BYGL BYGL Listing BYGL - April 16, 2009
| BYGL - April 16, 2009 |
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This is the 2nd 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 April 14th conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloetscher (C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Cindy Burskey (Clermont); Jim Chatfield (Horticulture and Crop Science); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Denise Ellsworth (Summit); Gary Gao (Delaware); Tim Malinich (Lorain); Becky McCann (Agricultural Business Enhancement Center (ABE)); Bridget Meiring (CWEPPDC); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy J. Taylor (CWEPPDC); Curtis Young (Allen); and Randy Zondag (Lake). In This Issue: 1. WEATHERWATCH 2. HORT SHORTS: GDD (Growing Degree Days); Vegetable Gardening 101; When a Moss is Not a Moss; Brown Arborvitae; Conifer Collapse; Why Trees Matter; Plants of the Week -Perennial of the Week (Lenten Rose), Woody Plant of the Week (Red Buckeye), and The Weekly Weed (Common Chickweed); and Clinic Clips. 3. BUGBYTES: Painted Hickory Borer; Termites Take a Bite Out of Trees; and Windshield Wipes. 4. DISEASE DIGEST: Black Knot Fungus of Plums and Cherries. 5. TURF TIPS: Grubbing For Grubs?; Moles Causing Havoc and Winter Turfgrass Damage. 6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Pales Weevil on White Pine and Biz Buzz. 7. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Wood Packing Materials Workshops and Visit the Cincinnati Flower Show. 8. BYGLOSOPHY 1. WEATHERWATCHThe following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the dates: April 1-15, 2009, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Wednesday, April 15 at 12:00 p.m. Many BYGLers from the north included snow in their weekly reports. Although it won't likely hang around long, many are eagerly awaiting warmer temperatures.
For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, visit: [ http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/weather.htm ]
2. HORT SHORTS.A. GDD (GROWING DEGREE DAYS)
The range of GDD accumulations in Ohio from north to south is 67 to 228. Following is a report of GDD for several locations around Ohio as of April 15, 2009: Painesville, 67; Cleveland, 72; Toledo, 97; Canfield, 82; Lima, 91; Wooster, 110; Coshocton, 132; Columbus, 162; Springfield, 224; Dayton, 225; Cincinnati, 227; Ironton, 226; Portsmouth, 228; and Piketon, 240. 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. Red maple, full bloom, 75; star magnolia, first bloom, 83; border forsythia, first bloom, 86; eastern tent caterpillar, egg hatch, 92; Manchu cherry, first bloom, 93; 'Northern Lights' forsythia, full bloom, 94; Norway maple, first bloom, 116; border forsythia, full bloom, 116; 'Chanticleer' callery pear, first bloom, 123; sargent cherry, first bloom, 127; larch casebearer, egg hatch, 128; Japanese pieris, full bloom, 129; saucer magnolia, first bloom, 133; common flowering quince, first bloom, 137; 'Bradford' callery pear, first bloom, 142; European pine sawfly, egg hatch, 144; weeping Higan cherry, first bloom, 145; P.J.M. rhododendron, first bloom, 147; 'Chanticleer' callery pear, full bloom, 149; Norway maple, full bloom, 149; inkberry leafminer, adult emergence, 150; sargent cherry, full bloom, 151; star magnolia, full bloom, 151; Allegheny serviceberry, first bloom, 153; Manchu cherry, full bloom, 155; 'Spring Snow' crabapple, first bloom, 155; apple serviceberry, first bloom, 159; spruce spider mite, egg hatch, 162; 'Bradford' callery pear, full bloom, 164; Allegheny serviceberry, full bloom, 169; saucer magnolia, full bloom, 174; P.J.M. rhododendron, full bloom, 178; boxwood psyllid, egg hatch, 179; weeping Higan cherry, full bloom, 179; Koreanspice viburnum, first bloom, 185; 'Regent' serviceberry, first bloom, 186; Japanese flowering crabapple, first bloom, 189; eastern redbud, first bloom, 191; gypsy moth, egg hatch, 192; Koreanspice viburnum, full bloom, 205; azalea lace bug, egg hatch, 206; 'Spring Snow' crabapple, full bloom, 209; common flowering quince, full bloom, 214; birch leafminer, adult emergence, 215; 'Coralburst' crabapple, first bloom, 217; elm leafminer, adult emergence, 219; common chokecherry, full bloom, 221; alder leafminer, adult emergence, 224; honeylocust plant bug, egg hatch, 230; common lilac, first bloom, 234; Ohio buckeye, first bloom, 245; and common horsechestnut, first bloom, 251. For more information, see:
B. VEGETABLE GARDENING 101. Amy Stone reported that a congresswoman in the Toledo area challenged citizens there to start 1000 "Victory Gardens" to help feed the hungry. How does one achieve high garden yields when starting from scratch? One way is to grow vegetables in raised beds. What are raised beds? The raised part means that the soil level in the bed is higher than the surrounding soil, and bed implies a size small enough to work without actually stepping onto the bed. A bed should be no wider than 4', but length can be whatever suits the site or gardener's needs. Wider beds can be subdivided into sections accessible from planks or stepping stones. The bed does not have to be enclosed or framed, but if unframed, the use of power tillers is feasible. Framing offers several other opportunities, however; and a properly maintained bed will not need power cultivation. The benefits of raised bed gardening include improved soil conditions, ease of working and pest control, and saving water. Soil compaction can reduce crop yields up to 50%. Water, air and roots all have difficulty moving through soil compressed by tractors, tillers or foot traffic. Raised beds also help in situations where compaction is not the only culprit. Homeowners may have low spots unsuited for conventional gardens because of poor drainage or excessive erosion from runoff. There are few guidelines to remember in raised bed construction. Keep the beds narrow and match their length to the site and the watering system. A north‑south orientation is best for low‑growing crops, allowing direct sunlight to both sides of the bed. Beds that contain taller crops such as pole beans, trellised peas or caged tomatoes might do better on an east‑west axis. Thus, lower‑growing crops could be planted on the south side of the bed and still get full sun. Avoid the use of creosote or pentachlorophenol‑treated lumber for bed frames. These chemicals can leach out and injure plants. Use pressure‑treated lumber, redwood, cedar, cement block or brick, or recycled plastic. The depth of the soil should be at least 6". Fill the bed with top soil mixed with 2-3" of compost. For more information, see:
C. WHEN A MOSS IS NOT A MOSS. Sometimes names are a bit confusing. Sphagnum moss, Spanish moss, reindeer moss - it seems reasonable to assume that they are all similar. Not so. Sphagnum moss and bright green mosses on rocks and trees in the forest are true mosses, a bryophyte or a non-flowering plant that reproduces by spores. Spanish moss is actually a flowering plant (albeit the white flowers are quite tiny) in the bromeliad family (a family that includes pineapples) that has narrow leaves and thrives as an epiphyte hanging on trees in more southerly climes. "Reindeer moss" is something else entirely - and certainly not a true moss. Reindeer moss is simply a common name for a lichen. Lichens are a combination of a fungus and an alga. The fungus part of the symbiosis clings to the substrate of a tree or a rock or other surface and helps absorb water and minerals. The alga does what the fungus cannot; it produces its own food. Algae are true plans, capable of taking carbon dioxide and water and energy from the sun and with their chlorophyll pigments converting these raw ingredients into food in the form of carbohydrates. Lichens are a fungus and an alga that "took a likin' to each other." When one see lichens on trees that are in decline a casual observer might assume that the lichens are damaging plants. Again, not so. Declining trees sometimes sport growing populations of lichens leading to the assumption that there is a cause and effect relationship. Instead the loss of leaves on the declining tree is simply allows more sunlight to reach the surface of the branches and trunk, thus allowing the photosynthesizing algal component of the lichen to thrive. For more information, check out the new OSU Extension FactSheet HYG-3312-09, "Lichens" on Ohioline at: [ http://ohioline.osu.edu ]. D. BROWN ARBORVITAE. Several BYGLers have noticed browning on arborvitae (American arborvitae, northern white or eastern white cedar-Thuja occidentalis). Although this plant is an often-used landscape and windbreak plant, arborvitae generally grows in swamps and wet forests on neutral or alkaline soils, often associated with limestone. Typically, arborvitaes exhibit few serious insect (with the exception of bagworm) or disease problems; however, winter browning is evident at this time. It is commonly caused by rapid temperature changes and the desiccation of needles by winter sun and wind. Additionally, many areas of the state experienced below normal rainfall last fall resulting in the ground and shallow roots going into the winter with insufficient available moisture. E. CONIFER COLLAPSE. Nancy Taylor, CWEPPDC, reminded BYGLers that each year various narrow-leafed evergreens such as pines, Taxus and spruce are affected with needle yellowing and browning, dieback, poor vigor or death. These are problems often associated with one or more environmental stress factors. Some of the most common stress factors are wet soil, drought or dry soil, winter damage, de-icing salt damage, herbicide damage, air pollution damage, low light needle drop, and transplant or establishment problems. These are discussed in OSU Extension FactSheet HYG-3034-96, "Yellowing, Dieback and Death of Narrow-Leafed Evergreens." For more information, see:
F. WHY TREES MATTER. OSU Extension's "Why Trees Matter" signature program focuses on the environmental, economic and social benefits of trees. Periodically information on "Why Trees Matter" will be published in the BYGL. Also check out the "Why Trees Matter" website at: [ http://treesmatter.osu.edu ]. For now, here are a few items to share with tree lovers of all ages at upcoming Arbor Day programs (April 24). "Why Trees Matter"…count the ways: *Trees are cool. Walk down a street with shade trees, it's 5-15 degrees cooler than if there are no trees. Trees also help save energy by cooling houses and reduce air conditioning costs in summer from 15-35%. *Trees are hot. Winter winds leak cold air into homes. Trees blocking that wind, including evergreens, can save on heating costs by 20% or more. *Trees are tasty. Apples, peaches, pears, oh my. All grow on trees. So do cocoa pods; they grow on a tree in the tropics known as Theobroma cacao. This Latin name translates to "Food of the gods," and that seems about right considering those cocoa pods are converted to chocolate. *OSU Buckeyes. And buckeyes are trees! Ohio's state tree is the Ohio buckeye, this is the Buckeye State, and OSU's sports teams are the Buckeyes. How many sports teams can say they are named for trees? The Buckeyes are one; another is the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, are there more? *The food chain starts with trees (and other plants). Plant leaves harvest energy from the sun, and with water and carbon dioxide make sugar which feeds the rest of the tree, as well as people. People eat plants or animals that ate plants or animals that ate other animals that ate plants. The food chain starts with plants. *Money grows on trees. Nurseries, landscapers, garden centers, arborists and other green industry companies in Ohio employ over 200,000 Ohioans and provide over $10 billion dollars to Ohio's economy. That is billion with a "b." Not to mention money is made from paper and after all paper comes from trees! G. PLANTS OF THE WEEK.
*PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. LENTEN ROSE (Helleborus spp.). These plants are wonderful for woodland gardens and under trees. In addition, they provide bloom in late winter and early spring before many other perennials are even out of bed! They come in a variety of flower colors and leaf sizes and can grow from 6" to 15" tall depending upon the species or variety. They require organic matter in the soil and they perform best in moist soils. Many varieties also have evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves. Once they establish, they last a long time in the garden. * WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. RED BUCKEYE (Aesculus pavia). Red buckeye will not bloom yet for a few weeks, but take a look at this great plant. It has very attractive palmately-compound leaves and spectacular upright scarlet-red flower panicles. In fact, it could be called the Scarlet Buckeye as it is enough to brighten up even the grayest of days, so to speak. Red buckeye is the cuter cousin of the more prosaic state tree, the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra). As an ornamental, though Ohio buckeye has its place; it can be an excellent urban survivor in tough street tree, low-oxygen soils. But back to red buckeye: it is an excellent small U.S. native tree (15-25') with good resistance to Guignardia leaf blotch disease. *THE WEEKLY WEED. COMMON CHICKWEED (Stellaria media). A sure, but undesirable sign of spring, is the appearance of chickweed. A member of the Caryopyllacaea (Pink) family, it is found throughout Ohio and beyond. This ambitious winter annual reproduces by seed that germinates in late summer or early spring. In cool moist areas it can appear as though it is a perennial, but it generally dies out in the summer's dry heat. Common chickweed grows along the ground in dense patches. Its trailing stems give rise to small, egg shaped, oppositely arranged leaves. It prefers moist, well-drained fertile soils and is a profuse bloomer. The plants can tolerate frequent mowings, but have a shallow, fibrous root system making them easy to hand pull. This weed can be misidentified as the perennial MOUSEEAR CHICKWEED (Cerastium vulgatum) which has a similar growth habit, but a closer look will reveal that the foliage and stems of mouseear chickweed are covered with hairs. For more information, see:
H. CLINIC CLIPS. Calls about and samples of the painted hickory borer were received in the CWEPPDC this week. This remarkable beetle may come from firewood and at times several are found on the sunny side of a building in the spring. A green tortoise beetle was found in the Kottman Hall greenhouse. The green, round shelled beetle overwinters then lays eggs on the underside of thistles in the spring. Both the adult and larvae eat several thistle species and knapweed. There has been an upswing in the submission of various conifer and evergreen samples. These samples for the most part consist of branch samples which are drying and dying. In many cases a number of factors may be contributing to the branch death, with the final blow being dry soil conditions late last summer and into the fall. Other samples recently examined include pachysandra with Volutella canker and leaf blight, and a white pine sample which included roots that tested positive for Phytophthora.
3. BUGBYTES.A. PAINTED HICKORY BORER.
Painted hickory borers are a type of long-horned beetle (family Cerembycidae), so named because of their extremely long antennae. The beetles are 3/4-7/8" long with reddish legs. Their tapering cylindrical black bodies are covered by yellow to light-yellow or cream-colored markings. From front-to-back, the markings on the upper surfaces of the head and thorax appear as horizontal yellow bands. The first marking on the front wings (elytra) is also a yellow horizontal band; however, the second marking appears as a distinct "W" that is light yellow to cream-colored. The remaining markings are yellow and appear as broken W-shaped bands. The beetles are excellent flyers, and their black and yellow color motif causes them to be occasionally mistaken for yellowjacket wasps.
Painted hickory borers only infest dead wood that has been cut for less than one year. Large numbers may emerge from firewood stored in or around homes to the surprise and consternation of homeowners. The beetles will not infest older dead wood, so they present no threat to processed wood products (e.g. furniture, siding, decking, etc.). As their common name indicates, the beetles prefer to infest fresh cut hickory. However, they will also infest the wood of several other hardwoods including: oak; ash; walnut and butternut; hackberry; mulberry, Osage orange; honeylocust and black locust.
B. TERMITES TAKE A BITE OUT OF TREES. Several BYGLers reported that eastern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes) are beginning to swarm. Gary Gao and Joe Boggs noted that the swarms are occurring from trees in central and southwest Ohio, respectively. Curtis Young reported observing a swarm inside a building. The swarms are composed of winged (alates) males and females that are emerging from colonies to mate and establish new colonies. Termites emerging from trees should not be surprising since trees are part of the termite's native habitat. Termites eat wood and colonize both living (if the interior is being decayed by wood rotting fungi) and dead tree as well as fallen limbs and trunks. Indeed, termites will utilize almost all forms of untreated wood in contact with the ground including mulch. Finding termites in trees near a home does not necessarily mean the home is infested; however, it is recommended that the home be inspected by a reputable pest management professional to make certain termites have not taken up residence. Dave Shetlar noted that if a colony is found in home, it is best to leave the job of eliminating the termites to a professional rather than homeowners attempting do-it-yourself methods. Termites can cause serious structural damage and an incomplete control job is almost as bad as no control at all. For example, Dave indicated that while termite baiting systems are highly effective, and eliminate colonies, they are only as good as the person making the instillation and monitoring the results. Experience pays. Also, some professionals combine a termite "exclusion" method with a baiting system by applying an insecticide around the perimeter of a home. The most effective insecticides for such "barrier" sprays are not available to homeowners. Swarming termites may be misidentified as swarming ants. It is important to know the difference since each requires a different management approach. An important difference appears in the name of the insect order for termites: Isoptera. "Iso" means "equal" and "ptera" means "winged." The front and hind wings of termites are almost equal in all aspects; it is difficult to tell the difference. The front wings of ants are almost twice the size of the hind wings. Also, termites have beaded antennae while ants have elbowed antennae, and ants have a constricted "waist" while termites have a thick waist.
For more information, see:
C. WINDSHIELD WIPES. BYGLers also ran into a number of other insect pests this week including: *Joe Boggs reported observing LARCH CASEBEARERS (Coleophora laricella) lurking on a larch in southwest Ohio hungrily awaiting the expansion of new needles. The overwintered larvae of this small moth (wing span is only one-third inch) get their name from the cigar‑shaped cases they construct. They line mined‑out needles with silk, insert their abdomen, and carry the dead needles around for protection. The resulting unusual image is that of "walking dead needles." When disturbed, larvae may attach a strand of silk to the tree and drop on silky threads towards the ground. Damage includes burned or bleached needles that may give the trees a white/silvery appearance. There are two generations per year, with the second generation generally appearing in mid-to-late July. *In BYGL 2009-1, it was reported that EUROPEAN PINE SAWFLY (Neodiprion sertifer) eggs had hatched in southwest Ohio and the characteristic clusters of twisted straw-colored needles produced by 1st instar larval feeding activity were becoming apparent. This week, Dave Shetlar noted that sawfly eggs began hatching in the central part of the state late last week, and 1st instar larval feeding damage is just beginning to become noticeable.
4. DISEASE DIGEST.A. BLACK KNOT FUNGUS OF PLUMS AND CHERRIES. Gary Gao reported receiving a sample of black knot fungus on a branch from a Japanese plum tree. The black knot actually resulted from last year's infection. It is a common fungal disease of both fruit and ornamental plums and cherries. The black knot fungus mainly affects twigs, branches and fruit spurs. On infected plant parts, abnormal growth of bark and wood tissues produce small, light‑brown swellings that eventually rupture as they enlarge. In late spring, the rapidly growing young knots have a soft (pulpy) texture and become covered with a velvety, olive‑green growth of the fungus. In summer, the young knots turn darker and elongate. By fall, they become hard, brittle, rough and black. During the following growing season, the knots enlarge and gradually encircle the twig or branch. The cylindrical or spindle‑shaped knots may vary from 1/2" up to 1' or more in length, and up to 2" in diameter. Small knots may emerge from larger knots forming extensive galls. After the second year, the black knot fungus usually dies and the gall is invaded by secondary fungi that give old knots a white or pinkish color during the summer. Smaller twigs usually die within a year after being infected. Larger branches may live for several years before being girdled and killed by the fungus. The entire tree may gradually weaken and die if the severity of the disease increases and effective control measures are not taken. To control this fungal disease, infected twigs should be pruned out and destroyed, or removed before bud break. It is important to prune at least 2‑4" below each knot because the fungus grows beyond the edge of the knot itself. Fungicides can offer significant protection against black knot, but are unlikely to be effective if pruning and sanitation are ignored. Where infectious spore concentrations are high because of an established black knot problem or a neighboring abandoned orchard, protection may be needed from bud break until early summer. For the most current fungicide recommendations and spray schedules, backyard gardeners can purchase a copy of the OSU Extension Bulletin 780 "Controlling Diseases and Insects in Home Fruit Plantings" or check it out online at [ ] or check out the new OSU Extension FactSheet HYG-3011-08, "Black Knot Fungus of Plums and Cherries" at: [ http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg‑fact/3000/pdf/HYG_3011_08.pdf ]. For more information, see:
5. TURF TIPS.A. GRUBBING FOR GRUBS?
To prevent damage from the varmints, spread Milorganite or a similar fine graded composted sewage sludge on areas that had grubs last fall. Most animals are repelled by this odor and will leave the turfgrass alone. If grubs have reached a level in which the turfgrass is wilting and dying, apply a rescue treatment of trichlorfon (e.g. dylox). Water the product enough to flush it into the thatch zone. For more information, see: B. MOLES CAUSING HAVOC. Reports of moles excavating through lawns have been leaking into extension offices throughout the state. Moles can cause considerable damage to lawns. This damage is usually in the form of tunnels and/or mounds in lawns that can be very unattractive. Moles generally have one litter of two to six young. Gestation lasts about 5-6 six weeks which means that litters are expected anywhere from mid-April through May. Moles can quickly colonize and spread through residential properties if they become established. Moles generally move from place to place in search for food which ultimately is affected by climate and ground moisture. Their movement pattern is sporadic and can be in one area one week and another area the next which makes them hard to control. Sadly, there are many home remedies and marketed control methods that are often advertised or talked about that have little or no control. One common misconception is that moles eat grubs. The truth is that moles primarily eat earthworms and insects thus, dispelling the myth that one should treat for grub to control moles. Trapping is one of the most effective methods of control. The key to using a trap is to find the main runway, which is the run connecting other less active runways. A test to see if a run is a main runway is to step on the tunnel and check back within 24-48 hours to see if the runway has been reopened. To ensure control, traps should be set in the main runways. For more information, see:
C. WINTER TURFGRASS DAMAGE.
6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS.A. PALES WEEVIL ON WHITE PINE.  Pam Bennett reported observing and photographing significant pales weevil (Hylobius pales) adult feeding damage on small white pine trees growing in a Christmas tree plantation. The damage occurred late last summer or in the early fall. Adults remove bark at the base of lateral shoots to feed on phloem tissue. The feeding sites may fill with resin obscuring the wounds. Heavy feeding activity may girdle the twigs causing the shoots to die and turn brown either in the fall or in early spring. While the resulting "flagging" reduces the aesthetic value of established trees, the damage seldom causes serious harm to the overall health of the trees. However, heavy feeding on seedlings or young trees may seriously affect tree health, or even kill the trees, which makes this weevil a serious Christmas tree production pest. Mated females spend the winter beneath the duff at the base of trees. In the spring, the females are drawn by the odor of fresh pine resin oozing from the stumps left from the fall harvest of Christmas trees. The females lay their eggs on the bark of the stumps. Once eggs hatch, the legless, grub-like larvae burrow through bark to feed and develop on phloem tissue. Larval development is completed during the summer. New adults emerge by late summer to early fall and they immediately move to living trees to feed on stem tissue. The adults may feed on a wide range of conifers including: Scotch, Austrian, and white pine; Douglas-fir; true firs; and some spruces. Insecticides applied to trees in the late summer will help to reduce adult weevil feeding damage; however, the most effective management option focuses on stumps. Treating stumps in very early spring (e.g. by mid-April) with a properly labeled insecticide mixed with kerosene will prevent the stumps from serving as incubators for the next crop of weevils. While adults may feed on a range of conifers, their egg laying activity is limited to pines and only occasionally Douglas-fir. The removal and destruction of last season's stumps is also an effective alternative to insecticide stump treatments in managing pales weevil. For more information, see:
B. BIZ BUZZ. This new BYGL section takes a look at various business aspects of the green industry. Suggestions and feedback are welcome. Today more than ever, companies are all looking for areas to reduce expenses; however, commitment to training is fundamental to continued efficient and profitable performance. No matter how carefully one recruits and selects employees, knowledge and skills are necessary to succeed. Training is an investment in people that benefits both the employer and employee. Training and development affects the employee's knowledge, attitude and skills. For clients and customers, employees are the face the business. Training is anything an employer does to help employees learn to do their work the way the employer wants them to do it. Is there a training program in place? For the next few weeks, this section will look at three distinct phases of an employee training program: orientation; learning to do the job; and preparation for future tasks and responsibilities. In an ideal employer-employee situation, the investment in teaching allows an employee to do the job better. Doing the job better benefits both the employee and the business.
7. COMING ATTRACTIONS.A. WOOD PACKING MATERIALS WORKSHOPS. Anyone who makes pallets or exports using packing materials such as pallets, crates or dunnage should attend this program. The Phytosanitation & Exporting with Wood Packing Materials Workshops cover ISPM 15 and how it may impact a company. The Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will offer the program in 14 cities across the Midwest. In Ohio, the program is in Dayton on April 30, Chillicothe on May 4, and Sugar Creek on May 5. For a brochure or additional information, contact Amy Stone at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 419-578-6783. B. VISIT THE CINCINNATI FLOWER SHOW. The Cincinnati Flower Show, the only such show in the U. S. recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society, will once again showcase the wonderful world of horticulture in all of its glory. The show is held from April 18-26, 2009; however, don't look for it in the same place as last year. The show has moved to the Symmes Township Park at 11600 N Lebanon Road, Loveland, Ohio. While there, check out the Cincinnati Flower Growers Association (CFGA)/Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden/OSU Extension Hamilton County exhibit in tent #2. This exhibit, "Old Rural Conservation Concepts for the New Urban Landscape," demonstrates that fundamental and traditional, agricultural soil and water conservation practices can be easily applied to urban areas today. There are examples of planting on the contour and maintaining sod and tree plantings to capture water to beautify the landscape. All of which will reduce storm water runoff and improve water quality.
8. BYGLOSOPHYArbor Day is coming soon. Next Friday, April 24 is Arbor Day, but for plant lovers, it is never too early to celebrate trees. Like the Lorax, BYGLers speak for and about the trees. Here are a few words from the originator of Arbor Day, J. Sterling Morton, written in 1893, and certainly still relevant today. "To avert treelessness, to improve the climatic conditions, for the sanitation and embellishment of home environments, for the love of the beautiful and useful combined in the music and majesty of a tree, as fancy and truth unite in an epic poem, Arbor Day was created. It was grown with the vigor and beneficence of a grand truth or a great tree. It faces the future. It is the only anniversary in which humanity looks futureward instead of pastward, in which there is a consensus of thought for those who are to come after us, instead of reflections concerning those who have gone before us. It is a practical anniversary. It is a beautiful anniversary. To the common schools of the country I confide its perpetuation and usefulness with the same abiding faith that I would commit the acorn to the earth, the tree to the oil, or transmit the light on the shore to far off ships on the waves beyond, knowing certainly that loveliness, comfort, and great contentment shall come to humanity everywhere because of its thoughtful and practical observance by all the civilized peoples of the earth."
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.
OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity, or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin or veteran's status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension, TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
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