Re: black locust was: sedums under tree?
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] black locust was: sedums under tree?
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 00:14:22 -0400
:-) Gerry...hope it works for you, too.
Hate to tell ya' but black locust also drops its flower petals which
rot at the base of hosta leaves and make a nice, black gunk that is
impossible to get off if you don't keep at it all the time....someone
once said that those who exhibit their hosta gardens actually clean
them out with toothbrushes! Having too many clumps and not enough
time for that activity, mine just stay full of gunk.
Flowers are very decorative and sweetly scented and attract every
pollinating insect in the world....*but* they are generally about 50'
or more in the air so you never actually get to see them.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Gerry/Bob O'Neill <eoneill@IBM.NET>
> Date: Monday, September 04, 2000 7:52 AM
>
> Marge,
> Great tip! I have a thornless honey locust that is as bad a
sucker-er as
> the black locust. Leaves are not a problem, but flowers are! They
are tiny
> and greenish (not showy like the black locust) and when they fall,
make a
> 2" layer of rotting scum on every surface. They even get into the
base of
> hosta leaves (above the petiole) and proceed to rot there. Once
they are
> wet, forget trying to clean them off. Every year I swear I'm going
to get
> rid of the darn thing, but the flowers attract insects, which in
turn
> attract migrating warblers, which I wouldn't miss for the world.
And the
> quality of shade it casts is ideal for the spot it's in. If only it
> wouldn't drop those nasty flowers! Then there's the problem of
self
> pruning....
>
> But for years I've been cutting or tearing off the suckers, a
never-ending
> problem. Think I'll try your defoliation method!
>
> Gerry
>
