UMass Extension Landscape Message #15
June 11, 2004

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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

The following growing degree day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected from June 3 through June 9, 2004. Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on June 9, 2004. Accumulated GDDs represent the heating units above the 50° F. baseline temperature collected via our mini-computers since the beginning of the current growing season. Please note that this data is particularly useful for pinpointing pest development at any time during the season.

Southeast - General conditions: No report this week.

East - General Conditions: Hot and humid now; cooler and cloudier over the past weekend.

Central - General Conditions: In spite of frequent showers over the last week the rainfall has not been plentiful enough to keep the soils from drying out.

West - General Conditions: The daily temperatures have been quite variable from below normal to within the past few days very hot. There has been less rainfall but the soil moisture level is adequate as evidenced by the green lawns and flourishing gardens. Pests/Problems: A variety of leaf spot diseases are evident on both woody and herbaceous perennials (apple scab, anthracnose, Septoria and Cercospora leaf spots). The presence of and assortment of caterpillars and their leaf-feeding damage continues to be common.

Berkshire - General Conditions: Landscapes look lush despite heavy feeding by an assortment of caterpillars and sawfly larvae. Soil moisture is high and turf areas are growing fast. Pests/Problems: Caterpillars reign. Gypsy Moth and Forest Tent caterpillar populations are especially high. Aphids are prominent on many shrubs and vines, especially mockorange and honeysuckle. Leafhoppers, rose slug, sawfly larvae, cutworms are present in large numbers. Fire blight on sand cherry, powdery mildew on phlox, and leaf spots on herbaceous perennials are current disease problems.

PHENOLOGY

The phenological indicators are a visual tool for correlating plant development with pest development. The following are the indicator plants and the stages of bloom observed for this period:

CAPE COD REGION - Roberta Clark, Horticulturist for Barnstable County, Barnstable.

SOUTHEAST REGION - Deborah Swanson, Horticulturist for UMass Extension in Plymouth County, Hanson

EAST REGION - James R. Allen, Horticulturist and Greenhouse Manager for UMass Biology Department, Boston

CENTRAL REGION - Joann Vieira, Superintendent of Horticulture, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston.

WESTERN REGION - Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab, UMass, Amherst.

BERKSHIRE REGION - Ronald Kujawski, Nursery Specialist, UMass Extension Agriculture & Landscape Program, Amherst.

WOODY ORNAMENTALS

INSECTS

Caterpillars

In general, products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. kurstaki) are very effective against the younger free-feeding caterpillars in the Lepidoptera only. Products that contain spinosad are generally very effective against caterpillars in the Lepidoptera and the Hymenoptera (wasp-like as adults). There are also many chemical insecticides that are labeled for caterpillars, which are pyrethroids, organo-phosphates, carbamates, and other classes.

Lepidoptera (moths):

• Winter Moth - has ceased its feeding activity in all of the state and will not be a caterpillar again until next April. They are currently pupating in the soil. Moth flight will begin around Thanksgiving time and the size of that will be an indicator for the size of next year's caterpillar population. Mostly maples were affected but many other deciduous hosts suffered injury. Monitor defoliated plants, especially during dry, hot periods and supply needed water if possible. Fertilizer applications to defoliated trees are not necessary nor are they recommended. Also, bear in mind that there are many different caterpillar species that are active this year, many in substantial numbers. Continue to monitor trees that were injured by winter moth for the presence of other caterpillar species; treat if necessary.

• Fall Cankerworm - Initially thought to be in low numbers in coastal areas, it is now being found in large numbers in many of the same areas as winter moth. It is mostly on oaks but it is also being found on other deciduous species. This pest will remain active for another week or so. It has three pairs of prolegs but the first pair (most anterior) is about half the size of the other two pairs. In low to moderate size populations, this caterpillar is green. However, when in high densities, it becomes very dark (black). This year, depending on the areas of infestation, we are finding both color types, even within the same town.
  
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar has finished feeding but its unsightly webs remain on Malus and Prunus species. Although defoliation is very apparent in some areas, no further damage will occur. Some of the caterpillars may still be found, usually off of the primary host plant. They are either seeking a pupation site or are parasitized.
  
• Forest Tent Caterpillar remains active and is quite physically large now. When in large numbers they are serious defoliators of hardwoods, especially oaks. Parts of SE MA (Freetown in particular) has already experienced heavy defoliation once again this year. Although, not in damaging numbers (yet) they are in noticeable numbers across the state and throughout much of southern New England. We will need to be vigilant for this pest next year. They will remain active for approximately one more week.
  
• Larch Casebearer Caterpillars have pupated. Adult moths will be active in another 2-3 weeks.
  
• Gypsy Moth caterpillars are far more prevalent this year than expected. They are being found somewhat commonly in weekly monitoring, albeit mostly in low numbers, across much of the state. In the Freetown area of SE MA, their numbers are rather high and they are coming in strong on the heels of the Forest Tent Caterpillar outbreak. Gypsy moth caterpillar are mostly in the 4th instar stage there and are primarily feeding on what is left of the oak leaves. They have a wider host range than that of FTC and will migrate to other deciduous hosts thus causing increased defoliation to that area this year. Products containing spinosad work very well against this pest as do the multitude of registered chemical pesticides. It is too late for the use of B.t. 'kurstaki'.
  
• Fruitworms (Green) remain active. There are many species of these that sometimes appear in large numbers and create damage on such hosts as maples, beech, fruit trees, and many other deciduous hosts. They are now much larger than winter moth. Do not confuse them with winter moth. Fruitworms generally have five pairs of prolegs and develop a white stripe down the length of their backs. They also achieve a much greater physical size than winter moth. Treat if found in large numbers (most likely, its too late for B.t).
  
• Euonymus Caterpillar is active. This small, pale yellow lepidopteran caterpillar with black spots attacks many varieties of euonymus from shrub-form to tree-form. They produce much silk but act as free feeders by moving throughout the entire plant. By mid-June, affected plants may be defoliated and covered in a fine veil of silk. Treat with Bacillus thurngiensis 'kurstaki', or a spinosad product, or with one of the many registered chemical insecticides.
  
• Mystery caterpillar on witchhazel - Deborah Swanson (Plymouth County) reported last week that she found an unknown species of caterpillar on witch hazel that was causing feeding injury similar to that of the winter moth. Currently, these caterpillars are 3/8" to 1/2" in length, smooth (not hairy), and are a "buttery yellow" color. Roberta Clark (Barnstable County) reported finding them this week in her county (Cape Cod). Samples are being sent to Amherst for identification. We would like to know if anyone else is seeing this potentially new pest this year. If found, please contact Bob Childs at 413-545-1053 or rchilds@ent.umass.edu. We'd like to know the host plant, town, population size of this caterpillar and current damage being caused. Thank you.

Hymenoptera (sawflies):

• European Pine Sawfly - Has finished feeding for this year. However, its injury remains. In some areas of the state, hosts plants lost all of their foliage. Buds are not eaten and new growth should be appearing now but will only be at the branch ends. Plants may appear unsightly for the next couple of years.
  
• Introduced Pine Sawfly will be active soon and may be found on the same host plants as the European Pine sawfly. Last year, this pest was quite prevalent in the eastern part of MA and caused much defoliation. Treat then young caterpillars with Insecticidal Soap or one of the products that contains spinosad.
  
• Azalea Sawfly - has finished feeding for this year.
  
• Rose Slug Sawfly remains very active. This is another sawfly caterpillar that is only active for a short while but capable of creating much unwanted injury. These rather small, pale green caterpillars feed on the upper leaf surface (mostly) by scraping away the leaf surface (skeletonizing). Such areas first appear as a 'window-paning' effect but later turn brown as tissue dies. Treat with a spinosad product when found.
  
• Oak Sawfly are very active. In general, they are usually found in small numbers feeding by scraping the foliage, which leads to a 'window-paning' effect. In large numbers, they can be serious defoliators. These are more prevalent this year than it has been in past years. Spinosad products are effective if deemed necessary.
  
• Birch Sawfly are active. They will appear in clusters on foliage of many species of birch. Treat with a spinosad product when found. Small individual clusters can be pruned away and destroyed by hand.
  
• Locust Sawfly is very active. We usually do not have to deal with this pest but this year it is causing defoliation. Primary host plants are black locust and rose acacia. Typical to sawflies, they eat all but the main veins of the host foliage. Treat with a spinosad product or with one of the many registered chemical insecticides.
  
• Mountain Ash Sawfly will be active soon. Continue to monitor for this yellow caterpillar with black spots that feeds in clusters. Small infestations can be pruned away and destroyed. Larger infestations can be treated with a spinosad product. This pest consumes all but the main vein of the host plant foliage and is capable of creating serious levels of defoliation.

Beetles

In general, products containing spinosad are effective against the larvae (at least) of many free-feeding beetle species. However, there are also many chemical insecticides that are labeled for caterpillars, which are pyrethroids, organo-phosphates, carbamates, and other classes.

Leaf Beetles:

• Lily Leaf Beetle - Adults of this bright red beetle continue to feed and lay eggs. Eggs are hatching and tiny larvae are feeding. As larvae feed, they pile their own excrement on their backs thus giving them a very unattractive appearance. Monitor for their appearance on true lilies, fritillaria, and Solomon seal. Recent feedback from pest control practitioners suggests that NEEM products may not achieve the desired results for management of this pest. Spinosad products and many different chemical insecticides are labeled for this pest.
  
• Viburnum Leaf Beetle - Has finally been found in MA in the town of Great Barrington (Berkshire County) not far from the NY border. Larvae are active now and creating much injury. Inspect viburnum carefully for bare twigs that have a 'sandpaper' feel to them; this could be an indication of an egg-laying site. Monitor for the larvae that are free-feeders and cause much defoliation injury to viburnum. In areas where winter moth is active, do not confuse that injury with that of the viburnum leaf beetle. Visit the following Cornell web site to become more familiar with this pest: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb
  
• Imported Willow Leaf Beetle is active. The small, round blue-black adults will chew ragged notches in the margins of foliage but it is the larvae that create the bulk of the injury. These small, black, elongate larvae are now active. They line up on the leaf surface and skeletonize. There are multiple generations per year and they will remain active until September. By August, entire trees can appear to have been swept by fire; all of the leaves will be intact but dead and brown from total skeletonizing. Treat with a spinosad product or with one of the many registered chemical insecticides

Scarab Beetles:

• Rose Chafer Adult beetles are active. Monitor roses for the presence of these tan and somewhat slender scarab beetles. Treat if necessary.
  
• Asiatic Garden Beetle are pupating and the rust-colored beetles will be active within a few weeks. The grubs of this pest cause marginal injury to turf but the adults can appear in great numbers, feed at night between first dark (approx 9:00 PM) until about midnight. Adults feed on many hosts including garden plants, annuals, perennials and others. Their feeding can range from notched foliage to heavy defoliation. Inspect at the feeding time with a flashlight; treat if necessary. (Visit the archive to refer to the Turf Insect Section of previous messages for information about management of white grubs in turfgrass.)

Weevils (Snout Beetles):

• Polydrusus Weevil - These small and often bright green weevils are active on a variey of deciduous host plants. They will remain active well into July. They mostly create injury by notching the margins of the foliage, often to an extreme. Treat with a chemical insecticide when found in abundance. Spinosad products might be affective.
  
• Rose Curculio - This stout-bodied weevil is often a rust-red color and found on various roses. It mostly creates injury by destroying flower buds. When in large numbers, it is extremely destructive. Adults are active now. Treat with a chemical insecticide when found.

Piercing-Sucking

In general, imidacloprid applied systemically is very effective on most, with the exception of spider mites. Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, especially against the immature stages, is usually very effective.

Lacebugs:

• Andromeda Lacebug nymphs are active in warmer regions of MA. Inspect the undersides of foliage for their presence. Systemic imidacloprid products work well. If contact (mechanical mode of action) pesticides, such as summer oil sprays or Insecticidal soap, are utilized they need to be targeted to the foliage undersides. Japanese andromeda in sunnier growing sites will experience greater problems with this pest.
  
• Azalea Lacebug will be active very soon, if not already in warmer parts of the state. Like Andromeda Lacebug, this pest is active all summer and capable of creating much stippling (chlorosis) of the foliage. Drought conditions and sunnier growing sites tend to favor this pest.
  
• Sycamore Lacebug will be active soon. Although common to Sycamore, it can be especially destructive to English White Oak. Active all summer, it can lead to serious chlorosis of the host plant.

Plantbugs:

• Honeylocust Plantbug is virtually finished feeding for this year.
  
• Tarnished Plantbug is active. This small, brown insect with pale yellow markings has a wide host plant range that includes shrubs and annuals. It's feeding causes brown dead patches to appear on foliage that resemble disease caused by pathogens. If much spotting occurs, controls may be necessary. This insect is active for much of the summer.

Aphids:

• Assorted Aphid Species are active on many different hosts. Inspect plants carefully for building populations. Catalpa, rose, lindens, and many others are common hosts for aphids. Treat with insecticidal soap sprays, an Imidacloprid product, a summer oil spray, or with one of the many registered chemical insecticides.

Adelgids:

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid can still be treated with horticultural oil but monitor plants carefully for their stage of development. The second generation of eggs for HWA have now hatched. Avoid oil sprays on newly emerging tender foliage. There is strong evidence that much winter mortality occurred (as high as 80-90%) and inspections should be made prior to applications to determine if they are necessary.

Other Piercing-Sucking Insects:

• Spider Mites - Several growth regulator products are available that offer high levels of control; mostly for population numbers that are low to moderate in size. Most are so specific that they kill spider mites but not the beneficial predatory mites. Some even posses ovicidal (egg-killing) qualities. Horticultural oil sprays can also be very effective. Many insecticides and miticides are specifically labeled for spider mites as well.
  
• Spruce Spider Mite remains active. Inspect by gently shaking branches over a white piece of paper and then inspect with a hand lens. Monitor weekly to establish if population numbers increase significantly. Note the numbers of predatory mites present. Treat if necessary.
  
• Two-spotted Spider Mite is active. This species has a wide host range. It is also a 'warm-season' spider mite, which means that it will remain active all season long and be very prolific once the very hot and dry season approaches. Begin to monitor now and continue monitoring throughout the growing season for increasing population numbers. Treat if numbers become too high and (especially) if predator mite population numbers are too low. Horticultural oil sprays (summer rate) can be very effective as well as the other labeled pesticides for mites. Treat only if necessary. Deciduous plants, such as winged euonymus (E. alatus), will develop very chlorotic foliage and may even drop its leaves when high populations occur.

Psyllids:

• Boxwood Psyllid has virtually finished its activity for this year.

Leafminers

• Native Holly Leafminer primarily in American Holly, will be pupating soon if not already in the warmer regions of the state. Place yellow-sticky cards out now to monitor for the activity of the adult flies. Treat at that time with a chemical spray. Adult females are active for several days prior to egg-laying so that is an opportune time to manage this rather difficult pest.
  
• Birch Leafminer has finished its first generation. Injury appears in the form of brown leaves on the host plant but the larvae are now in the soil. There are two more very small generations coming this year but they will not require treatment.
  
• Arborvitae Leafminer - There are two species of these lepodopteran leaf-mining caterpillars in MA. Their host plants (arborvitae and some junipers, primarily) and the injury that they cause are similar. The major difference is that one species pupates earlier than the other (now) and does so outside of the mine, usually on the underside of the foliage. Inspect for what looks like tiny and fuzzy grains of rice attached to the foliage (cocoons). Shake foliage lightly to disturb moths. When moths are found, treat with a chemical insecticide to break the cycle of reinfestation. This species tends to be more prevalent in eastern MA. The other species pupate within the mine and will emerge as an adult moth (tiny and an off-white color) during the third or fourth week of June. Treat in the same manner as the other species. Larvae, once within the foliage, are extremely difficult to manage.

Scale Insects

In general, horticultural oil sprays work well against most armored scale species, especially when they are in the crawler stage. Imidacloprid does not work well on armored scales but is much more effective against many soft scales.

Armored (hard) Scales:

• Monitor for Pine Needle Scale on mugo and Scots pines, in particular.
• Monitor junipers for Juniper Scale.
• Monitor different euonymus for the Euonymus Scale.

• Oystershell Scale and Euonymus Scale have produced crawlers. Treat now with a horticultural oil spray at the summer rate.
  
• Pine Needle Scale crawlers will be emerging in 2-3 more weeks.

Continue to monitor scale species at the appropriate time of the season for crawlers and treat again at that time, if necessary.

Soft Scales:

• Monitor yews and certain hollies for the Cottony Camellia Scale (aka: Cottony Taxus Scale). Treat the active nymphs with a summer oil spray. This pest creates much honeydew that generates much sooty mold.
  
• Begin to monitor azaleas for the Azalea Bark Scale. Inspect inner branches for nymphs and sooty mold. Treat with a summer oil spray if necessary.

Gall Formers

Many different galls have appeared on various host plants; most are insignificant in terms of plant injury. Felt patch galls, caused by certain Eriophyid mites, are commonly found on maples, beech, and other hosts. Although usually a tan color they can sometimes be a spectacular pink color and raise much alarm. They are harmless

• Aphid-induced galls are common on certain elms. These large pouch-like galls are often very numerous. There are no controls for these nor are any deemed necessary.
  
• Galls on oaks - Galls on oaks. Mostly stimulated by Cynipid wasp species, the majority of these are harmless. However, if found on the stems, they can be quite serious. Unfortunately, there are no effective controls for the ones on stems. The vast majority of these will be found on foliage and control measures are not warranted nor effective.

Wood Attackers

• White-Spotted Pine Sawyer adult beetles are active. This species is only attracted to previously weakened pines and is not considered to be a pest. However, it looks very much like the Asian Long-Horned Beetle (ALB), which is not yet known to exist in MA. The adults of ALB are a very shiny black with crisp white spots. Their antennal segments alternate between white and black segments. The WSPS also has the same type of antennae BUT, its body coloration is more of a dull grey and has a varying number of dull white spots. Visit the web site listed here for more details: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/alb/pubs/alb_wss/alb_wss.htm , http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/alb (the main Forest Service page for ALB).
  
• Monitor previously stressed plants (drought, soil compaction, etc.) for signs of invasion of wood borers. Bronze Birch Borer is one such invader. Water infested trees during drought periods. Insecticide injections may be effective in some cases. The adults of BBB are seeking new host plants for egg-laying. Even though they only emerge over a few weeks time, the adults can remain active through August. It is recommended that susceptible birches not be pruned during this time, especially is they have been previously weakened. Pruning (wounding) releases plant chemicals that attract BBB females.
  
• Linden Bark Borer Moth is now active. These tiny yet attractive moths are mating and females are depositing eggs within bark furrows on the main trunk and scaffold branches. Adult moths have orange and black markings. Inspect bark furrows for fine red sawdust. The larvae of this insect feed within the bark and not in the vascular system. Their level of importance to plant health is unknown. If host trees (lindens) are in poor growing sites and therefore suffering from other factors, then this insect may contribute to the stress load. If deemed necessary, treat the adult moths with a knock-down type (chemical) insecticide.
  
• Conifer Bark Beetles, such as the Black Turpentine Beetle invade stressed trees. Inspect for pitch tubes and streaks of pitch on the bark. These are signs of an already weak tree. Water during times of drought.
  
• Dogwood Borer - Continue to monitor for new infestations (adults will become active soon) and continue to avoid any wounding of the tree trunks with mowing equipment and string trimmers, which encourages infestations of this pest. If necessary, monitor for adult emergence with pheromone traps.
  
• Rhododendron Borer adult moths will be active soon. Pheromone traps are available for this clear-winged moth species. Adult females lay individual eggs usually near the base of shoots of rhododendron. Tunneling larvae will expel sawdust but this is often hidden due to dense foliage. Often, infestation is not noticed until much later in the summer when individual shoots wilt and suddenly die. Adults can be treated with a chemical insecticide. New tunnels, if possible to find, can be treated with beneficial nematode sprays.

Reported by Robert Childs, Entomologist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program, Amherst

DISEASES

Leaf spot and shoot blight (including anthracnose) diseases are widespread this year because of the extended periods of rainy weather. The best time to initiate protective fungicide applications to nursery and specimen woody landscape plants that are known to be susceptible to these diseases has past. However, if they were started earlier this spring it is important to repeat the treatments at the labeled intervals to maintain the protection until the foliage matures or drier weather conditions prevail.

Botrytis blight is noticeable as a gray moldy blight of flowers, leaves and shoots in herbaceous perennial gardens. Cool temperatures and shaded conditions enhance the damage by this fungus. To manage Botrytis blight, remove dead plant material that the fungus uses as a beachhead for the development of more inoculum. Irrigate before mid-afternoon so needles dry off before nightfall. Consider fungicide applications to protect succulent growth on high value plants from becoming infected. Fungicides labeled include: chlorothalonil, chlorothalonil plus fenarimol, copper sulfate pentahydrate, ferbam, fosetyl-Al, iprodione, mancozeb, thiophanate methyl, triflumizole, thiophanate methyl plus chlorothalonil, thiophanate methyl plus flutolanil, and PCNB. Repeat applications at labeled intervals until warm, drier weather prevails and Botrytis blight is less able to infect plants.

Cedar-apple rust is visible as orange-yellow spots on susceptible hawthorn, apple and crab apple leaves. By mid-summer tiny yellow-white tubes will extend from the underside of infected leaves. From mid-summer to autumn, spores are wind-carried from the apple leaves and, when conditions are wet, they infect green shoots and needles of junipers. Pea-sized to 2" diameter round, brown galls develop on susceptible juniper needles and twigs between 12 and 20 months after infection. The best long-term approach to manage this disease is to grow cedar-apple rust resistant apple and juniper varieties. Also, prune dormant galls on juniper during the summer, fall, winter and early spring (before jelly-like horns form). Avoid growing susceptible junipers close to apples. The time to apply fungicides to protect high value apples from cedar-apple rust has passed for this spring. Fungicide protection of eastern red cedar and Rocky mountain junipers is seldom performed; but if it were desired, it would be from mid-August through September.

The minute red-purple spots of hawthorn (Entomosporium) leaf spot are visible on leaves of susceptible hawthorn. Now that the fungus is established, it regularly produces spores; and with recurring wet periods the disease spreads via these secondary infection cycles. A long-term management strategy to consider is replacement of susceptible hawthorns with resistant trees. Otherwise, preventative fungicides must be applied as buds open or when the first rains begin after the leaves start to develop in the spring; these should be repeated at labeled intervals several times until early summer. There is little benefit from chemical controls of this disease when they are started this late in the season.

Oak leaf blister is showing up on red and pin oak leaves as faint, yellow-green spots. Puckering is minimal but noticeable, if you look closely. This is a not a serious problem in our area. If a severe outbreak is occurring on specimen trees, note that for future reference. Chemical control activities should be started just before buds open next spring.

Apple scab lesions are visible on susceptible crab apple leaves. Many leaves are curling or cupping where lesions developed before the leaves were mature, and the dead leaf tissue constricted leaf expansion. Within weeks after infection the olive green fruiting bodies produce new spores. New infections can occur essentially the entire growing season during wet and mild conditions. To maintain scab-susceptible crabapples in the landscape in which infection has already occurred, consider using systemic fungicides. These fungicides act to prevent new infections that develop on newly emerging leaves. Systemic fungicide applications will not restore distorted, discolored crabapple leaves to health. They can reduce the incidence of apple scab as the season goes on if they are applied soon, before the extent of infection is too severe, and protection is maintained at labeled intervals. Alternate every second or third systemic fungicide spray with a broad-spectrum fungicide to reduce problems with fungicide resistance. Prune to increase sunlight penetration and air circulation, which promotes rapid drying of wet foliage. If apple scab is a chronic problem and replacement is an option, consider planting resistant varieties of crabapple.

Susceptible flowering dogwood have scattered leaves exhibiting irregularly shaped gray areas with purplish margins of dogwood anthracnose infections. This can be a difficult disease to control due to the abundance of inoculum that over-winters on twigs and fallen leaves. In addition, heat and water stressed dogwood sustain more extensive branch dieback than those trees that have more vigor. If this is a recurring problem, consider replacing the tree with a resistant variety. On susceptible specimen trees during wet springs, apply fungicides as buds open, after bracts have fallen and again four weeks later.

Sycamore, maple and oak anthracnose diseases are evident now as dark-green to dark-brown curling leaves and shoots. Anthracnose is widespread on early leaves and shoots this year due to the abundance of inoculum on over-wintering twigs and fallen leaves, as well as the consistently wet weather. These diseases cause some premature leaf loss, but that is not going to seriously an otherwise healthy tree. In the fall fine prune infected twigs and collect and dispose of fallen leaves. Promote drying of foliage by pruning and spacing plants to increase the penetration of sunlight and air circulation in and around plants.

The wet conditions, along with development of immature scale-leaves/needles are favorable for infection of juniper by Phomopsis tip blight. Juniper shoots that are tan-gray with pin-head sized, black fruiting bodies are producing spores at this time. New growth that becomes infected this spring with Phomopsis tip blight will turn green-yellow, then brown and die within a few weeks of infection. Management begins with the removal and disposal of infected shoot tips to reduce inoculum. Cut an inch or so below the boundary between dead and healthy tissue. Now is the time to initiate fungicide control of juniper tip blight to improve plant appearance. Grow junipers in an open, sunny location to promote drying of foliage, that are adapted to the site and that have resistance to tip blight.

There were recent news reports about Sudden Oak Death (SOD), caused by the fungus Phytophthora ramorum. SOD is a severe disease of oak and tanoak in certain Pacific Northwest fog forest areas. In March 2004, Phytophthora ramorum was found in two large ornamental nurseries in southern California. This detection demonstrates that the pathogen is not necessarily limited to the moist coastal regions of northern California and southern Oregon. At least one of the two nurseries distributes nursery stock nationwide, including Massachusetts. To date, Phytophthora ramorum has not been found in Massachusetts, though it has been positively identified in Florida and Georgia. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is monitoring this situation carefully. A number of surveys are planned by MDAR, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) nationwide and in Massachusetts to check for the presence of Phytophthora ramorum in nurseries and natural forest areas.

This pathogen has a wide range of host plants, including rhododendron, viburnum and camellia, which are potential 'carriers' of the fungus when plants are transported. The damage on non-oak hosts involves minor leaf spotting and twig dieback. However, infections on these non-oak hosts may contribute to a rapid build-up of the fungus in the environment, serving therefore as a reservoir of inoculum, which in turn infects woody tissues of oaks and tanoak trees.

Surveys continue in several states as a national survey is getting underway. APHIS-PPQ is determining the distribution of Phytophthora ramorum.

P. ramorum has been confirmed in plants traced forward from the initially positive California wholesale nursery in 97 facilities in14 states. The numbers of nurseries or garden centers with positive P. ramorum samples from the wholesaler by state are: California (38), Alabama (1), Florida (5), Washington (6), Oregon (9), Texas (5), Colorado (1), Georgia (13), Louisiana (5), Maryland (1), North Carolina (9), New Mexico (1), Tennessee (2), and Virginia (1). The number of confirmed positive facilities from the national, and other surveys is 118 in 14 states. Fourteen states continue to impose quarantine regulations over and above those ordered by PPQ on California, and in some cases Oregon, Washington or British Columbia.

Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab Report

The following are some of the interesting disease/abiotic disorder samples received at the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab in Amherst during the period June 1 through June 4, 2004:

• Azalea - greenish-white gals involving the flowers and buds on the ends of several stems; Exobasidium gall.
• Weeping cherry - only scattered flowering and now the ends of the branches are turning brown and dying back; Monilinia blossom and twig blight.
• Pitch pine - a sizable portion of mature trees growing on a windy, drought-prone site are showing considerable browning; Winter damage/water shortage/worsened by Lophodermium needle cast.

Reported by Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, based in the Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab at UMass, Amherst, Mass

TURFGRASS

Diseases: No report. Visit the Landscape Message archive for previous messages.

Insects: No report. Visit the Landscape Message archive for previous messages.

Weeds: No report. Visit the Landscape Message archive for previous messages.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

Two UMass Extension Web Sites are specially designed to provide Green Industry professionals with resources, upcoming educational programs and events, and other relevant information. The Internet address for the Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program is http://www.umassgreeninfo.org. The Turf Program address is http://www.umassturf.org .

UMass Extension’s Management Guide for Woody Ornamentals is NOW available! Remember to use the Professional Management Guide for Insects, Diseases and Weeds of Trees and Shrubs in New England 2003-2004 as a reference tool along with this message. The guide is a 130-page guide to provide arborists, tree wardens, and green industry professionals with current information on the materials and products available to manage pests of woody plants in New England, updated every two years by the University of Massachusetts Extension's Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program. Send orders (checks payable to UMass) to UMass Extension Bookstore, Draper Hall, 40 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003. You can also order with a credit card by calling the Extension Bookstore at 413-545-2717. The cost is $26 (plus $5 shipping) for Part I: Professional Management Guide for Insects, Diseases, and Weeds of Trees and Shrubs in New England; $12 (plus $5 shipping)for Part II: Strategies for Plant Health Management of Woody Ornamentals; or $40 (plus $5 shipping) for both Parts I and II and the inscribed 3-ring binder to hold them. For more details or to order online, go to the Publications Section of this web site.

UMass Extension’s Turf Management Guide and IPM Facts: For more information about the pests mentioned in this message, you will need to refer to the following publications: the Professional Guide for IPM in Turf for Massachusetts, 2003-2004 edition and Turf IPM Facts . Call (413) 545-2717 to order these publications from the UMASS Extension Bookstore.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

UMass Laboratory Diagnoses for Turf and Landscape Problems: Accurate diagnosis for a turf or landscape problem can often eliminate or reduce the need for pesticide use. The UMass Extension Urban Forestry Diagnostic Laboratory is available to serve commercial landscape contractors, turf managers, arborists, nurseries, and other green industry professionals. It provides woody plant disease analysis, woody plant and turf insect identification, turfgrass identification, landscape and turf weed identification and offers a report of pest management strategies that are research based, economically sound, and environmentally appropriate for the situation. Send specimens and payment made payable to the University of Massachusetts to Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab, 160 Holdsworth Way, Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003. The fee for a woody plant disease analysis is $50.00. All insect, weed, and turfgrass identification samples are $25.00 each. For complete information and instructions on how to send specimens, visit the Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab page.

Turfgrass disease samples should be directed to the UMass Turf Disease Diagnostic Lab . By special arrangement, the UMass Turfgrass Disease Diagnostic Lab is now open at Marquette University. This lab provides diagnostic services for turfgrass professionals in CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT. This service is available ONLY to green industry professionals such as landscapers, lawn care companies, and golf course managers. For more info specifically on turf disease diagnostics, visit the Disease Diagnostics page at www.umassturf.org .

NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available on June 18 , 2004.

This message is produced by the UMASS Extension, Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program. The copy is prepared by Anna Greene from data and reports provided by the staff and faculty of the UMass Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program and the UMASS Extension Turfgrass Program as well as cooperating horticultural, green industry, and other professionals from the field. The text is adapted for access via the Internet by Jason Lanier and made available to subscribers via electronic transmittal by Ellen Weeks.

DISCLAIMER. This message is intended for commercial use. UMASS Extension assumes no liability for recommendations. The use of trade names does not imply endorsement. Similarly, there may be other products you prefer to use.

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