Strata Eco Solutions LLC

Growing Degree Days are used by farmers, horticulturists, nurseryman, and other growers to accurately predict plant growth and insect/pest emergence. If you want to understand what growing degree days are and why we use them, click this link: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1448. This year, you may have noticed that everything seems to be growing "faster" or emerging sooner than normal. You are not wrong. We are WAY ahead of schedule for every plant and insect. Anywhere from one to two months ahead of schedule. I saw 2 June bugs this week. Twice in the last week, I saw hardy hibiscus emerging in landscape beds. This plant usually does not emerge until mid-June or later. I was speaking with a friend today and she said her garden, right now, looks like it usually does in June.

Here is a list of the growing degree days on April 22 for the last 20 years:

2026: 480
2025: 293
2024: 322
2023: 311
2022: 205
2021: 267
2020: 184
2019: 188
2018: 125
2017: 331
2016: 255
2015: 194
2014: 166
2013: 193
2012: 339
2011: 52
2010: 279
2009: 202
2008: 187
2007: 233
2006: 256

2012 was the next highest at 339 growing degree days. Ironically, 2011 was the lowest at just 52. We are currently 140 above the 2012 value. This means that plants are growing a lot sooner and insects are emerging much earlier this year. It is important to understand this, because you may do things at certain times every year. This year you may have to do them sooner.

Don't let this fool you, though. It's only April, folks. Even though we have had a lot of days above 50 degrees, we are still going to have some cold weather before Mother's Day. DO NOT plant your annuals yet. You need to be able to protect them if and when we get another freeze.

Before you shout "Global Warming" or "Greenhouse Gases", understand that Earth has been going through warming and cooling trends since it was created. The last 4 years we have had droughts that lasted longer and longer. This year, a Super El Nino is being forecast to occur. This could mean extended warm/dry conditions this summer.

I share all of this to show you a super beneficial tool that I use in my daily work. Also, I'm a huge weather nerd and love stuff like this 😂

Enjoy!

Growing Degree Days (GDD) - What Is Your #? What's Your Number? - No it is not meant to be a pick-up line, but rather what is your growing degree day (GDD) accumulation!

It's the first day of spring, which means we will start seeing (or smelling 👃🤢) Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) trees blooming. There are many different cultivars of Callery pears, for example, Bradford, Redspire, and Cleveland select pear. Once a popular ornamental tree, Callery pear can be found throughout the state, although it is now illegal to plant and sell in Ohio.

Callery pear has alternate rounded leaves with fine serrations along the edges. Leaves are thick and waxy. In the spring, it is easily spotted by dense white flowers that have a strong, stinky smell. It produces tiny hard brown pears in the fall that are hard until frost softens them.

If there are only a few small plants, they can be dug or pulled out. However, mechanical control is usually not enough. Herbicides are required to kill this aggressive plant that will resprout if cut without chemical controls.
For more information about removing Callery pear, visit https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/invasive-plants/callery-pear