Catch-up!

Our Master Gardener training sessions are flying by! I haven't had time to post in between sessions, so I will try to catch up today.

Note: Volunteer hours will be counted as follows: Project as a group - 50-60% of total.

Individual hours are 25-30%, and community service with other groups can count as up to 10 hours.

On Saturday the 24th, we met at the courthouse and went on a plant walk around downtown Bucyrus. Steve pointed out the difference between Norway Maples, which can be identified by their milky sap, and are somewhat subject to vertmilicin wilt, and Silver Maples, which typically have poor branch angles and are subject to winter storm damage and limb breakage. The Sugar Maple behind the Norway picture in this photo appears to be in good condition.

Maples and oaks are stately trees, which is good for a permanent public building like a courthouse. Oaks can live up to 300 years.

Unless landscape plantings are to be in a very formal or symmetrical configuration, they should be planted in odd numbers. Some of the evergreens around the courthouse showed signs of damage. Taxus does not tolerate wet feet, but the site has adequate damage, it could possibly be a sign of salt damage from the snow removal.

Our walk took us past the Historical Society, which is housed in a beautiful old building. When the architecture is so fantastic, the landscaping should really enhance the architecture and not compete with it.

Steve pointed out an example of "volcano mulching" which is where the mulch is piled up around the base of the tree. This can be harmful, it allows insects to damage the bark. Mulch should be pulled away a minimum of 3 inches from the trunk.

After our walk, we grabbed shovels and spades and planted red, white and blue petunias in front of the veteran's monument for Memorial Day.

We discussed options for planting the back side of the memorial, it has full sun on one side and shade on the other. pH is high, drainage is excellent, and the plants must tolerate a lot of public traffic. One option for the shady side that was suggested was vinca minor; an option for the sunny side was Zinnia elegans.