Q: Why do the leaves on my maple tree change color so early in the fall? Attached are photos. – Doreen R.
A: The health of maple trees depends greatly on the soil in the region in which they grow. In much of the area west of the naturally forested areas of Minnesota, maple trees are not as well adapted to the soil types. From the Red River Valley and westward, the area historically developed as prairie grassland rather than forest, due in large part to soil type.
Contribution
Starting at a point east of the Red River Valley, you will find vast areas of native forest rather than prairie. For trees that have specific soil type requirements, such as maples, the soil in these naturally forested areas is better suited to their successful growth.
Maples like the Autumn Blaze and similar hybrids are at a disadvantage when planted in areas outside of their preferred soil region, which puts the tree under stress. Maples often show this stress through trunk cracking, yellowing, iron deficiency chlorosis, and branch dieback.
When maple trees are under stress, whether due to soil conditions, too much or too little moisture, injury to the trunk, or other factors, they often respond with early fall color, indicating that the tree is beginning to cease its performance for the season in response to the stress.
There is not much that can be done if the maple tree is suffering from the influence of an unfavored soil region. If the tree’s leaves turn yellow during the growing season, iron can be applied in the spring to reduce a common cause of stress.
Q: We want to fence a garden in our backyard. What size squares or mesh should the fence be to keep rabbits out of the garden? – Kristie S.
A: Because rabbits can squeeze through very small openings, it is recommended that openings in chain link or chicken wire fences be no larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm).
For optimal protection, the bottom edge of the fence should be buried five to ten centimeters below the surface to prevent rabbits from digging a tunnel under the edge.
I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, but rabbits on the run can dive through remarkably small openings like a regular chain link fence and squeeze their bodies through. If the skeleton’s skull can fit through an opening, a rabbit can apparently fly through and the rest of the body will squeeze through.
I had heard of this before, but I experienced it myself when I chased a rabbit out of our own fenced yard. I thought I had it cornered, but it ran and flew right through the chain link fence, the openings of which, although small, were not small enough.
Q: I’m really grateful for all the articles you post on the forum each week! Many of us who grow raspberries have problems with the little black bugs that infest the fruit. I’ve used a trapping method to control these nasty bugs for the past few years and I thought you might like to share it with your readers. Thank you. – Lynn Mickelson
David Samson / The Forum
A: These small black insects, called sap beetles or picnic beetles, have become a major pest on raspberries. In addition to insecticides, you can greatly reduce their impact by luring the beetles into a trap. Here is Lynn’s method:
“The traps are made using gallon water or milk jugs. I make a ‘bug juice’ mixture by filling the jugs three-quarters full with water and adding one cup of apple cider vinegar, one cup of sugar and half a banana peel. I then shake the mixture to dissolve the sugar and place the jugs uncovered in the raspberry beds.
“I use about 20 jars in two raspberry beds. Since we live on a farm where raccoons are a problem, I attach the jars to posts with cable ties so raccoons can’t knock them over.
“These traps worked wonderfully. I have another raspberry patch where I didn’t use the jars, and the beetles had a feast. I couldn’t even pick a good berry.”
Thanks Lynn for showing raspberry growers an alternative control method. Several research universities also recommend these apple cider vinegar and sugar traps, and I think one of the keys to success is using enough traps for them to be effective.
If you have a garden or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at
Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.
