Yup, it happens every year, winter in Northern Hemisphere.  It is somewhat difficult to believe that global warming is happening while participating in Midwestern Winters.

England, Mainland Europe, China were all hit with major snow storms.

London, England had the coldest winter in since 1995. Heavy snowfalls of 18” in Feb..
Australia, California, Texas and many other parts of the world struggle with drought.

Australia, India and other nations experienced record heat and continue to do so.

In Australia, along with the drought, is record heat 119.8 degrees F (maybe a new record for the southern Hemisphere) and devastating fires. Their drought continues in its 7th year.

Spain and France were hit with cold temperatures and winds near cyclone conditions.

China has had just about every type of weather and natural disaster imaginable in the last 6 months.

Here in the Mid-West, some portion of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana were colder than Dane county. The cold spell of January 15 and 16, 2009 curled around the west and south of us for some impressive cold temps at – 34F in Lone Rock, -30 in Dubuque, -26F in Rochester, MN, -25F in Rockford, -18F in Champaign, Illinois. Now this is cold. Fortunately, the cold snap did not last very long. We slowly went into and out of it. This type of gradual change is much easier on plants then sudden precipitous temperature rises and falls.

December 2008 had only SEVEN days above freezing and to top it off, a record amount of snow

December’s snowfall gave us a record 111.1” for 2008 drifting over the previous record of 82.6” set in 1994.

January 2009 had THREE days above freezing and only barely with two at 33F & and one at 37F. Thank nature for the wonderful snow cover protecting our wonderful plants.

For more information on what is happening in the world of Meteorology,
 see   http://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html

All of the following temperatures are in Degrees Fahrenheit.

As of March 29, 2009
45.1 average high
24.8 average low
71 highest
4 lowest
35 average temperature
+1.9 above average

February 2009
32.3 average high
15 average low
54 highest
-5 lowest
23.6 average temperature
+1.0 above average

January 2009
19.9 average high
1.3 average low
39 highest
-19 lowest
10.6 average temperature
-6.7 below average.

December 2008
19.9 average high
8.0 average low
49 highest
20 lowest
17.0 average temperature
-6.0 below average
17.0 aver temp
-6.0 below average

Due to frost penetrations of only 10-30” in Southern Wisconsin, the insect & disease populations should again be above normal. Japanese Beetle, Viburnum Borer, Magnolia & Euonymus Scale and other over-wintering infestations could be very high again this season. Our minimal frost penetration, deep snow cover and other winter conditions were favorable to their life cycles. A dry warm Spring allows insects to survive better, while a cold wet Spring increases their diseases and therefore, their numbers.

As of March 20, 2009 most of the frost penetration in Southern WI, was thawed.

Rabbits, Voles, Deer, in ‘Native Landscapes and Their Destructive Herbivores’, were able to find food and habitat cover all winter, so once again expect record populations or these beasts. Hopefully the resident foxes, coyotes, other predators will help clean up the overwhelming populations.  Well, we can hope!

While in bud on February 26, 2009, I saw the first snowdrops blooming on March 14, 2009. Friends reported similar dates.

Spring blooming Hamamelis-Witchhazel, were in fabulous bloom on March 28, 2009. Over all, spring blooming bulbs, Hellebore, Adonis, Galanthus, Iris, Crocus, Scilla, Chionodoxa, Enimion and other early bloomers appear to have had a suitable winter and an eagerly awaited Spring growing season.

2009 Gardening Season

2009 gardening season started with nearly 20,000 folks plus the hundreds of volunteers and exhibitors, attending The 16th Annual WPT Garden Expo! It was great visiting with many of you during the Expo. http://www.wpt.org/gardenexpo/

Hope to see you at The 2009 Olbrich Garden Tours, July 10 & 11, 2008, in the Shorewood Hills neighborhood on the near west side of our metro area. http://www.olbrich.org/events/homegardentour.cfm

This year, Landscape Designs, Inc. celebrates its 12th consecutive year of Sponsoring/Supporting the Olbrich Garden Home Tours.

SPRING 2009
24th Annual TWICE SHREDDED, AGED, PREMIUM OAK BARK MULCH
On SALE now through June 1, 2009

If two delivery addresses are within a block or two of each other, a 6-7 cubic yard shipment may be divided into two units. ONE of the trucks has a divider with each compartment holding up to 3½ cubic yards. Other trucks can haul up to 24 cubic yards.

Save up to $24.49 on the Delivery Fee
For further savings to one address: 
8-11 yd³ at $22.99 per yd³, and 12 or more yd³ or more at $21.99 per yd³
Call for specially priced delivery charges outside the proximal Madison area.
Installation is also available through Landscape Designs, Inc.

                    To order call     608-233-4215                 Email: ldi@landscapedesigns.bz

PLGF

On Feb. 24, 2009, the Wisconsin assembly unanimously approved a ban of phosphorus fertilizers on lawns.  Now it goes to the state Senate for approval.  Which, I am sure will pass the ban.
The law still allows you to apply phosphorus containing fertilizers to your existing lawn areas IF a certified test indicates it is required. The law also allows for phosphorus to be applied for the establishment of a newly installed lawn.
Over the many years of taking soil samples from Madison area landscapes, to the University Soils Testing Lab, I cannot recall ever seeing a test come back with the phosphorus being inadequate. Most of the time, it is excessive.

They are not banning phosphorous for trees, shrubs, perennial and vegetable gardens, just on lawns.
We offer No-P, PLFG for your turf areas.

Did you forget to feed your perennial & shrub gardens last Autumn?

Early Spring is also a great time to feed your gardens with our PLGF custom formulated, granular, time & temperature release fertilizer.

This year we also offer ZERO-P PLGF for your lawn in accordance to Dane County fertilizer mandates.
You may continue to use our standard 22-3-3 blend for you landscape beds.

`One Early Spring application feeds the lawn and garden for the entire season.’

ONLY $61.95 per 50-pound bag (feeds about 2,500 –5,000 ft.2 )

Please click here for more information.
For pick-up, delivery or installation, please give us a call: 608-233-4215.

We continue to offer the pre-emergent Pendulum® Pre-M® herbicide to prevent weed seedling development in lawns and ornamental gardens. Pre-emergent herbicides are usually very specific products that interrupt root development. Since they are specific, they don't control ALL weed seeds. Nothing available for the residential landscape gives you the erroneously advertised ‘weed free garden’.
We estimate Pre-M reduces weeding in your landscape beds by 60-80%.  $45.15 per 50# bag

Please click here for more information.

Please call 233-4215 to order or schedule your garden fertilization or Pre-M® treatment.

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Emerald Ash Borer  - EAB ... UPDATE

THEY’RE HERE!

The WI-DNR indicates maybe 50,000 Fraxinus-Ash Trees may already be infected over 5,000 acres.
The Eastern Wisconsin infection may be 5 years old!
Professional chemical treatments are available.
Treatment means a home owner would need to drench-spray-treat or have their trees treated annually.
Cost of Chemical $, Cost of Service $$$, Cost of saving the tree, Pricele$$$$.

I wonder how many trees will be sprayed along the municipal terraces, parklands, and forests. Few.

Again – Pricele$$$$

Contact us on how to install a new tree to take the place of Fraxinus-Ash Tree
Don’t be caught with your ash down in a few years without a replacement tree already growing.
After personally viewing the extensive damage and loss in the Detroit, MI area,
it will be equally and extremely disheartening to lose our Fraxinus-Ash trees.
The glorious autumn color of our ‘Autumn Purple’ White Ash will be but a minor loss compared to the economics
of lumber loss, removal costs and the degradation of out forest ecosystems.
Remember, any tree that is not a true Ash, such as Mountain Ash, will not be affected by EAB.

More information may be found at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/press_release/result.jsp?prid=2289

Who really looses…..

In Dec & January, someone cut down newly planted and other trees in Los Angeles.
Why, is still unknown.
Speculation is to make sure some huge billboard signs and other adverts are visible from the streets and highways.
All of us loose in this type of perpetrated crime.
I guess beautification can go to hell in some nefarious fiery hands of building developers and advertising companies. Fortunately not all developers and advertising companies are so ill mannered.
Plants, and most other life on this earth, are the innocent pawns.
However, just remember, without plants, we would not exist!
Yum, this sand tastes wonderful, Just a bit more sea salt and it will be ready for dinner.
See more at: http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/landscape_destruction_baffles_officials.aspx

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FEBRUARY 11, 2009 Nursery Manager Pro Magazine
http://www.greenbeampro.com/content/view/125/262/

Botanists see fewer acorns across the U.S

There are fewer acorns in the Midwest, some parts of the Northeast and as far west as California, botanists and forestry experts told USA Today. The small or nonexistent acorn crops reported in many parts reflect a natural cycle and pose no reason for concern, according to botanists. “I've heard from people all over the country with mixed reports on the size of the crop in different areas,” said Rod Simmons, a botanist with the city of Alexandria, Va., where acorns have been in short supply this winter. Simmons said it appears oak trees produced small crops or no acorns in many parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. He said he also has heard similar reports from people in parts of California, Kansas, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Tree death rates doubled in West

A study by the U.S. Geological Survey points to regional warming as the cause of tree deaths in old-growth forests of the Western U.S. Tree death rates have increased across a wide variety of forest types, at all elevations, in trees of all sizes, and in pines, firs, hemlocks and other kinds of trees. Increasing tree mortality rates mean that western forests could become net sources of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, said USGS researcher Phil van Mantgem. The group's long-term monitoring shows tree mortality has been climbing, while the establishment of replacement trees has not. The average temperature in the West rose by more than 1°F during the last few decades, which has reduced winter snowpack, caused earlier snowmelt and lengthened the summer drought, he said.

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