Q&A: Soil moisture, pot size contribute to fungus gnats
I brought my small lemon tree inside for the winter, and now tiny flies are flying around the plant and my house. What can I do to get rid of them?
These insects are so small it’s hard to see they are actually gnats. Fungus gnats breed in the wet soil of houseplants. Larvae must have wet soil. To break their life cycle, allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry between waterings. In rare instances the flies gain access to soil in the bottom of the pot through drainage holes. In that case, you may need to replace the soil. Search fungus gnats on the HGIC website for more help. Keep in mind that a plant in a too-large pot cannot use up the water quickly enough. The soil stays wet for long periods, and this fosters fungus gnats.
We have a small woods and are not sure if we should fool with it or not. To begin with, we’re not sure what plants we have. We want to turn more of our lawn into woods, so before we do that, do plants and critters need our help or should we leave them alone?
Great questions. It’s not as simple as it was in the old days, when you could leave land alone and it would naturally revert to woodland. We recommend you read UMD Extension’s, “The Woods in Your Backyard.” It’s for homeowners with 1-10 acres who want to develop a plan for their woods or convert lawn to woods. The 108-page guide includes a workbook and tree identification guide. It can be purchased online and is also included in the UMD The Woods in Your Backyard online course, open to anyone March 1-June 4. Search The Woods in Your Backyard to register online. As for identifying plants, HGIC will do that for you year round. Send us a photo using “Ask the Experts” on the HGIC website at: extension.umd.edu/hgic University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic. Click “Ask Maryland’s Gardening Experts” to send questions and photos.
Digging deeper
Wallow in winter by curling up with a good book for Maryland gardeners.
Here are a few that clear up confusion, challenge, and give visions of possibility. Ned Tillman, a lifelong Chesapeake resident, provides a compelling first person walk through the Chesapeake’s past and future in “The Chesapeake Watershed: A Sense of Place and a Call to Action.” His recent book, “Saving the Places We Love,” ranges wider over the Appalachian Mountains, Susquehanna River and the bay. “Bringing Nature Home,” by Douglas Tallamy, brings the focus right to the backyard. This book empowers every homeowner to make a difference in the natural world. For those wondering how to tailor gardening to the Chesapeake region, “Chesapeake Gardening and Landscaping: the Essential Green Guide” by Barbara W. Ellis provides basic steps through planning for a more satisfying and eco-friendly experience. It’s always better to come out smarter and wiser than going in, and winter is no exception.