This is the 10th 2009 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL).  BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

BYGL is available via email, contact Cheryl Fischnich This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to subscribe.  Additional Factsheet 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 ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association)  http://onla.org/ ; http://buckeyegardening.com/ to the OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team (ENLTT).  Any materials in this newsletter may be reproduced for educational purposes providing the source is credited.

BYGL is available online at:  http://bygl.osu.edu , a web site sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences (HCS) as part of the "Horticulture in Virtual Perspective."  The online version of BYGL has images associated with the articles and links to additional information.

Following are the participants in the June 9th conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloetscher (Entomology/C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Cindy Burskey (Clermont); Jim Chatfield (Horticulture and Crop Science and Plant Pathology); Erik Draper (Geauga); Gary Gao (Delaware); David Goerig (Mahoning); Dennis Lewandowski (Plant Pathology); Becky McCann (Agricultural Business Enhancement Center (ABE)); Bridget Meiring (CWEPPDC);Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Nancy Taylor (CWEPPDC); Curtis Young (Hancock) and Randy Zondag (Lake).

In This Issue:

1. WEATHERWATCH. 
2. HORT SHORTS:  Growing Degree Days (GDD); Vegetable Gardening 101 - June 11, 2009 - Know Your Tomato Type Before Pruning or Removing Suckers; Plants of the Week: Annual (Cleome Senorita Rosalita), Perennial (Lillies), Woody (Kousa Dogwood); and Weed (Canada Thistle). 
3. GREEN SHORTS:  Chatfield Travel Log; Saving Water in the Garden; and Look for Natural Enemies and Let Them Do Some of the Work.
4. CLINIC CLIPS.
5. BUGBYTES:  A Galling Report (Translucent Oak Gall, Marginal Leaf Roll Gall, Maple Gouty Vein Gall, and Oak Vein Pocket Gall); Yucky Yucca (Yucca Plant Bugs); Antlions Roar (Antlions, Dung Beetles, and Tiger Beetles); Columbus Loosing Its Ash (Emerald Ash Borer); Emerald Ash Borer Update; and Windshield Wipes (Lightning Beetles, Erineum Patches (Mites), and Pearleaf Blister Mite).
6. DISEASE DIGEST:  Anthracnoses Acting Up.
7. TURF TIPS:  Dollar Spot - Brown Patches in Lawns; and Growing Turf in the Shade.
8. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:  Bagworm Alert.
9. COMING ATTRACTIONS:  OSU Chadwick Arboretum Open House; and Greater Cincinnati Branch of the Professional Grounds Management Society Annual Regional Meeting and Site Visitation.
10. BYGLOSOPHY. 

1.  WEATHERWATCH. 

The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the dates:  June 1-10, 2009, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

While some areas of the state have been flirting with 90F, temperature highs at each of the reported weather state have not quite hit that 90F mark.  As temperatures creep up, precipitation amounts become more crucial.

For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, visit:  http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/weather.htm 

2.  HORT SHORTS.

A.  GROWING DEGREE DAYS (GDD)

GDD is a measure of the daily maximum and minimum temperature and directly relates to growth and development of plants and insects.  The GDD of any zip code location in Ohio is estimated using the GDD of ten OARDC weather stations and available on the web at the site http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/ .

The range of GDD accumulations in Ohio from north to south is 580 to 1,025.  Following is a report of GDD for several locations around Ohio as of June 10, 2009: Painesville, 580; Cleveland, 608; Toledo, 722; Canfield, 557; Findlay, 601; Wooster, 680; Coshocton, 717; Columbus, 933; Springfield, 928; Dayton, 932; Cincinnati, 975; Ironton, 983; Portsmouth, 987; and Piketon, 1,025.

To put these GDD accumulations into perspective, the following is an abbreviated listing of plant and insect species with their respective phenological event and average GDD accumulations at which these events occur.  Due to variations in weather, temperature, humidity, etc., these events may occur a few days earlier or later than predicted by the average GDD.  By looking at a city, town or village near you from the above list or visiting the above web site, you can see what could be taking place in the landscape around you.

Juniper scale, egg hatch, 571; common ninebark, full bloom, 596; American yellowwood, full bloom, 599; arrowwood viburnum, full bloom, 621; multiflora rose, full bloom, 643; northern catalpa, first bloom, 675; black vine weevil, first leaf notching due to adult feeding, 677; Washington hawthorn, full bloom, 731; calico scale, egg hatch, 748; greater peach tree borer, adult emergence, 775; rhododendron borer, adult emergence, 815; northern catalpa, full bloom, 816; mountain laurel, full bloom, 822; dogwood borer, adult emergence, 830; oakleaf hydrangea, first bloom, 835; cottony maple scale, egg hatch, 851; panicle hydrangea, first bloom, 856; fall webworm, egg hatch (first generation), 867; mimosa webworm, egg hatch (first generation), 874; fuzzy deutzia, full bloom, 884; winged euonymus scale, egg hatch, 892; spruce budscale, egg hatch, 894; winterberry holly, full bloom, 897; panicled goldenraintree, first bloom, 924; June bride littleleaf linden, first bloom, 953; azalea bark scale, egg hatch, 957; Japanese beetle, adult emergence, 970; rosebay rhododendron, first bloom, 1,010; June bride littleleaf linden, full bloom, and 1,115; bottlebrush buckeye, first bloom, 1,158.

For more information, see:

• Growing Degree Days and Phenology for Ohio
• Understanding and Using Degree-Days 
  

B.  VEGETABLE GARDENING 101 - JUNE 11, 2009 - KNOW YOUR TOMATO TYPE BEFORE PRUNING OR REMOVING SUCKERS. 

Gary Gao reported that many of the tomato plants in Central Ohio started blooming.  A few of these plants have laterals or suckers which might need to be pruned off to minimize competition with the main stem so that tomato fruit can get bigger and sweeter.  How do gardeners know which type should be pruned?

There are three main types of tomatoes based on their growth habit.  They are determinate, semi-determinate and indeterminate.  Determinate tomatoes are relatively small, bushy and compact.  Many of the earliest tomatoes are determinate types.  Some examples of the determinate type are Early Girl, and Super Red.  On the other hand, indeterminate types are large and produce tomato all season long.  They also produce a lot of suckers.  Common examples of this type of growth habit include Big Beef, or most of the beefsteak types, and Big Boy.  Semi‑determinate types are in between the determinate and indeterminate types.  They produce fewer suckers than indeterminate types.  Common examples of semi‑determinate types are Celebrity and Mountain Pride.

All tomato plants can grow perfectly without any pruning, as long as they are supported with stakes or cages.  If gardeners do choose to prune, there are a few guidelines.  Only prune indeterminate and semi-determinate types.  With indeterminate types, leave 2-3 suckers at the base of the plant, and remove the remaining suckers.  Suckers should be removed when they are about 3-4 inches long.  With semi-determinate types, wait until the plants are 8-10 inches tall.  Remove all suckers below the first flower cluster, except the one immediately below the flower cluster.  No pruning needs to be done with the determinate types.

• University of Missouri FactSheet on Growing Home Garden Tomatoes

C.  PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

	Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the ONLA publications "Perennial Plants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio."  The descriptions and photographs of plants were provided for these publications by the OSU ENLT Team along with other industry plant lovers.  These full-color publications are available at http://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:  http://onla.org . *ANNUAL - CLEOME SENORITA ROSALITA (Cleome hybrid).  Gardeners looking for something super-easy to grow that provides outstanding sizzle to the garden should consider this outstanding plant.  Cleome Senorita Rosalita is a wonderful plant for the border, perennial garden, or in large containers.  It doesn't require deadheading and keeps its dark green leaves all summer long (no bare legs!).  The flowers appear soon after planting and are pinkish-purple on top of 3-5' plants.  The sterile plants won't re-seed, which for cleome, is a plus.  It takes full sun and only requires periodic watering through the summer. For more information, see: eXtension FactSheet Senorita Rosalita
	*PERENNIAL - LILLIES (Lillium spp.).  The most popular plants in this group are the Asiatic and Oriental hybrids.  They grow anywhere from 2' on up to 6' tall depending on the type.  The taller the plant, the more likely staking is necessary.  The stem is lined with strap-like leaves that remain somewhat attractive in the garden after the blooms die.  The foliage isn't considered beautiful but it does add texture!  The blooms are held atop the stems and are in clusters of 5-7 blooms.  Colors are white, yellow, orange, scarlet, rose, pink, and combinations of these colors.  'Stargazer' is an Oriental type and a favorite for those who can't get enough of the heady lily fragrance.  Somewhat new to the market are the Asiatic 'Tiny' series that come in reds, pinks, whites, and yellows.  Look for 'Tiny Bee', 'Tiny Snowflake' or any other of the 'Tiny' lilies!  These plants are very compact, growing to around 2' tall.  For more information, see: OSU Extension FactSheet Growing Hardy Bulbs
	*WOODY - KOUSA DOGWOOD (Cornus kousa).  This small and quite showy tree is finishing up blooming in central Ohio but beginning to put on a show in the northern part of the state.  The white flower bracts appear a few weeks later than Cornus florida and are held well above the branches on short flower stalks.  Bloom colors vary by variety but are usually white, creamy white, and pink.  'Satomi' has pink flowers and 'Milky Way' has an abundance of white flowers.  The tree grows around 15-20' tall and has appealing multi-colored bark with gray, brown, and tan coloration.  The branching pattern makes this a great tree for winter and the berries that appear in the fall are an exceptional characteristic.  The fruits are roundish and look like an over-sized raspberry.
	* THE WEEKLY WEED - CANADA THISTLE (Cirsium arvense).  The very thought of Canada thistle tends to cause even the most seasoned gardeners to go into fits of weeding rage!  Canada thistle is one of our most common and also one of our most insidious weeds.  Canada thistle is a perennial weed with creeping roots that can be found in pastures, crop fields and landscape areas throughout Ohio and much of the United States. The leaves of Canada thistle are 3-8" long with an alternate branching pattern. Leaves are spiny with crinkled margins with lower leaves lobed.  The flower of Canada thistle has small purple to white flowers in clusters surrounded by bracts without spiny tips.  Thistle has an extensive deep root system that spreads horizontally and can reach up to 3' high.

3. GREEN SHORTS.

Jim Chatfield and his wife Laura are making a week-long vacation journey along the 120 mile stretch of Pine Mountain in Kentucky and Virginia.  Jim provided the following notes-from-the-road report; proof that he remains "wired" even deep in the wilds of Kentucky.

The vegetation: pawpaws, tall umbrella and bigleaf magnolias, chestnut oaks and young American chestnut sprouts.  There is galax with their frothy white flower spires, flame azaleas ablaze along roadsides and hillsides, tiny little paired waxy-white partridgeberry flowers.  Mountain laurels bloom in profusion.

At Kentucky's Pine Mountain park lodge the hemlocks are flecked with pretty serious populations of HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGIDS (Adelges tsugae).  Less seriously but more obviously all through the area young tuliptree leaves litter the ground with as much YELLOW POPLAR WEEVIL (Odontopus calceatus) damage as I have seen in 20 years.  Ants tend WOOLLY ALDER APHIDS (Paraprociphilus tessellatus) near Breaks Interstate Park bordering Virginia and Kentucky.

SYCAMORE ANTHRACNOSE, PHYLLOSTICTA LEAF SPOT OF MAPLE, and more importantly DOGWOOD ANTHRACNOSE on flowering dogwood make their plant disease appearances.  And fungi of other sorts, as symbionts of algae in lichens galore, and with the tripartite relationship of photosynthesizing trees, achlorophyllous Indian pipe plants (Monotropa sp.) and montropoid mycorrhizal fungi.  And lots of other fungi, from the bright shellacked Ganoderma lucidum bracket fungus on living trees and stumps to yellow witches' butter (Tremella mesenterica) to what looked to me like violet-branched coral (Clavulina amethystine) though it is not supposed to fruit until July.  Ain't nature grand?

B.  SAVING WATER IN THE GARDEN.  Water is a very precious commodity anywhere.  There are many sound techniques that gardeners can adopt to reduce water usage.  Some of them are selecting the right plant for the right site, using the trickle irrigation instead of a sprinkler, watering in the morning, mulching the plants, collecting rainwater, and reusing household water.  Use of a soaker hose is a very efficient way to supply water to the garden plants.  Select drought resistant plants for dry areas while planting shade-loving plant in the shade to reduce water usage.  Try to water plants between 6-10 a.m. to keep water loss through evaporation to a minimal.  Collecting rainwater with a rain barrel is getting very popular.  Mulch, mulch and mulch.  It will keep soil cooler and maintain moist for a much longer period of time.  These small things might pay huge dividends!

For more information, see:

• Green Living Tips

C.  LOOK FOR NATURAL ENEMIES AND LET THEM DO SOME OF THE WORK.  Before one reaches for pesticide sprays, take a close look for any natural enemies that might be present in the garden.  In addition, consider the pesticide selected to kill the bad guys; choose a product that might not be as harmful to the beneficial insects.  Three groups of natural enemies are predators, parasitoids, and pathogens.  Predators eat lots of prey in their lifetime.  Parasitoids are specialized insects that develop in a host and eventually kill it.  Pathogens are nematodes, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoans that cause diseases in the bad pest.  There are lots of resources available and it takes a little time to learn about natural enemies for the garden.  For a great color photo listing of many beneficial insects, refer to the University of California IPM Online website:   http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/ . The more one learns to recognize the natural enemies, the easier it becomes.

For more information, see:

• Colorado State University Beneficial Insects and Other Arthropods FactSheet
• UC IPM Online Website for Natural Enemies

4.  CLINIC CLIPS.

Entomologically speaking, the Clinic has been hopping with indoor and ornamental insect samples being submitted for identification.  Most interesting were the woolly aphids (Prociphilus sp., possibly Prociphilus corrugatans) which had congregated under the leaves of Amelanchier (serviceberry) leaves.  The leaves had curled under tightly which protected the wax encrusted aphids from being damaged from sprays.  Unfortunately it did not protect them from a predator that had sucked each one dry, leaving nothing but waxy tendrils and dried exoskeletons.

Fire blight was identified on cotoneaster, Callery pear, and serviceberry.  The dieback of the branch ends and spurs resulted from infections which took place during bloom.  Cedar quince rust and Phomopsis tip blight were identified on Chinese juniper.  The rust had formed spindle-shaped galls on the smaller branches.  The Phomopsis blight symptoms are appearing now but result from infections last year.  Newly developing growth on juniper is susceptible to infection.  Volutella canker and leaf blight was identified on pachysandra.  Phytophthora root rot was detected on spruce from a landscape setting.  Non-infectious problems included scorch symptoms on dogwood and seasonal leaf drop on holly.

5.  BUGBYTES.

 A.  A GALLING REPORT. 

	Dave Shetlar reported that his OSU entomology students were thrilled with discovering delicate TRANSLUCENT OAK GALLS on a red oak during a recent field trip.  The galls are produced by the wasp Amphibolips nubilipennis (Family Cynipidae) and strongly resemble tiny, pink grapes measuring 1/2-3/4" in diameter.  The galls arise from the lower leaf surface of red, scarlet, and black oaks.  As with most leaf galls, these galls cause no harm to host trees.  Slicing the succulent galls open will reveal a single wasp larva per gall housed in a chamber in the center of the gall.  The larval chamber appears to be resting on a white pedestal. Dave also noted that he found MARGINAL LEAF ROLL GALLS on the red oak.  The galls are produced by gall-making midge flies (Contarinia spp., Family Cecidomyiidae), and they appear as rolled or folded leaf margins.  His report solicited a collective groan from the BYGLers because a non-native predaceous mite (Pyemotes herfsi) that feeds on the midge fly larvae has been implicated in itchy outbreaks in past years in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Chicago as well as various locations in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
	The tiny mites use their piercing mouthparts (chelicerae) to inject a powerful neurotoxin to dispatch the midge fly maggots.  They then feed vampire-like by extracting the essence of maggot.  When the maggots drop from the galls to the ground to complete their development, or when all the maggots have been killed by the mites, the mites drop from the trees in search of food.  Unfortunately, the starving mites become "itch mites" if they land on people.  They will bite and their neurotoxin induces itchy skin welts that may last for several days.
	Joe Boggs reported that two potentially damaging leaf vein galls that are also produced by gall-making midge flies are becoming very evident on their namesake hosts in Ohio.  MAPLE GOUTY VEIN GALLS are produced by the midge fly, Dasineura communis, and OAK VEIN POCKET GALLS are produced by the midge fly, Macrodiplosis erubescens.  Both of these galls look very similar and cause the same type of damage.  The green, slightly hairy, elongated galls arise from the veins on the lower leaf surface.  They develop very early during leaf expansion and cause the leaves to curl downward and become crinkled.  Heavily galled leaves exhibit a claw-like appearance.  Regrettably, as with most plant galls, there are no tested treatments to prevent gall formation.

 For more information, see:

• University of Nebraska Fact Sheet
• Vermont Forest Pests Fact Sheet

 B.  YUCKY YUCCA. 

Joe Boggs reported that YUCCA PLANT BUGS (Halticotoma valida) are causing noticeable injury to their namesake in southwest Ohio.  The bugs use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract the essence of yucca.  This produces small, yellowish-white spots (stippling) which may coalesce causing the foliage to turn yellow.  The bugs deposit spent yucca extract in the form of black, tarry waste spots.  Off-colored foliage splattered with black specks makes yucca look yucky.

Adults of this small (3/16" long) native of the southwestern U.S. have black wings and orangish‑red legs, head, thorax, and abdomen.  The nymphs share this striking color scheme, but they appear more reddish in color since their black wing pads fail to cover their entire abdomen.  Both adult and immature yucca plant bugs have a somewhat oval-shaped body.  The bug has multiple, overlapping generations, so populations can build rapidly.  Intense annual feeding activity may eventually cause yucca plants to die.  Joe noted the bugs are wiping out yucca plantings established in the late 1800's.  Unfortunately, the bugs are very difficult to control.  Insecticides labeled for use on yucca require multiple applications since there are multiple generations throughout the season.

• Univ. of Maryland Extension Diagnostic Fact Sheet

C.  ANTLIONS ROAR. 

Dave Goerig reported that he received nice specimens of pitfall-type ANTLIONS from a Master Gardener in Mahoning County.  Antlions are the larval stage of insects that belong to the order Neuroptera (neuro = nerve, optera = wing).  Adults have finely veined wings that they hold tent-like over their bodies.  The grayish-brown, slightly hairy larvae are heavily plated, almost armor-like, and they sport impressive out-sized, sickle-shaped mandibles; necessary equipment for a predator.  These fascinating pitfall-type antlions excavate small, funnel-shaped pits in open areas of dry, powdery soil.  Favored locations include loose soil near building foundations or around the base of trees.  Their conical pits are around 3/4-2" wide and 1/2" deep. The antlion buries itself in the loose soil off to one side at the very bottom of the pit with only its long mandibles exposed.  The loose dry soil particles provide no traction for escape when a hapless victim blunders into the pit-fall trap.  The antlion seizes its prey and pierces the victim's exoskeleton with its sharp-pointed mandibles allowing the essence-of-insect to drain into the antlion's mouth.  Their dinning menu includes their namesake prey as well as any other arthropod the antlion can skewer with its mandibles.

Antlions are sometimes commonly referred to as "doodlebugs;" however, as with many common names for insects, geography plays a role in exactly which insect is attached to the moniker.  In some parts of the U.S., the doodlebug name is attached to DUNG BEETLES (Order Coleoptera; Family Scarabaeidae) while in other locations the name refers to the larvae of TIGER BEETLES (Family Carabidae). Dave Shetlar provided an interesting explanation for the "doodle" name being attached to tiger beetle larvae by describing a favored form of entertainment enjoyed by children in his native Oklahoma prior to the advent of electronic distractions.  The soft-bodied, maggot-like larvae are predaceous.  They dig a vertical burrow or a shallow crater in dry soils and dart out of their lair to capture prey with their large mandibles.  The children would carefully insert a piece of straw from a broom or a small twig into the beetle's hole enticing the larva to grab the end of the irritant.  This was known as "doodling."  The children would release the straw and the "doodlebug" would wave it around in the air to the delight of the future entomologists.  It was a simpler time.

• Utah State Univ. Extension Fact Sheet 
• University of Florida Antlions in the Classroom Fact Sheet

D.  COLUMBUS LOOSING ITS ASH.  Sadly, it was announced that some of the ash trees in Chadwick Arboretum's Colour Columbus Native Tree Collection had been tunneled by the emerald ash borer.  The incriminating serpentine tunnels under the bark were revealed once the peeling bark was removed.  Although not publicized much, several local infestations of emerald ash borer have been detected around Columbus, indicating the severity of the problem and potential loss of many more ash trees in Columbus, as well as other cities and states as the infestation continues.

E.  EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) UPDATE. 

Kentucky and Iowa have recently discovered EAB in their respected states in recent weeks.  Finds in Kentucky include the following counties:  Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, and Shelby.  A single EAB larva was reportedly found in a small sentinel tree in Clayton county, about 60 miles from the closest known population in Wisconsin.  Additionally survey work is being done in both states to determine the extent of the infestations. 

Adult beetles continue to emerge from the trees and begin to feed on ash leaves. 

For more information, see:

F.  WINDSHIELD WIPES. 

	BYGLers also ran into a number of other insects this week including: * Several BYGLres reported that LIGHTNING BEETLES (Family Lampyridae) (a.k.a. lightningbugs, fireflies, etc.) are just beginning to flash across the evening skies.  Dave Shetlar noted that the number of lightning beetles seen each season depends upon the previous year's growing conditions.  Specifically, how plentiful food resources were for developing larvae.  Larvae of lightning beetles feed upon the eggs of snails and slugs in the soil.  When breeding conditions for snails and slugs are good, the eating for lightning beetle larvae will be good.  Put another way, a flash from a lightning beetle this season meant lights out for some poor slug last season!
	* Joe Boggs reported that ERINEUM PATCHES created by the eriophyid mite Acalitus fagerinea on American beech leaves are now becoming very noticeable in southwest Ohio.  The felt-like patches arise from the upper leaf surface.  As they develop throughout the spring and early summer, the patches turn from green, to their current golden yellow color, then to reddish-brown.  The patches are sometimes mistaken for a leaf spot or rust disease.  The erineum patches appear to cause little harm to beech trees.
	* Joe also noted that PEARLEAF BLISTER MITE (Phytoptus pyri) damage on ornamental pear leaves is becoming evident in southwest Ohio.  This eriophyid mite lives between the upper and lower leaf surfaces.  Their feeding activity produces small, distinct blisters on the upper leaf surface and rough, irregular patches of necrotic tissue on the lower surface.  The blisters are currently turning brownish-black making them very noticeable on the dark green leaves of ornamental pears.  Although high mite populations may produce dramatic symptoms, the damage is seldom significant relative to tree health.  Control is generally not warranted since high populations on landscape trees seldom occur over successive years.

6.  DISEASE DIGEST.

A.  ANTHRACNOSES ACTING UP.

At this time each year, when we've had a moist spring, there comes to Extension offices calls of panic regarding leaves falling from the trees.  This annual event of deformed leaves yellowing and then dropping is due to various fungal pathogens causing the diseases known as ANTRACNOSE.  Most of these anthracnose diseases develop in the spring and have similar leaf symptoms.  They are typically foliar diseases but twigs, branches, and buds may also be affected.  This group of fungal diseases have been reported to infect more than 40 different species of trees; although, ash, dogwood, maple, oak, and sycamore tend to be the most severely affected.

All fungi that cause anthracnose have similar life cycles and require some type of water, either from rain, dew, or fog to infect plant tissue.  Therefore, in years with extended periods of rainy weather during spring and early summer, anthracnose tends to be severe.  Symptoms vary depending upon which tree species is affected and the time of year the disease is observed.  Foliar symptoms are the easiest to identify because the infection of buds or newly expanding leaves, causes irregular brown blotches to appear and distorts both leaves and/or leaflets.  These infected leaves will then begin to turn yellow and drop off of the tree.  Anthracnose may weaken trees if severe defoliation occurs year after year, which in turn, may cause weakened trees to be more susceptible to additional environmental stresses and secondary pathogens.  Control of these diseases is rarely warranted, other than trying to reduce any additional environmental stresses the trees may experience.

• OSU Extension FactSheet on Anthracnose Leaf Blight of Shade Trees
• Iowa State University Extension FactSheet on Anthracnose of Shade Trees

7.  TURF TIPS.

A.  DOLLAR SPOT - BROWN PATCHES IN LAWNS (Submitted by Joe Rimelspach). 

This fungal disease has become common in many Kentucky bluegrass lawns.  Weather conditions that include temperatures between 60-85 F degrees, dry soils, and long periods of wet leaves favor growth of dollar spot disease.  Damage is usually more severe if a nutrient deficiency or great excess of nitrogen exists.  Soil pH does not affect disease development.

Symptoms:

The first symptoms of the disease appear as tiny yellow spots on individual grass blades.  The spot expands to a straw colored or tan band with dark reddish-brown margins.  The tip of the affected leaf often remains green.  The tan band, or lesion, is often narrower in width than the leaf, resulting in the lesion taking on an "hourglass" shape.  The entire blade soon appears bleached.  As the grass dies and the infected areas enlarge, light straw-colored spots 2-3" in diameter appear in the lawn.  A fine, cobwebby white mold may be visible early in the morning when heavy dew is present.  This mycelium will disappear as the turf dries.  The turf in these spots may be killed.  If left unchecked, the spots may merge and form large, irregular straw-colored patches.

Management:

Adequate Fertilizer Program.  Proper nitrogen fertility will greatly reduce the occurrence and severity of dollar spot.  Refer to OSU Extension Home Yard and Garden FactSheet 4006, "Fertilization of Lawns."  Note: Careful consideration must be given to fertility programs to avoid excessive nitrogen fertility which aggravates other diseases such as brown patch.

Avoid periods of prolonged leaf wetness.  Avoid over watering and frequent late afternoon or evening irrigation that prolongs the time grass stays wet. This is especially true for mornings when heavy dew is likely.  Prune trees and shrubs to facilitate optimal penetration of sunlight and remove barriers or wind blocks to promote optimal air movement so grass dries faster.  Irrigate turf during dry conditions.  Provide adequate soil moisture for continuous and optimal turf growth.

Select resistant cultivars.  Before seeding, consider choosing recommended cultivars that are resistant to dollar spot.  This is especially helpful when planting Kentucky bluegrass.

Chemical control used early in disease development can be quite successful.  Once dollar spot gains a foothold and is widespread, chemical management will be difficult.

• OSU Extension Bulletin L-187 Management of Turfgrass Pests
• OSU Extension FactSheet on Dollar Spot on Turfgrass
• Cornell University FactSheet on Dollar Spot on Turfgrass

B.  GROWING TURF IN THE SHADE.  BYGLers are receiving calls from homeowners who are having trouble with growing turf in shady areas of lawns.  Turfgrasses need full sun to thrive.  They do much better before the trees leaf out in spring and after tree leaves fall in autumn, but struggle mightily in between.  Tall fescue is more tolerant of shade than Kentucky bluegrass.  Fine fescue is better suited for a shaded area.  However, the quality of fine fescue lawn in shade is still poor.  Homeowners should consider planting shade-loving groundcovers, if there is too much shade.  Some tree limbs can be pruned off to let more sunlight through.  It is not very realistic to grow lawn where there is too much shade.

For more information, see:

• University of Connecticut Lawn and Shade Problems and Corrective Measures
• OSU Extension FactSheet on Herbaceous Groundcovers for the Home Landscape

8.  INDUSTRY INSIGHTS.

A.  BAGWORM ALERT. 

Dave Shetlar and Joe Boggs reported that the overwintered eggs of the COMMON BAGWORM (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) hatched late last week in central and southern Ohio, respectively.  Upon hatching, a percentage of the tiny 1st instar caterpillars will produce a strand of silk that catches the wind to transport the caterpillars to new locations.  This method of distribution is called "ballooning," and it is one of the reasons that bagworms often appear on hosts that were not infested last season.  Once the 1st instars find a suitable feeding site, either by ballooning or remaining on the host selected by their mother, they begin to construct their characteristic sack-like bags. The 1st instar bagworm caterpillars carry their bags held upward.  They have been accurately described by Dave as looking like tiny dunce caps.  Also, major portions of the 1st instar bags are constructed of tiny pieces of reddish-brown, sawdust-like frass stuck to the outside of the silk.  The 2nd instar bagworm caterpillars, as well as all the succeeding instars, carry their bags held downward like pine cones.  From the second instar stage onward, the bags are constructed with plant debris woven into the bag's silk.  The plant material provides structural stability and camouflage to the caterpillar bag-abodes.

When looking for bagworm infestations, don't just look at the usual plant host suspects.  While bagworms are commonly found on conifers such as junipers, arborvitaes, pines, and spruces, the caterpillars can feed on over 130 different species of plants including a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs.  Indeed, Dave noted that he found sycamore leaves festooned with hundreds of the tiny "dunce capped" 1st instar caterpillars!  In landscapes where evergreens are regularly infested, deciduous trees and shrubs should be closely inspected for bagworms so the plants will not serve as a reservoir for reinfestation of neighboring evergreens. Early instar bagworms can be effectively controlled using the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)  (e.g. Dipel, Thuricide, etc.).  The bacterium will not kill bio-allies such as predators and parasitoids.  Bagworm populations should be closely monitored since egg hatch can occur of an extended period of time.  For example, Joe noted that 1st instars were present for about a month last season in southern Ohio.  Btk is a stomach poison which means it must be consumed to kill the caterpillars, and its residual activity is very short-lived.  Thus, two applications may be required.  The efficacy of Btk declines once bags reach 3/4," so a standard insecticide will need to be used after bags exceed this length.

For more information, see:

• University of Kentucky Entfact
• NC State Extension Entomology Fact Sheet

9.  COMING ATTRACTIONS.

A.  THE OSU CHADWICK ARBORETUM OPEN HOUSE takes place Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.  Enjoy root beer floats, music and garden tours - this is a free event!  Location: Howlett Hall, 2001 Fyffe Ct., Columbus, OH 43210

B.  GREATER CINCINNATI BRANCH OF THE PROFESSIONAL GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SOCIETY (PGMS) ANNUAL REGIONAL MEETING AND SITE VISITATION is scheduled for July 23 and 24, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Program information, schedules, and registration forms are available on the PGMS website at:  http://www.pgms.org .

10.  BYGLOSOPHY. 

"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden." - Thomas Jefferson