Try to avoid watering too late in the evening and also avoid wetting the foliage as hot, still, humid night air provides the ideal environment for many foliar fungal diseases to develop. Supply lawns and most landscapes with the minimum equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall per week. A rain gauge or even a tuna fish can set in the garden will indicate that amount.

Containers and hanging baskets in full sun may need water twice per day in the extreme temperatures recently experienced in the area. Remember that infrequent, deep watering is far more beneficial than infrequent, shallow spritzes. Containers that began the summer with adequate amounts of slow release fertilizer may very well need supplemental feeding by now.

Most of the pelleted, slow release fertilizer formulations will release all of their fertilizer charge in high soil temperatures. Begin weekly liquid fertilizer application at about half the label recommend dilution to keep baskets and containers at their best.

CRTICAL CRITTERS The gardening public needs to learn all that is available about the Emerald Ash Borer and the impact this may have on all landscapes in the area. Look for unexplained die back, usually in the top of the tree first. Investigate the trunk and look for small “D” shape holes bored into the tree; these are actually the emergence holes of the adults.

If these signs are noticed, contact the appropriate OSU County Extension office and/or the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The ODA has established a hotline for this information: 1-888-Ohio-EAB (1-888-644-6322).

Recently, a new infestation was confirmed in a housing development just south of Delaware, Ohio. Previously, an infestation in the Easton area of Columbus, Ohio and another in the Hicksville, Ohio area were discovered and successfully eradicated in 2003. So far, all, but the above-mentioned infestations, have remained confined to the northwest part of the state.

Eradication of the pest involves confirmation of the infestation, determining its source and extent, and then removal and destruction of ALL ash trees within one-half mile of the known infestation. Follow up investigations are conducted to ensure eradication. Concerned citizen gardeners need to understand the necessity of such thorough procedures as the impact on the forests could be profoundly devastating if left unchecked.

Recently, companies have introduced products that promise to kill the Emerald Ash Borer. Savvy gardeners need to realize this is tantamount to “Snake Oil” as even otherwise healthy trees will be removed if they are in the extermination zone of infested trees. For very good, current and updated information, check out the Ohio State University Emerald Ash Borer Ash Alert website at ashalert.osu.edu.

Remember, the impact of this one invading insect can be far more devastating than the loss of some trees in the landscape; it could mean the end of the Louisville Slugger.