST OF THE COMMON ONES THAT WE DEAL WITH
NORMALLY WILL GET POWDERY MILDEW.
THAT INCLUDES BOTH OUTDOOR AND INDOOR PLANTS.
ARE SOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN OTHERS ?
YEAH, THE OUTDOOR ONES THAT I NORMALLY THINK ABOUT
IN TERMS OF HAVING POWDERY MILDEWS
ARE MONARDAS AND PHLOXES
AND LILACS-- THE SHRUB THAT MOST PEOPLE MENTION
WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT POWDERY MILDEWS.
WHAT ABOUT HOUSE PLANTS ?
INSIDE, YOU CAN GET POWDERY MILDEWS, AS WELL.
ONES THAT I NORMALLY SEE POWDERY MILDEWS ON
ARE THING LIKE AFRICAN VIOLETS AND ALSO BEGONIAS.
BY BRINGING IN THIS DISEASED PLANT
HAVE WE JUST INFECTED THIS ENTIRE AREA ?
NO.
FORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
POWDERY MILDEWS ARE CAUSED BY FUNGI.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT FUNGI.
THEY ARE ALL VERY CLOSELY RELATED
BUT THEY TEND TO BE RELATIVELY SPECIFIC.
THE FUNGUS CAUSING THE DISEASE ON THIS
IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME ONE
THAT CAUSES THE DISEASE ON OTHER PLANTS.
IT'S DIFFERENT ON EACH PLANT.
SO, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
YES AND NO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT IT'S THE SAME FUNGUS.
WHEN YOU SEE POWDERY MILDEW
YOU'VE GOT REALLY GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISEASE.
THAT USUALLY MEANS HIGH HUMIDITY.
THAT MEANS SUMMER IN WISCONSIN.
SUMMER IS PERFECT FOR POWDERY MILDEWS.
WE SEE A LOT OF THEM IN THE STATE.
HOT, MOIST, HUMID...
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE CAN GET THOSE CONDITIONS INDOORS, TOO.
YOU CAN GET THEM INDOORS, TOO.
WE GET THEM INDOORS IN THE SUMMER.
WE ALSO SEE IT IN THE WINTERTIME.
PARTICULARLY IF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSE PLANTS
THAT THEY'RE CROWDING VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.
SO, YOU GET A LOT OF LOCALIZED HIGH HUMIDITY
AROUND THOSE PLANTS.
IF WE SEE IT, I ASSUME IT'S TIME TO REALLY PANIC.
NO, REALLY NOT.
THE DISEASE IS PARTICULARLY SEVERE ON THIS WEED PLANT
IT DOES LOOK AWFUL.
BUT ON A LOT OF PLANTS, I REALLY THINK OF THE DISEASE
AS BEING PRIMARILY A COSMETIC DISEASE.
IT MAKES IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT CRUMMY
BUT IT'S NOT EASILY THAT BAD.
THIS GRAPE LEAF IVY HAS POWDERY MILDEW
BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T TELL IT THAT WELL.
THERE'S A LEAF HERE THAT HAS A PROBLEM.
IT IS REALLY COSMETIC.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
IT MIGHT GET MORE SEVERE WITH SOME DEFOLIATION.
BUT AT THIS POINT, IT'S PRETTY MUCH COSMETIC.
ARE THERE ANY PLANTS THAT CAN BE KILLED BY THIS ?
I THINK OF SOME OF THE OUTDOOR PLANTS
AGAIN, PHLOX AND MONARDA.
THEY CAN GET IT SO SEVERELY
THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL DEFOLIATE.
WHICH ISN'T GOOD.
WHICH IS NOT GOOD.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS.
ONE OF THEM IS TO--
PARTICULARLY WITH THINGS LIKE PHLOX--
LOOK FOR VARIETIES THAT ARE RESISTANT TO POWDERY MILDEWS.
THOSE ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T EVER GET POWDERY MILDEW.
BUT YOU CAN MINIMIZE IT. THAT'S RIGHT.
ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO--
I RECOMMEND CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS SPACING YOUR PLANTS FAR APART
SO YOU GET A LOT OF AIR MOVEMENT.
THAT WILL REDUCE THE HUMIDITY.
ALSO, IF YOU'RE USING A LOT OF WATER
IF YOU'RE WATERING A LOT, CUT BACK A LITTLE BIT.
STOP IT, BASICALLY
BECAUSE THAT WILL INCREASE HUMIDITY AROUND YOUR PLANTS.
ALSO, IF YOU'VE MULCHED AND THAT'S REALLY WET
YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPREAD THAT OUT AND LET IT DRY A BIT.
REDUCE WATER AROUND THE PLANTS.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A REALLY BAD INFESTATION
CAN WE START USING THE FUNGICIDES ?
THERE ARE FUNGICIDES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
YOU CAN BUY THEM AT YOUR LOCAL GARDENING STORE.
I USUALLY RECOMMEND THAT AS A LAST RESORT.
I ALSO TYPICALLY RECOMMEND
THAT IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING FUNGICIDES
THAT THEY CONTACT THEIR COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT
BEFORE THEY DO THAT TO GET INFORMATION
ON WHAT PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AND HOW TO USE THEM.
THE COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS
ARE REALLY OUR FRONT-RUNNERS FOR DISEASE PROBLEMS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IF YOU'RE HAVING A DISEASE PROBLEM AND NEED A DIAGNOSIS
TAKE A PLANT SAMPLE INTO YOUR COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT.
THEY'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAN, LOTS OF TIMES
TELL YOU WHAT THE DISEASE IS, RIGHT IN THEIR OFFICE.
IF THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS
THEY CAN FORWARD THE SAMPLE TO MY LAB.
WE HAVE A FOR-FEE SERVICE.
FOR A SMALL FEE, YOU CAN SEND YOUR PLANTS TO MY LAB.
WE'LL DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR YOU
AND SEND YOU THE DIAGNOSIS AND INFORMATION ON CONTROL.
GREAT.
THANKS, BRIAN.
GET SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH.
WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT GETTING DISEASED PLANT MATERIALS TO BRIAN.
WE FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT MY FAVORITE SUMMER GARDEN ACTIVITY:
SITTING IN THE SHADE
AND WATCHING SOMEBODY ELSE PULL THE WEEDS.
IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS WE DISCUSSED TODAY
BE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT.
I'M SHELLEY RYAN.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THE WISCONSIN GARDENER.
[Captioning services provided by Wisconsin Public Television.]
PRODUCTION OF THE WISCONSIN GARDENER
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FISKARS
A WISCONSIN MANUFACTURER OF ERGONOMIC CUTTING TOOLS
FOR THE HOME AND GARDEN, DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE;
AND BY THE ARIENS FOUNDATION
THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ARIENS COMPANY
BRILLION, WISCONSIN.
MAKER OF LAWN, GARDEN AND SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT
FOR CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL MARKETS WORLDWIDE.