Along with colder weather comes the desire for many to make their homes as warm and cozy – and festive – as possible. When it comes to decorating, there are many simple, inexpensive options to make one’s home feel welcoming.

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   Warning! The  bird watcher general has declared that bird watching is a highly addictive hobby with no known cure. Bird watching and feeding is a close second to America’s favorite hobby, gardening, and even in the winter months, it is still possible to enjoy this pastime.

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The cool, crisp days of fall are here and the shorter days make us long for soothing sights and sounds of home. One way to do this is to create a beautiful pumpkin centerpiece. 

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   On Wednesday, October 1, the Potting Shed opened the doors to its brand-new location in Altoona. The store is located just off U.S. Highway 12 at 1728 N. Hillcrest Parkway.

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It is the time of the year to start thinking about putting the “closed” sign on our lawns and gardens. It is also a great time to begin doing some preventive work against pests and disease problems for the next growing season. Healthier lawns and gardens can better withstand disease and pest damage without the use of pesticides or herbicides, thus saving you money and time. Read the rest of this entry »

Japanese beetles are less than an inch long as an adult and about an eighth-inch as a larva. The adult has metallic brown wings and a metallic green body with white dots around the edges.

   This year many gardeners are noticing an increased Japanese beetle population. Why is the Japanese beetle a problem? At each stage of the beetle’s life, it has destructive habits to lawns and plants.

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   If your tomato plants have yellowing or black spots on the leaves, this article may be for you!
   Early blight and Septoria leaf spot affect leaves, stems, and fruit of tomatoes. Early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani and produces yellowing of the leaves, whereas Septoria leaf spot is caused by Septoria lycopersici and produces black spots. Both of these tomato disorders thrive during moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall, becoming more evident as the plant sets fruit. Symptoms are primarily found on leaves, starting at the base of the plant, and by late fall may cause fruit to rot near the stem.

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   Altoona resident Bly Allen, 87, first became aware of rain gardens in 2004 after reading an article in Eau Claire’s Leader-Telegram. After much deliberation and with the help of others, she created a garden in her backyard that covers 400 square feet and contains 29 different species of plants that are native to Wisconsin. The hardest part, she explained, was making the decision to move forward and actually taking that first step.

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After a 2001 surgery that went wrong, Altoona resident Tracy Craker had to go on disability leave – a step that led to the creation of a “junque” garden, which is now developed enough to host public sales.

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The redcoats are coming! The redcoats are coming! Red-coated bugs are starting to invade! Now is the time to defend your homes!

Boxelder bugs are already starting to cluster on our homes, particularly the sunny south- and west-facing walls. These bugs are about one-half inch long, flat and narrow. They are predominantly black in color with distinctive orange-red lines along their backs.

These bugs have been feeding on boxelder trees and on other plants this summer, but they are now seeking shelter for winter. We are expecting higher than normal populations of boxelder bugs this year due to the dry summer climate (rain introduces diseases into these bugs—no rain leads to no diseases, which leads to lots of bugs). Boxelder bugs are harmless, although their wastes can stain furniture.

Besides boxelder bugs, swarms of Asian multi-colored ladybeetles will soon join the attack. We typically see these bugs right after the first hard frost (25 degrees). Populations of these “ladybugs” have been declining in recent years and we expect the trend to continue. Nevertheless, there are still lots of these ladybugs out there and if you normally have problems with ladybugs, you can expect problems this year, too.

Asian ladybugs are fairly harmless, but some people do have allergic reactions when they are nipped by the pests. The bugs also have the tendency to “bleed” through their joints when threatened, which can lead to the staining of furniture.

To defend your fort from the redcoats, start by pest-proofing your home. Seal your doorways and windows with caulking. Repair any damaged doorway or window screens. Seal any gaps around outdoor water faucets, clothes dryer vents, and where utility meters enter the home. Gaps between the foundation and siding should be sealed.

If you wish to fight back against the redcoats, you have two options. The first option is use soap. Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent per gallon of water. Spray directly on the bugs and the soap will shatter their skeletons. Soap sprays are completely safe (this is good!) but have no residual effect (this is bad!). This means that you will need to go outside repeatedly to spray the swarms whenever they appear.

Toxic chemical sprays can also be used. Pyrethroids such as lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin and deltamethrin will give you 2-3 weeks of protection. Follow the label instructions carefully, spraying directly upon the walls and near any entry points such as doorways and windowsills. These products are readily available at hardware stores and garden centers.

These pyrethroids are same chemicals that professionals spray with. The only difference is that professionals use microencapsulated and other forms of these chemicals that will last four weeks or more. Usually you don’t need such long-term protection since nearly all outdoor insect pests will die this month due to hard frosts.

Lastly, any bugs that successfully entered your home can be vacuumed and disposed of promptly. Out with the redcoats!