Banish bugs from your rhubarb
Eliminating aphids can take several attempts
Q: I have a rhubarb plant and it always has these black bugs on it. What could they be and how can I get rid of them? A: The problem may be aphids. You can try spraying with insecticidal soap, and be persistent. Gardeners will often make one application of the soap, then get frustrated when the problem insect is not gone. With insects such as aphids there is almost a constant hatching going on, so if you manage to kill a number of the bugs with the first spray, there are very likely more coming in the next hatching. You may have to reapply several times before you get them all. Q: We just moved here from Ontario. We moved into a new home and must plant a tree in the front yard within the next two months. Is fall a good time to plant a tree here or should we wait till spring? A: Fall in Edmonton is an excellent time for planting. Make sure you give the tree plenty of water, even if you buy it at a stage where it has lost its leaves. It will still need moisture in the ground through the fall and winter. Another great reason for planting in the fall is that you can find some great bargains at most greenhouses and garden centres. Q: I would appreciate some suggestions for fall applications of fertilizer for my lawn and garden. Should apple trees and currant bushes also get a little “lunch” before the freeze up? A: I am not a big fan of fall fertilizers for the lawn, for several reasons. First, timing the application of fall fertilizer is critical. It has to be done after the lawn has stopped actively growing. If you apply it any sooner, you run the risk of stimulating the lawn into being actively growing when the winter hits. You can damage your lawn if this happens. The second reason is linked directly to our weather conditions. If applied correctly, fall fertilizer should sit on the lawn until spring, when moisture from the thaw activates it. The problem with this is if there is enough water to melt the fertilizer it is very likely that the ground has not thawed and a majority of the fertilizer runs off the lawn, along with the spring thaw water.
Our lawns in this area of the country do not begin serious growth until well into the spring. I find it best to fertilize at that time, rather than using a fall fertilizer. Personally, I think using a fall fertilizer is a waste of time and money.
As for the apple and currant bushes, don’t use any fertilizer on them in the fall. You do not want them to be actively growing at this time of year. Q: This is the first year I have grown hostas. Are there any special things I need to do to get them through the winter? Should I take off the dead leaves now or in spring? A: Most hostas are very tough and make it through our winters readily with little or no preparation. If you are concerned, you can mulch them with dry leaves in the fall to help them through their first winter, but it really is not necessary. Hosta leaves can be removed in the fall or spring; it really does not matter.