ANDRE SWEARS THAT IF I PUT THESE AROUND THE TRUNKS of my young trees, no critter of any description will be able to get in for a nibble. I’m more familiar with traditional hardware-cloth collars, but I’m always open to any suggestion regarding pest control. Do you think Mr. Jordan, mad doodler that he is, was inspired by his British roots, or by his recent adoption of Miss Pickle the Pit Bull, who looks like a girl who could easily carry off such edgy, custom-tailored bling?
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
ha. yes, Miss Pickle may have influenced this doodle. Though she is more of a ‘diamante kind of girl’ rather than a spike.
Too funny. Those are some fashionable trees! I will not tell my trees, otherwise they’ll get jealous and will want their hardware cloth collards updated…
I primarily need to protect my baby trees from dogs using them as message boards. Would the collars encourage or discourage them?
De rigueur for the kinky horticulturist.
Actually, they look better than the mulched up volcanoes I see around the trunks of some landscape trees. (Is the “mad doodler” into S&M?)
Do they make these in hi-tops for the deer?
Welcome, Rebecca. A very good idea; I will inquire to Andre if there are other styles. :) Nice to see you, and don’t be a stranger.
How about a category in your SOURCES of websites of plant societies … there are sooo many, and have valuable information and local members and meetings for plant-specific consultations as well as plants that may be suitable for inquirers’ gardens’ locations.
Welcome, Carolyn. Good idea; I always mean to put some of the best ones together and then just run out of time (the perils of being a one-woman band with 2,000 other jobs to boot). :) I will put it on my list and hopefully make some progress. Glad to have you here with us; see you soon again.