Pam Bennett, Barb Bloetscher, Joe Boggs, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke, Dave Goerig, Tim Malinich, Jane Martin, Hannah Mathers, Pam Sherratt, Amy Stone, and Curtis Young
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October 20, 2005
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This is the twenty-eighth 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 October 18, 2005 conference included: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloestcher (C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Joe Boggs (South Region/Hamilton); Jim Chatfield (Center at Wooster/HCS); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Tim Malinich (Cuyahoga); Amy Stone (Lucas); 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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The gloomy days of last week are gone and the sun is shining in the buckeye state. Amy Stone reported that the Toledo area received a scattered frost earlier this week, while much of the rest of the state has been frost-free.
Monthly precipitation totals at the OARDC Weather Stations listed below are well below the compared average. BYGLers commented that rainfall events have been limited and that plants should be checked going into winter to be sure that they have adequate moisture levels before the ground freezes.
| 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 |
67.7 |
54.5 |
N/A
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N/A |
0.74 |
N/A | | Hoytville |
NW |
71.4 |
49.8 |
59.8 |
54.8 |
0.14 |
1.57 |
| Columbus |
Central |
72.6 |
51.0 |
60.9 |
57.1 |
0.03 |
1.50 |
| Miami |
SW |
73.2 |
51.0 |
61.0 |
55.6 |
0.13 |
1.99 |
| Jackson |
South |
73.2 |
48.0 |
59.6 |
55.7 |
0.40 |
1.54 |
For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, check out: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/weather.htm
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HORT SHORTS
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NOTE IMPORTANT INFORMATION! BYGL has ended for the 2005 season. We have truly enjoyed serving you with this timely horticutlural information. You will receive a survey next week. Please take the time to fill this out so that we can continually improve this newsletter. BYGL will return on April 6th, 2006. Have a great fall and winter and see you next spring!
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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 - hardy spring and summer blooming bulbs. While most dont consider perennials, now is the time to plant hardy bulbs for glorious color next spring and summer. The Perennial Plants for Ohio bulletin has color pictures and information on the hardy flowering bulbs for our area. Choose from the common varieties such as tulips, crocus, daffodils, or hyacinths, or, branch out into some of the more unusual varieties such as autumn crocus, Anemones, Alliums, Leucojums, Lycoris, and Scilla.
*WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. Viburnum spp. Dont forget this large genus with lots of great plants for both fall colors as well as very attractive berries. There are numerous sizes, shapes, colors of flowers as well as fruit colors. Try V. x rhytidiphylloides 'Allegheny' for showy bright red fruit that matures to black. The American cranberrybush viburnum has great bright red fruit clusters. The linden viburnum has rich orange and red fall colors. There are many uses for this often overlooked group of plants.
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BATS IN THE ELM TREE
With Halloween just around the corner, bats, cats and other things that go bump in the night seem to be par for the course. Black cats standing arched and hissing on a fence and bats flying out of the belfry of an old haunted house are what we expect to see, but bats in the elm tree?!?
Two weeks ago the 2005 State Master Gardener Volunteer Conference was held in Lima on the OSU Lima Campus. Joe Boggs and Curtis Young led diagnostic walks on the campus grounds as one of the morning sessions. While Curtis was expounding on the attributes of some CHINESE ELM TREES (Ulmus parvifolia), one of the Master Gardener volunteers pointed out that there was a bat hanging in the tree amongst the foliage at about head height. To the non-bat learned people in the group, including Curtis, it seemed rather strange that there would be a bat hanging in a tree so seemingly exposed to the elements.
After a few pictures and a little investigation, Curtis discovered that this behavior was perfectly normal for this particular species of bat. The bat was identified as the EASTERN RED BAT (Lasiurus borealis). Eastern red bats are North America's most abundant tree bats. They are found wherever there are trees east of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to as far south as central Florida. Eastern red bats roost within the foliage of deciduous or sometimes evergreen trees. Despite their bright red color, these bats are actually rather cryptic, looking like dead leaves or pine cones. They are perfectly camouflaged as they hang curled-up in their furry tail membranes, suspended from a single foot, twisting slightly in the breeze. For the most part, red bats are solitary, coming together only to mate and to migrate. While searching neighboring trees to the original bat tree, a second Eastern red bat was discovered roosting in the leaves of an other Chinese elm.
In the summertime, red bats are among the earliest evening fliers, typically feeding around forest edges, in clearings, or around street-lights where they consume predominantly moths. In the fall they perform long-distance migrations using the same migratory routes along the Atlantic seaboard as many birds. It could be that the bats observed by Curtis and the Master Gardeners were migrating, but got caught by the chilly weather of the second week of October and will eventual move on to warmer climates. Very little is known about their winter habitat or behavior.
In some areas of the southeastern U.S., Eastern red bats have occasionally been encountered flying up out of the leaf litter in advance of prescribed burns done during the late fall. They are known to survive body temperatures as low as 23F. Their long, silky fur provides extra protection from severe cold, and they also use their heavily-furred tail membrane like a blanket, wrapping themselves up almost completely. While in hibernation, red bats respond to sub-freezing temperatures by raising their metabolic rate to maintain a body temperature above their critical lower survival limit.
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BUG BYTES
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UNINVITED FALL HOUSE GUESTS SOON TO ARRIVE
The phones have been relatively quit this fall when it comes to fall household invaders from the landscape. However, don't let your guard down just yet. The relatively mild weather conditions we have had thus far has not stimulated the "BIG" exodus from the great outdoors as of yet. Heavy migrations of several insects in the near future are expected. One of these invaders made its presence known to Curtis Young because of a sample in a bag left over from a diagnostic workshop. Curtis kept hearing a ticking noise in his office. When he followed the sound to its source, he discovered the sample in the bag was of hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) leaves with HACKBERRY NIPPLEGALLS (Pachypsylla celtidismamma).
Inside the bag were newly emerged hackberry nipplegall adults (psyllids). As they jumped to escape their confinement, they would make a ticking sound as they smashed into the bag surrounding them. These gnat-like insects are usually the first to arrive. The tiny, dusky-black and white mottled psyllids (usually with dark spots on the wings) arise from nipple-shaped galls formed earlier in the season on the underside of hackberry leaves. The psyllids look like miniature cicadas and hundreds may collect on and around window screens, possibly attracted by lights from within the home or by heat radiating from the home. Although they do not bite, large numbers of buzz-bombing psyllids are very annoying.
Other home-invaders for which one should prepare include: CLOVER MITES (Bryobia praetiosa); BOXELDER BUGS (Boisea trivittatus); WESTERN PINE CONE LEAFFOOTED BUGS (Leptoglassus occidentalis); ATTIC FLIES (a.k.a. CLUSTER FLIES) (Pollenia rudis); FACE FLIES (Musca autumnalis); ELM LEAF BEETLES (Xanthogaleruca luteola); and the most notorious of all, MULTICOLORED ASIAN LADY BEETLES (Harmonia axyridis). As temperatures drop, nights get longer, and days shorter, these environmental cues trigger these insects and other pests to begin searching for winter shelter. Unfortunately, Ohio homes often prove irresistible to these unwelcome winter guests.
The best way to deal with these home invaders is to prevent them from gaining entry in the first place. Find and seal-off entry points such as cracks around windows, doors, or utility pipes. Poorly attached home siding and rips in window screens provide an open invitation. Check attics for unscreened attic vents, or unprotected vents that lead directly into the home, such as bathroom and kitchen vents. Also, while in the attic, look for openings around soffits.
Once inside the home, the best method to manage the offending invader is to "Hooverize'em." Swatting or otherwise smashing the invader could cause more damage than leaving them alone since fluids inside their bodies could leave permanent stains on the surface. Thus, the vacuum cleaner is the preferred method for giving the invader the bums rush. However, make certain the vacuum cleaner is a "by-pass" type, meaning refuse is not passed through an impeller. Otherwise, you will create a horrifying bug-blender. For further details on the vacuuming approach, and other helpful tips on excluding home insect invaders, see OSU FactSheet HGY-2158-01, "Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle."
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GALLS EXPOSED
Several BYGLers reported that they are getting calls from homeowners who are just now noticing galls on trees. The galls have been present throughout much of the season; however, the growths are now being exposed and noticed due to fall leaf drop. Two galls in particular are garnering attention. They are the BULLET OAK GALLS on oaks and ASH INFLORESCENCE (FLOWER) GALLS on its namesake trees.
Bullet oak galls occur on twigs and branches of bur and swamp white oaks. The galls are produced by tiny wasps (Disholcaspis spp.) in the family Cynipidae. The bullet-shaped galls are 1/4 - 1/2" tall and about 1/2" in diameter. Immature galls are green to greenish-brown and mature galls are tan to dark brown. The galls usually occur in rows on the surface of twigs and small branches. Occasionally, they develop in grape-like clusters. As the galls develop, they exude a sugary substance that attracts a number of insects, particularly carpenter ants. It is speculated that the ants respond to their sweet reward by fending off parasitoids aiming to utilize the immature gall-makers for their own purposes.
Although the branches and twigs of affected trees my become heavily galled, bullet oak galls do not disrupt vascular flow, so they are not associated with twig and branch dieback. As with the vast majority of galls on oak, bullet galls cause no significant harm to landscape or forest trees.
The bizarre looking ash inflorescence galls are now becoming evident as ash leaves turn their fall colors and drop, and the galls turn from dark green to brownish-black. The broccoli-like growths are caused by the eriophyid mite (Eriophyes fraxinivorus) and consist of a profusion of clubby, distorted flower parts. The galls are frequently described as looking like small witches' brooms growing just beneath this season's leaves. Old blackened galls remain attached to the twigs for two or more years. Although the galls may reduce the aesthetic appeal of heavily infested trees, they cause no injury to the tree since only the flower parts are affected.
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APHIDS ALL OVER!
A lady called the CWEPPDC describing aphids all over her house, steps, railing, and tree. Suspicious of such an event, a short trip was made to the site to see yellow aphids teaming like soldiers, up the tree, along the railing, across the stone patio, and on the wind chimes. The hawthorn tree was the clue that helped Dr. Dave Shetlar identify the aphids as the FOUR-SPOTTED HAWTHORN APHID (Utamphorphora crataegi).
In mid-October of 1998, BYGLers noted immense aggregations of these aphids on and around a hawthorn tree in southwestern Ohio, however, despite the heavy infestation, no apparent damage was found on the tree. At times, large numbers of this aphid cause curled and moldy leaves, from the copious amounts of honeydew the aphids excrete.
The four-spotted hawthorn aphid is yellow-green and slightly ovoid, with four rectangular dark green spots on its back. The spots are arranged like the points of a rectangle. This aphid executes mass migrations in the fall as the hawthorn leaves turn color; however, they may have already abandoned trees that have been severely damaged. Given the large population, the lack of apparent damage could not be explained ... perhaps the multi-colored Asian lady beetle gobbled them!?!
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MILLIONS OF MIDGES
Curtis Young reported receiving several calls from fellow agents in northwest Ohio with questions about swarms of insects collecting by the millions on houses, shrubs, cars, furniture and lawns. Their clients were concerned that the hordes of insects might be mosquitoes and some even suggested that they had been bitten. However, mosquitoes are not typically swarmers, especially in the millions. A sample of the insects was collected for identification and was identified as CHIRONOMID MIDGES (Family Chironomidae).
They are small (3/8" in length), delicate insects that are somewhat mosquito-like in appearance, but they lack scales on the wings and do not have a long proboscis (they do not bite). Adult male midges have large feathery antennae while females do not. The wings of midges tend to be shorter than the abdomen. Midges often occur in huge swarms, usually in the evening, and the humming of such swarms can often be heard from a considerable distance. Swarming may occur for several days, especially after a prolonged wet period.
The larvae of midges occur in many types of aquatic habitats. These habitats include water in pools, ponds, lakes, slow moving streams, drainage ditches, clogged drainage tiles, containers, clogged rain gutters, and in some cases, wet soil or seepage areas. Most feed on living or decaying plant matter and are an important part of aquatic food chains. Many species can survive in very stagnant or polluted water. Many of the aquatic forms live in tubes or cases composed of fine particles of the substrate cemented together with salivary secretion. The larvae of many midges are red, because hemoglobin is present in blood, and are known as bloodworms. Midge larvae are often very abundant and are an important item of food for many freshwater fish and other aquatic animals.
Midges have not been implicated in the transmission of disease; however, due to their large numbers, they have affected the enjoyment and use of recreational and residential properties.
There are no good alternatives for control of the adults, other than some pressurized aerosol sprays containing pyrethrins. These are impractical for treating anything other than small areas. These products only kill insects that are directly hit by spray particles; there is no lasting or residual effect.
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FIREWOOD ALERT
Before you move firewood - know the law - or you may face a fine! The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has quarantined the state of Michigan and parts of northwest Ohio to halt the artificial spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an exotic insect from Asia. The quarantine supplements the departments actions to eradicate EAB from Ohio and contain it in Michigan, where it has already killed millions of native ash trees.
EAB is a death sentence for ash trees, killing them within three to five years of infestation. The larvae feed on the cambium layer, the trees live tissue just beneath the bark. This cuts off the vehicle that moves the nutrients and water and essentially starves the tree to death. Larvae overwinter beneath the bark and can be inadvertently transported via firewood, logs, or nursery stock the sources of most of Ohios current infestations. Most assume that the regulated items include ash, but all non-coniferous firewood is included. Here is a list of regulated items:
Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) of any size
Ash limbs and branches
Any cut non-coniferous (non-evergreen) firewood
Ash tree bark and ash tree wood chips larger than 1"
Ash logs and lumber with the bark, outer inch of sapwood, or both attached
Any item made from or containing ash tree wood capable of spreading EAB
Any means of conveyance capable of spreading the pest
These regulated articles can move into and within a quarantined area but cannot leave under penalty of law. No regulated articles can be carried from Michigan into Ohio. Violators face fines of up to $4,000.00. Currently, there are four accepted treatments that allow safe movement of regulated articles:
Debarking plus removal of 1" of sapwood
Chipping to less than 1"
Fumigating according to USDA treatment schedule (contact USDA, 1-866-325-0023)
Kiln drying according to USDA treatment schedule (contact USDA, 1-866-325-0023)
Regulated articles are prohibited from leaving quarantined areas without a compliance agreement with ODA and USDA. For more information about regulated items, quarantined areas, or compliance agreements, contact ODA officials at 1-888-OHIO-EAB.
In addition to Ohio's quarantine, citizens need to be aware of and abide by other federal and state EAB quarantines. Federal EAB quarantines prohibit the movement of ash tree materials and firewood out of Ohio's quarantined areas. Fines for violating USDA's quarantine are steeper than Ohio's. Information on USDA, Michigan, and Indiana quarantines can be found at
www.emeraldashborer.info.
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DISEASE DIGEST
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OAK LEAF BLISTERS NOTICED
Oak leaf blister, a disease caused by the fungus Taphrina caerulescens, are becoming evident on oak leaves throughout much of Ohio. As the name implies, the disease involves the formation of blister-like growth on upper leaf surfaces. The growths are produced by the enhanced development of infected leaf tissue which overgrows non-infected tissue.
Initially, the blisters are a light yellow-green color, but they eventually develop into reddish, then brownish and even grayish-black areas on the leaves. The infected areas also become somewhat corky and scabby in appearance. Heavily infected leaves may become curled or deformed. Infections occur in the spring as new leaves develop from the buds. Mature leaves are not susceptible to infection. Minor infections have little effect on the overall health of the tree; however, severe infections may result in some mid-summer defoliation.
Although this disease may be dramatic in appearance, it is generally considered a minor disease of oaks in Ohio. Controls are usually not warranted except in situations involving plant production or sales, such as in nurseries or garden centers. Under those conditions, applications of labeled fungicides containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or thiophanate-methyl made before leaves emerge in the spring, as a dormant application, can help prevent disease development.
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RAISING A STINK ABOUT FUNGUS
Tim Malinich reported having several calls last week about mushrooms popping up in lawns and gardens. One client called in a panic about a orangish mushroom raising a stink in his gardens. The olfactory attack was from a STINKHORN, Mutinus caninus. This mushroom gives off an extremely foul odor and should not be handled without gloves or a plastic bag.
There are no anti-mushroom sprays available to prevent these fruiting fungi from appearing. The fungus feeds on organic matter in the gardens and turf and the mushrooms appear when conditions are right for that fungus to fruit. When the food source is gone, the mushrooms fail to return. The best bet is to remove offending mushrooms with a gloved or bag-covered hand and throw it in the trash. This can be especially important if the mushrooms are popping up in areas frequented by children or pets. Reducing the organic matter food supply is possible in some instances by limiting mulch accumulations to the recommended 2 - 3".
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TURF TIPS
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WINDOW FOR SEEDING IN 2005 IS CLOSED ... OR IS IT?
The time for seeding lawns, athletic fields and other turf areas in Ohio is coming to an end. The rule of thumb is that August 15 - September 15 offers the best environmental conditions for successful seeding. From that point onward until October 1, the window for seeding is closed. In high wear areas, such as athletic fields, over-seeding with perennial ryegrass is continual, but success is variable at best. One game-saver is, of course, thick-cut sod. Sod can be laid all year round, as long as the ground is not frozen.
The next seeding option this year is a "dormant" seed. This basically means that seed is sown at a time of year when it will not germinate, but is in place for the following spring. In Ohio, the time to dormant seed is from mid-November through February. Dormant seeding offers many advantages, primarily giving a 2 - 3 week advance the following spring, compared to a conventional spring seeding. In addition, the seed is already in place, so heavy seeding equipment does not need to go out in spring and run over muddy wet ground. One consideration is that seed mortality rate is higher with dormant seeding -- up to 30 - 50% of the seed will not germinate, so more seed needs to be applied.
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DON'T MOW TOO LOW
Recent activity in the landscape seems to include low mowing of turf. This drop in mower height is supposed to help prevent subsequent matting of thatch under winter snow and the eventual development of snow mold. However, some overzealous mower jockeys have taken low mowing to the extreme and are giving normally lush lawns a close shave.
In some cases lawns are being trimmed to under 2" in height. The low mowing recommendation is to drop the mower height a notch or maybe two, just to trim off excess height before winter dormancy. Scalping results in thinner turf and more weed growth due to increased availability of sunlight to the weeds below the turf canopy the following season.
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT
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BOTRYTIS ON MUMS
Several BYGL'ers have noted the appearance of browning and dead petals as well as flower buds due to botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) on mums in greenhouses and garden centers. This fungal disease, also known as gray mold, thrives on conditions that are all-too-common this time of the year high relative humidity (at or above 85%), temperatures between 72F - 77F, and dead or senescent plant parts.
The lack of air movement due to plant crowding and dense foliage also contributes to the development of this disease. In many cases this year, it has been exacerbated by the heat delay experienced by many growers. The extra foliar growth resulting from heat-delayed bud set has often produced much larger than normal plants, producing a double whammy. These very large-to-giant plants have very dense foliage and tend to be very crowded due to their size. Both factors inhibit air movement and the penetration of pesticides.
For further information on this disease, including control measures, refer to OSU FactSheet HYG 3070-96, "Botrytis Gray Mold in Greenhouse Floral Crops" (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3070.html).
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COMING ATTRACTIONS
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OUTLOOK AND POLICY MEETING SCHEDULED IN BOWLING GREEN
A Green Industry Policy and Outlook Program will be held for industry owners and key managers in Northwest Ohio, on the evening of Tuesday, November 15, 2005, at Snooks Dream Cars Museum, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Topics include: Business Market and Production Trends & Emerging Information Technology Impacts; Energy - Natural Gas and Fuel Costs; Current Issues In Human Resource Management; and Consumer Demographics & Trends Impacting The Green Industry.
Registration and payment must be received by November 10, 2005. Registration fees are $40.00 for dinner and meeting, or $35.00 for the meeting only. Registration forms can be found at: [http://abe.osu.edu/outlook/Brouchure%20cover.pdf ]
If there are questions, contact OSU Extension's ABE Center at (419) 354-6916.
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"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." Greek proverb
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OHIO TURFGRASS CONFERENCE AND SHOW
This year's program is December 6 - 8, at the Columbus Convention Center, in downtown Columbus. Attend the conference to see new trends and research in turfgrass, new equipment, 3 days of fascinating seminars, and have the opportunity to talk to other turfgrass professionals. See http://www.ohioturfgrass.org/ for more information.
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OSU NURSERY SHORT COURSE AND CENTS SHOW
Dont miss this outstanding eduational opportunity and trade show. Sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and the Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team as well as the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, the program is in Columbus at the Convention Center on January 23-24 and includes over 100 educational programs.
New this year - dont miss the Sunday night program with Dr. Allan Armitage discussing his favorite perennials. This program is free and your chance to see Dr. Armitage and hear the latest on perennials. For details on registration, check out the following website: www.onla.org
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TRI-STATE GREEN INDUSTRY EXPO
Don't miss Southwest Ohio's premier professional green industry educational event, the Tri-State Green Industry Expo (GIE). Next year it will be held on February 2, 2006 at the Sharonville Convention Center, Sharonville, Ohio (a northern Cincinnati suburb). Registration will be from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Educational sessions will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Classes include greenhouse management, turfgrass management, annuals and perennials, and tree and shrub care. Pesticide recertification credits will be given. The Expo also features an outstanding trade show. It should be noted that all future GIE's will be held the first Tuesday of February in the Sharonville Convention Center. Please contact Bob Warnock, OSU Extension Hamilton County, at (513) 946-8992 or warnock.1@osu.edu for information on attending the event or participating in the trade show.
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