UMass Extension Landscape Message #5
April 3, 2008

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Quick Info Menu ------------------------------- SCOUTING INFORMATION REGIONAL NOTES - Cape Cod - Southeast - East - Metro West Waltham - Metro West Hopkinton - Central - Pioneer Valley - Berkshire ENVIRONMENTAL DATA PHENOLOGY WOODY ORNAMENTALS - Insects - Diseases - Weeds LANDSCAPE TURF - Insects - Diseases - Weeds INFO RESOURCES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES 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 has updated this issue to provide timely pest management information and the latest regional news and environmental data throughout Massachusetts. During the months April, May, and June this newsletter will be updated weekly. The next update will be available on or about April 10, 2008. Missed a previous message? Visit the Landscape Message Archive. Interested in additional turf-oriented content? UMass Extension Turf Program Management Updates

SCOUTING INFORMATION BY REGION

REGIONAL NOTES -

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) – General Conditions: Cool and wet has been the norm for March, with some days feeling like spring but most days reminding us of the fickle weather that passes for spring on the Cape.  Daffodils are just beginning to open while crocus look great spreading through lawns. 'Arnold Promise' witchhazel is in full bloom.  Silver maple is in bloom along Route 6A in Barnstable.  Pests/Problems:  Adult deer ticks are active when temperatures are above 40° F.  Termites have been observed swarming indoors.  Carpenter ants are appearing on milder days.  Starlings and grackles are digging in lawns.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: No report.

East Region (Boston) – Pests/Problems: Soggy.

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: The temperature is gradually rising.  Many of the early bulbs are seen more and more above ground.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: Due to the copious rain during the month of March, the reservoirs are full, and soils are saturated.  Pests/Problems:  There has been an increase in deer browse damage on taxus in the last two weeks.  Winter desiccation, where it has occurred on some chamaecyparis and rhododendrons shows up very dramatically now.

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: No report.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: The snow is virtually gone with the mild daytime temperatures and rainfall in the lower Valley.  However, in elevated regions, especially where shaded, snow cover persists several inches to a couple feet deep.  Cold nights (below freezing) and cool days (above freezing) continued to be the pattern during the last two weeks.  Lawns continue to slowly green-up, along with the emergence of foliage of spring bulbs.  Pests/Problems: The standing water from the early March rains soaked into the soil, except in areas with vernal ponds, which melt water runoff replenishes.  The swelling of plum tree branches infected with black knot disease is visible, though eruptions of fruiting structures have not begun yet.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: According to the National Weather Service in Albany, March 2008 has been the wettest on record and February 2008 has been the second wettest on record.  Needless to say, there’s plenty of moisture in the ground and lots of standing water on poorly drained sites.  The latter will be a concern in landscapes and with the plant materials existing on these sites.  Plant development continues very slowly.  Snowdrops, crocus, and a few other early bulbs are in bloom, but hellebores have not yet flowered at the observation site.  Pests/Problems: Other than deer and rabbit browsing on trees and shrubs and crocus, there are no obvious problems.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a two-week period, March 19, 2008 through April 1, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on  April 1, 2008.  Accumulated GDDs represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments from the beginning of the current calendar year.  This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

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:

Indicator Plants - Stages of Flowering (begin, b/full, full, f/end, end)
PLANT NAME (Botanic/Common)	CAPE	SOUTH EAST	EAST	METRO W.		CENT.	P.V.	BERK.
				Waltham	Hopkinton
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)	*	*	begin	*	begin	*	*	*
Cornus mas (Corneliancherry Dogwood)	begin	*	*	*	end	begin	begin	*
Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris)	begin	*	full	*	begin	*	*	*
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)	b/full	*	begin	*	full	*	b/full	*
H. x intermidia (Witchhazel hybrids)	f/end	*	full	*	full	full	*	full
Hamamelis mollis (Chinese Witchazel)	*	*	full	*	begin	full	*	*
* = no activity to report/information not available

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.

METRO WEST REGION – James Martin, Consulting Arborist, reporting from the UMass Extension Center, Waltham.

METRO WEST REGION – Mark Sawyer, Horticulturist, Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton.

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

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

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

WOODY ORNAMENTALS

INSECTS -

Lepidopteran Caterpillars:

• Gypsy Moth − Numbers of this pest are expected to be low statewide in 2008.  However, small problematic populations often pop up somewhere unexpectedly.  Monitor for viable egg masses now.
  
  
• Forest Tent Caterpillar − After occurring in large numbers throughout the greater northeast over the past years, this native caterpillar species is now, once again, reduced in numbers.  This is due to natural controls such as the fungus, Entomophaga sp., and parasitoids, such as certain flies.  Inspect now for viable egg masses.  In western MA this pest seems to prefer maples; in the eastern part of the state the primary host plants are oaks.  Overall, this caterpillar does have a rather large deciduous host range.
  
  
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar − Although this pest occurred in large numbers in recent years throughout New England, it is now in limited numbers due to natural controls.  Common on Malus and Prunus species, it makes large silken webs in the crotches of branches.  When occurring at higher populations, it is a serious defoliator.  Inspect for egg masses now to determine population size.
  
  
• Fall Cankerworm − Also a native species in declining numbers.  Prefers oaks but has a large deciduous host plant range.  Isolated pockets still exist.  In 2007 a defoliating population existed just north of Amherst in western MA.  Random and small populations will be active in eastern MA this year. 
  
  
• Winter Moth − This introduced species will begin egg-hatch within the next 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions (the warmer it is, the faster it will occur).  Flight of the adult males was initially healthy last November in several eastern towns.  However, the earlier than normal snowfall may have impeded further emergence of the adults, potentially reducing the number of overwintering eggs.  Eggs of winter moth are difficult to monitor.  They are small, oval and a light orange color and are often scattered on trunk bark.  As the embryos within the eggs near maturity, the eggs turn a deep blue color.  Upon hatching, the tiny larvae are carried upwards into the tree canopies mostly by air convection.  Once there, they seek swelling buds.  These tiny caterpillars then wriggle into the buds and begin to feed on foliage and flowers.  During years of high numbers, this pest can cause severe damage, especially if buds are slow to open due to cool weather.  Blueberries and apple trees can be sprayed with dormant oil any time now (whenever the weather is conducive for oil sprays).  Once inside the buds, this caterpillar is very difficult to treat until the buds open and the larvae are exposed.

Beetles:

• Lily Leaf Beetle − The bright red adults will be seen soon as they forage for newly emerging lilies.  Once found, the adults will begin feeding and mating.  Eggs will appear later in May on the undersides of foliage.  Neem works well for the larvae, once they appear but needs to be reapplied every 10-14 days.  Spinosad products also work well for the larvae.  Adult lily leaf beetle is best controlled with a pyrethroid insecticide.
  
  
• Viburnum Leaf Beetle is established in western MA (randomly throughout Berkshire County) and is expected to become a serious pest there.  It is expected that this pest will continue to expand its invasion of MA now given that it is in CT, RI, VT, NH, ME, and NY states.  Treat the same as lily leaf beetle.  For current information about this pest, visit the Cornell web site:  http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb

Piercing-Sucking Pests:

• Spider Mites  −  Inspect spruce, hemlock, fir, and others for the signs of last year’s feeding damage by these tiny but very prolific and potentially damaging pests.  Once found, inspect very closely for overwintering eggs, which will require a good hand lens or microscope.  If found, treat with an oil spray OR with one of the new mite growth regulators that targets spider mite eggs. 
  
  
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid − This pest is on the rebound in MA after several years of being in low numbers due to the exceptionally cold winter of 2005.  However, it reproduces quickly and not much else controls its number naturally here.  Inspect for the new cottony egg masses that have been appearing for the past couple of weeks.  Treat with a dormant oil spray now.

Cool Stuff:

• Periodical Cicada − This unique insect only appears every 17 years in the adult stage.  Specific populations of these occur in the eastern USA as different broods that have peak years at varying times.  This year, it is Brood #14 that is peaking, and a part of that once large brood still exists on parts of Cape Cod.  As homeowners begin to rake their yards this spring, they will notice large round holes in the ground.  These holes are made by the nymphs as they take advantage of moist and pliable soil now to prepare an emergence hole that will get utilized in late May/early June.  At that time, millions of these nymphs will pour out of the ground, climb up on virtually everything, and molt for the last time into the large, red-eyed, winged adult cicadas.  This emergence brings much speculation about the remaining size of this population given the enormous development that has occurred on Cape Cod in recent decades.

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

INSECTS -

No report this week.

WEEDS -

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

UMass Laboratory Diagnoses 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 Plant Diagnostic Lab is available to serve commercial landscape contractors, turf managers, arborists, nurseries and other green industry professionals. It provides woody plant and turf disease analysis, woody plant and turf insect identification, turfgrass identification, 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 (payable to the University of Massachusetts) to UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, 160 Holdsworth Way, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003. The fee for a woody plant disease analysis is $50; the fee for turf disease analysis or nematode assay is $75. All insect, weed and turfgrass identification samples are $25 each. For more detailed submission instructions see http://www.umass.edu/agland/diagnostics

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing - The University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory is located on the campus of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Testing services are available to all. The function of the Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory is to provide test results and recommendations that lead to the wise and economical use of soils and soil amendments. For complete information, visit the UMass Soil and Plant tissue Testing Laboratory web site at: http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest Alternatively, call the lab at (413) 545-2311.

NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available on April 10, 2008.

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.

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