Gardening seems to be on everyone’s mind, so if you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service. OSU Extension faculty and Master Gardeners reply to queries within two business days, usually less. To ask a question, simply go to the OSU Extension website and type in a question and the county where you live. Here are some questions asked by other gardeners. What’s yours?
Q: I have several nest boxes in my yard and many species of birds at our fountains and feeders. I was given a bat box that I want to hang. I know that some species of bats can kill birds, is that a problem in our area? Also, will the bats eat so many insects that there will not be enough for the birds?
A: These are all great questions about the balance of supporting a diversity of wildlife species.
Let’s first talk about birds and their needs: Feeding birds is a great activity that allows many of us to enjoy the diversity of bird species up close. If you have a diversity of food and feeder types and a steady supply of water, then more kinds of bird species are likely to visit. It sounds like you’re doing this with success.
However, feeders and water are only part of successfully attracting birds to our yards. Bird feeders are supplemental food sources for many birds, as they rely heavily on wild sources during certain times of the year. Beyond your yard and feeders, the surrounding habitat is very important because it supplies a large portion of the food that a bird needs to survive and feed its young – food types that most bird food doesn’t provide.
This time of year, the most important food type is insects. Having good habitat diversity increases food diversity. Flowering plants, shrubs and trees offer flowers for nectar feeders like hummingbirds, seeds for birds like finches and grosbeaks, and fruits for birds like robins and cedar waxwings. These same plants attract a diversity of insects that birds feed their young and females use as they produce eggs (both require calcium, fats and proteins).
Even though you feed the birds, you may have noticed that some of your birds are not coming to the feeders as often. This is likely due to their shift to eating insects.
Now on to bats: As you indicate, bats also rely upon insects to survive. All bat species in the United States exclusively eat insects. One, the Myotis vivesi, the fish-eating bat, will eat fish and crustaceans, and lives in the Gulf of California, Mexico. The only bird-eating bat species that I could find is the giant European noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus).
Here in Oregon, there is no risk that if bats use your yard for feeding, and the bat house for roosting, they will out complete birds for food sources. The main reason for this is that bats in Oregon are nocturnal and eat insect species that are active at night. Our song bird species are diurnal (daytime) feeders and eat insects that are active during the day. Because of this separate in feeding times, there is little overlap in their food sources and little competition for available food.
Here are some great resources to consult for both bats and birds:
-- Jason O’Brien, OSU Extension Master Gardener
Climbing jasmine needs a good prune every year. OSU Extension Service. Courtesy of OSU Extension Service
Q: The leaves of our jasmine are turning bright red before turning brown and ultimately dying. This started happening two years ago and is getting progressively worse. It is a large, old vine (about 20 years old) that has climbed up the chimney. I prune out the dead patches, and it bloomed nicely last year, but I would like to know what is causing the issue and what I can do to restore the plant to health. – Multnomah County
A: Leaves turning red then brown and dropping is usually a normal aging process (think maples in the fall), rather than a disease process. To keep your jasmine healthy, vigorous and blooming it needs to be pruned every year. Pruning will get rid of old wood, open the interior up to air and encourage new growth. One or two old stems need to be removed every year after flowering for maintenance. More severe pruning will help rejuvenate the plant. Pruning cuts stimulate the plant to send up new growth.
You can remove 30% of the plant in a year with no ill effects, and you can even cut the whole plant down and it will come back, drastic as that sounds. The plant growth comes from its base, called a crown, rather than a tree trunk. You can get started by cutting out two to three of the oldest looking stems at the base. Pull the cut stems down and progressively cut them in pieces. You'll get braver and have more confidence after seeing the effects over the next year, and can take out a few more stems then.
There are usually classes at community colleges, nurseries, and other organizations, but this year they’ve been cancelled because of Covid. Check the internet for pruning classes late next winter or early spring. You can also consult an ISA (International Society of Arborists) certified arborist. You can find one in your area on this site. They will come out, evaluate your jasmine and suggest a plan to help the plant. We recommend you contact at least three to find the person best suited for your situation, and check references. This article has additional information, Pruning Care of Jasmine - Tips for Trimming. – Anne Schmidt, OSU Extension Master Gardener
Cicada
Q: While out watering my front flowers this morning I noticed (and jumped) when I saw at first what I thought was the largest spider ever. On closer look it appeared to be a hornet of some sort? I had already watered the plant and it wasn’t moving. So, I took some photos from a distance and planned my attack. I hit it with some wasp spray and after a few moments, to keep my distance in case that sucker was still alive, I put it in the largest jar I could find. I am happy to report that I slayed the beast. I’ll load it into my truck and haul it over to the taxidermist as this is certainly a wall hanger. In the meantime, if you could kindly identify it, I would be most thankful. – Lane County
A: It’s neither a bee or a wasp or even a hornet. It’s the exoskeleton of a cicada. Immature cicadas feed underground – sucking fluids out of plant roots. Then they crawl up on plants to emerge as adults. The back of the immature’s exoskeleton splits open and the adult crawls out. You can see the split in your photo. Cicadas are some of the larger common insects you might encounter over the summer – so it’s understandable to be startled by them. Despite their size, they do not cause significant damage to plants. Cicadas in Oregon are not “periodical” like some species. We may see them emerging every summer even though it takes more than one year for the immatures to complete their development. – Stuart Reitz
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