But Don’t Panic (Yet) The spotted lanternfly has been hopping its way into Fairfield County conversations for a few seasons now, and let’s be honest: if you’ve spotted one (or a dozen) lately, it’s hard not to notice how downright striking these invaders are. Those adults, with their delicate, moth-like wings patterned in soft beige dotted…
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Posts by Sean McNamara
Winter Burn and Drought Stress
WHY YOUR EVERGREENS SUFFER AND HOW TO PROTECT THEM Every spring, gardeners take a hard look at their broadleaf evergreens—rhododendrons, mountain laurels, hollies, boxwoods—and wonder what went wrong. Leaves are brown or curled, branches look tired, and entire plants appear to have lost their shine.The cause is often winter burn, a form of cold-season desiccation that…
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When Evergreens Turn Nevergreen: Winter Burn Explained
There has been evidence of winter burn damage all over Fairfield County. The extreme drought in the fall, followed by a very cold winter, has caused significant damage to broadleaf evergreens. Winter burn. It sounds like something you’d get from licking a frozen flagpole (not recommended, by the way). But instead of affecting your tongue,…
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Tiny Terrors: Nematodes and the Battle for Beech Trees
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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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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