The temperatures this year have been a roller coaster. In a matter of a few weeks, we went from subzero temperatures to higher-than-average temperatures. That type of temperature fluctuation is not only hard on us; it is also hard on our landscapes and those that live in it.
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Temperatures are dipping and that can only mean two things. Halloween will be here soon, and mice will start migrating inside. Take a few steps now to make sure the ‘guests’ that come to your house are the cute ones dressed up in costumes, not the furry, unwelcome kind.
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Las temperaturas están bajando y eso solo puede significar dos cosas. Halloween llegará pronto y los ratones comenzarán a migrar hacia adentro. Tome algunos pasos ahora para asegurarse de que los “invitados” que vienen a su casa sean los lindos disfrazados, no los peludos y no bienvenidos.
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We have all heard the saying, “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.” That can be difficult if we don’t even know what a molehill looks like. Knowing more about this pest can help you identify the damage and keep them from making molehills in your yard.
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A vole run and tunnel.
We have been lucky this winter, but how long will our luck hold out? No, I am not referring to the amount of snow we have received or the ‘warm’ winter temperatures we’ve had. Even in a winter like this, wildlife damage can be present in the landscape. Find out about a common villain, what they do and how can keep your landscape from becoming lunch. Continue reading
Voles look more like a mouse than a mole.
We have been lucky this winter, but how long will our luck hold out? No, I am not referring to the amount of snow we have received or the warm winter temperatures we’ve had. Even in a winter like this, wildlife damage can be present in the landscape. Find out about a common villain, what they do and how can keep your landscape from becoming lunch. Continue reading
Photo from Lancaster County Extension-http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/rodents.shtml
Holidays will be here soon and that means house guests might be coming. Take a few steps now to make sure your ‘guests’ are the ones you want at your house, not the furry, unwelcome kind. Continue reading
The first rule of war is to know thy enemy. It may seem a little drastic to think about waging war again furry little critters, but once you have actually dealt with them then you understand. Find out about a common landscape villain, what they do, and how can keep your landscape from becoming their lunch. Continue reading
Add a fruit garland to help feed the birds and get double duty out of you old tree. Photo by M. Frogge.
Live Christmas trees add an unmistakable ambiance to the holidays. Now that the holidays are over, the time has come to let your tree perform a different task. Get good use out of your live Christmas tree for a while longer by using it for other tasks like feeding the birds. Continue reading
This year’s temperatures so far have been a rollercoaster. In a matter of a week we went from higher than average temperatures to subzero temperatures. That type of temperature fluctuation is not only hard on us; it is also hard on our landscapes. Take advantage of the warm weather while its here and be on the lookout for a few potential problems in the landscape. Remember that gardeners aren’t the only ones that are ready for spring.
While the snow was on the ground, pesky critters were at work. Rabbits have been hard at work munching on your landscape plants during the winter. Rabbits will feed on pencil sized branches and will leave a clean 45 degree angle cut. They can also strip the bark from around the base of trees and shrubs as high as 3 feet tall. Cottontails may be cute, but if there is heavy enough feeding, they can cause some serious damage. Fencing the plants that are the most commonly munched by rabbits will keep them from becoming lunch. Be sure to bury the fence at least 1 foot in the ground and have it stand at least 2 feet tall.
Voles are a little harder to spot in the winter. Voles are small creatures that look like a short-tailed mouse. They make runways between the turf and the snow cover that are about 1-2 inches wide. Once the snow is melted it looks like a tiny maze of runways zigzagging between plant material. In the areas of the runways, the turf will be nipped off close to the crown of the plant. Normally, the turf will repair itself in the spring and the damage isn’t permanent. If the feeding is excessive, the turf can be over seeded in those areas. Voles can also eat away at the green inner bark of trees and shrubs just like rabbits. If the feeding damage is great enough, it can kill young trees and shrubs. If severe damage is noticed, allow the wound to remain open to the elements and breathe. Avoid covering the damaged areas with tree wraps or wound dressings and paints. Voles also steal bulbs from the ground and eat them. If your prized tulip doesn’t come up this spring, blame the voles.
What’s black with white stripes and is a stinker? You guessed it, the skunk. The well-known smell is enough to warn any passerby of its presence. Skunks are active from dusk until dawn and feed on a wide range of insects. Skunks can cause damage to turf while digging for their next meal. Since they don’t feed on landscape plants, why do you need to know about skunks now? We are in the prime mating season of the skunk. Males will travel up to 5 miles in search of females, many times over our lovely highways. Females will have a litter of 4-6 pups which are with mom until the fall.
Some critters have been busy this winter munching and snacking. Check your landscape plants to see if there is any damage left behind from these critters and try to steer clear of our little smelly friends, the mating season will soon be over.
For more information contact Elizabeth Killinger at elizabeth.killinger@unl.edu, 308-385-5088
308-385-5088, on Facebook, Twitter, her blog at https://huskerhort.wordpress.com/, or visit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension website: hall.unl.edu.
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