UMass Extension Landscape Message #26
November 5, 2004

Quick Info Menu ------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL DATA REGIONAL NOTES - Cape Cod - Southeast - East - Central - West - Berkshire WOODY ORNAMENTALS - Insects - Diseases - Lab Report - Weeds TURFGRASS - Insects - Diseases - Weeds INFO RESOURCES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES Use this menu to instantly jump to any portion of the message!

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

The following growing degree day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected from October 7 through November 3, 2004. Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on November 3, 2003. 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. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

Southeast Region - General conditions: Beautiful fall color for the past month still prevails. Many areas of Plymouth County received only a light frost some weeks ago and one again last night. In those areas of light frost, annuals like geranium, impatiens, and salvia are still in bloom. Fall foliage color is still terrific with much of the color coming from oaks, beech, kousa dogwood, flowering dogwood, styrax, witchhazel, and clethra. Late season perennials still in bloom are: Aconitum sp., (Monkshood), Aster tataricus, Sheffield Pink Chrysanthemum, Korean Chrysanthemums, and a few garden phlox. Fruits of Viburnum trilobum and Kousa dogwood are also proving color. Hanson received 2.25 inches of rain over the past 4 weeks and soils are moist. Pests/Problems: Ladybugs, one of the fall invaders have started to enter buildings. There are no other insects or diseases to report. Now is a good time for fall cleanup especially those areas that had significant plant disease problems like powdery mildew, apple scab, black spot, anthracnose, etc.

East Region - General Conditions: No report.

Central Region - General Conditions: No report.

West Region - General Conditions: Except for several wet days in mid-month, October was a dry, as well as cooler than normal period. Newly transplanted evergreens would benefit form weekly soaking until the ground freezes if the weather stays dry. Most of the autumn color change has past in the Pioneer Valley, except for the gold and burgundy of oak, beech, gingko and some later maples. Pests/Problems: Meadow voles are active, feeding on newly planted bulbs. There are no extraordinary disease problems. There are some nuisance insects evident that are making their way indoors for winter.

Berkshire Region - General Conditions: The soil moisture is high despite low rainfall amounts for the past month. Frosts thus far have been light but killing frost expected tonight (Nov. 3). Oaks still providing lots of color in natural landscape. Pests/Problems: Asiatic Lady Beetles are prominent on sunny sides of light colored siding of houses.

WOODY ORNAMENTALS

INSECTS

The vast majority of insects are now dormant. However, a few remain and a few others are about to have their last period of activity for this year.

• Red-headed Pine Sawfly may still be active in the more moderated climates (coastline) where cold weather has not yet been enough to cease their activity. However, they are virtually through for this year.
  
• House invaders are still very active. These include: Asian ladybird beetles (ladybugs), western conifer seedbug, boxelder bugs, mimosa webworm caterpillars, others. Work to prevent them entering the home by fixing screening and caulking.
  
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has become active and will continue to feed and develop from now until next March whereupon new eggs will be produced and then a second generation of adelgids will become active. Last winter’s unprecedented cold spell greatly reduced the numbers of this pest but they will rebound. Monitor for developing populations and earmark them for treatment next spring.
  
• Fall Cankerworm and Winter Moth adults will appear starting around Thanksgiving time. Flight may continue into December if temperatures remain mild. Both species have winged males that can fly and wingless females that do not fly. Eggs will be laid and will remain dormant until the spring. Last year’s population of winter moth was extremely high and male moth emergence was often described as “a blizzard of moths”. Both species are active night fliers and are attracted to lights. Many trees in the Plymouth County area, which have been defoliated for several consecutive years by winter moth, started displaying signs of decline this last growing season. Make note of such trees and be prepared to provide them with some extra TLC next spring, if possible.
  
• Forest tent Caterpillar and Eastern Tent Caterpillar populations have been on the rise in MA as well as in much of southern New England. Monitor host plants for their egg masses and be prepared to intervene early next spring in those areas of high populations.
  
• Gypsy moth is also showing signs of increasing in numbers across the state. Monitor for their egg masses as well.

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

DISEASES

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). If this debris is not removed more of these disease fungi will be present in the area to initiate infections next spring. Also, 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) - The fungus Phytophthora ramorum causes Ramorum blight. It is a severe disease of oak and tanoak in certain Pacific Northwest fog forest areas. In 2004, Phytophthora ramorum was found in nurseries in California, Oregon and Washington. These detections demonstrate that the pathogen is not necessarily limited to the moist coastal regions of northern California and southern Oregon. All of these nurseries distribute nursery stock nationwide, including Massachusetts. Canada has identified three infested nurseries in British Columbia; one of which is a production nursery that shipped potentially infected plants to 19 nurseries in CA, OR and WA.

Phytophthora ramorum 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 an area, serving therefore as a reservoir of inoculum. Not all of the details of how the fungus spreads have been worked out, but these reservoir plants may play an important role.

SOD (Phytophthora ramorum) surveys in nurseries and forest areas around the state were performed this year. To date, Phytophthora ramorum has not been found in Massachusetts, but nearby states in which it has been positively identified include Pennsylvania (indoors), New York (however, there is some doubt about this situation) and New Jersey. On July 2, APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) confirmed the presence of Phytophthora ramorum in Nassau County, NY. The team collected the positive sample from a mature red oak tree located in a 192 acre forested county park. Further surveys are underway to identify other possible infected plants and infested sites.

As of September 29, 2004, the total number of confirmed positive locales from the trace forward, national, and other survey finds is 160 in 21 States. The breakdown per State is: AL (3), AR (1), AZ (1), CA (53), CO (1), FL (6), GA (18), LA (5), MD (2), NC (9), NJ (1), NM (1), NY (1), OK (1), OR (13), PA (indoor), SC (3), TN (2), TX (11), VA (2) and WA (25). It is important to note that only three are from residential landscape situations, two in Georgia and one in South Carolina, as well as one possible environs find on Long Island, NY.

For more information about SOD and Phytophthora ramorum check out the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project web site at www.massnrc.org/pests/ . From the home page, hit the Search for Pest Info button; then enter the keywords 'sudden oak death' in the search box. Follow the link to the fact sheet.

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 October 4 through October 29, 2004:

• Boston ivy - well established plant with scattered spots on many leaves and occasional 1-foot shoot sections dying back; Guignardia leaf spot and canker.
• Common lilac - new plants on foggy site near tidal estuary with spotted leaves and premature loss; lilac anthracnose (Glomerella)
• European beech - ~100-year-old tree with areas of dead bark, some of which are weeping, formed at base of main stem; all lesions well compartmentalized/no disease or insect found that causes these symptoms/contributing agents: soil compaction + physical injuries + environmental stress (e.g., water shortage + winter freeze damage)
• Privet - mature hedge with yellowed, spotted leaves in August and by September scattered dieback; rust mites/opportunistic Phomopsis leaf blight + canker/windy site/compacted soil/water shortage
• Sugar maple - mature tree with branch tip dieback, smaller than normal leaves and early fall color; Valsa canker/previous seasons of heat stress + water shortage/ soil compaction/deicing salt use on nearby walks + driveway/possible root damage or disease

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

TURFGRASS

Diseases:

Robert Wick Takes Over Turf Disease Diagnostic Duties - I personally want to take a little of the space here to thank my colleague and outstanding turfgrass pathologist, Dr. Gail Schumann for her many years of excellent service to the UMass Turfgrass Program. As of now, responsibility for diagnoses and recommendations fall to me, and it will take a little time for me to get back into the swing of turfgrass pathology. I welcome your comments and concerns; I can be reached by email: rwick@pltpath.umass.edu, or by phone: 413-545-1045. For additional information, visit the Disease Diagnostics section of the UMass Turf Program web site.

Fusarium patch (pink snow mold) occurs during cool (less than 60° F) rainy weather. The disease is also known as Microdochium patch because the name of the fungus was changed from Fusarium to Microdochium. Patches are usually from 1 to 5 inches in diameter and the grass will appear water-soaked, similar to Pythium blight. The overall coloration of the affected turf is usually tan but in the spring, after snowmelt, a pink to salmon-coloration is often evident. The disease is favored by nitrogen applications so if you have a history of Fusarium patch, go easy on the nitrogen this fall. The fungus is easily spread with mowers so do not mow diseased grass when wet. A wide range of fungicides will control this disease. Fludioxonil, iprodione, PCNB, propiconazole, and trifloxystrobin should give excellent control.

Rob Wick, Professor, Microbiology/Plant Pathology, UMass, Amherst, Mass.

Insects:

Diazinon 'Stop-Sale' Date Approaching - EPA has issued a notice to remind retailers of a Dec. 31, 2004, stop-sale date for all outdoor diazinon home, lawn and garden products. It will be unlawful to sell diazinon outdoor non-agricultural use products in the United States after the end of this year. This is part of an agreement between EPA and diazinon registrants to phase out and eliminate all residential uses of the insecticide diazinon. Discontinuing diazinon use in home, lawn and garden care is part of EPA's ongoing effort under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act to reduce the risk of pesticides, especially to children.

Diazinon registrants are offering a "buy back" program to assist with removing these products from the market and preventing further sale. The registrants will repurchase any unopened, unused outdoor residential products from retailers or formulators. Retailers should make all possible efforts to sell their diazinon products back to the manufacturers by March 31, 2005.

Consumers may continue to use diazinon residential products according to label directions and precautions (for New York State use, the registrant must continue to register their products with the NYSDEC). If consumers choose to discontinue use, they should contact their state or local hazardous waste disposal program or local solid waste collection service for information on proper disposal. Consumers are advised not to dispose of pesticides in sinks, toilets, storm drains, or any body of water. The local government may recommend that consumers take diazinon products to a household hazardous waste collection site.

The organophosphate pesticide, diazinon, has been one of the most widely used insecticides in the United States for household lawn and garden pest control, as well as for indoor residential treatments. All indoor use product registrations have been cancelled and retail sale ended on Dec. 31, 2002.

More information on diazinon is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm

Pat Vittum, Professor, Turf Entomology, UMass, Amherst.

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

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

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 available now. 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 . 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 . NOTE: Dr. Schumann's lab at Marquette University is permanently closed as of August 31, 2004. All samples for turf disease diagnosis must now be directed to UMass Amherst.

NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available in early December, 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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