Landscape Message - Landscape Nursey and Urban Forestry

Use this menu to instantly jump to any portion of the message!

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is an educational newsletter intended to guide landscape, nursery and urban forestry professionals in identifying pests in the landscape, monitoring their development, planning management strategies and creating site-specific records for future management reference. UMass Extension updates each issue to provide timely pest management information and the latest regional news and environmental data throughout Massachusetts.

From October 2005 through February 2006, the LANDSCAPE MESSAGE will be updated on a monthly basis. The next update will be issued early January 2005.

Missed a previous message? Visit the Landscape Message Archive.

Interested in additional turf-oriented content? UMass Extension Turf Program Management Updates

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

During the four-week period from November 1 through November 30, the following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data accumulated. The contributors observed the soil temperature and phenological indicators on or about November 30. Accumulated GDDs represent the heating units above the 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments since the beginning of the current growing season. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

REGIONAL NOTES

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) - General Conditions: November was both milder and wetter than usual. Many days had temperatures well into the 50’s and several rain events kept ground moisture levels high. Pests/Problems: Flights of winter moth adults began a few days before Thanksgiving and continue whenever temperatures are around 40° F.

Southeast Region (Hanson) - General Conditions: Hanson received approximately 4.5 inches of precipitation (rain & snow) for November. In many parts of the county, a killing frost came late, occurring in the early part of November. Fall color was late also. Korean mums and Corydalis lutea provided seasonal color along with the red berries of Ilex verticillata, Ilex opaca, and the meserve hollies. The berries of the invasive plant, oriental bittersweet, can easily be seen now covering the canopies of many deciduous trees. Pests/Problems: Fall cankerworm moths and winter moths began to emerge around Nov. 14. Winter moth emergence was very heavy around the end of November when the temperatures warmed up. Winter moth should continue to emerge through December usually on days above freezing. They begin to emerge at dusk and are active in nighttime. See additional winter moth information on this web site. The Plymouth County Extension office has received calls about these moths. Judging by the number of moths we are seeing, we believe it signals another banner year for winter moth caterpillars for spring 2006. There are no other insect or disease problems to report.

East Region (Boston) - General Conditions: Cool - yet not so cold those yet un-dug tender rhizomes of cannas had been killed. Pests/Problems: There were adult winter months seen in flight in Jamaica Plain.

Central Region (Boylston) - General Conditions: In Boylston at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the bucks have been rubbing the bark of small trees and deer continue to feed on the new growth of apple trees.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: The month of November was cool with a bit above normal amount of precipitation. Turf was slow to go dormant, however, since Thanksgiving growth slowed down considerably. Pests/Problems: In the Pioneer Valley, there is some browsing by deer.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Snow cover exists through much of the Berkshires. No damage yet from snows or wind. Problems: Beware that pets are still attracting ticks, both the large American Dog Tick and the smaller Deer Tick. Deer browsing is commonplace in managed landscapes, as deer prefer the more tender stems of exotic landscape species.

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.

PIONEER VALLEY - Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab, UMass, Amherst.

BERKSHIRES - Ron Kujawski, Specialist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program, Amherst.

The flight activity for several moth species began in earnest starting on November 8 and will continue through December whenever mild temperatures prevail.

Bruce Spanworm, a native moth that is in the same genus as winter moth, was the first to be seen. Mostly, they are observed at night in the view of headlights and they are also attracted to outdoor lighting. The rather drab-colored males often (but not always ) display fine wavy lines running across the wings near the posterior end. When viewed from the underside, a small black dot is usually visible in the center of the wings.

Winter Moth adults emerged in huge numbers just before Thanksgiving. All 6 New England states are now actively monitoring for this serious pest with pheromone traps. Thus far (12/8) only MA has reported findings. Joe Elkinton reports that Winter Moth males have been captured as far west in as the Connecticut River, although populations appear to be currently low the farther west one goes from the coast. No finds have yet been reported on the western side of the Connecticut River in MA. Winter moth population size appears to be quite large in Plymouth County, most of SE Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Identification of traps catches has just begun in MA and not at all in the other NE. Bruce Spanworm is most likely near the end of its flight period as is Fall Cankerworm. However, winter moth may be seen into January whenever warm weather prevails.

Winter Moth males do not have the wavy lines on their wings that Bruce Spanworm usually seems to have nor do they have the black dot in the middle of their wings on the undersides.

Fall Cankerworm males also began to fly around Thanksgiving. They are similar to the others mentioned above except that they have a faint light-colored patch on the front wing margin out near the end of the wing. They also have a black dot on the wing undersides.

Rhode Island is predicting that they will capture winter moths this year in all counties.

There is one not-yet-confirmed report that SE New Hampshire may also have winter moth.

Female Fall Cankerworm adult moths are completely wingless (Apterous).

Female Bruce Spanworm adult moths have very short wing remnants (Brachypterous).

Female Winter Moth adult moths are also brachypterous but their wing “stubs” are significantly larger than that of Bruce Spanworm.

Deciduous trees and shrubs - As the plants go dormant, it is a good time to prune dead branches, and collect fallen leaves to reduce overwintering inoculum (the resting structures of leaf spot, blight and canker fungi). Remove this debris so fewer of these disease fungi will be present in the area to initiate infections next spring. In addition, if leaf spots and blights are recurring, unsightly problems, resistant varieties, or other plants better adapted to the site may be available to replace them.

Ramorum Blight, also known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Since 1995, oaks and tanoaks have been dying in the coastal counties of California. Since then, other types of plants have been found to be infected or associated with this disease, referred to as Sudden Oak Death, ramorum leaf blight or ramorum dieback, or by regulation as Phytophthora ramorum. In 1995, forest pathologists identified SOD in Mill Valley (Marin County) on tanoak. Since that time, there was confirmation of the disease on various native hosts in fourteen coastal California counties (Marin, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Napa, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake and San Francisco), and in Curry County, Oregon. Research conducted by the Agriculture Research Service, U. S. Forest Service, universities, and others is under way to better identify hosts, methods of detection and effective treatments. Currently, 64 plants are regulated, two of which at the genus level (Camellia and Rhododendron). There are no chemical treatments currently available to eliminate the disease in nursery stock.

Status of Phytophthora ramorum Monitoring Surveys. The 2005 National Nursery Survey involved 49 states and Puerto Rico. It reported that 3,790 nurseries have been visited and 68,275 samples collected. The surveys identified 56 positives sites in seven states. Overall, 99 positive sites have been reported this year. The breakdown by state is: CA (55), GA (4), LA (2), OR (20), TN (1), SC (1), and WA (16).

New Hosts Added
USDA PPQ issued a Federal Order on November 15 adding Abies concolor (white fir) and Viburnum opulus (= V. trilobum) (American cranberry viburnum) to the official USDA APHIS list of host and associated host plants. There are 84 plants now listed.

Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, based in the Urban Forestry Diagnostic Lab at UMass, Amherst.

At this point, any herbicide applications to control woody plant material will not be effective.

Randall Prostak, Weed Specialist, UMass Extension, Plant, Insect & Soil Sciences Dept., Amherst

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 19, 2006 - Nursey & Landscape Summer Meeting & Trade Show - The day will offer horticulture education workshops presented by well known researchers and educators, a trade show and hands-on insect, disease, and weed laboratory. At press time, plans were underway to feature an actual outdoor set-up of garden center displays showing examples of today’s most successful marketing and plant branding strategies. Plans to organize class reunions for Stockbridge School of Agriculture and UMass alumni the day before and have University Admission officials on hand to answer questions about student applications are also in discussion. This special event will also showcase a “keynote” speaker. You will want to mark your calendars now. For more information, go to http://www.mnla.com , http://www.umassgreeninfo.org, or contact UMass Extension’s Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program at (413) 545-0895, eweeks@umext.umass.edu. Time: 9 AM to 3:00 p.m. Location: UMass Amherst Student Union and Metawampe Park.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

2006 UMass Extension Green Directory: Now Available! The 2006 UMass Extension Green Directory is a comprehensive guide to educational resources for Massachusetts Agriculture industry professionals. This 25 page guide is used as a reference document all year long! To receive a copy, send mailing address: email greeninfo@umext.umass.edu; fax requests to 413-577-1620. The complete directory is also available online in PDF format. Visit http://www.umass.edu/agland and click 'The Green Directory' link in the right hand menu.

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 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.

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 Turf Program as well as cooperating horticulturists and Green Industry professionals. 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.

Comments or suggestions in regard to the Landscape Message? Please e-mail the webmaster.

UMass Extension Landscape Message #26 December 9, 2005

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

UMass Extension Landscape Message #26
December 9, 2005