Hear Ye, Hear Ye

 

September 2025

Pickaway to Garden

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

By Paul Hang

Remember the old puzzle, “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?” Of course the answer depends on how you define sound, waves of vibrations traveling through the air, or other medium, or something that can be heard. If the first, yes. If, the second, no. My dictionary defines sound simply, “vibrations sensed by the ear.”

Whose ear, animal or human? How about the other trees and plants? Do they hear it fall? Do they have “ears?” Have you ever heard of such a thing? Some of you wags will bring up ears of corn, ha, ha. Seriously, one of the main differences between us and plants is that plants are stationary. They can’t move from the place where they grow (unless something or someone transplants them). “Hearing is an extremely useful sense to have, especially if you are rooted in place.” Plants have been around a lot longer than we have. Is it too much to expect that plants react to “sounds a plant encounters in nature, sounds they have evolved with?”

These, and quotes to follow, are from “The Light Eaters” a New York Times best seller by Zoe Schlanger. In it, she describes many fascinating studies of experiments with sound and plants’ reactions to it. “Increases in the sensitivity of modern instruments have made the methodology of these studies possible.” In a short segment like this, I can only hit the highlights. Researchers are “asking whether plants could have evolved to hear – or at least interpret vibrations that we think of as sound….”

“Sound is vital to the life of plants.” “…the sound of caterpillars chewing vibrates a leaf up and down by only a few thousands of an inch.” “Plants and insects interact all day long, and at every stage in both of their life cycles.” A “cabbage white caterpillar eats a plant, chomp, chomping…the plant can pump out bitter tannins in a bid to taste disgusting.” Experimenters played the sound of caterpillars chewing and the subject plant produced defensive compounds.  ”Could plants be said to hear their invaders?” “…a sound cue caused the plant to make its own pesticide.” “One can imagine where farmers set up boom boxes instead of crop dusters.”

Plants could hear in their own “earless way.” Which brings up the question of how do we define ears? If we define them as organs which can sense vibrations then other things qualify beside those strange looking appendages on either side of our head. Hearing requires exquisitely sensitive organs. In another experiment a plant produced “…pollen when played a recording of bees buzzing.” Many plants have cilia, tiny hairs which vibrate when sounds are made near them. The shape of petals of many flowers is acting like satellite dishes. “One researcher now sees flowers and sees ears everywhere.”

Thank you for hearing me out. As the author says, this is, “…just the beginning of studies of plant communication and understanding how we share the world of foliage.” What’s next, plants that see? Potatoes have eyes don’t they? Stay tuned.

Contact the Helpline for general questions at 740- 474-7534.

Things to do in the garden:

Now is a good time to test your soil. The prescribed amendments will have time to work their way into the soil. Don’t guess soil test. Go to www.ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/agf-0514 and factsheet/SAG-4. Information on soil testing is also available at the local OSU Extension Office at 740- 474-7534.

As plants die in the vegetable garden, pull them up. As perennials die back you may leave them for their winter interest and to preserve them for overwintering pollinator eggs, larvae, pupae or cocoons. Dispose of non-diseased plant debris in a "hot" compost heap to kill the seeds. If diseased, bury them or put them in the trash. In the butterfly garden leave the host plants as they are harboring the overwintering eggs and larvae of next year’s butterflies. Those plants that you don’t want to re-seed remove the seed heads before their seeds are scattered. Or, leave them for the birds. Clean up old fruit from around fruit trees.

If you collect, dry, and store seeds for next year, use only heirloom varieties, hybrids will not grow true. Harvest and cure mature winter squash, pumpkins and gourds if they are ready. Leave a two inch stem. Gourds should be finished with growth before you cut them from the vine, store indoors at 60 degrees.

September is the best time to plant grass seed whether you are re-seeding, patching or establishing a new lawn. If you only fertilize your lawn once a year, fall is the best time to do it. Cooler (slows evaporation), wetter fall weather promotes good root growth and your grass will start out next spring healthier. Fertilize in September and then again around Thanksgiving. Read directions for amounts and settings on application equipment. You might also want to consider shrinking your lawn to save on fertilizer and mowing costs.

In those areas in the vegetable garden that are not to be fall planted, plant a cover crop or “green manure” that will be turned in in the spring. Buckwheat, annual rye, sweet clover, winter barley, wheat, soybeans, alfalfa, and hairy vetch make good green manures.

Now is the time to buy and plant spring flowering bulbs. A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs at a depth about three times the height of the bulb. Most spring flowering bulbs look best planted in groups not in single file. Plant in a triangle, with the point facing the viewer, for most impact. Planting irises and peonies this fall takes advantage of the warm earth. They should be planted about 2 inches deep. If your peonies haven’t bloomed well because of shade from nearby competing trees, now is a good time to move them to a sunnier place in the yard. Once no longer green, cut deciduous peony leaves to the ground and discard.

Watch for yellowing of gladiolus leaves. Dig the corms and hang until the tops turn brown. Then store in a cool, not freezing, well ventilated basement or garage. Do the same with caladium, cannas, and dahlias when their tops turn brown. Fall is a good time to divide Lily of the Valley, primroses, peonies, day lilies, coral-bells and bleeding heart. Adding bulb food and humus will be rewarded in the spring.

You can plant onion seed now for early green onions and bulbs. You can still plant cool season vegetables. It’s not too late to start beets, carrots, kale and lettuce, maybe even bush beans! You can have these for Thanksgiving dinner! This assumes we don’t have a hard freeze. If we do, prepare to cover the plants. If you can find transplants of broccoli, cabbage and cucumbers you can still get a harvest. Order garlic bulbs now for planting later.

Pot up plants of herbs, chives, parsley, rosemary for a sunny window. Bring in houseplants after acclimating them to the indoors. Place them in a protected place for a couple weeks. Check for insects and treat as necessary. Reduce water and fertilizer for houseplants still indoors.