Surviving Alpine County's seven garden plagues

Sawflies are nibbling the pines in Alpine County at this moment. They are the larvae stage of an insect that resembles a wasp. The larvae destroy the old growth of certain pines, leaving a tree with pom-poms of new growth at the end of each branch. There is another generation of sawfly larvae that destroys the new growth, thus killing the tree. There are over 700 varieties of sawflies, each one favoring a few varieties of pine needles. Common pine sawfly is the variety we have in Woodfords, Alpine County. The larvae have unusual behavior: they are gregarious and they arch, wiggle, and spit when disturbed. They look like plump hairless caterpillars with stubby legs and no foot or hook. The most effective way of eliminating any pest is to keep the tree healthy with loamy soil, water, and sun. If there is a tell tale yellowish needle followed by a wiggling bunch of needle eaters, the gardener must rid the tree of the larvae or risk losing the tree. Hand picking is one method of eliminating the sawfly larvae, but a strong jet of water from the garden hose is also effective. Alpine residents who garden call the sawfly the first of seven plagues.

The second plague is a group of ground animals. We have ground squirrels that burrow and destroy roots, moles and voles that tunnel in the lawn and also eat roots. Rabbits devour annuals and perennials, and not always the same variety as the last year. Pine trees can be killed in a severe winter by hungry rabbits that strip the bark and eat needles that are close to the ground. Wire mesh around young trees protects bark and wire mesh around a root ball can help prevent the root destruction. The most dangerous one in the group is the rattlesnake. Gardeners appreciate that the snake controls the above rodent population, yet must keep a wary eye and ear to detect the poisonous snake near a house or barn.

The third, fourth, and fifth plagues are related to climate. Wind tops the list. Winds occur every season in Alpine, especially on the mesa district of Woodfords. Gusts of over 100 mph desiccate all plant life. In spring the winds can tear blossoms off the fruit trees, ruining the chance for a crop of apples, peaches, or cherries. Winds blow away valuable topsoil and spread hardy native seeds throughout the county. Sage and tumbleweed sprouts are best tended to before the earth becomes hard in late spring. The fourth plague is the scorching sun. Due to our high elevation, the sun has increased power to dry organic material in the soil. It is imperative to keep organic material added to the soil and to protect the enriched soil with layers and layers of mulch around plants, shrubs, and trees. The fifth plague is the tendency to have frosts late in the spring and in late summer, causing a very short growing season. A growing season is the average length of time between the last frost of spring and the first frost in fall. The short length of growth season classifies Alpine County as a zone 1. Only the hardiest of plants thrive in our climate. Gardeners love to gamble with a new plant, and sometimes the result is a surprising success. The plagues three, four and five are simply extreme climatic conditions. Those conditions help produce a clear and blue sky. The colors that one can see in our atmosphere are simply not available in fog or overcast climates. Foliage and flowers contrast with the blue sky and shine in an atmosphere almost devoid of humidity.

Plague number six is the demand on our water supply. It challenges all residents to be smart about using this valuable resource. As more people move to the area and the earth's climate becomes warmer, understanding the proper use of drip systems, sprinklers, and other irrigation is imperative. Knowing which plants are drought- tolerant increases success for a gardener.

Clay, hardpan soil, and Volkswagen-size boulders are plague number seven. Clay soil is tightly bonded fine particles that do not allow drainage. Root rot is a risk if one does not enrich the clay with organic matter, such as pine needles, weathered manure, or hay. Nursery owners warn people who purchase trees not to stomp on the ground after planting. All plants benefit from aerated soil. Beneath the clay there can be a layer of rock hard soil called hardpan. With patience and a crow bar, the hard pan can be broken up. Water and mulch will eventually amend even hardpan into a rich soil, complete with earthworms. It takes more than a crowbar to extract boulders from the ground. Since the area was formed mostly by volcanic action, the erupting peaks caused giant rocks to tumble downhill. Residents chose to build or buy homes in the area because living on such a hill provides beautiful views of Silver Mountain, Raymond Peak, the Sierra, and the Pine Nut Range. Backhoes can extract the boulders and rocks, which are frequently an integral part of the landscaping in Alpine County.

Friends, neighbors, local garden shops, and library sources are available to help gardeners with the challenges and victories over the seven plagues of gardening in Alpine County.

Sources: "Garden Insects of North America" by Whitney Cranshaw and "Cold Climate Gardening" by Lewis Hill.

-- Joyce DeVore is a Markleeville resident.