2026-02-02 – Weekly Horticulture News : Oak species and caterpillars

Last week in our horticulture community, discussions were lively and informative, with members debating the best times for watering, the role of understory guilds in reducing irrigation needs, and which oak species support the most caterpillars. There was also a lot of interest in understanding why certain trees bleed in late winter, and a practical exchange on selecting cover crops. Additionally, professional development was on the agenda with a call for recommendations on advanced greenhouse IPM CEUs.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Dawn or night sprinkling: what’s riskier
Members are weighing the pros and cons of watering at dawn versus night. This discussion could be crucial for optimizing water use and plant health.
Read more here

Understory guilds that cut irrigation
This thread explores how specific plant combinations can reduce the need for irrigation, a timely topic given water conservation concerns.
Read more here

Which oak tops the caterpillar count
Find out which oak species are best for supporting a diverse caterpillar population, which is important for those interested in biodiversity.
Read more here

Why some trees bleed in late winter
A fascinating look into the physiological reasons behind why some trees exude sap during the late winter months.
Read more here

Which cover crop is poor man’s alfalfa
Participants share insights on alternative cover crops that offer similar benefits to alfalfa, a topic of interest for cost-conscious growers.
Read more here

Recommendations for advanced greenhouse IPM CEUs
A practical discussion on where to find continuing education units in integrated pest management for greenhouse professionals.
Read more here

From one node to 25,000 liners
This thread covers propagation techniques that can transform a single plant node into thousands of liners, an essential skill for scaling operations.
Read more here

Edible understory that stays neat
Explore options for maintaining a tidy edible understory, combining aesthetics with productivity.
Read more here

Battery top-handle saws for street pruning
A practical evaluation of battery-powered saws, providing insights into tools that could make urban tree maintenance more efficient.
Read more here

Help choosing trees for a green alley
This topic is a valuable resource for those designing green spaces, offering advice on tree selection for urban environments.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions. Keep sharing your experiences and knowledge, and remember that every contribution helps our community grow.

And swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) has outperformed my reds for caterpillars, but the real boost came when I stopped raking and just ‘left the duff’ with violets and Pennsylvania sedge underneath — moisture holds better and I only deep-water every 10–14 days in midsummer. If slugs get busy in that setup, lightly thin the leaf mat in early April instead of stripping it.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​​​⁠‍‌​⁠​⁠​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌⁠​⁠‌‍‌‌‌‌‌⁠​‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌⁠‍​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌⁠‌‌‌‌​‌‌⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍​‌‍​‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

@Guide Your “understory guilds” tip tracks; golden ragwort under white oak cut watering, but bur oak handled our clay better.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​​​⁠‍‌​⁠​⁠​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌​⁠​⁠‌​‍‍‌​⁠​‌​​‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌⁠⁠‌​‌⁠‌‍‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‍​‌‌⁠​​‌​⁠‍‌⁠​⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

I’ve noticed my oaks really thrive when I add a mix of native ground covers — it’s crazy how leaving the duff has reduced my watering needs significantly. , it drives me nuts that some folks still rake away all the leaves – they’re like nature’s mulch! Have you tried any specific native plants that work well with your oaks?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​​​⁠‍‌​⁠​⁠​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​‌‌⁠​⁠​⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌‍‍‍‌‍‌⁠​⁠‌​‌‌‌⁠‌​‍‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​