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BUCKEYE YARD AND GARDEN LINE 2009-13 From: Pam Bennett, Barb Bloetscher, Joe Boggs, Cindy Burskey, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke, Gary Gao, David Goerig, Tim Malinich, Becky McCann, Amy Stone, and Curtis Young. This is the 13th 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 30th 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); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Gary Gao (Delaware); Dave Goerig (Mahoning); Tim Malinich (Lorain); Bridget Meiring (CWEPPDC); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy Taylor (CWEPPDC); Curtis Young (Hancock) and Randy Zondag (Lake). In This Issue:
1. WEATHERWATCH. The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the dates: January 1- June 30, 2009, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. Precipitation totals for each of the 5 locations for the first 6 months of 2009 are below average. BYGLers reported cooler temperatures this week across the buckeye state. Prior to this cool down, Joe Boggs reported that southwest Ohio has experienced temperatures in the 90s. Temperatures were not that hot in the northern portion of the state, and in fact Randy Zondag reported evenings have been on the cool side in Lake County.
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 930 to 1,509. Following is a report of GDD for several locations around Ohio as of July 01, 2009: Painesville, 930; Cleveland, 988; Toledo, 1,232; Canfield, 1,052; Findlay, 1,283; Wooster, 1,128; Coshocton, 1,270; Columbus, 1,419; Springfield, 1,408; Dayton, 1,412; Cincinnati, 1,456; Ironton, 1,457; Portsmouth, 1,461; and Piketon, 1,509. 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. 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; Ural falsespirea, first bloom, 1,170; panicled goldenraintree, full bloom, 1,251; rose-of-sharon, first bloom, 1,347; pine needle scale, egg hatch - 2nd generation, 1,349; mimosa webworm, egg hatch - 2nd generation, 1,920; euonymus scale, egg hatch - 2nd generation, 1,923; magnolia scale, egg hatch, 1,938; and banded ash clearwing borer, adult emergence, 2,195. This will be the last reporting of GDD for this year. Most locations for which GDD is being reported have accumulated enough GDD's to have exceeded most of the pests and flowering plants that are included in the phenology table. Reporting of GDD will return in next year's BYGL. Thanks for following along! B. VEGETABLE GARDENING 101 - JULY 02, 2009 - RABBITS TAKING A BITE OUT OF GARDEN PLANTS. Gary Gao reported that rabbits have taken a big bite out of the green bean crops in home gardens. Pam Bennett saw one rabbit making faces at her outside her office while staring through the chicken wire fence around her demonstration gardens. These big-eared creatures might look cute when they are roaming around in the wild. However, they don't look that cute when they reduce a gardener's green bean plants to nothing but bare stems. One of the more effective management practices is to build a two‑foot high, one‑inch mesh chicken wire fence around the garden. Make sure the wire fence is dug into the soil 4‑6". A physical barrier like this will be sufficient to keep most rabbits out of the garden. Chain link fence will not be sufficient because small rabbits can easily squeeze through the standard chain link mesh. A good source for nuisance wildlife information is the Division of Wildlife of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Their phone number is 1-800-WILDLIFE. C. TOMATO TROUBLES. Pam Bennett received a photo of a tomato with yellowing leaves from the OSUE Shelby County office. The gardener noted that about 10 out of 20 plants had several leaves with the yellow appearance. The yellowing was not around the outside edges or the leaf tips, but rather located along the stems and the base of the leaves. Upon seeing the photos (via Webex), CWEPPDC diagnosticians noted that it appeared to be suggestive of glyphosate herbicide injury on tomatoes. Glyphosate causes chlorosis, followed by necrosis and eventual tissue destruction. The appearance is a yellowing of the leaves that eventually turns a "bleached out" color. Those leaves dry and fall off. With any questions regarding herbicide damage to vegetables, the old adage "when in doubt throw it out" applies. D. 2,4-D INJURY TO GRAPEVINES? Gary Gao received two images of grape leaves with very strange-looking growth patterns. Younger leaves were very small, narrow (strappy) and mis-shapened. Leaves have a fan-shaped appearance, and are sometimes cupped. Leaf margins end in sharp points where leaf veins reach the margins. The affected leaves almost resemble Ginkgo leaves. These symptoms match those of grape leaves that were exposed to 2,4-D, dicamba or other phenoxy herbicides. Dr. Mike Ellis, an OSU Extension fruit pathologist, also said that 2,4-D injury to grapevines is very common. Grapevines are extremely sensitive to 2, 4-D and other broadleaf herbicides. It is very important to avoid any drift of herbicide to grapevines, especially broadleaf herbicides. Hopefully, those grapevines will recover. Only time will tell. E. 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 - VERBENA (Verbena spp.). This group consists of more than 200 species of hardy and tender plants that are excellent in tough areas of the garden. They are very tolerant of drought and prefer hot weather in full sun. Verbenas grow from 4-6" high (groundcover type) to 10-12" tall (bush type) to upwards of 4' tall (V. bonariensis). The blooms typically range in the purple, red, pink, and white range. The flattened clusters of flowers are around 2-3" across. The flowers start in early summer and last until a hard frost; many species re-seed in the garden as well. The flowers attract hummingbird moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds, especially those of V. bonariensis. Varieties such as 'Tapiens', 'Temari' and 'Sakura' don't require deadheading to stay nice all season. *PERENNIAL - BUTTERFLYWEED (Aesclepias tuberosa). This native wildflower is showing its incredible color in central Ohio now. The bright flat-topped clusters of orange blooms cover the 2-3' tall shrubby plant and last until fall. The blooms are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, and make great cut flowers. The plant is also a larval host for the Monarch, grey hairstreak, and Queen butterflies. The plant is very drought tolerant once established, but does not transplant well. It thrives in poor soil. Anecdotally, it has been observed to have high deer resistance ... sounds like a great plant for most of Ohio, huh?!?! The cultivar 'Gay Butterflies' has a mix of yellow, orange, and red flowers on 2' tall stems. *WOODY - SWEETBAY MAGNOLIA (Magnolia virginiana). Sweetbay magnolia is also called swampbay or swamp magnolia because unlike other magnolias it does well in wet and even swampy soils. It is often grown as an ornamental landscape tree because of its attractive foliage, flowers and fruit. Sweetbay magnolia can be semi-evergreen to deciduous and leaves are alternate, simple, approximately 3-5" in length. This plant does well in warmer climates and can become over a 60' tree whereas in the north this plant is a small, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub approximately 10-20'. * THE WEEKLY WEED - FIELD BINDWEED (Convolvulus arvensis). Field bindweed is a perennial broadleaf weed that spreads from an extensive rootstock as well as from seed. Mature leaves are alternate, simple, and are arrowhead-shaped with pointed or blunt lobes at the base. Stems may be several feet long and trail along the ground or climb on upright plants such as shrubs. Another plant, wild buckwheat has trailing stems that are often mistaken for field bindweed stems. Established field bindweed is difficult to control. This plant is very persistent and a successful control program must be more persistent. The best control of field bindweed is obtained with a combination of cultivation, selective herbicides, and competitive crops. Successful control of field bindweed requires a long-term management program. An herbicide such a glyphosate (i.e. Roundup) applied once will never eliminate established stands; rather, several appropriately timed treatments are required to control field bindweed and keep it suppressed. Because of long seed viability and tremendous food reserves stored in the roots, repeated chemical and/or mechanical control measures must be used. When using herbicides always be sure to follow label instructions. *ADDENDUM TO LAST WEEK'S WEEKLY WEED - CHICORY (Cichorium intybus). It was brought to the attention of BYGLers by the Auglaize County Extension Educator, John Smith that the common chicory weed growing at the edges of Ohio roads is not the plant used for the production of the coffee substitute. It is true that the roadside weed is not the exact plant that is used for this purpose. However, it is the same species. It is a cultivated selection or subspecies of common chicory, the weed. The cultivated form is a root crop (C. intybus var. sativum) which is baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and additive. Another cultivated form is grown for its leaves (C. intybus var. foliosum). Common names for variety foliosum include endive, radicchio, Belgian endive, French endive, red endive, sugarloaf and witloof.
3. GREEN SHORTS. A. IS TURFGRASS SUITABLE FOR USE IN RAIN GARDENS? There are often questions of how turf can be used in rain gardens as vegetative cover. In a study at the University of Wisconsin, graduate student Jake Schneider built 16 rain gardens based upon Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources specifications in October 2005, each of which received drainage from a 200 sq. ft. section of rooftop. Four of the eight gardens were sodded with turfgrass (Kentucky bluegrass) and surrounded by a 6" high berm; the other four were not. Similarly eight gardens were planted with a mix of prairie species, and bermed and unbermed. After monitoring the gardens for 1 1/2 years, the bermed gardens were found to consistently produce less runoff and allowed greater volumes of water to penetrate the soil. At the same time, plots planted with prairie species and those covered in turf performed similarly, despite the difference in the plants' root systems. It was reported that since the study began, the researchers had found little difference in the performance of rain gardens planted with prairie species versus those sporting a lawn of common turfgrasses. Instead, construction parameters had appeared to hold sway, including garden size and the presence of a water-retaining berm. Mr. Schneider further stated, "I think the bottom line is that if you put in a rain garden as a catch basin, it's going to be incredibly effective, no matter what type of vegetation you have." In November 2007, Schneider reported, "After one year of data collection, both bermed treatments significantly reduced the amount of runoff and increased the amount of leachate when compared to both unbermed treatments. The unbermed native mixture treatments produced over two times more runoff than did the unbermed Kentucky bluegrass treatments. These results indicate that the presence of a berm appears to be the major determining factor behind rain gardens regardless of vegetation type. (Schneider, Stier, and Soldat, 2007 and Schneider, "Urban Rain Gardens for Controlling Stormwater Runoff and Increasing Groundwater Recharge" (Master's Thesis), University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2007). B. BUCKEYE LADY BEETLE BLITZ. Ohio's First Lady, Master Gardener Volunteers, 4-H Youth, and others are assisting Dr. Mary Gardiner, OARDC Entomologist in a survey of Ohio's lady beetle (ladybug) population. Volunteers are surveying lady beetles in their gardens 2 times this summer, once in June and again in August. They then identify the beetles caught in their sticky traps and send the results to Mary's lab. Once completed, Mary will have a good idea of the population of native lady beetles compared to those that are introduced. Refer to the website: [ http://ladybeetle.osu.edu ] for more details. In addition, Mary has provided an excellent identification card so that readers can learn to identify lady beetles in their backyard as well as a blog to update readers on the status of the survey. Watch for complete results of the survey in a later issue of BYGL.
4. CLINIC CLIPS. Barb Bloetscher received a diverse assembly of samples this week: a locust seed beetle was found in a person's bed, and a sticky trap full of the lesser house fly was submitted from a garage. Both the woolly elm aphid and a woolly aphid that sucks nutrients from serviceberry had dropped the exudates onto branches and surfaces below that formed sooty mold. From the plant disease diagnosticians in the CWEPPDC, a thornless blackberry sample was infected with cane canker which is caused by Gnomonia rubi. This disease and some other canker diseases are often more severe on the flowering canes, winter injury is suspected to predispose the canes to infection. A maple sample was infected with both Phyllosticta leaf spot and tar spot, the leaves were heavily spotted by these diseases. Even so, these diseases are not expected to cause significant effects on the overall health of the tree. Anthracnose was identified on an oak. A powdery mildew was identified on a peony; this has not been reported in Ohio before. We will work to identify this powdery mildew more exactly.
5. BUGBYTES. A. FLAMING BLACK LOCUSTS. Joe Boggs reported that the annual flaming of black locusts caused by LOCUST LEAFMINER (Odontota dorsalis) is getting underway in southern Ohio. Damage by this insect should be familiar to travelers motoring on Ohio's interstate highways. Larval and especially adult feeding activity produces a captivating reddish-brown leaf coloration that highlights infested trees, allowing black locusts to be positively identified at highway speeds! Usually, "flamed" trees do not become apparent until later in the season. The adults are less than 1/4" long, and are orangish-red with a median black line down the center of the back. They are fairly flat beetles and frequently feed in clusters. In the spring, overwintered beetles emerge to feed as skeletonizers on the leaves of their namesake host as well as several other tree species including beech, cherry, crabapple, dogwood, elm, hawthorn, and yellowwood. They may also be found on a number of herbaceous plants such as soybeans. Eventually, the beetles begin laying eggs. While black locust is the most suitable larval host, the adults will also lay eggs on yellowwood. Eggs are laid in clusters of three to five in late May or early June on the undersides of leaves. The larvae hatching from these eggs work their way into the leaf through one entrance hole and live in common blotch mines. Later, they go to other leaves and make separate mines. Larvae feed for about three weeks, pupation takes place in the mine, and beetles emerge a week or 10 days later. The beetle has two generations per year in much of Ohio. B. LACE BUG POTPOURRI. BYGLers reported that they are observing the handiwork of a number of lace bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae) including: HAWTHORN LACE BUG (Corythucha cydoniae); BASSWOOD LACE BUG (Gargaphia tiliae); OAK LACE BUG (C. arcuata); and CHRYSANTHEMUM LACE BUG (C. marmorata). Hawthorn and basswood lace bugs feed on the lower leaf surface while oak lace bugs are confined to the upper leaf surface and chrysanthemum lace bugs are found on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Lace bugs use their piercing/sucking mouth parts to suck juices from their host plants. Their feeding produces tiny yellow or whitish leaf spots (stippling) that may coalesce to produce large, yellow-to-copper colored areas on leaves, and early leaf drop. It is not unusual for early feeding symptoms of the hawthorn and basswood lace bugs to appear as distinct 1/4-1/2" diameter spots on the upper leaf surface. It is speculated that the circular stippling pattern is produced by nymphs feeding around egg clusters. Lace bugs also deposit unsightly hard, black, varnish-like tar spots of excrement onto the leaf surface as they feed. Most lace bugs have multiple generations per season, and their damage builds with each succeeding crop of new bugs. Hawthorn lace bugs have a cosmopolitan palate and will feast on a variety of rosaceous plants as well as a few plants outside of the rose family. They are commonly observed on Cotoneaster sp. and Amelanchier sp. as well as their namesake host. Basswood lace bugs should more accurately be called "Tilia lace bugs" since they may be found on several species in the Tilia genus. Typical landscape hosts including littleleaf linden (T. cordata) and silver linden (T. tomentosa). Oak lace bugs may be found on both red and white oaks. Despite its common name, the chrysanthemum bug will feed on several herbaceous perennials, particularly asters. C. MILKWEED MENAGERIE. A number of plants in the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) have transcended "weed status" in recent years to join the ranks of plant-respectability. They are used in butterfly gardens, landscapes and naturalized areas. Their beautiful forms and flowers are enhanced by their special relationship with the MONARCH BUTTERFLY (Danaus plexippus). However, the monarch caterpillars may be joined by other insect herbivores that also enjoy a "special relationship" with their milky hosts. Brightly colored RED MILKWEED BEETLES (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) are currently easy to find in Ohio feasting on milkweed. The tubular-shaped 3/8-1/2" long beetles are orangish-red with black dots and streaks on their upper thorax and wing covers. These longhorn beetles (Family Cerambycidae), so named because of their long antennae, have a very descriptive scientific name. "Tetraopes" means "four eyes," and a close examination will reveal that the antennae divide the compound eyes causing the beetle to have four eyes. The adults feed on milkweed leaves and the larvae bore into the roots and stems. Like the monarch, red milkweed beetles also seek protection from predators by accumulating in their flesh the alkaloid toxins, called cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), which are concentrated in the milkweed's sap. The same is true for MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH (Euchaetes egle) caterpillars; LARGE MILKWEED BUGS (Oncopeltus fasciatus); and SMALL MILKWEED BUGS (Lygaeus kalmii). Indeed, over 50 different taxonomic groups of milkweed-herbivorous insects accumulate milkweed toxins, and all advertise their toxic character through splashy coloration, usually involving an orange on black motif. A fascinating twist to the old axiom that "you are what you eat." D. A RARE BEETLE. Joe Boggs shared an image with BYGLers of a fascinating longhorn beetle (Family Cerambycidae) in hopes of getting help with identification. Barb Bloetscher came to the rescue identifying the beetle as the SIX-BANDED LONGHORN BEETLE (Dryobius sexnotatus). Longhorn beetles are so named because of their unusually long antennae. The six-banded longhorn beetle's antennae are much longer than the beetle's body. Cerambycid larvae are wood borers, and they are commonly referred to as "roundheaded borers." The segments towards the front of the fleshy, thin-skinned, yellowish-white larvae are larger in diameter than the rest of the segments. This makes the larvae look like they have round heads and tapering bodies. The cylindrically-shaped six-banded longhorn beetles are about 1" in length and their legs and antennae are reddish brown. The aptly named beetles have alternating vivid yellow and black transverse bands, both on the top and underside of their bodies. A close examination of the yellow bands will reveal they are composed of scales which means banding patterns may be altered or obscured if the scales are rubbed off. There are two bands on the prothorax and four bands on the wing covers (elytra) on the top of the beetle's bodies. The bands are less numerous on the underside of the beetle's bodies with the thorax being completely yellow and bands only appearing on the abdomen. Although there over 1,000 species of longhorn beetles in the North America, what makes the six-banded unusual is that the beetle is listed as "threatened" in Michigan and Indiana, and a "Species of Concern" in Ohio. The beetles prefer over-mature trees with the larvae requiring 2-3 years to complete their development. It is speculated that the low numbers of the beetle is based on heavy harvesting of trees the beetles target for reproduction. Hosts of the beetle include basswood, beech, elm, and maple, with sugar maple being preferred. Indeed, the beetle carries an alternate common name of "maple drybius." Joe's beetle was found clinging to a window screen by his wife at their Butler County home. Of course, Joe set the beetle free after snapping several images of his wife's rare find. E. WHAT'S THAT CRAWLING INTO YOUR LAMB'S EAR? Reports and calls about EARWIGS (Order Dermaptera) are beginning to increase in numbers at Extension Offices across Ohio. Earwigs are unusual and fearsome looking creatures. It is not surprising that people attributed grotesque behaviors to them. The name earwig literally means "ear creature." It was a one-time widespread belief that earwigs crawled into the ears of sleeping people. It was further believed that the insects would lay eggs inside of the victims' ear canals that could hatch and bore into the brain! Fortunately, none of this is true. However, earwigs do crawl through gardens and bedding plants, and as the season continues, their numbers are increasing. In gardens and bedding and potted plants, earwigs typically consume dead and decaying plant material, prey on other insects, eggs of invertebrates, and in some cases, earwigs do feed directly on live plant material. Gardeners don't normally see the earwigs feeding on their plants because earwigs are mostly nocturnal. Gardeners and non-gardeners alike frequently discover the earwigs in their daytime hiding places. Earwigs will use many objects to hide in and under around homes including mailboxes, covered electric outlets, breaker boxes, birdhouses, and under plastics, tarps, tarpaper and boards that may be laying on the ground or leaning against a building. They will also manage to get between doors and door jams where the person who opens that door for the first time in the morning will get a shower of earwigs falling upon their heads if they are not careful. One of our most common earwigs in Ohio is the EUROPEAN EARWING (Forficula auricularia). Adult European earwigs are 5/8" long and are dark reddish-brown in color. The head is reddish and the legs are yellow-brown in color. This species exhibits polymorphism: adult males are of different size and form. The forceps of some males are 3/16" long, while others have forceps 3/8" long. Management of earwigs can be accomplished through habitat modification, traps and exterior perimeter insecticide sprays. Habitat modifications include eliminating hiding, breeding and nesting places, removing decaying plant materials (e.g. piles of leaves, grass clippings, pulled weeds, etc.), and improving drainage to limit excess moisture. Traps are grooved boards laid on the ground that need to be checked and cleaned regularly by brushing hiding earwigs into a bucket of soapy water. Numerous insecticides include earwigs on their labels for treatments around foundations and bedding areas. Insecticides such as acephate (Orthene), carbaryl (Sevin) and permethrin are effective against earwigs. Read labels carefully for proper use instructions and precautions. F. WINDSHIELD WIPE. BYGLers also ran into a few other insects and mites this week including: *BYGLers reported that spider-like ASSASSIN BUG NYMPHS are roaming among the leaves of landscape plants in Ohio in search of an insect meal. With their long, spindly black legs, and their habit of holding their brightly colored abdomens in a vertical position, these Hemipterans (true bugs) are often mistaken for spiders. Assassin bug nymphs and adults wield long, piercing-sucking mouthparts which are used like soda straws to extract the essence-of-insect from their prey. The bugs belong to the family Reduviidae which has over 160 species that are found in North America. All are predators. The nymphs should be left alone for two reasons. First, they can use their sucking mouthparts to deliver a painful bite! Second, they are very important beneficial insects that kill insect pests. *Joe Boggs reported receiving phone calls from concerned homeowners concerning PLANTHOPPER NYMPHS on the stems of herbaceous perennials and low-growing woody ornamentals. Planthoppers are sucking insects, like aphids, and the nymphs of several species cloak themselves in a dense tangle of waxy, white "fluff." They also congregate in groups, or "colonies," and the collective profusion of flocculent material on plant stems draws attention to the insects. The nymphs also produce copious quantities of honeydew which may coat the plant and become colonized by black sooty molds. However, planthoppers seldom become more than a nuisance pest. If management is required, any insecticide labeled for use on the affected plant will be effective, or a course stream of water will also do the trick.
6. DISEASE DIGEST. A. MOIST CHAMBER. BYGLers reported a number of infectious plant diseases from around the state. These included: *BACTERIAL FIREBLIGHT. This disease occurs only on plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), and was reported on Callery pears, crabapple, cotoneaster and serviceberry. Symptoms include curled shoots, often described as "Shepherd's crooks" with browned and blackened leaves remaining attached to the twigs. This disease is not readily controllable with bacteriacides but some copper and streptomycin products are used in spring to help limit early infections. There are no effective spray controls for this disease at this time of the season. *POWDERY MILDEW DISEASES. A number of different powdery mildew fungi are showing up as powdery white or gray-white growth on landscape plants now. Usual suspects such as lilac powdery mildew and phlox powdery mildew were reported this past week. Nancy Taylor reported a case of POWDERY MILDEW OF PEONY from the PPDC. Searches thus far do not indicate that this has been noted before for the state, so this may be a first report for powdery mildew of peony in Ohio. *CEDAR RUSTS are becoming evident on hawthorns and to some extent crabapples throughout the state. CEDAR APPLE RUST and CEDAR HAWTHORN RUST are causing small orange spots on the upper surface of leaves. CEDAR QUINCE RUST is also showing up with orange fungal pustules on hawthorn fruits. It is also way too late to use fungicides to prevent or limit this disease for the season. *ANTHRACNOSE diseases are still evident on many plants, though typically not with severe incidence. Most anthracnose diseases develop during cool, spring weather, so they typically do not become worse as the summer progresses. BLACK SPOT OF ELM, though is one anthracnose disease that develops somewhat later and may be showing up now on elms, including Camperdown elm.
7. TURF TIPS. A. LAWN WATERING IN SUMMER. There is a wide range of rainfall amounts across Ohio. Curtis Young reported that Hancock and Hardin Counties are experiencing quite a drought. Jim Chatfield reported that lawns in Wayne County and a few more counties in the northeastern Ohio are lush and green. If homeowners desire lush green lawns in summer, they will have to provide an inch of rain per week in the form of irrigation, if it does not rain. Sometimes, it is good to split that total amount of water into two irrigation events, 1/2" each time. When watering the lawn, it is a good idea to water the lawn in the morning, preferably between 6-10 a.m. It is definitely not a good idea to water the lawn in the evening. Leaves, crowns and roots that stay wet for a long time are more prone to diseases. Technically, lawns can remain dormant for up to 5 weeks without watering. However, it is hard for some to deal with the brown lawn for two months or longer, well, unless the homeowner had the privilege of seeing how much 1" of water per week for 8 weeks translates into dollars! B. BROWN PATCH STILL PRESENT (Written by Joe Rimelspach, OSU Plant Pathology, June 23, 2009). Brown patch disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani has been seen on tall fescue and perennial ryegrass this past week. Symptoms appear as small rings which can spread to be 2' in diameter. Upon closer inspection, leaf lesions are tan to chocolate brown with a dark brown band of discolored leaf tissue where the necrotic tissue and the green tissue meet. It is quite difficult to diagnose brown patch and is often confused with dollar spot or pythium disease. Preventive fungicide applications are the most effective way to manage most turfgrass diseases. For brown patch, the applications should be made as soon as environmental conditions are favorable for the disease; wet conditions combined with night air temperatures at or above 65F and day temperatures from 80 – 90F. wet conditions from overwatering or frequent rainfall is often the key element for severe disease outbreaks. Fungicides labeled for managing brown patch include chlorothalonil (Daconil Ultrex), iprodione (Chipco 26019 or 26GT), flutolanil (ProStar), mancozeb (Fore), polyoxin D zinc sald (Endorse), the QoI (strobilurin) products (Compass, Disarm, Heritage, Insignia) and are extremely effective against brown patch. Read the label for additional information and proper use of the product. If concerns that other turfgrass diseases are pending, check the product labels to see which ones may control these diseases also, for example the QoI products are effective against Pythium but not dollar spot. Fungicides integrated with other management practices will maximize their effectiveness and management of the disease.
8. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS. A. SCALE CRAWLERS ACTIVE. Randy Zondag reported that several scale insect crawlers are on the move at the current time in northeastern Ohio. These scale insects include EUONYMUS SCALE (Unaspis euonymi) (actually near the tail-end of their crawler stage), CALICO SCALE (Eulecanium cerasorum), OYSTERSHELL SCALE (Lepidosaphes ulmi) and FLETCHER SCALE (Parthenolecanium fletcheri). The significance of this report is that the most vulnerable stage for control of "hard" or "armored" scales is the immature "crawler" stage. This mobile form is the first stage after egg hatch and is devoid of the hard, waxy covering that protects the insect from the effects of most insecticides. The "soft" scales are also very vulnerable at this stage. In severe cases, scale can lead to dieback of branches and decline, due to the constant stress they impose on their hosts. Due to the honey dew produced by the soft scale and resulting sooty mold that grows on the sweet excretions, leaves and branches can become covered with black, sticky goo, causing leaves to fall, with further stress to the host (and plant manager). Fletcher scale females are tan brown in color and can be found on plants such as Taxus and arborvitae. The crawlers are flat and yellowish in color and do not travel far from the female before settling. The juvenile scale in the spring grows quickly and produces large amounts of honeydew. Sooty mold grows on the honeydew which is difficult at best to remove. The female can lay 500-600 eggs per year. Fletcher scale is reported to have one generation. Open the plants and look for this pest now. Oystershell scale and euonymus scale are also armored scales and are especially difficult to control, as the crawlers settle fairly quickly. It is crucial to spray the scale at the crawler stage to obtain good control of these pests. For both the armored and soft scales, it is important to know the scale species so that the insecticide can be applied when the crawlers are active. As the GDD phenological calendar indicates, these and other scale crawlers are present now. Randy commented on the fact that many nurseries are having difficulties in managing these scale insects. Part of the difficulty is getting thorough coverage of infested plants with insecticides. These crawlers tend to get into hard to reach places on host plants as they disperse across the plant. Research conducted by USDA and OARDC personnel has shown that standard air-blast sprayers are not penetrating plants thoroughly enough to get to the insects toward the interior of the host plants. As a result, infestations continue to build, and cause damage to the nursery stock. There are methods of determining how well materials are penetrating plants and how well they are covering surfaces inside the plants. To learn more about these methods and other ways of optimizing pesticide spraying techniques, one should consider attending the sprayer optimization workshop being offer in Lake County on July 15, 2009 (see announcement below in Coming Attractions).
9. COMING ATTRACTIONS. A. SOUTHWEST OHIO BYGLIVE! WALK-ABOUT. The fourth monthly Southwest Ohio BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About for 2009 will be held Monday, July 13, from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at Glenwood Gardens (Hamilton County Park District), 10623 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn, 45215. This monthly hands-on training for Green Industry professionals focuses on diagnosing plant pest, disease, and physiological problems. ISA Certified Arborist CEU's will be available. Participants will meet in the parking lot furthest from the entrance to the Gardens. For more information, contact Joe Boggs at 513-946-8993. B. SPRAY OPTIMIZATION WORKSHOP. Optimizing spray rates for nurseries can save time, material and money. This workshop will be held on July 15, 2009 at Natorp's Nursery, 5373 Merten Drive, Mason, OH (a.m. sessions) and 8601 Snider Road, Mason, OH (p.m. sessions). To register for the workshop contact OSUE Lake County, phone: 440-350-2582. Make checks payable to: Associated Green Industries. C. 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 D. 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 ]. E. NORTHWEST OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY SUMMER SESSION. Remember to SAVE the date for the 12th annual Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session on August 5, 2009. The event will be held once again at Owens Community College. We are especially pleased of this year's great line up of speakers: OSU Extension; Pam Bennett, Dr. Dave Shetlar, Jim Chatfield, Gary Gao, Joe Rimelspach, and Joanne Kick-Raack; Dr. Roger Funk, The Davey Institute; Stephanie Miller, ODNR; and Matt Ross, Toledo Botanical Garden. Once again we will have a three hour manager session with Dr. Bernie Erven, OSU Extension, Columbus, Ohio, working with you as you look at Managing for Success. This session will be both informative and very interactive as you look at your business and where you want to grow. F. PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING OFFERED. Trained Serviceperson and New Applicator Commercial Schools are planned for August 26, 2009 and September 30, 2009. These sessions will be taught at the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. For additional information on these schools, and other educational opportunities, check out the Pesticide Education website at [ http://pested.osu.edu ]. G. WOOD DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION TRAINING. Mark your calendars for training on September 16, 2009. This training will be held at ODA in Reynoldsburg. Recertification credit will also be available in Core, 10b and 12. For additional information, check out [ http://pested.osu.edu ]. H. DATES SET FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCES. The following dates have been set for recertification conferences this winter. Mark your calendars now!
10. BYGLOSOPHY. "Mosquito is out it's the end of the day; she's humming and hunting her evening away. Who knows why such hunger arrives on such wings at sundown? I guess it's the nature of things." - N.M. Boedecker, "Midsummer Night Itch."
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 Vietnam-era veteran 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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| Last Updated on Monday, 06 July 2009 14:23 |
