Of doodlebugs and other garden lovelies

By Don Davis
Published: September 16, 2008

Gardeners called me about doodlebugs and a host of other subjects in recent days. Here are some of their questions.

Q: My yard has dozens of small holes about an inch deep scattered all over it. I’ve never seen holes like these in my yard until this summer. M.B., Lynchburg
A: Dry weather seems to favor doodlebugs, also called antlions. They dig funnel-shaped holes to trap ants and other insects. While they are common under the eaves of houses where the soil stays dry, this year doodlebugs expanded their territory in many yards. These harmless insects are predators, and they can help control ants around your home.

Q: I have been noticing for a couple months that my boxwoods in front have been losing leaves. And ever since the rain, one boxwood is completely bare, and I noticed that the rest of the boxwoods beside it are starting to lose their leaves. I called around to some nurseries, and they suggested I call you and tell you some information. Maybe you could help me save my boxwoods. A.N., Lynchburg
A: Please cut some of the sickly branches, not branches that are totally bare, and bring them to my office for diagnosis. I am not able to advise you on this matter unless we can identify the disease. (She brought me branches from Japanese hollies, which look very much like boxwoods. Her bushes had a severe case of black root rot, and there is no practical treatment for this disease in the home landscape.)

Q: I’m calling about a red ornamental cherry tree. We’re having some sections of the leaves just dry up, and then we’re having some oozing of sap. I want to know, No. 1, is this detrimental to the tree, and should we be treating it? J.W., Rustburg
A: Your description of the tree suggests a serious situation involving wood borers. Cherries are short-lived, mainly because of these insect pests. Borers do their damage under the bark, feeding on wood involved in water transport. Controlling them is difficult, because they are inside the tree.

Q: I’ve been trying to legally have my bird feeder put back in my yard. Our apartment manager here made us take them out. Legal Aid has been working on that. Some of my neighbors came and told me the state of Virginia has banned bird feeders and feeding the birds due to the population of deer who are eating the bird food. I.S., Lynchburg
A: I am not aware of any ban on feeding the birds. Deer are known to eat bird seed, but bird seed is probably not a major cause of their population growth.

Q: I have a pile of ground-up bark and needles from a pine tree I had cut down. It is probably good mulch for azaleas, and I want to know if it can be used on other shrubbery. A.A., Altavista
A: Pine branches and needles put through a shredder make excellent mulch for any kind of plant, whether or not it is an acid-loving shrub like azalea. This kind of mulch is attractive, long-lasting and fragrant.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.