You can read timely Consumer Reports articles in the new Lifestyles section...
By AMY IVY, Cornell Co-op Extension
I'm sorry to say that late blight, the devastating disease of tomatoes and potatoes, is continuing to spread. And not just locally but across the state and region. So please be diligent and check your tomatoes and potatoes regularly. When in doubt, bring in a sample (in a plastic bag) or e-mail a picture. You can help slow the spread by not letting it escape your garden if you happen to get it. For more information visit www.hort.cornell.edu/lateblight.
People are still asking about those large purple boxes hanging in trees throughout the state. Those are traps for the emerald ash borer, another serious problem that hasn't quite reached us yet. It was found just over the border in Chambly, Quebec, last summer and in southwestern New York this summer. This beetle kills our native and landscape ash trees in just a couple of years. Visit http://nyis.info/ for more information.
You may have heard about the quarantine on firewood. The proximity of this serious pest is one of the major reasons for these restrictive measures. Please abide by the 50-mile restriction even when it means buying local firewood when camping.
GOOD NEWS
I'm sorry to be so gloomy this week, so here's a stab at some good news. If your gardens have good drainage, all that endless rain we've been having has been good for them. My perennials have never been so lush and leafy as this year. They're later to bloom, but I'm going to have more flowers than ever. Of course, part of this growth is thanks to the two-inch layer of lovely rotted manure/sawdust I added this spring as well. But I'm trying hard here to find something good to say today.
Another advantage to this lush growth is that vigorously growing plants can tolerate and co-exist with a much larger pest population than can plants that are stressed by drought.
STAY SHARP
All the rain has made it extra difficult to get your lawn mowed on time, however. Remember the one-third rule whenever possible — don't remove more than one third of the grass blade when mowing. This means if your mower is set to cut at 3 inches, you can wait until the grass reaches 4 ½ inches tall before cutting it.
But our lawns love this cool wet weather and are growing like mad, so it may be hard to time your mowing around the rainstorms. This longer grass makes sharp mower blades all the more important.
The easiest way to keep your blades sharp is to buy a spare set. As soon as you mount the sharp blades, take the dull ones to be sharpened so you'll always have a sharp set on hand. I realize changing mower blades can be a pain in the neck, so anything you can do to make this job easier will help inspire you. Try to change the blades at least once a month for the average home lawn.
Take a close look at your lawn the day after mowing. The ends of the grass blades should look like they've been cut with scissors. If yours look more like the ends were shredded and they're turning gray or brown, you need to sharpen your blades before the next mowing.
Amy Ivy is executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Clinton County. Office phone numbers: Clinton County 561-7450, Essex County 962-4810, Franklin County 483-7403. Web site: www.cce.cornell.edu/ecgardening. E-mail questions to askMG@cornell.edu
