26 ~ Sunday, May 24, 1998 — North Shore News sow it grows EACH May I marvel at the intensity of colour from the multitude of thodedendrons and aza- leas found in our North Shore gardens. Tourists who arrive in the Vancouver area in May cannot fail to be impressed by the col- orful show around the city. Sometimes, as I visit local gardens, I think rhododen- drons are too widely used as a landscape plant burt come the spring, I am always impressed by the show they put on. Like most plants that are popular, rhododendrons have been widely hybridized, creat- ing several thousand new culti- vars that are now readily avail- able. This is in addition to ‘all .the species of. chododendrons thar are gaining in popularity. With this increase in inzerest there also seems to be a corre- sponding increase in..insects and diseases, Last spring» 1 noticed a ; number of “rhododendron flower buds had turned brown and failed to open bur I attrib- uted it to cold weather. It was only later in the season when I was dead heading the bushes that I realized there.was a fun- gis growing on tht unopened flower bucis. After having them analyzed ‘by the: “Ministry of Agriculture, I knew some of my-plants were infected with Bud Blight: that is caused by the briosia azaleae fungus. The distase has been common in the northeastern United States but is now: spreading quite rapidly here in the Lower Mainland. If your Plants have'a num- north sh ore news ay FJOME & GARDEN | NEWS photo Terry Pi Pete rm: RHODODENDRONS are popular with North Shore e gardeners, and put on an impressive shew of color in the spring, but with an increase of interest in this plant comes an increase in the number of insects and diseases which can affect it. ber of unopened brown buds, you should go over the entire plant and remove all the infect- ed buds and place them in the garbage for disposal. Last . year’s buds that were infected may be below the main leaf canopy and harder to locate. If infected they will have one to two centimetres of black hair- like structures growing out of the dead scales and each hair will have a tiny capsule of black spores or dust that will smudge on vour fingers. To prevent these spores froin reinfecting the new crop of flower buds, the plant = we MOVE OR IMPROVE We can help! New construction/renovation iT >. Commercial/Residential > Great refs and phatos ay & Over 40 years experience LAMIS CONSTRUCTION BR For free csumates with your budget in mind 808-3650 or 916-5252 The Cedar cepanEX ‘Roof ‘Experts RESTORATION : Full service Cedar Roof Restoration is all we do, we do it right should be sprayed with a fungi- cide such as Benomyt, Funginex or Daconil. Mid- summey or carly fall, after the new buds have started to form, would be a good time to spray the plants. At other sites that I have visiced, I have seen pestalotia (leaf spot, owig blight and crown rot). This is caused by a weak parasite that gains entry through wounds to the stems or leaves. The disease can be diag- nosed by the presence of black pustules scattered on the upper surface Gf the leaf. Following ‘good cultural practices and avoiding damage to the plant is the best line of defence. A third disease that is , becoming more:.common is phomopsts dieback, a fungus that attacks the leaves, nvigs and eventually the branches of shododendrons and azaleas. The leaves G&ca dic along, the edges, wilz-and turn brown. Single branches that are infer- ed should be cut out to pre- vent the disease from spread- ing and the plant sprayed with a fungicide. Plants that are heavily pruned may tenefit from a fungicide spray as 2 pre- cautionary measure since the fungus enters through fresh wounds. Phytophthora cinnamemi is another fungus that attacks the roots of rhododendrons and azaleas and has become more common in recent years. The plane suddenly wilts and dies as though it has been cut off from its roots. The roots die and are no longer able to send up water and nutrients. By the time you see the symptoms, it is usually too late to save the plant. It is thought the fungus ing Saie: Spring 505100 orr DRESSERS & ARMOIRES PINE, OAK OR MAPLE (standard orders only) SPECIAL ON BEDS The Wooderafters Custom Made Furniture Ss enters the plant arough the: leaves but it might be prudent © to avoid planting a new rhodo- dendron in the same spot for a year or two. There are a whole host of insects chat attack rhododen- drons but generally none of them are fethal. In most cases, new growth covers up the problem or the leaves toughen with time and become. less appealing to the chewing or sucking bugs. Healthy plants grown under ideal conditions should produce enough leaves for both you and the insects. The Chelsea Garden Show is over, bur North America’s * premier garden show — the VanDusen Flower and Garden Show — will be held right here - in Vancouver from June 5 to 8. Set time aside that weekend to see some of the best garden displays, new plant introduc- tions and horticultural prod- ucts. The theme of the show is “The Flower and Garden Show is Cooking” — which may give you an opportunity to pick up some culinary tips as well. ‘GREEN GUIDE is a weekly Sunday column. If your business or charity is blanuing a gardening event, send in your infor- mation as early a* possible ta the Nort “hore News, 1139°.0 tale Ave, North Vancouver B.C, V7M 2H4. Priority is given’ ta fundraising events and shows taking place on the Nortli Shore. THE WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH: The Capilano Flower Arranging Club micets at ‘7:30 p.m. in the Cedar Reom at the Delbraok recreation centre once a month until June. The evenings include work- shops, demonstrations, and more. Call Donna Sims at 986-9360 for more information. EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY: Tours of the main garden at the UBC Botanical’ Garden will be given by the Friends of the Garden at ll am. The tour is included with the price of admission. To arrange group tours for the Main Garden and the Nitobe arden, call 822-9666. The UBC _ Botanical, Garden is located at 6804 Southwest Marine Dr., Vancouver. MAY AND JUNE: The West Vancouver Parks and Recreation Department is putting on instructional gardening classes in the coming weeks: Osganic Herb Gardening — create your own organic herb garden and learn some medicinal and culinary uses for these. plants, Saturday, May 23, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 am. West ‘Vancouver in Bloom — Stroll through the streets and alleyways of West. 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