Pam Bennett, Barb Bloetscher, Joe Boggs, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke, Dave Goerig, Tim Malinich, Jane Martin, Hannah Mathers, Pam Sherratt, Amy Stone, Curtis Young, and Randy Zondag
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September 29, 2005
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This is the twenty-ninth 2005 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL).
BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension
agents, specialists and other contributors in Ohio.
BYGL is also made available on the Internet from the Ohio State University
Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) in Virtual Perspective website
(http://bygl.osu.edu). Additional fact sheet information on any of
these articles may be found through the OSU fact sheet database (http://plantfacts.osu.edu).
BYGL is a service of OSU Extension and is aided by major support
from the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA), with additional
funding from the Ohio Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture
(ISA) to the OSU Extension Nursery Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT).
Participants in the September 27, 2005 conference included: Joe Boggs (Hamilton/Piketon); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Dave Goerig (Mahoning); Joe Rimelspach (Plant Pathology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy Taylor (CWEPPDC); Curtis Young (Allen); and Randy Zondag (Lake).
Additional factsheet information on any of these articles may be found
through the OSU Factsheet Database (http://plantfacts.ohio-state.edu/)
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WEATHER WATCH
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Recent rains at the Perry, Hoytville, and Columbus OARDC Weather Stations have boosted precipitation totals for the month. September rainfall totals at these three weather station sites have exceeded the normal rainfall amounts for the month. Many BYGLers reported that recent rains across the state have greened up turf and grass seed finally received the moisture needed to germinate. Let's hope that mother nature lets the rain continue as new lawns establish themselves across the state. Check-out this week's weather summary below. The weather data was collected from September 1 - 28, 2005.
| Weather Station |
Region of Ohio |
Ave. High Temp F | Ave. Low Temp F | Ave. Temp F | Normal Ave. Temp F | Total Precip " | Normal Precip " | | Perry |
NE |
77.1 |
59.2 |
N/A |
N/A |
5.3 |
N/A | | Hoytville |
NW |
81.2 |
56.0 |
68.1 |
64.4 |
4.67 |
2.57 |
| Columbus |
Central |
83.2 |
59.5 |
70.6 |
66.5 |
6.41 |
2.70 |
| Miami |
SW |
83.3 |
59.9 |
70.6 |
64.8 |
2.27 |
2.34 |
| Jackson |
South |
83.5 |
55.2 |
68.4 |
65.6 |
1.68 |
2.92 |
For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, check out the site below.
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HORT SHORTS
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PLANTS OF THE WEEK
Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the new publications "Perennial Plants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio" published by the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA). The descriptions and photographs of plants were provided for this new publication by the OSU ENLT Team along with other industry plant lovers. These full-color publications are available at Buckeyegardening.com for $5.00. Click on "garden store" and then "onla plant guides." ONLA members can purchase these in quantities at a reduced price at onla.org
* PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK - Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass commonly known as Chinese Silver Grass. It grows in clumps that can reach 4 to 8 feet tall, and 3 to 4 feet wide, depending on the cultivar. Silver grass blooms are a pale red terminal panicle that begin to appear in early fall, and last nearly all winter long. Miscanthus spp. are warm season grasses and transplant best in spring. They will grow in most any soil as long as the site has full sun. Silver grass is used as specimen plants, seasonal screens, and mass plantings. In Ohio, the dried stems should be cut back to ground level in early spring each year. One of the oldest cultivars, M. sinensis 'Variegatus', has a green and cream colored variegated foliage that is a little more tolerant of some shade.
*WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. Heptacodium miconioides, commonly referred to as the seven son flower, or Autumn lilac, is in the Honeysuckle family. This multi-stemmed large shrub or single stemmed small tree is best utilized in the landscape along a shrub border with room for it to show off its graceful arching branches. It should never be sheared. It blooms in late summer or early fall and displays a generous supply of small, clustered, fragrant, white flowers. During the fall season, the faded blossoms are transformed into a grand display of small rounded, fruit with a cherry red calyx. This abundant flower and fruit display in the autumn gives this woody plant a late-season, one -two punch few ornamentals can claim; and we haven't even mentioned the fall foliage color or the exfoliating bark features! H. miconioides, can be seen in most public gardens in Ohio, and survives well in zones 5-8.
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GETTING READY FOR WINTER?
Yes, that is correct. Now is the time to begin your plans to prepare your landscape for winter. Pay attention to the amount of rainfall or irrigation that is received by conifers in the next 2 months. Conifers should not go into the winter dry because evergreen leaves will continue to lose water by transpiration throughout the fall and winter. If there is not enough water to cool the leaves, then the leaf tissue will overheat, dessicate, and become part of that infamous "winter burn".
Now is an excellent time for gardeners to prepare vegetable gardens and perennial beds for the next season. Sanitation is one of the most important and often overlooked tasks in prepping for the coming year. Remove all plant debris from the garden since many disease organisms and insects can easily overwinter on plants and old fruits that were not cleaned up before the snow started flying. These overlooked plants and areas may be the main source of inoculum for your problems next year. All of the plant debris can be properly taken care of in a well-tended compost pile. Vegetable gardens can be tilled, effectively chopping up and burying plant debris. Annual flowers can be cut off at the soil surface, leaving the roots in the ground to add to the soil organic matter.
Perennials should also be cut-off above the crown after a hard freeze, unless they are grown for fall or winter aesthetics. Be careful to evaluate what will happen to those plants if they are loaded down with ice and snow. Mulching landscape beds, using a light compost or mulch, will reduce soil temperature fluctuations, which leads to plant heaving and ultimately, dessication, and death of that plant.
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BUG BYTES
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NEVER ENDING EUONYMUS SCALE
BYGLers discussed the challenges in dealing with euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi) on wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) and its cultivars. Just about anywhere wintercreeper grows, it will at sometime become infested with euonymus scale. Once infested, it can be next to impossible to eradicate a population of euonymus scale. Some reasons why it is so difficult to control euonymus scale in wintercreeper are: frequently one does not discover the infestation until it is already well establish; wintercreeper has very dense foliage and grows compactly on the ground making it difficult to penetrate the canopy to get to the infestation; and growth and development of euonymus scale is variable.
The most susceptible species of euonymus are Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper), E. kiautchovica (spreading euonymus), E. hamiltonianus (= E. sieboldianus & E. yedoensis) (Yeddo euonymus), E. atropurpureus (eastern wahoo), and E. europaeus (European euonymus). Variegated varieties of wintercreeper and other small shrub-type Euonymus can be completely killed or severely damaged by this pest.
E. alatus (winged euonymus) is quite resistant to this scale, but winged euonymus gets a smaller, look-alike scale, called the winged euonymus scale.
Euonymus scale occasionally infests Pachysandra, Celastrus (bittersweet), as well as a variety of other landscape trees where it is rarely considered a damaging pest.
In Ohio, two generations of euonymus scale are the norm. The mated females overwinter under their covers and begin to lay eggs in late April through May. The first generation of crawlers can emerge from mid-May into July. New adult females can be present by early July and these lay eggs for several months, often July through September. By November, most of the scales that remain are new females that have been mated.
Unfortunately, euonymus scale has a considerable overlap of stages from the two generations by early summer and this continues until October. Therefore, it is very difficult to find a time that all the insects are at a stage vulnerable to control.
There are several control options to manage euonymus scale. Chemical control ranges from insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils (requires several applications) to standard insecticides (targeting newly hatched crawlers) to systemic insecticides (best to target the first generation).
A cultural option to manage euonymus scale is to use other ground covers as a substitute to wintercreeper. Some variegated forms of privet hedges can be used where small, variegated shrubs are desired.
Finally, when infestations of euonymus scale have advanced to the point on cultivars of wintercreeper that its stems turn gray and leaves become speckled with yellow, it may be best to remove heavily damaged branches, if not the entire plant. Wintercreeper will most of the time regenerate from the root stock. When severely pruning wintercreeper, one should delay pruning until late winter but before active growth continues the following spring. Then monitor the plants closely for re-infestation by euonymus scale to institute management practices before populations become unmanageable.
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ANOTHER ASH BORER
Joe Boggs reported receiving a newly emerged specimen of BANDED ASH BORER (Neoclytus caprea) coming from a sample of ash firewood, from a homeowner in southwest Ohio. The homeowner wanted to know if infestations of this beetle are related to EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis), and he was also concerned that beetles emerging from firewood brought into his home would infest furniture and other processed wood in his home.
Banded ash borers infest dying or recently dead trees. In fact, the beetle is most frequently viewed as a forest products pest since they often target fresh-cut logs to be used for lumber or firewood. Larvae feed parallel with the grain of the sapwood, and they fill their tunnels with tightly packed sawdust-like frass. Heavily infested logs and firewood may be honeycombed with frass-filled tunnels.
The beetle will not infest wood that has been dried or processed into home furnishings, or structural wood. Beetles emerging from infested firewood in a home are only a nuisance pest. The only connection between this beetle and EAB is that banded ash borers infest dying or recently killed trees. It does not matter whether a tree is circling the drain because of EAB, or some other malady.
As its common name implies, banded ash borer favors ash; however, the beetle will also infest hickory, elm, hackberry, pecan, and occasionally white oak. The borer shares part of its common name with another ash borer, the BANDED ASH CLEARWING (Podosesia aureocincta), which is a moth. Unfortunately, both insects are sometimes referred to as "banded ash borer," and this can create some confusion. The clearwing moth targets ash trees that are alive, but suffering from stress.
Banded ash borer belongs to the beetle family Cerembycidae. Members of this family are referred to as "longhorned beetles," based on their unusually long antennae. However, banded ash borer beetles lack this characteristic and their antennae are not particularly long.
The cylindrical-shaped banded ash borers are 3/4" - 1" long, and their dark brown to brownish-black bodies have distinctive yellow and white markings. The front edge of the prothorax, which is the segment that is just behind the head, is trimmed with a yellow band. The wing covers have two white circles at the front, which look like shoulder-pads, followed by two thin, white transverse bands. The band closest to the circles looks like a flattened "M.". The underside of the abdomen sports yellowjacket-like yellow and black bands, which give the beetle its common name.
Cerembycid larvae are commonly referred to as "roundheaded borers," and banded ash borer larvae look like typical cerembycid larvae. The segments towards the front of the fleshy, thin-skinned, yellowish-white larvae are larger in diameter than the rest of the segments. This makes the larvae look like they have round heads and tapering bodies.
Adult banded ash borers emerge from infested wood in the spring. They quickly mate and lay eggs. Logs and firewood cut during the winter is a favored host. The larvae feed for a short time under the bark, then they bore into the sapwood where they feed for the summer. Pupation occurs in the fall. The borer usually has one generation per year. However, the insect's developmental rates may be radically altered if wood is allowed to dry, or if infested firewood is kept in a home. This accounts for Joe receiving a recently emerged adult.
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HOOFING BLUEGRASS BILLBUGS
As part of Curtis Young's survey for exotic insects pests, he gets to travel the state visiting numerous sites such as state and county parks. Recently while on a mission to seek and survey Vibrunum spp. plants for the viburnum leaf beetle, Curtis visited a park in Marysville, Ohio where he found no host plants to survey. Somewhat dejected having not discovered any Viburnum spp., Curtis retraced his footsteps back the multipurpose trail he had followed through the park now looking down at the path rather than at the trees and shrubs surrounding the path. At this point he observed little critters were also hoofing it on the trail. Closer observation revealed the identity of the critters to be weevils, most likely the bluegrass billbug (Sphenophorus parvulus). In a relatively short time and distance, Curtis was able to pick up over a dozen of the little hikers. Apparently, the grass on either side of the trail was infested with billbugs and these adults were the new adults that were seeking a place to overwinter. The new adults are common in late-August through September. These adults do some minor feeding on turf but are mostly preoccupied with finding a suitable site for overwintering. Even though the adults are winged, they do better hoofing it than flying. Some adults have been observed trying to fly but no great distances are covered.
No management practices are recommend for these new adults. Control measures are to be applied in the spring or early summer. However, observing adult billbugs now may indicate where billbugs will be active next spring. Wandering adult billbugs can be observed on sidewalks, driveways, roadways, paths, and other bare surfaces next to turf areas.
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VIBURNUM LEAF BEETLE UPDATE
Last week in BYGL (9/20/05, Issue 25), Curtis Young reported that the viburnum leaf beetle (VLB) (Pyrrhalta viburni) had surged in population size and distribution in Ohio. VLB populations were discovered in the Ashtabula County, the original county where VLB had been detected in Ohio, and two new counties had been added to the list of colonized counties, Lake and Summit Counties. Further survey (9/21/05) has detected the presence of VLB in Mahoning County as well. Eggs and foliar injury were observed in three different locations of six surveyed.
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DISEASE DIGEST
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WARTY PUMPKINS PERFECT FOR HALLOWEEN
Erik Draper reported seeing the effects of what were formerly known as mosaic viruses, which are now called potyviruses, on pumpkins. These potyviruses are vectored by aphids and may overwinter in certain weeds, which are unaffected by the potyvirus. Symptoms of the Papaya Ringspot Potyvirus, formerly called Watermelon Mosaic Virus, causes distortion and strapping of squash leaves resulting in malformed, knobby, warty bumps on the fruit. Infected pumpkins by one of these potyviruses may be misshapen with these knobby bumps and can have a dark-green, spider vein appearance across the orange rind of the pumpkin. This fruit color may suggest that the fruit is not fully ripe; however, the green spider vein-like coloration is caused by the virus and the fruit will never color up properly. These weird looking Jack-O'-Lanterns are prized by many for their "scary" Halloween effect. These pumpkins are perfectly suited to be displayed in all of their ghoulish glory!
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TURF TIPS
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DON'T FORGET THE BUCKEYE SPORTS TURF WEBSITE
With the high school football season at the half-way point, we thought that we again would make mention of the excellent sports turf website at Ohio State University. Although the site can't help your team, it can help the field on which the team plays. The Buckeye Sports Turf Program was developed to keep sports field managers abreast of current topics important in the management of athletic fields. Check out the site below for the latest and greatest information!
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT
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SYNERGY KEY TO FARM SCIENCE REVIEW SUCCESS
A cloudy, cool kick-off at Ohio State University's Farm Science Review (FSR) way to a sunny, warm wrap-up, helping to mark another successful year for the agricultural event. "After talking to exhibitors and to attendees, everyone had nothing but positive things to say about this year's show," said Chuck Gamble, FSR Manager. Over 119,300 visitors walked through the show's grounds at Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, Sept. 20-22. More than 600 exhibitors set up shop at the sold-out event, with many more interested businesses placed on a waiting list. Average distance traveled for attendees was 102 miles, visiting from such states as Ohio, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia.
This year's FSR marked the first collaboration between Ohio State and Purdue University, drawing visitors from the across the Hoosier State. Some highlights of FSR included an air quality mobile lab, the first Certified Crop Advisors program, expanded presentations at the Gywnne Conservation Area, a wind energy exhibit, turfgrass research plots, horticulture presentations in the Utzinger Garden, and the revamping of the McCormick Building, which housed such exhibits as Universal Design and programs involving health and safety.
"Our programming is what separates us from other major farm shows across the country. We fully take advantage of our research and educational component expertise that visitors gain from attending our show," said Gamble. "There are so many neat synergies, relationships and partnerships, and new technology introduced year after year is what makes agriculture fun. That is the main reason why OSU got involved in FSR and why FSR exists in the first place."
FSR is sponsored by Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Next year's show will be Sept. 19-21, 2006.
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COMING ATTRACTIONS
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WESTERN OHIO URBAN FORESTRY CONFERENCE - EAB TRAINING
The Ohio Division of Forestry's Western Ohio Urban Forestry Field Day will be held next Thursday, October 6, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Harmon Park in Wapakoneta, Ohio. The conference will include a wide range of field demonstrations and hands-on practice regarding tree identification, and proper tree pruning techniques.
A highlight of the program will be a visit to the most recently discovered EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) infestation in Ohio. Participants will get first-hand experience with identifying symptoms produced by this potentially devastating non-native tree pest. Infested trees will be cut to expose the internal damage as well as EAB larvae. The registration fee is $3.00. For more information, contact Wendi Crabill, Regional Urban Forester by phone at 513-932-6836; or by
e-mail at Wendi.Crabill@dnr.state.oh.us
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BYGLOSOPHY
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Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus
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