Q: This weekend while gardening, I found interesting stuff on my bark mulch. At first I thought my dog had vomited, but as it dried, I realized it was something different.
A: It sounds as if you have a type of slime mold, which is fairly common on wood chip mulch after a couple of days of rain. Once considered an animal because of its creeping nature, this mold is really a fungus. Slime mold dries into hardened structures that produce dark masses of sporelike bodies and clouds of dustlike particles when broken apart. The spores are spread by wind, water, mowers or other equipment.
Slime molds are more a curiosity or nuisance than a threat to gardens or lawns. Once a colony starts to form, allow mulch to dry out, or use a garden or leaf rake to break up the colony and provide control. You also can use a shovel to remove and dispose of it. Slime mold should be enjoyed as one of nature s oddities.
Q: How do I care for my peonies after they have bloomed?
A: Remove faded peony flowers frequently during the bloom period. Prune out damaged or diseases stems, and lightly fertilize if necessary to keep foliage attractive. Cut plants to the ground in the fall. Peonies rarely require division. If you choose to divide them, dig crowns in the fall and divide into sections with three or more growing points. Replant immediately with crown approximately 1 inch below the soil surface. Peonies may take several years to bloom after planting.
Q: There is a yellow powder substance in my yard, and I wonder if it could be a pesticide that a neighbor used?
A. Several calls on the subject have come into the Adams County office. After some research, it was determined that the “powder” is pine pollen. Pine is a conifer (cone-bearing) tree that is wind-pollinated. The pollen is buoyant and can travel hundreds of miles. Large pine pollen forms a yellow dust on dark objects when the trees are in bloom. This year Austrian pines have put out a lot of pollen. After a rain it settles in yards and can seem alarming. Even though it is abundant, pine pollen is seldom an important allergen.
For more gardening information, contact the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office in your county. Or visit the website at ext.colostate.edu.
Sharon Moore is a Colorado State University Cooperative Extension horticulture technician in Adams County.
