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September 16, 2005
Evil Fall Webworm Infestations
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We at Citygardenguide escaped the city in August and abandoned this blog site for that time as well - many apologies. We returned to increasingly dire drought, and an infestation of fall webworms. These have affected a number of gardens in Lower Manhattan. A serious infestation of fall webworms closely resembles a biblical plague. Thousands of hairy caterpillars devour first tree foliage, then shrub foliage, and finally selected perennials. Large grayish-white webs encase branches. Infestations can become so severe that a visitor has to shake herself free of caterpillars when leaving the affected area.
All though the urge is strong, there is no point in calling 911 or even 311, because there is nothing much to be done once the infestation gets going. The only way to deal with this potential horticultural disaster is to be vigilant, and at the first sign of a web or a caterpillar call a tree service that can treat the tree and limit the damage. The good news is that generally the trees recover and leaf out normally the following season. The bad news is that the garden is ruined for this year.
Posted by gardenguidenyc at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)
Crape Myrtle
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Anyone who has visited a southern city in the late summer has probably admired the Crape Myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia indica), sometimes called the lilac of the South. It's ubiquitous in southern landscapes-and for good reason. A graceful small multistem tree or shrub of Chinese and Korean origin, it has grey or cinnamon colored exfoliating bark and large pink, white or lavender flowers. The Crape Myrtle's greatest virtue however, is that it blooms in late summer when there are few other flowering trees. It is naturally hardy to Zone 7 and until recently rarely seen north of Baltimore (a large specimen in the very protected Garden of St. Luke's in the Fields in Greenwich Village is a notable exception). Recent efforts in plant breeding have produced specimens that will survive winter in New York City and we are seeing more and more of their delicate, crinkly blossoms around town. There is a nice dark pink multistem number in the center of the South garden of Central Park's Conservatory Garden,
So if you have seen a handsome shrub or small tree that you can’t quite identify this summer, if it has showy panicles of crepe paper-like petals and really attractive exfoliating bark, it is probably a crape myrtle - soon to be known as the lilac from the South.
Posted by gardenguidenyc at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)