This is the time of the year when concerned landowners may ask, “what’s killing my white pines?” It’s normal for Eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) and other conifers to shed their inner needles in the fall.

Up here in sugar maple land, everyone wants to know when the leaf colors will change and if it will be a good year for colors.  Like always, I give them the solid scientific response to their questions of “When they are ready”… and “Yep, it could be a good year!”  So, I thought I’d review the science as to why leaves change colors and then maybe you can forecast your own “fall color spectrum” chances.

 

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Bois D’Arc was the original name Europeans gave to Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera (family Moraceae (mulberry family)). Other common names that have developed over time include mock-orange, hedge-apple, horse-apple, hedge balls, monkey balls, and monkey brains. I’m not sure how monkeys crept into the name game.

As I was outside soaking up the glorious October warmth and sunshine, I suddenly noticed little flecks of green scattered out in the landscape beds.  Intrigued and forever curious, I wandered over, saw what was growing and I got a twitch in my eye.  I remembered receiving an email from a reader telling me that I should remind everyone about seasonal timing and control of this despicable landscape curse.  I wrote this Spring (April 23, 2021) in an attempt to stem the tide of the prolific green horde of wicked plants taking over the garden world...but of course, they have...

Late-season defoliation of established deciduous trees is not usually of great concern. There is little impact on overall tree health because trees have produced and stored enough carbohydrates to support leaf production next spring. Indeed, we’re close to the time of the year when deciduous trees drop their leaves anyway.

People are seeing fungi popping up all over. Tune in for this Friday's OSU Woodland Stewards Escape on Fungi in the Field and Woods with Curtis Young.

Garden Peonies (Paeonia spp.) have been used in Ohio landscapes for a long time. It's not unusual to find clumps of these non-natives growing where old homes once stood. However, this old group of perennial flowering plants has seen a resurgence in recent years.

During our BYGL Zoom Inservice, Steve Foltz (Director of Horticulture, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden) showed images of weeping cherries in southwest Ohio that were completely or nearly completely defoliated. They looked like ghost trees.

There are almost 60 species of orb weaver spiders (family Araneidae) in Ohio. They capture and kill insects making them an important pest management bio-ally. This is the time of the year when the females of many species have reached their maximum size. Their gossamer creations are made even more noticeable if cloaked in morning dew.

I love this time of year in Northeast Ohio because it is apple picking time!  Just a little over a week ago, the customer favorite ‘Honeycrisp’ apples were being picked and sorted.  Due to the May 25th & 27th freeze/frost events creating light to non-existent crops, the ‘Gala’, ‘Jonamac’, ‘Holiday’ and ‘Macintosh’ apples were quickly picked in the previous three weeks.  I’m looking forward to tasting the purplish-burgundy colored ‘Macoun’ apples with their brilliant white flesh and unique flavor.

 

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