In the tranquil woods of Connecticut, a quiet menace has been steadily encroaching on the majestic Beech trees—Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). First identified in 2012, this enigmatic ailment, primarily caused by the foliar nematode Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (LCM), has spread across multiple states and into Canada. As we delve into the intricacies of BLD, we…
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Posts by Sean McNamara
Swinging for the shrubs: Azaleas and rhododendrons the growing stars at Augusta
Article reposted from November 7, 2020 article of the same name at Winnipeg Free Press HOMES with permission from the author, Colleen Zacharias. The 2020 Masters Golf Tournament plays Nov. 12 to 15, and the azaleas and rhododendrons won’t be in their usual glorious bloom. This is November, after all, and azaleas and rhododendrons are spring-flowering…
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The State of Our Trees & Flora
Watch the video below to see Sean McNamara talk to the Redding Garden Club about disease and insect problem impacting Fairfield County. Redding’s Environment: The State of Our Trees & Flora from Robert Moran on Vimeo.
Bye Bye Boxwoods
There had been warnings for years about the coming plague, but outside of a couple of isolated plants there had really never been signs of Boxwood Blight here in Fairfield County until this fall. Then suddenly it was everywhere. A combination of cool temperatures and wet weather allowed this disease to spread. The prophecy was…
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Saving your Ash
WRITTEN BY: Susan Winters at hello, Redding CT The Emerald Ash Borer has been ravaging ash trees for years in the Midwest. But now it’s here, in Fairfield County, having worked its way east, both by flying from tree to tree and catching rides on firewood being transported longer distances. They are killing trees at…
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The Mighty Mite
Mites are a common pest in the landscape and are often thought of as “insects.” But while they are related, mites are actually in the arachnid family along with spiders and ticks. These little critters can reproduce rapidly, and while one mite by itself can’t do much damage to a plant, if the population gets…
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Kiss Your Ash Goodbye
As many of you know, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has arrived in Fairfield County and is doing major damage to our ash tree population. This insect has been ravaging ash trees for years in the Midwest. It worked its way east, both by flying from tree to tree and catching rides on firewood being transported longer…
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Pachysandra in Peril
Many people have a love/hate relationship with their pachysandra. They love that it is a durable, reliable ground cover that performs well in sun or shade. It requires almost zero care or even attention and provides an island of dark green that contrasts nicely with other elements of the landscape. When planted, it spreads easily…
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The Trial of the Killer Tomatoes
You say tomato and I say tomahto… But 200 years ago you might have said poison! When the Spanish introduced the tomato to Europe in the 1500s, the plant was greeted with skepticism and fear. The harmless tomato resembles (and is a distant relative of) the belladonna or deadly nightshade plant. For many years Europeans associated…
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“The Revenge of the Acorn”: Lyme Disease Explosion
It is shaping up to be a very bad year for ticks in Redding, Connecticut. The risk of Lyme Disease is higher than ever and the CDC is reporting that a higher percentage of ticks are carrying the Borrelia bacteria spirochetes which cause the disease. This comes as a surprise to many who thought the…
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