I’ve been watching the apple buds, waiting to see swelling begin, waiting for color to start showing. Last week I was excited to finally see a bit of color. Then, snow and overnight lows in the low twenties hit, which is just like last year, when we had no apples. I hope the cold doesn’t kill the blossoms and my apple crop again this year.
Recently, I received a photo of a stink bug that I suspected was the invasive brown marmorated stink bug. However, the insect seemed to be more charcoal gray than the typical brown color. Insects can look very different not only at different stages of development but also when found in different areas.
Gardeners ask me if it’s time to prune. Late summer and early fall pruning can encourage new growth, which will not have time to harden off before freezes occur. If freeze damage happens, the health of the plant can be adversely affected. This is particularly true for roses, which should not get pruned until April.