UMass Extension Landscape Message #20
August 7, 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 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 of July, August, and September this newsletter will be updated bi-weekly. The next update will be available on August 21, 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: While we have had over three inches of precipitation over the past two weeks, the majority of it came on July 24.  Pop-up thunderstorms have given scant rainfall since then, leaving our sandy Cape soils dry within days. Landscape plants in un-irrigated areas in full sun are flagging a bit during the day.  Summer perennials are in full bloom, lending bright colors to the landscape.  Pests/Problems:  Sycamore and pieris lacebugs are still active; Oriental, Japanese, and Asiatic garden beetle adults are still actively feeding; red headed pine sawfly caterpillars have been reported on Austrian pines; earwigs are feeding on flower petals of annuals and perennials;  mosquitoes, deerflies, and green head flies are biting.  Powdery mildew is present on anything that is susceptible; black spot is defoliating roses; giant tar spot is quite visible on Norway maple.  Crabgrass is a bright green color in water stressed lawns.  Ragweed is in bloom.  Reports of white pines in some kind of decline have come in.  Phomopsis canker has been diagnosed on blue hydrangeas.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: Much needed rain finally came to many areas of Plymouth County.  Hanson received 6.3 inches of rain, and Halifax received 6.1 inches of rain over the past two weeks and soils are moist.  Clerodendron trichotomum, Albizia julibrissin, Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf hydrangea), Liatris, Platycodon, Perovskia, Veronicastrum, hollyhocks, Joe-pye-weed, Rudbeckia trilobum, Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Echinops ritro, daylilies, Echinacea purpurea, Corydalis lutea, Nepeta, Heliopsis 'Summer Sun', Monarda didyma, Coreopsis, Campanula sp., Lysimachia clethroides and Phlox paniculata are in full bloom.  The native plant, Clethra anlnifolia, is also in full bloom, and the fragrance is outstanding.  The cultivar 'Ruby Spice' has hot pink flowers.  Pests/Problems: Oriental, Asiatic, and Japanese beetles are still active.  Oriental beetles and Japanese beetles appear to be more numerous this year.  Fall webworm, earwigs, dogwood twig borer, Rhododendron borer, lily leaf beetle, wasps, slugs, sharpshooter leafhopper, snails, ticks, biting flies, annual or dog-day cicadas, katydids, cicada killing wasps, and mosquitoes are all active.  Beneficial insects are active.  Black spot is common on susceptible roses.  Tar spot is showing up on Norway maple.  Black sooty mold is common on plants with significant honeydew residue on their leaves.  Anthracnose is showing up on a number of plants including dogwood.  Powdery mildew continues to persist on a wide variety of plants including oak, lilac, dogwood, and garden phlox.  Slime molds are showing up on bark mulch.  The Hanson office has had several calls regarding diseases on lawns.  Crabgrass is having a banner year as are other heat-loving weeds.  Rabbits and deer continue to browse.  I have had several people mention the increasing numbers of rabbits this year. 

East Region (Boston) – General Conditions: Pleasant weather with adequate rainfall to prevent browning out of those lawns that do not have irrigation.

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: Frequent rainfall with seasonal temperatures.  Pests/Problems:  Oriental beetle adults are feeding, mimosa web worm damage is becoming more visible, and crabgrass is thriving.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: No conditions report available.

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: Very wet!  Lawns are still green and growing.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: Temperatures moderated while humidity and rainfall were incredible!  Many fields had standing water in low areas for several days after each of three significant storms that passed through during the two weeks.  Pests/Problems:  Powdery mildew is beginning to appear on Norway maple and London planetree.  Likewise, apple scab is causing noticeable spotting and defoliation on susceptible crab apples.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Thunderstorms, hail, high winds, and frequent lightning with intermittent sunshine may be the best way to describe this summer’s weather pattern.  Moisture has been plentiful, and for most of the time soil moisture levels have been good to high.  As a result, the landscape is very lush.  Pests/Problems:  Powdery mildew is the most prominent disease, occurring on all the usually susceptible plants, i.e. beebalm, phlox, lilac.  Black spot of roses, apple scab, rust diseases, and slime mold on turf grass are also common problems.  Japanese beetles continue to be the dominant insect pest, but slug and snails are causing the most damage to herbaceous plants.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a two-week period, July 23, 2008 through August 5, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on August 5, 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
Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis)	*	*	begin	*	*	*	*	*
Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush)	begin	full	full	*	*	full	*	begin
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree)	full	*	begin	*	*	*	*	*
Sophora japonica (Japanese Pagodatree)	*	*	full	*	*	*	begin	*
Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)	full	full	full	full	*	full	b/full	*
Hybiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)	full	full	full	full	*	full	full	full
Oxydendron arboreum (Sourwood)	full	full	*	*	*	end	*	full
Lythrum salicaria (Loosestrife)	f/end	full	begin	full	*	full	full	full
Campsis radicans (Trumpetcreeper)	f/end	full	full	f/end	*	*	full	f/end
Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)	end	full	end	*	*	end	end	*
Koelreuteria paniculata (Goldenrain Tree)	end	end	begin	*	*	end	*	*
* = 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:

• Fall Webworm webs are now noticeable.  This caterpillar feeds within large groups by tying foliage together and feeding from within the web.  Silken webs begin at the tips of branches and get extended downward towards the trunk.  This pest causes little harm to the health of the tree, but the presence of the webs can be very unsightly.  Potential host plants include a rather wide deciduous plant range.  Management can be challenging given that the caterpillars are somewhat  
  
  
• Mimosa Webworm damage is obvious now.  The tied and skeletonized foliage is turning brown.   Eventually, this caterpillar can tie and skeletonize much of a tree’s leaves, which remain intact but die and turn brown.  By mid to late August, affected honeylocusts can have all of their foliage killed by this pest.  Damage usually begins at the branch tips.  Inspect for tied and skeletonized leaves.  Sprays that contain spinosad are effective.
  
  
• Juniper Webworm − This caterpillar is more common in eastern MA than in other parts of the state.  Inspect for browning foliage on junipers and the presence of foliage tied with silk.  Treat young larvae with a Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki (B.t.K.) product or with a product that contains spinosad.
  

Hymenoptera Sawfly (Caterpillar) Larvae:

• Imported Pine Sawfly - This sawfly is more commonly found in the eastern parts of MA than it is in the central and western parts.  It is now active and feeding voraciously and shares many of the same host plants as the European pine sawfly, including mugo pine.  Treat larvae with a product that contains spinosad.
  
  
• Red-Headed Pine Sawfly remains active.  This species has a rust-colored head capsule and a yellow body with black spots.  (See Imported Pine Sawfly above for monitoring and management techniques.)
  
  
• Birch Sawfly − The caterpillars of this pest are active and feed by wrapping their bodies around the margins of foliage of birches as they consume all but the main veins of the leaves.  Although not abundantly common in the state, it does appear somewhere here every year and is capable of causing serious defoliation if not treated.  Spinosad products or one of the registered pyrethroids work well.  Also, insecticidal soap works well when the larvae are still quite small. 
  

Beetles:

• Japanese Beetle adults are quite common now.  Favored host plants now display significant feeding injury in the form of a “window-paning” effect” where the foliage is heavily skeletonized.  Such foliage will turn completely brown.  Adult beetles will need to be treated with a chemical insecticide, such as a pyrethroid, in order to protect plants.  New beetles will be emerging every day from now until early September.  Continue to monitor for the buildup of unacceptable numbers of this serious defoliator.    
  
  
• Asiatic Garden Beetle remains active, but the numbers are dwindling.  This small, robust and oval-shaped scarab beetle is only active at night.  It feeds on a wide variety of deciduous landscape plants as well as many different garden plants.  Monitor at night with a flashlight between the hours of 9 PM and midnight.  This pest can cause much ragged foliage to favored plants.
  
  
• Lily Leaf Beetle - The next generation of larvae is very active and feeding now.  Adult beetles can be treated with a pyrethroid insecticide while the larvae can be treated with a product that contains spinosad.
  
  
• Viburnum Leaf Beetle  - Adult beetles still remain and egg-laying continues.  However, the bulk of this activity is now over for the year. Report any new finds in MA to Bob Childs rchilds@psis.umass.edu or 413-545-1053.  Treat the same as for lily leaf beetle. For current information about this pest, visit the Cornell web site at http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb
  
  
• Imported Willow Leaf Beetle remains active.  The adult beetle is rather small, rounded, and metallic green/blue in color.  The adult beetles will chew holes into the foliage, but it is the small black-colored larvae that create most of the injury.  Larvae will line up together on the foliage and scrape the upper layers.  This action causes the still-intact leaf to eventually die and turn brown.  This pest has multiple generations per year, and its damage can become severe by August when virtually all of the foliage on a willow will appear bronze in color, as if fire-swept.  All willows are susceptible.  Treating the adult beetle requires a pyrethroid insecticide while a product that contains spinosad works well for the larvae. 
  
  
• Black Vine Weevil adults are active.  They only forage and feed at night, so detection is difficult.  One can monitor at night with a flashlight or inspect now for the small hemispherical notches in host foliage from last year’s feeding and then monitor every few days for increased notching.  Placing loosely folded (accordian-style) burlap strips around the base of favored plants, on the ground, is a good monitoring tool for the adults.  After feeding on the plant, they will crawl into the folds to wait out the daylight hours.  During the day, inspect the burlap by carefully unrolling it and checking for weevils.  In small populations, these beetles can be collected and destroyed every day.  In larger populations, use the presence of the beetles to time controls.  This is a tough pest to manage in the landscape where Rhododendron and Taxus are the primary hosts.  In the nursery, however, this pest can present serious problems for dozens of different plant species when grown in containers.  In the landscape, products that contain lambda-cyhalothrin (restricted use) have shown good levels of control.  Containerized plants can be soil drenched with other products for the larvae, but it is the adult stage that is becoming active now.   

Piercing-Sucking Pests:

• The Red-Banded Leafhopper (a.k.a. Sharpshooter Leafhopper) continues to feed and reproduce.  This pale green leafhopper with two chevron-shaped stripes on its back is attracted to rhododendrons that continue to produce new foliage through July and August.  The egg-laying in the new leaf tissue causes the leaves to become stunted and distorted.  It is purely an aesthetic pest, but it can be an important pest, especially in the nursery.  Visually monitor for this insect by gently shaking foliage to dislodge the leafhoppers, which will fly up and then land again nearby.  When found in large numbers this pest should be treated.
  
  
• Lacebugs remain very active.  These serious pests always feed from the underside of the foliage, but they create the fine, yellow stippling feeding injury on the upper surface of the leaves.  Look at the bottom leaf surface of such affected leaves for the telltale signs of the brown fecal spots and the lacebugs themselves.  Inspect common host plants for this pest for last year’s damage.  Common hosts are Japanese andromeda, evergreen azaleas, rhododendron, cotoneaster, and hawthorn.  Systemic imidacloprid appears to be quite effective for managing this pest.  Also, horticultural oil sprays or insecticidal soap sprays that are targeted to the foliage underside is also effective for the small nymphs.  Susceptible plants growing in sunny areas will experience more damage given that heat greatly encourages lacebug populations. 
  
  
• Miscellaneous Aphid species continue to increase in numbers.  Monitor for honeydew and sooty mold.  Treat if necessary.  Systemic imidacloprid, or insecticidal soap sprays, or Horticultural oil sprays are all effective treatments.  Maples, catalpa, tuliptree, lindens, and many others are common hosts.
  
  
• Taxus Mealybug remains active.  Move the foliage of taxus back and inspect the inner branches and smaller stems for white, cottony masses.  This insect produces honeydew, which leads to the unsightly buildup of sooty molds.  Also, large populations can cause stunting and chlorosis of the foliage.  Treat with a systemic imidacloprid product, or spray the inner branches and stems with either a horticultural oil spray or one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides.
  
  
• Spider Mites - Inspect spruce, hemlock, fir, and others for the signs of feeding damage by these tiny but very prolific and potentially damaging pests.  Inspect very closely for the active mites, which will require a good hand lens or microscope.  Inspect many different deciduous host plants for the signs of Warm-Season Mites, such as the two-spotted mite.  This pest favors the hot and dry times of summer, and their numbers can increase exponentially and quickly during such times. If found, treat with an oil spray or with one of the new mite growth regulators.  Monitor for the actual mites by shaking a branch over a piece of white paper and then inspecting with a hand lens for the mobile mites.
  
  
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - This pest is now dormant, but it can still be managed even in this stage.  A horticultural oil spray (at the summer rate), systemic imidacloprid or systemic dinotefuran (Safari™), are all effective against this very serious pest.  Note: Safari™ is a State Restricted Use pesticide in Massachusetts. (See Elongate Hemlock Scale, which appears next.)
  
  
• Elongate Hemlock Scale (aka Fiorinia Scale) − Inspect hemlocks closely for this pest.  If the plant appears weakened or sickly and has hemlock woolly adelgid, which is very obvious, take the extra time to closely inspect the undersides of the needles for this scale.  Fiorinia scale is very small, brown and mostly oval in shape.  Many of these may be present per needle (on the underside only).  In some cases, it will be the primary reason that a hemlock looks to be in ill-health.  Imidicloprid, which works pretty well systemically for hemlock woolly adelgid does not have much of an impact on this scale.  Horticultural oil sprays, which also work well on hemlock woolly adelgid, tend to provide minimal control for this scale.  Safari™ (dinotefuran), a relatively new neonicotinoid, does show good promise for fiorinia scale and works well when utilized as a systemic.  However, in Massachusetts, it has a “State Restricted Use” labeling due to groundwater concerns.  Fiorinia scale is difficult to control.  Unlike most armored scales in the Northeast, it produces crawlers throughout much of the growing season.  If found, treat it aggressively.  Fiorinia scale is a very serious pest of hemlock and can occur on conifers other than hemlock.
  
  
• Tuliptree Scale - Inspect the small branches of tuliptree and magnolia for the presence of this pest.  The adult females may still be on the foliage feeding and will be rather flattened and translucent; but once they move to the stems to produce eggs, the covering over the female body raises up into a “gumdrop” shape and darkens.  This is one of the soft scales that can be a challenge to manage.  In large numbers it produces much honeydew and can weaken branches to the point of severely stunting growth.  It usually attacks tuliptree from the bottom branches and moves upward over the years, often killing those branches.  In MA it can also be found on magnolia.  There is a remarkably similar scale known as Magnolia Scale, but it will not be found on landscape magnolia in MA due to the severity of our winters.  Crawlers can be treated with horticultural oil sprays.  Systemic imidacloprid or systemic dinotefuran can be effective.
  

Wood Attackers:

• Bronze Birch Borer − The adults of this pest are still emerging and will continue to emerge and be active into September.  This pest kills trees, but it can only survive in previously weakened trees.  Keep trees healthy to avoid attack.  Drought stressed trees are candidates for attack as are old trees or those growing in compacted soils.  Treatments become a challenge once infestation occurs.  Some arborists do not like to prune birches from June into September to avoid releasing plant volatiles that may attract beetles.  However, if the tree is healthy, then there should be little concern for colonization by this insect. 

• Dogwood Borer − This clear-winged moth remains active and is seeking wounded dogwood trees from now until late August.  The females deposit eggs near bark crevices, such as branch collars, and around wounds.  The wood-boring caterpillar of this species tunnels into the cambium and later into the older wood.  Signs of an infestation now will be sap exudation on the trunk and scaffold branches.  Avoid wounding dogwood trunks with mowers and line trimmers.  Pheromone traps are available to monitor for the adult moths.  This caterpillar pushes out the sawdust as it tunnels thus leaving its tunnels open, unlike most wood borers.  Nematode products sprayed on the trunk are extremely effective for new infestations.

• Rhododendron Borer − This is another clear-winged moth species like that of the dogwood borer.  It attacks rhododendrons randomly, and infestations are often not noticed until a shoot wilts and dies.  Inspect the base of rhododendron shoots for entrance/exit holes and the presence of sawdust piled on the ground.  Prune out and destroy affected shoots or apply a coarse spray of beneficial nematodes to the base of the affected shoots. 

• Dogwood Twig Borer (a.k.a. Elm Twig Girdler) − This cerambycid beetle (longhorned beetle) attacks flowering dogwood primarily but can also be found attacking elm, viburnum, and various fruit trees.  The larvae tunnel in the smaller branches; ultimately, the branches are killed.  Usually, this pest is not found congregated in large numbers, and infested branches can be individually pruned out and destroyed.

Other Stuff:

• Periodical Cicada − This year’s emergence was very large in Mashpee, Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne, and other surrounding towns.  Right now, many of the deciduous trees in those areas, especially the oaks, are displaying countless dead and browned shoots from the cicada egg-laying activity.   In reality, the only dead part of the trees is the distal two feet of most branches, which gives the tree an overall dead appearance.  The branches and foliage from the dead tissue to the trunk is still healthy.  Trees may look terrible, but this is a form of natural pruning that these trees receive every 17 years.  Previously healthy trees should survive.  Smaller trees that lost most of their foliage will be rather stressed from this egg-laying injury.  Affected trees may require regular watering if drought conditions prevail.  Trees that were previously stressed by caterpillar defoliation and/or drought may now be in serious trouble if much cicada egg-laying occurred on these plants.  Monitor for high levels of stress and pamper such trees as much as possible.  Providing water is the best overall treatment during times of drought.

• Tabanid Flies are now active.  Common members of this group are:  deer flies, horse flies, and the notorious greenhead fly found in coastal/marsh areas.  This particular family of blood-feeding flies is most obnoxious due to the nature of their bite.  Where mosquitoes and black flies steal blood by puncturing the skin with fine ‘hypodermic-like’ mouthparts, the Tabanids literally snip away a piece of skin with scissors-like mouthparts and then sponge up the exuded blood.  These do not attack plants but are a bane to field workers at this time of the year.  Insect repellents are reported to have minimal effects against these flies.  Instead, it is often suggested that one apply a product to the skin that is oily thus making the skin too slippery for the fly to get a foothold for biting.  One such product that gets mentioned is Skin-So-Soft™, but its true effectiveness is not fully known.

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

WEEDS -

Crabgrass - At this point in the growing season one can readily assess the successfulness of their single or split preemergence herbicide application programs for crabgrass control in turf.  Favorable rainfall amounts have resulted in active turf growth which has enabled turf to continue to compete with annual grassy weeds.  Generally speaking, statewide most preemergence herbicide applications provided effective crabgrass control, however postemergence control may be need to clean up “escapes” as well as turf edges next to hardscapes.  At this time, with only perhaps a few exceptions, crabgrass at all locations statewide has developed to beyond the stage in which fenoxoprop (Acclaim Extra™) will provide effective control.  Quinclorac (Drive™, Q4™, Momentum Q™) should be the material of choice with applications being made to crabgrass that is in or greater than 5-6 tiller growth stage.  Turf should not be under drought stress as injury may occur.  This is especially true of the fine fescues; applications should only be made to fine fescues if those species are a component of a mixed stand turf.  Applications to predominantly fine fescue stands may result in noticeable injury.  Quinclorac will not control goosegrass.

Paspalum, Paspalum setaceum, can be seen in turf now and is often incorrectly identified as crabgrass.  This species is wrongly called dallisgrass.  MSMA can be used for control with two applications two to three weeks apart usually being needed.

Reported by Randall Prostak, Weed Specialist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program, Amherst.

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 August 21, 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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