By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com
We live in an area which has been affected by invasive species, both flora and fauna. Most of us know about the pythons in the Everglades and kudzu in Georgia, which have had profound impacts on native wildlife. Unfortunately there is a new menace we may encounter soon, and that is an Asian insect, the yellow-legged hornet. Recently two have been identified in Savannah and it would be naïve to think they are the only invaders.
The problem is that these hornets are a threat to honeybees, which they will devour. They were discovered by an amateur beekeeper near their hives. The hornets prey on bees as they come and go, and can seriously impact the hives once they are targeted. For help in identification, see https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/BEES/Vespa_velutina.html.
If you think you have seen one, please talk to a Duval County Master Gardener Volunteer, at (904) 255-7450. They will advise you how to report the insect to FDACS, if they confirm it could be a yellow-legged hornet. Take a picture if you can. Our agricultural industry doesn’t need any more invasive species to deal with, and this is potentially very serious.
And finally — gardening. Fall is a time when some of us like to spruce up our flower beds with mums and other seasonal color. Check out https://tinyurl.com/ybv7f8dk for inspiration. If you intend to plant a display bed, give plants a good start by first working some compost into the area before planting. Add some slow-release fertilizer, water the plants well, and spread mulch. If there isn’t enough rain, make sure to water them. Since mums — Chrysanthemums — are perennials, they could come back the following year if they are happy in their location. Dead head fall flowers especially annuals to keep the blooms coming.
For vegetable gardeners, don’t stop scouting for insects. Either source transplants or, if there’s time, sow seeds for new plants to replace early crops once they are harvested (see the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021). Instead of ornamental cabbages, why not grow attractive kales and Chinese greens in the landscape? If you do so and suffer insect or disease problems in your flowers, only use chemical products that can also be applied safely around edible plants. There are plenty of organic or OMRI listed products that would be suitable. Just be sure to read and follow product labels, which are the law.
Autumn is a good time to plant shrubs and trees. For maximum benefit to wildlife, which has co-evolved with native plants, consider if you have space for an oak tree. Oaks support a wide range of environmentally valuable insects and other invertebrates. If small shrubs and trees are more in scale with your landscape, a redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) is just one possibility. It blooms in late winter to early spring, providing honeybees and more an early food supply. The flowers cover the bare branches making a lovely show before the heart-shaped light green leaves appear. Another pretty choice would be a native flatwoods plum, Prunus umbellata (https://www.fnps.org/plant/prunus-umbellata). It also blooms in early spring.
Whichever plants you are drawn to, I hope they give you joy.
