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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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Back to the bagworms

I was looking at my blog statistics and I noticed that a lot of visitors got here by typing "bagworms" in their search query. Now is the time that they raise their ugly heads and damage becomes very noticeable. I wrote a post last year about my experiences with them. Fortunately, I have not seen any on my evergreens this year.  However, there is a Leland Cypress hedge across the street from us and I could clearly see the telltale brown dying branches and the disgusting bagworms hanging from them. This is a rental property and last year they had to cut down a row of Leland Cypress on the opposite side of the property. You can spray with Malathion now although it is more effective is done earlier in the spring when eggs are being laid. Hand picking is also effective but sometimes this might not be practicable if the plants are too large. Whatever method you choose, you must take action or else the plants will soon be toast. For more information, refer to my previous post.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. greggoJuly 12, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    I guess it good to be famous for something. lol

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  2. DarlaJuly 13, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    I just posted in my post before last my very first bagworm cocoon, hadn't a clue what they were....it was hanging on one of my climbing roses.

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  3. Deborah Younglao, Silk PainterJuly 13, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    We seem to get them every other year, on one particular oak tree. Just noticed the first one yesterday, so I guess we're in for them this year. What gets me is that the critters themselves are so tiny! Why do they need to build such a big house?

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  4. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)July 16, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    These sound like a real pain in the arse.

    Good news that you don't seem to have any this year. Hope it stays that way.

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