Those Awful Inchworms are Back!
GARDEN PEST: Eastern Massachusetts trees had been under attack by a newly arrived foreign inchworm population for several years now. The immature stage of the winter moth (which hovers around porch lights and car headlights in December) is hatching out now. I am having my trees sprayed with organic Conserve next Monday by Natural Tree and Lawn Care of Avon. Homeowners can treat very young caterpillars with organic B.t. Or you can have your trees sprayed by a state certified arborist with Conserve, Bulls-Eye BioInsecticide, or Monterey Garden Spray, products which will not harm the environment and which will kill both older and younger inchworms that are feeding. Two applications spaced seven to 14 days apart will have the best results. Defoliated trees should be watered weekly through the summer but not fertilized. CAROL STOCKER
PLANT SALE: "Fun in the Garden" Plant sale will be held Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon, by the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay at St. Mary's Church Parish Center, 783 Dartmouth St., South Dartmouth, MA 02748. Free admission and parking. Community projects benefit from the proceeds. Club grown annuals, perennials from members gardens, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, dahlias, unusual boxwood cultivars and ground covers, succulents and geraniums will be for sale, along with old pots, vases, garden tools and garden ornaments. This sounds like a great sale!
TO LIST YOUR CLUB'S EVENT, just send it as a COMMENT to this blog and we will post it.
Carol Stocker has been writing about gardening for the Boston Globe for 30 years. She has won the top newspaper writing award of the Garden Writer's Association of American three times. Her newest book is "The Boston Globe Illustrated New England Gardening Almanac."
