Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270177
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Lelia Mayton
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RESISTANCE IS A POSITIVE TRAIT WHEN IT COMES TO GARDENING

Native or naturalized plants tend to require less care due to greater tolerance of local environmental conditions and pests. But beware that some native trees can be a problem, having either messy fruit, (female Ginko), troublesome root systems, (willow roots clog sewer and drain pipes), or high susceptibility to pests (mountain ash).

Fruit trees, including those grown for flowers, are often subject to diseases and Japanese beetle infestation. Management of fruit trees with pesticides requires a genuine commitment of time, money and energy. You can't be successful with a hit-or-miss program.

People are often confused by the term `disease-resistant'. A resistant variety is not resistant to all diseases, but only to the one for which it has been developed.

Disease-resistant does not mean the plant will not get the disease, but that the disease will be less severe than for susceptible varieties. Using disease-resistant varieties of vegetables definitely makes gardening easier and less expensive, and reduces the potential for pollution with pesticides.

Insect-resistant plants are bred to resist or repel insects by physical or biochemical means.

Leaf hairs that can deter insects from extracting plant juices are an example of a physical barrier. Plants with biochemical insect-resistant properties will contain plant sap or toxins that are unappealing to the insect, possibly making it sick.

Selecting insect- and disease-resistant varieties of garden vegetables, shrubs and trees will save you time, money and frustration.