• Pruners - $5.00
• Loppers - $5.00
• Lawn mower blades - $6.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
• Mulching mower blades - $6.00
• Hedge shears - $5.00  
• Electric and cordless hedge shears - $10.00
• Hoes, shovels and trowels - $3.00 
• Larger items - we will quote a price 

(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)  

There is evidence that an unwanted visitor is making its appearance in our landscapes again this year. The black vine weevil causes your valuable trees and shrubs to have a very unattractive and tattered appearance. But all is not lost. The use of a systemic insect drench will protect your plants root to tip. A topical insect spray is recommended for the adult weevils that are active now.

The Michigan State Extension Service has an excellent article on life cycle of the black vine weevil and the damage this critter can do: "Rhododendrons are prized for their magnificent blooms in the spring and for deep green evergreen foliage that provides winter interest. Few insects are serious pests of rhododendrons, but a type of weevil leaves foliage tattered from its feeding. The black vine weevil, Otiorhynuchus saleatus, feeds on rhododendron plants throughout its life cycle. Weevil larvae, or grubs, live in the soil and feed on roots of the plant and as adult weevils they chew holes in the leaves of the plant. When moisture levels in the soil are high, the grubs may move up near the soil surface and feed at the base of the plants, girdling the stem which damages the plants ability to transport water from the soil. The adult black vine weevil's feeding is often identified by its characteristic circular notches in the foliage. This insect feeds on many plants beyond the rhododendron, including yews, hemlock trees and many broadleaved evergreen plants.

Black vine weevil Photo credit: Mike Reding and Betsy Anderson USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Often, MSU Extension receives calls from frustrated homeowners at a loss for what is causing the damage to their rhododendrons. They see a lot of feeding damage, but no insects causing it. The reason for this is that black vine weevils feed at night and can often be seen with a flashlight feeding on plants. The weevil is also seen indoors wandering about. This may be a result of the insect seeking shelter. The insect is about 3/8 inches long, oblong in shape, black to a dark gray, antennae are distinctly elbowed, and wing covers have small pits and patches of short, yellowish hairs. Also, as with all weevils, the black vine weevils have a snout.

Managing this pest requires an understanding of its life cycle. The insect survives the winter as a grub and begins to emerge as an adult weevil at 400 growing degree days, which on average occurs in late May to early June in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and early to late June in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Control measures are usually directed to the emergence of the adult weevil with pesticides sprayed directly on the plant to target feeding weevils. Pesticide treatment should be done within the first couple of weeks after finding the first damage to new leaves. Biological controls using nematodes produce variable results and must be applied to moist soil to target young larvae in mid to late summer, but mulch would need to be pulled back to apply nematodes to the soil."

Lavender Twist Redbud 

This month's Garden Native is Lavender Twist Redbud Cercis canadensis 'Covey,' and is commonly called eastern redbud. It is a plant that will add beauty and interest to your landscape in each of the 4 seasons. Spring will find its branches covered with beautiful lavender flowers that will be followed, in the summer, by large green heart-shaped leaves that cascade down weeping branches. The green leaves transform into bright yellow foliage in the fall. The graceful branches and twisted dark brown bark add interest and dimension throughout the winter months.

'Covey' is a small weeping cultivar that, if staked, may reach a height of 8' and, if not staked, may not grow over 5'. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. Avoid wet/poorly drained soil. Lavender Twist is easily grown and makes an ideal specimen or accent plant especially when combined with more delicate or coarser trees and shrubs.

Click here for more information about Lavender Twist Redbud!