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Black Knot Fungus

7/16/2013

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Until this spring, I had a lovely Mayday tree in my front yard.  This tree is very early to bloom and is covered with fragrant white flowers making a dramatic display after a long prairie winter.  However over the past 3 years or so it had developed an infection with black knot fungus.  I had been pruning out the affected areas diligently, and cleaning my tools as recommended to prevent further infection.  Much to my dismay, this year the tree did not leaf out or have any flowers.  The time had come to replace the tree.

Black knot fungus is caused by Apiosporina morbosa, which is endemic in this area and affects plants in the genus Prunus.  This includes cherries, plums, flowering almond, apricot, and Mayday trees.  All of the boulevard trees (Schubert Chokecherry) in my neighbourhood have black knot.  As the galls produced from the infection release additional fungal spores, it was an uphill battle to keep my tree free of black knot.  

 
Picture
Black Knot Fungus
The gall is an unsightly black mass that can eventually girdle the tree and kill it.  

Needless to say, I have replaced my Mayday tree with a flowering crabapple which is not susceptible to black knot fungus.
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To Deadhead or Not To Deadhead - That is the Question

7/8/2013

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I have been asked by a few people "What is deadheading?"  

After a plant has finished blooming, it will put it's energy into producing seeds (babies) to ensure its survival.  Making seeds takes a lot of energy.  Deadheading removes the flowers after blooming which encourages the plant to make more flowers.  Therefore deadheading can provide your garden with additional blooms throughout the season.

In addition, once plants are deadheaded there will not be seeds to scatter about your garden which reduces weeding the following season.  However, if you want to have more plants to share with friends or to spread in your garden, leave the flowers alone and let them develop seeds.  Next year you should have additional plants courtesy of Mother Nature.  No need to fight the crowds at the garden centre.  

Caution:  Don't continue deadheading too late into the season (past mid-August) as plants need time to get ready for winter.  Deadheading will encourage them to keep blooming instead of becoming dormant.  When winter comes they may not be acclimatized for the cold and they may not make it through the winter.    


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Canadian Artists 'Campfire' Rose

7/1/2013

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PictureCanadian Artists 'Campfire' Rose
Happy Canada Day!  

This new Canadian bred hardy rose was planted in my garden about a month ago.  I have already had to deadhead it and it has many more buds to come.  

Imagine if you will a rose that is the color of banana pudding and pink elephant popcorn (a childhood favorite of mine) and you have the 'Campfire' rose.  The yellow fades a bit on the older blooms to a soft white.  

It is apparently hardy to zone 3a so I will keep you posted as to how it survives a Calgary winter in my garden.  So far I'm giving it a thumbs up!

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