This is the 6th 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 May 12th conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Jim Chatfield (Horticulture); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Denise Ellsworth (Summit): Gary Gao (Delaware); Dave Goerig (Mahoning); Becky McCann (Agricultural Business Enhancement Center (ABE)); Bridget Meiring (C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Curtis Young (Allen); and Randy Zondag (Lake).

In This Issue:

1. WEATHERWATCH. 
2. HORT SHORTS:  Growing Degree Days (GDD); Vegetable Gardening 101 - May 14, 2009; Congresswoman Kaptur Challenges Constituents to Garden; and Plants of the Week: Perennial (Japanese Tree Peonies), Woody Ornamental (White Fringetree), Annual (Pansies), and Weed (Cressleaf Groundsel).
3. GREEN SHORTS.
4. CLINIC CLIPS.
5. BUGBYTES:  Spiny Sawflies (Spiny Ash and Spiny Oak Sawflies); Tent Cats Have Gone Walk-About (Eastern Tent Caterpillars); Fourlined Plant Bug; Sambucus Wilting Presents a Challenge; Holey Thistle! (Thistle Tortoise Beetle); "Biting" Ants; and Devastation Caused by EAB Becoming Obvious (Emerald Ash Borer).
6. DISEASE DIGEST:  Peach Leaf Curl; Oak Anthracnose; and The Moist Chamber (Guignardia).
7. TURF TIPS:  Seedhead Production in Turf. 
8. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:  Voluminous Voles and Biz Buzz (Five-Step Training Method). 
9. COMING ATTRACTIONS:  Celebrate Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV) in Your Community During MGV Week, May 17-23, 2009! and Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. 
10. BYGLOSOPHY.

1.  WEATHERWATCH.

The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the dates:  May 1-13, 2009, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m.

Several BYGLers remarked about the high winds experienced on Saturday across the state.  Additionally, Erik Draper, Denise Ellsworth, Gary Gao, Dave Goerig, and Randy Zondag each reported being on the receiving end of a frost on Monday evening.  Gardeners can hope that it is the last for the season - but only Mother Nature knows for sure! 

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

2.  HORT SHORTS.

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 270 to 552.  Following is a report of GDD for several locations around Ohio as of May 13, 2009: Painesville, 270; Cleveland, 283; Toledo, 337; Canfield, 284; Lima, 275; Wooster, 350; Coshocton, 370 Columbus, 450; Springfield, 459; Dayton, 464; Cincinnati, 510; Ironton, 520; Portsmouth, 523; and Piketon, 552.

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.

Blackhaw viburnum, first bloom, 269; imported willow leaf beetle, adult emergence, 274; sargent crabapple, full bloom, 298; red horsechestnut, first bloom, 304; pine needle scale, egg hatch - 1st generation, 305; cooley spruce gall adelgid, egg hatch, 308; eastern spruce gall adelgid, egg hatch, 308; common lilac, full bloom, 315; pink princess weigela, first bloom, 316; blackhaw viburnum, full bloom, 322; redosier dogwood, first bloom, 323; dwarf fothergilla, full bloom, 325; winter king hawthorn, first bloom, 328; lilac borer, adult emergence, 330; slender Deutsia, first bloom, 338;  Japanese kerria, full bloom, 342; common horsechestnut, full bloom, 344; red chokeberry, full bloom, 351; doublefile viburnum, first bloom, 353; Pagoda dogwood, first bloom, 363; red Java weigela, first bloom, 365; black cherry, first bloom, 368; common sweetshrub, first bloom, 371; lesser peach tree borer, adult emergence, 372; Ohio buckeye, full bloom, 374; holly leafminer, adult emergence, 375; Vanhoutte spirea, full bloom, 406; euonymus scale (first generation), egg hatch, 406; black cherry, full bloom, 419; Miss Kim Manchurian lilac, first bloom, 422; locust leafminer, adult emergence, 437; doublefile viburnum, full bloom, 444;  black locust, first bloom, 467; common ninebark, first bloom, 478; oystershell scale, egg hatch, 497; smokebush, first bloom, 501; arrowwood viburnum, first bloom, 534; American yellowwood, first bloom, 546; bronze birch borer, adult emergence, 547; black locust, full bloom, 548; American holly, first bloom, 556; and mountain laurel, first bloom, 565.

For more information, see:

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

B.  VEGETABLE GARDENING 101  

What kinds of vegetables should beginning gardeners grow and how much of each?  Many types of vegetables, from asparagus to zucchini squash, can be grown in Ohio.  It is best to grow the vegetables that the gardener's family members enjoy.  Some of the vegetables commonly grown in Ohio are lettuce, salad greens, asparagus, beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash, tomato, and potato.  Beginning gardeners can start with bush beans, peppers, and tomatoes.  Cucumbers and squashes can also be grown successfully, if gardeners control cucumber beetles early in the season.  Other vegetables can be added.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Get answers to gardening question at OSU Extension offices and local Garden Centers. 

The size of the family garden also depends on land availability.  Gardeners need to adjust the size of their garden based on their personal situation.  It is also a good idea to refer to plant tag for plant space requirements and spacing between plants.  Gardeners can always donate their excess vegetables to a local church or a soup kitchen.

For a family of four, a typical vegetable garden could consist of the following:

*Asparagus: 32 plants set at 9-12" spacing
*Bush Beans: 80-120' row with 4-6" spacing
*Carrots: 40' row with 4" spacing
*Eggplants: 3-6 plants with 18-24" spacing
*Cucumber: 6-8 plants with 8-36" spacing depending on cultivars
*Leaf Lettuce: 20-30' row with 12" spacing
*Peas: 120-160' foot row with 2" spacing
*Bell Peppers: 6-10 plants with 18-24" spacing
*Squash: 3-6 plants with 36-48" spacing
*Tomato: 10-15 plants with 24-36" spacing

• Planning the Vegetable Garden

No matter where you live, consider donating any excess produce to those in need.  For information about the "1,000 Victory Garden Challenge," contact the OSU Extension at the TBG.

For more information, see:

• 1,000 Victory Garden Challenge

   

	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 . *PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK - JAPANESE TREE PEONIES (Paeonia suffruticosa).  "Wow" is all that one can say when looking at the incredible blooms on this plant!  It is a slow-growing deciduous shrub with glossy leaves that are slightly larger than hybrid peony leaves.  It grows to around 2-4' tall.  The tree peony starts to bloom in mid- to late spring and puts on an incredible show with white, pink, red, and yellow flowers, depending upon the cultivar.  The flowers can be as big as 1' in diameter and last for several days.  The papery-thin flowers appear delicate but are quite tough in the garden; however, they don't make good cut flowers.
	For more information see: OSU Extension Tree Peony FactSheet North Dakota University Peony Factsheet
	*WOODY ORNAMENTAL OF THE WEEK - WHITE FRINGETREE (Chionanthus virginicus).  Joe Boggs was floored by the beauty of this small tree in flower Monday in southern Ohio.  As spring moves northward there is plenty of time for the appreciation by other Ohioans over the next month as degree days accumulate.  White fringetree is a small native tree (12-18') with, as Boggs notes, outstanding fleecy white flowers.  It has an open tree form, lustrous green leaves, and attractive blue, egg-shaped fruits on female plants. The lacy white flowers are delicate eye-openers in overall effect and are very fragrant, often cited as perfuming a garden from a quarter mile or more away.  Plant a male tree near female trees for pollination to enable fruit production by the females.  These trees have good air pollution tolerance and pH adaptability.  Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is also becoming more popular and also has spectacular airy white flowers.  At OSU's Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, curator Ken Cochran is pleased with the performance of the (appropriately-named for a university planting) 'Ivory Tower' cultivar of Chinese fringetree, which is quite columnar, and supposedly to mature to 15' tall by 3' wide.  It has proved to be hardy in the arboretum thus far.
	*ANNUAL OF THE WEEK - PANSIES (Viola spp.).  Since temperatures remain on the cool side this spring, pansies have provided a long period of color and enjoyment.  This cool-season plant is planted in the early spring or in the fall.  It tolerates cold temperatures and many varieties overwinter successfully and provide early spring bloom.  The colors are numerous as are the variety of "faces" on the flowers.  In addition, many varieties have a great fragrance.  Pansies grow great in full sun or shade but once temperatures warm up, pansies go somewhat dormant.  Simply shear the plants back when they begin to look straggly and then wait for cooler weather in the fall; they start right back and bloom until a hard freeze.  Many varieties are winter hardy and provide great spring color.  Learn more about pansies and violas and their winter hardiness by checking out the Fall Pansy/Viola Trial conducted by Dr. Claudio Pasian, OSU Extension Floriculture Specialist:  http://floriculture.osu.edu/trials/PansyPage.html . For more information, see: Pansies, West Virginia University Extension Service OSU Extension Pansy Trials
	*WEED OF THE WEEK - CRESSLEAF GROUNDSEL (Packera glabella).  This week's weed is currently gracing landscapes and farm fields in central and southern Ohio with smattering of canary yellow.  The weed producing the display is cressleaf groundsel, (a.k.a. BUTTERWEED (Senecio glabellus)).  This member of the aster family (Asteraceae; a.k.a. Compositae) sports flowers that are daisy-like and seed heads that look like miniature dandelion puff-balls.  The flowers are borne at the ends of thick, erect, stems that are green with reddish-purple streaks.  The plant's "cress-like" leaves are responsible for the common name.
	Cressleaf groundsel is a native winter annual found in the northern United States.  It is a heavy seed producer and the seed can remain viable in the soil for a number of years.  For reasons that are not clearly understood, this weed has become unusually common in Ohio in recent years in cultivated fields, nurseries, and landscapes.  Past reports indicate the weed may have some tolerance to 2,4-D and may require high rates of glyphosate to be controlled.   Hand pulling is an effective option in landscapes, but plants must be destroyed prior to seed maturation.   Cultivation prior to flower production is also effective.  Both approaches will reduce future infestations. For more information, see: USDA Plant Profile

3. GREEN SHORTS.

No report this week.

4.  CLINIC CLIPS. 

Calls about Honey bee swarms and established colonies that have just now been discovered have continued to fly into the CWEPPDC office.  Although swarms can be collected fairly simply, removing colonies from walls is a time consuming and complicated procedure.  Two "great" samples of 4 lined plant bugs on coneflower and perennial salvia, and some green midges that were sucked into an office through a vent were also received.  Chewing damage from pales weevils were submitted on Scotch pine and Canaan firs from a Christmas tree farm.

Plant pathologically speaking, three boxwoods were diagnosed with winter injury, Volutella leaf and stem blight, Macrophoma leaf spot, and incorrect mulch depth.  Usually dieback from winter injury triggers the onset of diseases like Volutella and Macrophoma.  Volutella is an important and common disease of boxwoods and can form a canker and kill boxwoods if it reaches the main trunk.  Another boxwood sample suffered from poor drainage, winter injury, Volutella, and boxwood psyllid damage.  Boxwood psyllids cause new leaves to cup as they develop inside.  Normally, by the time the damage is noticed, the psyllids have finished their development and it is too late for control measures. 

A Russian olive from the landscape was diagnosed with a form of Botryosphaeria canker.  Botryosphaeria canker is a common and eventually lethal disease on Russian olive.  Pruning out the canker can help stop the spread of the disease to the main trunk.  Two landscape plants, a rhododendron and a northern white cedar were both diagnosed with phytophthora root rot.  Greenhouse pepper and sunflower seedlings, and landscape viburnum and a Leyland cypress were diagnosed with cultural/environmental problems.

5.  BUGBYTES.

A.  SPINY SAWFLIES. 

Joe Boggs reported that participants at this week's Southwest Ohio BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About observed SPINY ASH SAWFLY (Eupareophora parca) on green ash.  Joe also noted that he found SPINY OAK SAWFLY (Periclista albicollis) on burr oak after the Walk-About concluded for the day.  The spiny ash sawfly may be mistaken for the BLACKHEAD ASH SAWFLY (Tethida barda).  The semi-transparent larvae of both species are light green to yellowish-green and they have black head capsules ("heads").  They also feed gregariously side-by-side in groups of 4-20.  However, a close examination will reveal that the blackheaded larvae are free of spines whereas the spiny ash sawfly larvae are covered in short, white, bifurcated (twin-pointed) spines.

The spiny ash sawfly has one generation per year.  Eggs are deposited in the spring into slits cut into the leaf margins of expanding leaves by the female using her saw-like ovipositor.  Eggs hatch while leaves are still expanding and early instar larvae feed by producing small holes in leaflets.  Later instars consume entire leaves.  Once the larvae complete their development, they drop to the ground to pupate.  They remain in this stage until the following spring.  High populations may occasionally cause complete defoliation; however, such outbreaks are rare since natural enemies usually keep populations at low density levels.

For more information, see:

B.  TENT CATS HAVE GONE WALK-ABOUT. 

Participants at the Southwest Ohio Diagnostic Walk-About also noted that EASTERN TENT CATERPILLARS (Malacosoma americanum) are now reaching their last instar stage.  The caterpillars are abandoning their highly visible silk nests located in branch forks to crawl off trees and go on their own walk-about in search of pupation sites.

The caterpillars are covered in short, grayish-white hairs, and they have a distinct, unbroken white stripe down their backs.  The caterpillars prefer to feed on trees in the family Rosaceae, particularly those in the genus Prunus, such as cherries.  However, once the caterpillars commence their walk-abouts, they may appear on a wide variety of plants.  Fortunately, they do little or no feeding so damage is inconsequential.

For more information, see:

 University of Kentucky, Entomology Fact Sheet

 C.  FOURLINED PLANT BUG.

Dave Shetlar and Joe Boggs reported that they observed fourlined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus) nymphs and their feeding damage on perennials in central and southwest Ohio, respectively.  This sucking insect feeds on over 250 herbaceous plant species.  The quick-moving nymphs are reddish-orange with black wing-pads.  The appropriately named adults vary from yellow to green in color and have four black stripes down the wings. Like many plant-feeding hemipterans, the fourlined plant bug injects enzymes into the plant causing cells to collapse.  The bugs then feed on the resulting "slurry."  The damage appears as small, round, black sunken spots which may coalesce into extensive blackened areas on infested leaves.  The symptoms are commonly mistaken for a plant leaf disease.

There is only one generation per year.  However, both the adults and nymphs are heavy feeders and high populations can produce significant plant injury.  Targeting the early instar nymphs for control now will reduce the overall damage caused this season by this insect. For more information, see: OSU Extension, BugDoc Fact Sheet Univ. of Minnesota Yard and Garden Brief

D.  SAMBUCUS WILTING PRESENTS A CHALLENGE. 

Pam Bennett received a sample of Sambucus 'Black Beauty' that had wilted stem tips.  Cutting inside the stem, Pam discovered a caterpillar that was feeding inside the newly developing shoots.  Dave Shetlar identified this pest as the ELDER SHOOT BORER (Achatodes zeae), not to be confused with the elder borer, Desmocerus palliates, a beetle.  The robust reddish brown moth emerges in July and nocturnally deposits its eggs in rows on the stems, crevices or in the bark of dead branches or shoots.  The eggs hatch in late April and early May and the larvae feed inconspicuously among unfolding leaves of lateral branches until the 3rd or 4th instar.  At this stage, they migrate to succulent branches and make entrance holes near the base of new sprouts.  They tend to tunnel upward but can go either way in the stem.  This results in the shoot wilting and drooping of the stems, which sometimes die and break off.  Normally this isn't a serious pest; however, heavy populations may prevent flowers from surviving for later summer bloom.  Control options with pesticides are limited.  Apply dormant oil in October and November to suffocate the egg masses on the stems and follow with good sanitation in the fall by removing any dead branches and debris.  Birds, rodents, and parasites are also good natural enemies.

E.  HOLEY THISTLE! 

Last year, several BYGLers reported observing significant injury to CANADA THISTLE (Cirsium arvense) caused by the THISTLE TORTOISE BEETLE (Cassida rubiginosa).  This week, Curtis Young and Joe Boggs reported the beetles are again active on their namesake host in western and southern Ohio, respectively.  The beetle is native to Europe and northern Asia, and it was imported into North America specifically as a biological control for thistle.  The weed-whacking beetle is also known as the "thistle defoliating beetle."  It feeds on other non-native thistle nasties including musk (Carduus nutans) and plumeless (C. acanthoides) thistles.

Like other tortoise beetles, the thistle tortoise beetle adult has a body shaped like a pith helmet or WWI army helmet.  The body color of the adult is pale green, which allows it to blend with its host's leaves.  The head and legs of the adult are typically hidden under the flare of the helmet.  The antennae can be hidden as well or extend out from underneath the body.

The larvae are oval shaped and have a ring of spiny spikes sticking out of the rim of the oval like a crown.  They also have twin spike-like appendages (cerci) at the posterior tip of the abdomen.  The larvae use their cerci to practice a bizarre behavior.  They first impale an odious collection of their excreta (feces) and exuviae (shed exoskeletons) with their cerci.  They, then carry their repugnant package almost umbrella-like over their backs by arching their abdomens upwards.  They look like tiny, walking poo-balls.  It is assumed this is a defense against predation.

F.  "BITING" ANTS.  Gary Gao received a phone call from a homeowner who was attacked by a few "biting" ants.  These ants created mounds in the homeowner's flower beds.  Joe Boggs told BYGLers that one possibility is acrobat ant.  These ants may invade the home for food (sweets and meat).  They feed on sweet juices such as the honeydew of aphids, nectar, plant sap, etc.  They build "cowsheds or tents" of plant or earthen material over aphids, which they tend.  Workers are about 1/8-1/4" long, light brownish‑yellow, and are recognized by a heart‑shaped abdomen, flattened on the upper surface and curved below.  They have a two node petiole attached to the upper part of the abdomen and a pair of spines on the thorax.  When disturbed, they elevate their abdomens, directing them forward in an acrobatic manner and bite fiercely.  They nest under in stumps, under boards, in hollow trees, under trash, rocks, in windows and door frames.  They have an objectionable odor.

Dave Shetlar told BYGLers that the Allegheny mound ant could have been the culprit too.  This ant can pierce the human skin and inject formic acid into the skin, making the victim feel like she/he was bitten by ants.  Ouch!  Allegheny ants normally live outdoors, with nests consisting of huge conical mounds, sometimes measuring nearly three feet high by six feet in diameter.  Undoubtedly, some enter homes occasionally since they are fond of sweets, but normally attend honeydew‑secreting insects on plants and are predaceous on other insects.  Workers are about 1/4" long with a blackish‑brown abdomen and legs, while the head and thorax are rust red.  New colonies are founded by extension of or breaking off from existing colonies when workers migrate away with one or more queens.  Related field ants may be brown, black, red or of various combinations of these colors.

To control these ants, an insecticide containing carbaryl (e.g. Sevin), can be applied to the soil mounds.  Dust formulations work better for total ant colony elimination.  Fortunately, there aren't any fire ants in Ohio. 

For more information, see:

• Ants In and Around the Home

G.  DEVASTATION CAUSED BY EAB BECOMING OBVIOUS. 

Are you living in an area that is dealing with the devastation caused by the EMERALD ASH BORER (Agrilus planipennis)?  If you answered yes, it is probably becoming very evident this spring as deciduous trees continue to leaf out and their canopies become denser, the leafless ashes are becoming obvious.  If you are not sure if an ash tree is infested, refer to the OSU Extension, Ash Alert's, Diagnostic Check-Off List http://ashalert.osu.edu/userfiles/checkoff_factsheet.pdf .  Signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for include:  bark splits, woodpecker activity, epicormic shoots, and D-shaped exit holes.

If you have an ash tree(s), or manage ash trees for others, do you have a plan?  The infestation will continue to expand, and the number of dead and dying trees will increase exponentially as the front continues move rapidly and isolated populations expand more slowly.  Each plan will be unique, and no one plan will fit all.  For more information, see: Diagnostic Check-Off List

 6.  DISEASE DIGEST.

A.  PEACH LEAF CURL. 

Jim Chatfield received a phone call about controlling peach leaf curl.  Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease.  Though not a problem every spring, it can be severe during cool, wet springs that follow mild winters.  The leaf curl fungus damages peach trees by causing an early leaf drop.  This weakens the trees, making them more susceptible to other diseases and to winter injury. Symptoms of leaf curl appear in the spring.  Developing leaves become severely distorted (thickened and puckered), and have a reddish or purple cast.  Later, as spores form on the leaf surface, the leaves become powdery gray in color.  Shortly after this, the leaves turn yellow or brown and drop.  There is no secondary spread of this disease from leaves infected in the spring to new leaves produced later in the growing season.  Once infected leaves drop, no further symptoms will appear during that growing season.  Diseased twigs become swollen and stunted, and may have a slight golden cast.  They usually produce curled leaves at their tips. Though rarely seen, flowers and fruit may also become diseased.  They drop shortly after they are infected. Diseased fruit has shiny, reddish, raised, warty spots.

It is too late now to apply fungicides to control peach leaf curl for this season.  However, peach leaf curl is not difficult to control.  Since the fungus survives the winter on the surface of twigs and buds, a single fungicide spray, thoroughly covering the entire tree, will provide control.  This fungicide spray needs to be applied after the leaf drop in autumn, but before new leaves emerge next spring.  If leaf curl does result in significant defoliation in the spring, the fruit on affected trees should be thinned to compensate for the loss of leaves. Over cropping the tree will weaken it and make it more susceptible to winter injury.  For the most current spray recommendations, commercial growers are referred to OSU Extension Bulletin 506 A2 "Ohio Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide", and backyard growers are referred to OSU Extension Bulletin 780 "Controlling Diseases and Insects in Home Fruit Plantings." For more information, see: OSU Extension Bulletin 780, "Controlling Insects and Diseases in Home Fruit Plants"

B.  OAK ANTHRACNOSE. 

Symptoms of oak anthrcnose were noted by Joe Boggs this past week in southern Ohio.  Infections of the fungal pathogen Apiognomonia quercinia occur during cool, wet weather during leaf expansion as the fungus spreads cankered areas where it overwintered on oak twigs.  In some springs, oak anthracnose causes great concern due to blotching, blighting and loss of lower leaves where leaves tend to remain wet longer.  Even in those years, however, this disease is not a serious problem to overall health on oaks, and this year does not even appear to be a particularly big year for oak anthracnose.  Controls are not recommended and in any case, effective preventive applications are already too late.  Symptoms at this point include dark gray to blackish leaf blotches that coalesce to blighting and leaf deformation.  Incidence is greatest on the white oak group.    

C.  THE MOIST CHAMBER.

* GUIGNARDIA LEAF BLOTCH on HORSECHESTNUT (Aesculus hippocastanum), reported by Joe Boggs, is beginning to appear in the Cincinnati area.  This fungal disease is characterized by large, irregular, reddish-brown lesions surrounded by yellowed tissue on the leaves of most species of horsechestnuts and buckeyes, with the exception of the bottlebrush buckeye.

7.  TURF TIPS.

A.  SEEDHEAD PRODUCTION IN TURF.  Warm temperatures in Ohio have stimulated some Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) plants to produce seedheads.  This is a natural occurrence.  However, it may temporarily reduce overall turf quality.  Seedhead production saps energy from the plant and may cause blades to become sparse and off colored.  Also, the seed stalks have fewer leaves and their woody structure resists mower blades, which adds to the eyesore.  This change is seldom consistent throughout a home lawn and it sometimes occurs in patches.  Thus, "seedy" Kentucky bluegrass is often made more obvious with patches occurring in an otherwise smooth, dark green lawn.

Although seedhead production can affect turf quality, it is a short term problem.  Eventually the turfgrass literally "out grows" the problem.  Of course, recovery will occur faster on lawns that have been properly maintained (e.g. proper fertilization, watering, mowing, etc.).  Homeowners may be tempted to lower their mowers to hasten the process by removing more seed stalks.  This is not recommended since low mowing will stress the lawn.  The propensity to produce seedheads in lawns varies among Kentucky bluegrass cultivars.  This characteristic is evaluated in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program [ http://www.ntep.org ].  Consequently, a more long term solution may involve selecting cultivars that are less inclined to produce seedheads.  A light application of fertilizer and watering could be helpful in keeping turfgrasses in the vegetative stage vs. the reproductive/seedhead stage.  

For more information, see:

• National Turfgrass Evaluation Program

8.  INDUSTRY INSIGHTS.

A.  VOLUMINOUS VOLES. 

Participants at this week's Southwest Ohio BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About viewed significant vole damage on a mass planting of low-growing junipers.  Main stems near the crowns of the plants had large areas of bark stripped down to the white wood causing attached branches to turn brown.  Small, parallel teeth marks that looked like they were made by tiny chisels were evident; the calling-card of voles.  However, the voles did not feed on every main stem.  Consequently, browned branches were made more obvious when surrounded by healthy, green, unaffected foliage. The damage resulted from voles stripping the bark to consume the sugar-rich phloem tissue, and it most likely occurred during the fall or winter with branch dieback symptoms just now appearing.  Several participants noted that the damage looked very similar to symptoms produced on juniper by exposure to glyphosate (e.g. RoundUp) where branch tips were sprayed during edging applications of the herbicide.

Voles are small, stout-bodied rodents with partially hidden ears, small beady eyes, short legs, and a short tail that is covered in fur.  They range in size from 5-7" in length.  Voles have a number of common names including "meadow mice," and "field mice;" however, they belong to the genus Microtus, not the genus Mus genus which includes the house mouse (Mus musculus).  There are 23 species of voles found in the United States.  The three that are most commonly found in Ohio are the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvannicus), the prairie vole (M. ochrogaster), and the pine or woodland vole (M. pinetorum). Voles live both above and below ground (semi-fossorial) and are excellent tunnelers.  Above ground, they make tunnel-like "runways" in the grass.  Voles are sometimes mistaken for mice, moles, or other rodents.  Mice are surface dwellers and will reside in buildings.  They also have long tails that extend nearly half the length of their body, whereas voles have short tails.  Moles live below ground (fossorial) and they have large paddle-like front paws.  Also, moles are meat eaters while voles and mice are plant eaters.  Their feeding behavior allows voles to be controlled with poisoned baits.  Extreme care should be taken in deploying baits to avoid killing non-target animals; read and follow label directions!  Voles can also be trapped with standard mouse traps; however, this method is most effective when populations are low, not during "outbreak" years when vole populations are extremely high.

For more information, see:

• eXtension Fact Sheet
• Cornell Univ. IPM Fact Sheet

B.  BIZ BUZZ.  FIVE-STEP TRAINING METHOD.  Dr. Bernie Erven, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, suggests actual instruction can be aided by a five-step teaching method:  Prepare, Tell, Show, Do, and Review.

*PREPARE the learner.  Learners are prepared when they are at ease, understand why they need to learn the task, are interested in learning, and have the confidence that they can learn and the trainer can teach.  It helps to show enthusiasm for the task, relate the task to what the learner already knows help the learner envision being an expert in the task, have the learner explain how the task will relate to success of the business, add fun and prestige to the task when possible, and associate the task with respected co-workers.

*TELL the learner about each step or part of the task.

*SHOW the learner how to do each step or part of the task.  In demonstrating the task, explain each step, emphasizing the key points and more difficult steps.  Remember the little and seemingly simple parts of the task. Get the learner involved by asking questions about what is being shown.

*Have the learner DO each step of the task while being observed by the trainer and then without the trainer observing.  Ask the learner to explain each step as it is performed.  If steps or parts of the task are omitted, re-explain the steps and have the learner repeat them.

*REVIEW each step or part of the task with the learner, offering encouragement, constructive criticism and additional pointers on how to do the job.  Be frank in the appraisal.  Encourage the learner toward self-appraisal.

9.  COMING ATTRACTIONS.

A.  CELEBRATE MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS (MGV) IN YOUR COMMUNITY DURING MGV WEEK, MAY 17-23, 2009! 

Celebrate and say thanks to the MGVs in Ohio communities for all of the great work they do to support OSU Extension.  MGV Week began last year and honors the hard work and dedication of MG volunteers throughout Ohio and recognizes OSU Extension's efforts in promoting the MGV program. The program provides leadership and educational development to individuals interested in gardening and giving back to their communities.

"Master Gardeners Volunteers Teaching 'Green'" is this year's theme for MGV Program Week and activities and programs will be held throughout Ohio's counties emphasizing that theme.  Learn more about being green in the landscape and garden from the following factsheet:  http://mastergardener.osu.edu/pdf/MGVwk_flyer.pdf .

To find out if there is an MGV program in a county, go to the MGV State website and click on counties at the top, then click on the county:  http://mastergardener.osu.edu .

B.  EMERALD ASH BORER AWARENESS WEEK.  Sunday, May 17, 2009 kicks-off EAB Awareness Week.  The week-long event was created as a means to promote the regional message of buying firewood locally and not moving it great distances, that could potential spread EAB and other pests more quickly.  The timing has always been the week prior to the Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start to the camping season.

If you live in an area where EAB is killing trees, it is important that the wood be handled properly to avoid a faster spread of the borer through artificial movement into uninfested or lightly infested areas. 

For more information, see:

• OSU's EAB Website
• Regional EAB Website

10.  BYGLOSOPHY. 

The first gatherings of the garden in May of salads, radishes and herbs made me feel like a mother about her baby - how could anything so beautiful be mine.  And this emotion of wonder filled me for each vegetable as it was gathered every year.  There is nothing that is comparable to it, as satisfactory or as thrilling, as gathering the vegetables one has grown.

- Alice B. Toklas