By Timothy J. Malinich, OSU Extension
There are tunnels all over my lawn. Are they from moles?
The tunnels (called runs) are from mice. The most common type of mouse causing this damage is the meadow mouse or vole. They tunnel around under the snow, and when the snow melts, you see their handiwork. Moles, on the other hand, tunnel under the surface and leave raised ridges filled with loose soil.
Meadow mice can cause a great deal of damage to landscape plants by munching, under the cover of snow, on bulbs, roots and even the bark of trees and shrubs.
Traps can be used to control the problem. Live traps might be the best choice so as not to cause problems with pets or other animals, but the best long-term solution is to modify the habitat to discourage mice from setting up house.
The runs are only the paths that the mice use to get from one place to another. They need areas to build nests of grass or other soft dry material. Mice prefer tall weeds or grass, piles of brush leaves or firewood, thick groundcovers or mulch or piles of stuff to nest in or under. A good cleanup of the yard and garden and regular maintenance will help reduce the mouse population and keep them from moving back in.
What are the flat, dime-sized bugs I am finding in my house?
The warm sunny weather has woken up many insects that spent the winter in the house. Some insects like to spend the winter out of the cold but not actually in a warm place. They look for garages, attics, window casings and porches; they can stay inactive but are protected from the coldest temperatures.
Sun and warm temperatures wake them up. They want to move back outside but are often trapped by our windows and doors. They can be finding their way indoors through attic doors, gaps in caulking or poor door seals. Some people have a few every year, while others can be overrun by insects.
The common insects that match that description seen moving around this time of year are the stink bugs or the leaf-footed bugs. Both are about the size of a dime and flat. They are brown, hard, walk on stilt-like legs and are shaped like a shield. The fastest way to distinguish between the two is to look at the back legs. On the leaf-footed bug, the legs are flattened, making them look a bit like a small leaf.
To rid yourself of the problem, just collect the bothersome pest and let it go outside. Large numbers can be swept up. Be cautious if using a vacuum. Some models of vacuum will crush the insects, leaving you with a gooey mess.
Why are my pepper seedlings turning purple? They were started in peat moss and came up OK.
Since you mentioned peat moss, it sounds as if you planted the seed in compressed peat pellets. They are the flat discs that are placed in water, and swell up to a peat-filled pot about 1½ inches tall. Some hobbyists prefer these for planting seeds and for rooting cuttings. However, since they contain only peat moss, they do not have nutrients or fertilizers to help the plant along.
Seeds actually contain enough stored food to get the seedling started and above the ground. The "seed leaves" are the first leaves on the young plant and they hold the seedling's food reserves. The seed leaves will fall off the plant as the new leaves take over. The plant will turn green and can make its own food, but it still needs to get nutrients out of the soil. This is where the purple peppers are running into trouble; there is not enough fertilizer in the soil.
Plants will respond to nutrient problems in different ways. Some of the more common responses are a yellowing of the older leaves if the plant is short on nitrogen or a purple color if the plant is short on phosphorous.
Since your peat moss potting soil is short on nutrients, begin fertilizing with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Read the directions on the fertilizer package. If it does not have a rate specifically for seedlings, then mix it up at half the recommended rate. The seedlings should lose the purple haze within a week.
Call a master gardener for gardening advice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at 216-429-8235. Gardening information is also available at cuyahoga.osu.edu and webgarden.osu.edu. Write master gardeners at mgdiagnostics_cuya.ag.osu.edu for answers anytime.