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UMass Extension Landscape Message #11
May 15, 2008

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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 May 22, 2008.

Missed a previous message? Visit the Landscape Message Archive.

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

SCOUTING INFORMATION BY REGION

REGIONAL NOTES -

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) – General Conditions: The weather has been decidedly cold and damp over the reporting period.  Soil moisture levels are good, and flowering shrubs have a prolonged period of bloom due to the cool weather.  Pests/Problems: Winter moth caterpillars are about 1/4 inch long and are webbing new foliage together and feeding inside. We have not had any reports of gypsy moth infestations to date.  Eastern tent caterpillar nests are expanding and are readily visible.  Galls of cedar apple rust are visible on eastern red cedar.  Dandelions, creeping veronica, and chickweed are in full bloom.  Cicadas have not yet emerged as adults, but we are expecting it will happen when soil temperatures reach the low sixties F.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: Nice spring weather, sunny days and cool nights, have kept the spring blooming plants looking good.  Japanese maples have leafed out providing nice foliage color with all the other deciduous trees.  Exochorda racemosa (Pearlbush), lilac, Viburnum 'Mohawk', Mayflower viburnum, Eastern redbud, Pieris floribunda (Mountain Pieris), Pieris 'Brouwer's Beauty', Wisteria, Halesia, flowering dogwood, Helleborus foetidus, Vinca, Pulmonaria, Trillium, Kerria, Arabis, anemones, Royal azalea, Bleeding heart, Euphorbia polychroma, Brunnera macrophylla, Arisaema, Epimedium, Ajuga, Lunaria, Daphne sp., Phlox subulata, Phlox divaricata, Phlox stolonifera, Sweet woodruff, Barberry, and Solomon's Seal are in full bloom.  Lawns are green.  Pests/Problems: Winter moth caterpillars were observed webbing the flowers of apple and crabapple together and feeding.  They were also observed webbing and feeding on the foliage of oak, Norway and red maples, Japanese maples, and others.  In some areas of Plymouth County, winter moth caterpillar populations appear to be down from previous years, and trees look to be in good shape.  However, this observation may vary by town; for an example, Hull has reported high numbers of winter moth caterpillars this season.  This is the second year that winter moth caterpillar populations seem to be down in the Hanson area.  It is still early, however, as winter moth caterpillars usually don't start to pupate until late May to early June.  Eastern tent caterpillar webs are expanding.  Hemlock woolly adelgid, lily leaf beetles, wasps and hornets, carpenter bees, mosquitoes, and ticks are all active.  Ground ivy, buttercups, chickweed, violets, and dandelions are in full bloom.  Poison ivy is showing up in the landscape; new growth is often a reddish-green.  Beneficial insects are active.  Remind clients to water newly planted landscape material.

East Region (Boston) – Pests/Problems: Pleasant spring-like visitation.  Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum brought many visitors on a very pleasant day!  Mowing, weeding, pruning, and litter clean-up continues at a good pace.  Newly planted trees and shrubs are in need of watering.

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: The temperature is gradually warming up.  Warm days but very cool nights.  Pests/Problems:  Winter moth is still active.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: Nights have been very cool holding the flowers on a lot of early flowering shrubs and trees.  Pests/Problems:  Dandelion has gone to seed.  Deer browse is a problem on hosta now.

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: No conditions report available. See Environmental Data and Phenology below.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: As the daffodils fade the iris, bleeding heart, and phlox are really coming into their own.  In spite of only receiving ~1/4 inch of rain since May 4, plant development continues to be vigorous with prolific flowering and vegetative growth on many trees and shrubs.  Lawns and gardens also continue to thrive.  Pests/Problems:  The first flush of leaves on many London planetrees experienced freeze/frost damage on sub-30° F April 30 and May 1 mornings.  These episodes browned the young leaves, but lateral and adventitious buds from a bit lower on the affected twigs are beginning to develop.  Deer and dog ticks are active.  Black flies are abundant and hungry.  Windy, warm, and dry weather brought on another fire danger warning for the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas.   

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Plant development is steady but slow as the nights have been cool and rainfall has been minimal.  Soil moisture levels are adequate to low, depending upon exposure and soil texture.  Pests/Problems:  Ticks are very common, but insect activity is minimal.  Tent caterpillars are active but seem to be few in number.  There are numerous reports of vole damage to perennials.   

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a one-week period, May 7, 2008 through May 13, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on May 13, 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.

Region/Location
2008 GROWING DEGREE DAYS
Soil Temp
(°F at 4" depth)
Precipitation
(1-Week Gain)
1-Week Gain
Total accumulation for 2008
Cape Cod
29
125
58°
1.60"
Southeast
37
158
61°
0.59"

East

47
170
55°
0.25"
Metro West
(Waltham)
31
117
53°
0.22"
Metro West
(Hopkinton)
44
141
55°
0.25"
Central
33
127
50°
0.19"
Pioneer Valley
51
207
54°
0.24"
Berkshires
44
184
56°
0.23"
AVERAGE
40
154
55°
0.45"

n/a = information not available

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

Spirea x vanhouttei (Van Houtte Spirea)

*

*

begin

*

begin

*

*

*

Elaeagnus umbellate (Autumn Olive)

*

b/full

begin

*

*

*

*

*

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)

*

*

full

*

*

*

full

begin

Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian Honeysuckle)                    

*

*

f/end

*

*

*

full

begin

Halesia spp. (Silverbell)

*

full

full

*

full

full

full

begin

Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac)

begin

full

b/full

full

full

full

full

b/full

Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) – BRACTS

b/full

full

full

full

full

full

full

Malus spp. (Crabapple)

b/full

full

full

full

end

full

full

full

Cercis canadensis (Redbud)

full

full

full

full

end

full

full

full

Viburnum spp. (Early Fragrant Viburnums)

full

full

full

full

end

full

f/end

full

Spiraea prunifolia (Bridalwreath Spirea)

full

f/end

full

*

end

*

*

*

Chaenomeles speciosa (Floweringquince)

full

end

full

end

end

full

f/end

f/end

 Amelanchier spp. (Shadbush/Serviceberry)

full

end

f/end

*

end

end

end

f/end

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford Pear)

f/end

end

end

end

end

f/end

end

f/end

Rhododendron 'P.J.M.' (PJM Rhododendron)

f/end

end

end

end

end

end

end

end

Prunus serrulata (Japanese Flowering Cherry)

f/end

end

f/end

end

end

end

end

end

Forsythia x intermedia (Border Forsythia)

end

end

end

end

end

f/end

end

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:

  • Gypsy Moth - The caterpillars should be settled and feeding by now throughout the state.  No reports have been received concerning large numbers of this pest in the state for this year.  It is still assumed that it will be a little concern statewide this year.  If found in significant numbers, a product containing spinosad should be very effective.   

  • Forest Tent Caterpillar - In the warmer regions of the state this caterpillar is now about one inch in length and feeding voraciously.  In the western region of the state this pest is more prevalent on maple while it is more commonly found on oaks in the eastern regions.  However, it has a wide deciduous host plant range and can be destructive on many hosts throughout the state.

  • Eastern Tent Caterpillar - Silken webs in the branch crotches of Malus and Prunus species are quite noticeable now.  This pest is occurring randomly throughout the state, and in some regions the numbers are significant once again this year.  In parts of southern New York state and across Pennsylvania this caterpillar is appearing in extremely large population numbers.  It is most likely too late in the season for a Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki product, but an insecticide that contains spinosad  

  • Fall Cankerworm - Reports of this native caterpillar are just beginning to be received.  It is not yet clear just how widespread this pest will be this year in the state.  The thinking is that, once again, there will be random yet significant small pockets occurring throughout the state.

  • Winter Moth - Some areas in eastern Massachusetts (e.g., Hull) are experiencing large numbers of this introduced species this year, and damage is already noticeable.  Other areas in the eastern part of the state have winter moth but in lower numbers.  Now that the leaves have expanded from the buds this pest can be treated with a product that contains spinosad or with one of the labeled pyrethroid insecticides. 

Hymenoptera Sawfly (Caterpillar) Larvae:

  • European Pine SawflyThis sawfly caterpillar will appear within the next week or so on such host plants as mugo pine.  Inspect now for the yellow, block-shaped spots lined up on the needles that are an indicator of sawfly eggs embedded within the needles.  If found in limited numbers, remove those needles and destroy them.  Once the dark green larvae hatch, they tend to cluster in large numbers on the tips of needles and continue to feed gregariously.  As they become larger (they grow quickly), they will consume the needle down to the fascicles.  The very young larvae are easily controlled with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil sprays.  For the larger larvae, consider using a product that contains spinosad or one of the pyrethroid insecticides.  This pest usually does not kill its host, but it can greatly impact the aesthetic value of

  • Azalea Sawfly Caterpillar − This green-colored sawfly caterpillar is virtually the same color as the host plant foliage, which is usually 'Exbury' and 'Mollis' varieties of deciduous azaleas in Massachusetts.  Given that it hugs the margins of the foliage while it feeds, coupled with its coloration, this insect is difficult to see.  Once foliage is fully emerged, inspect for ragged edges of foliage where feeding has occurred; then inspect more closely for the caterpillar.  It tends to consume the soft tissue of the foliage and leaves nothing but the main veins, which is somewhat typical of many sawflies that feed on deciduous plants.   Once found, treat with a product that contain spinosad or with one of the pyrethroid insecticides labeled for this pest.  If not treated, it has the potential to consume all leaves.

Beetles:

  • Lily Leaf Beetle Adobe PDF icon - The bright red adults have been active now for several weeks.  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 given that it is in CT, RI, VT, NH, ME, and NY state.  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 External link

  • Imported Willow Leaf Beetle has been active for a few weeks, and its damage is starting to become noticeable.  The adult beetle is rather small, rounded, and metallic green/blue in color.  The adult beetle 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. 
Piercing-Sucking Pests:
  • Snowball Aphid remains actively feeding, but all of its injury has now occurred.  It will cease feeding by the end of May, but the curled and distorted foliage will remain on the host plant for the rest of the growing season.  Systemic imidacloprid may be helpful in reducing next year’s numbers on individual host plants, but time is running out for it to be translocated up to the foliage where this pest will be feeding for the next two to three weeks.

  • 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 over-wintering 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.  Many spider mite species have now become active statewide, so monitor for the actual mites by shaking a branch over a white piece of paper and then inspecting with a hand lens for the mobile mites.

  • Clover Mites A few calls have been received recently concerning this occasional pest.  Clover mites become active in the spring and feed on a wide range of host plants.  They are very small and usually go unnoticed.  However, they have the potential to invade homes and become a nuisance.  They do not bite people, but their numbers, when occurring indoors, often causes alarm.  Preventing them from invading is the best overall strategy.  It is recommended that grass, weeds and other lush vegetation be kept 18-24 inches from the house around the foundation, especially on the sunnier sides.  It is claimed that clover mites will not cross over bare ground.  Many pesticide products are also labeled for the control of this mite.  As always, make sure that the recommended pesticides are labeled for use in your state and always, read, understand and follow all labeled directions for use of such products.  Ohio Extension has a very informative fact sheet concerning this pest that can be obtained at the following web site:  http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2095.html External link

  • Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Adobe PDF icon - 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.  A horticultural oil spray at the summer rate (be careful of tender new foliage now emerging), systemic imidacloprid or systemic dinotefuran (Safari™), are all effective against this very serious pest.  (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 case, 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 tends 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.

  • Cryptomeria Scale was found on Cape Cod last fall as well as in Rhode Island (not far from the MA border.  This was the first time that this scale has been found in MA.  Both finds were on Christmas trees in the nursery (plantation).  This scale attacks various conifers and has the potential to be a serious pest; our finds were both on fir.  Inspect needles for yellowing (stippling) and the presence of the scale on the needle undersides.  Treat with a horticultural oil if found.

  • Honeylocust Plantbug - Now that the foliage of honeylocust has expanded from the bud, this pest is actively feeding.  It creates typical yellow stippling on foliage when it feeds on expanded foliage.  The real damage occurs when it feeds heavily just as the new foliage is emerging from the bud.  In this case the leaflets become heavily stunted, twisted, and otherwise distorted.  Treatments include insecticidal soap sprays for the young nymphs or a labeled pyrethroid.

  • Boxwood Psyllid causes cupping of the new foliage, which remains on the host plant for a year or more.  It does not result in yellow stippling injury.  Inspect susceptible boxwoods now for new cupped foliage and the white wax that is produced by the tiny psyllids.  Contact insecticides, such as soap and oils, may not provide good controls given that the pest is protected within the cupped foliage.  Certain pyrethroids are labeled for this pest.

Leaf Miners:

  • Birch Leafminer − Populations of this potentially serious pest appear once again to be rather low in the state.  Where it is active, the larvae are now about half developed, and injury is noticeable.  In most areas of the state it may be too late for control measures now.

  • Inkberry Leafminer − This is one of the “holly leaf miners” and is specific to inkberry.  Inspect now for browned foliage tips, and then inspect more closely for the presence of mining within those browned tips, which will be hollow and contain a pupa.  Monitor for the emergence of the adult leaf miner flies with yellow sticky cards.  Treat with a pyrethroid insecticide once the adults appear to break the cycle of re-infestation of the host plants.

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.  Homeowners have already been reporting finding 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.

Nuisance Pests:

  • Ground Bees - Many calls have been received this year concerning solitary bees nesting in turf, which includes home lawns, parks, athletic fields, and school grounds.  When these bees are prevalent, such as this year, they can cause alarm.  However, most of these bees are fairly docile and only sting (or in some cases, bite) when seriously provoked.  There are many types of these ground bees ranging from digger bees, mining bees, cicada killers, leaf-cutting bees, and others.  Overall, these bees appear more problematic than they actually are, and most will greatly subside in activity by early to mid June.  Occasionally, controls may be necessary, primarily on athletic fields where encounters between humans and bees may become significant and also where rare but very large numbers of these bees may soften the playing surface to the point of risking injury to players.  Ohio Extension has a very informative fact sheet on the topic which can be obtained at the following web site:   http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2143.html External link

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

DISEASES -

Flowering dogwoods susceptible to dogwood anthracnose Adobe PDF icon are vulnerable to infection during wet seasons.  Apply fungicide to protect developing leaves on high value trees, as the buds break open, again when bracts have fallen, and ~4 weeks later.  If this is a persistent problem, consider planting one of the many resistant cultivars of flowering dogwood and Kousa dogwood now available.

Apply fungicides to protect emerging apple and crabapple leaves from apple scab Adobe PDF icon as the buds turn pink, again around petal fall, followed by 1-2 additional times at 7-10 day intervals (assuming wet conditions linger).  Prune the trees to increase air circulation and sunlight penetration that speeds drying of foliage.  There are numerous resistant varieties of apple, crabapple, and mountain ash to grow and simplify disease management.

During dry weather remove and destroy infected foliage to reduce juniper blight inoculum.  Cut an inch or so below the boundary between dead and healthy tissue.  Begin fungicide control of juniper blight caused by Phomopsis juniperovora as new growth emerges, and repeat applications if wetness persists.  If the problem persists, gradually replace problem junipers with disease-resistant shrubs better adapted to the site.

Maximize the effectiveness fungicide treatments in the management of black spot on rose Adobe PDF icon by initiating them now as buds swell, and repeat applications per label directions into the fall.  Provide good air circulation and irrigate early in the day to minimize the period of plant wetness to further suppress the disease.  If the problem persists, gradually replace susceptible varieties of roses with those resistant to black spot to reduce buildup of inoculum and the need for fungicide treatment.

Protect leaves, green shoots, and fruit of apple and crabapple as well as serviceberry, hawthorn, mountainash, quince, flowering quince, and pear from Gymnosporangium rust infections now.  The fruiting structures are now beginning to appear on the alternate hosts of eastern red cedar (really a juniper) and Rocky mountain juniper, as well as the occasional Chinese, common, creeping, and savin juniper.  Specifically, cedar-apple rust Adobe PDF icon galls are visible on eastern red cedar as eruptions of orange, gelatinous masses protruding from pea- to golf ball-sized galls.  These fruiting structures release spores that infect apple and crab apple leaves at this time of the year during cool, rainy periods.  Likewise, fruiting structures of quince rust Adobe PDF icon are visible as red-orange “cracks” in the bark and small gelatinous masses on the foliage of infected branches on several of these junipers.  Infections seldom cause serious damage to host plants, but their brilliant colors bring attention to them when the rust fungus infects the foliage.

Ramorum blight Adobe PDF icon, also known as sudden oak death (SOD) and ramorum dieback.  Since 1995, oaks and tanoaks have been dying in the coastal counties of California.  Since then, surveys found other plants infected or associated with this disease caused by the water mold, Phytophthora ramorumResearchers in the U. S. first isolated the pathogen in Mill Valley (Marin County) on tanoak, but since that time additional surveys confirmed the pathogen on various native hosts in fourteen coastal California counties and in Curry County, Oregon.  Through ongoing surveys of nurseries, USDA-APHIS-PPQ continues to define the extent of the pathogen’s distribution in the U. S. and limit its artificial spread beyond infected areas through quarantine and a public education program.

Status of Phytophthora ramorum in 2008

There are no updates for 2008 at this time.

Federal Regulation, State Inspection, Nursery Survey, and Other Finds.  There was no report this week.

Forest Detection Survey.  There was no report this week.

Reported by Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, Amherst

WEEDS -

The warm weather of the last couple of days has moved the growth of winter annuals along.  Continue the treatment of winter annuals and perennials in ornamental beds with glyphosate or glufosinate.  

Monitor beds for annual weed germination; if they are still weed free, apply a preemergence herbicide.  Treat annual weeds while they are still small.

Continue to apply mulch to weed-free ornamental beds.

Treat garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, now.  Applications at this time of year will control second year plants before they go to seed as well as first year seedlings.

Japanese knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum, has begun to emerge from rhizomes.  Do not attempt to control this weed at this time as herbicide applications are not effective.  Repeat cutting or mowing can be use as a non-chemical strategy.  If that is the control strategy selected, then cutting and mowing should begin now.  Repeat cutting or mowing should be done as regrowth reaches 8-12 inches.

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

INSECTS -

Mole Control:  Buyer Beware.  Moles are back at it again!  These small subterranean, tunnel-making  pests can cause big frustrations for those managing turfgrass and landscapes.  Mole damage is most noticeable during the spring and fall, but spring may be the most effective time to control them.

Moles are gray, furry, mammals that reach 6–8 inches in length.  They have abnormally high metabolism rates which means that they must constantly eat and are active almost year-round, day and night.

Moles are unique animals and are perfectly adapted for their underground life.  They are nearly blind and have very strong front feet designed for tunneling.  They can tunnel as much as 100 feet per day in their quest for food.  Frozen soils during the winter-time force moles to tunnel very deep underground.  Evidence of this winter-time activity are large piles of black soil deposited on top of the lawn or garden.  One may not see surface tunneling at this time, but make no mistake, piles of soil are also a sure sign that the moles will be back making surface tunnels when temperatures rise.

Moles mostly feed on earthworms.  While they do eat grubs, it’s an old wives tale that grubs are the reason that moles are in a lawn.  Therefore using grub control products as a method of controlling moles will not be effective.  Even in grub free lawns, moles continue to survive, because the majority of their diet consists of the ever-present earthworm.

When the ground dries out in the summer (or when it freezes in the winter), earthworms and soil dwelling insects remain deeper in the ground and so do the moles.  This behavior makes control difficult because one can never be certain that the moles are truly eliminated even though they are not making surface runs.

Moles are not rodents (like rats and mice) which means that they cannot be baited using rodent foods.   Poison peanuts or other grain baits won’t work since moles don’t feed on seeds, alfalfa pellets, or any of the typical baits that are sold to 'kill rodents' even though some are touted as a control for rodents and moles.

People also should beware of false claims about schemes to drive moles away.  Many gardening and landscaping books and magazines have references or advertising with bizarre strategies to control moles.  These include putting mothballs, human hair, razor blades, or chewing gum in their tunnels, or using pinwheels or ultrasonic devices to scare moles away.  The reality is that these just do not work.

The only two methods of effectively controlling moles are to (1) to use a bait that they are attracted to or (2) to physically remove them.  A fairly recent bait that has been proven to be effective is packaged and sold in the form of a worm.  The attractive smell and taste that is incorporated into the worm, together with bromethalin (the active ingredient that poisons the mole), makes for a lethal combination.

Two effective mole traps can be used depending upon where the moles are working.  A scissor trap is better for use in subsurface, or deep, mole runs. A harpoon trap is usually easier to use when the tunnels are near the surface.

Whether using traps or worm-shaped baits, placement is critical.  Choose a run that the mole uses regularly. Usually this is a run that is in a straight line as opposed to squiggly tunnels that are generally used for food foraging only.  The best straight runs follow a structural guideline such as a curb or a gutter, because these are used regularly as the moles travel from their nest to the foraging area.  To determine if a run is active, stomp it down flat then check the following day to see if it is pushed back up.  If the tunnel has been repaired, it is usually an active tunnel and should be considered for trapping or baiting.

Mole traps and baits are available at most hardware, home repair and farm supply stores, generally right there in the middle of a bunch of mole control products that do not work.  Buyer beware!

Submitted by Pat Vittum, Extension Entomologist, UMass Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, Amherst.  Written by Tim Gibb, Dept. of Entomology, Purdue University, LaFayette, IN.

WEEDS -

Forsythia has completed it flowering period.  Therefore, preemergence herbicide applications should be completed by now.   Any remaining preemergence applications should be with dithiopyr products and preferably those that are a sprayable formulation.  Start to monitor for germination of crabgrass.

It is still too early for treating broadleaf weeds.

Tree seedlings in turf will mow out.  An herbicide application is not needed.

Wild garlic is noticeable now.  Ignore it and it will go away or treat with a broadleaf turf herbicide.  Control is increased if weed is stepped on or rolled before application.  Granular broadleaf herbicide formulations should not be used.

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

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

For a complete listing of upcoming events, see our Conferences and Workshops page.

Don't forget to visit the UMass Extension Online Weed Herbarium!

UMass Extension's Professional Management Guide for Trees and Shrubs2008-2009 Professional Management Guide for Insects, Diseases and Weeds of Trees and Shrubs in New England - Pesticide label registration changes every year in all states and you can only legally apply pesticides according to the current year's label. This updated 2008-09 guide tells you what is current and legal for use in all the New England states and is the way for you to stay current with pesticide information. If you already have the 2003 version, this is the updated supplement for pesticide information. Remember, if you're a pesticide applicator, it's the law! Created by UMass Extension professionals, this manual offers the latest on virtually all the insects, diseases, and weeds of woody plants in New England; current and legal listings of chemical compounds labeled for the management of these pests; Integrated Pest Management (IPM) considerations for most of these pests; environmentally friendly alternatives in pest management such as horticultural oils, soaps, biologicals, etc.; and Growing Degree Day (GDD) information for most of the insect pests of woody plants. Click here to order online from the UMass Extension Bookstore External link or contact (413) 545-0895; eweeks@umext.umass.edu for information.

Planting and Maintaining Sustainable Landscapes: A Guide for Public Officials and the Green Industry - An updated and reprinted collection of fact sheets, including Trees and Shrubs for Low Maintenance Landscapes; Recommendations for Planting and Maintaining Trees and Shrubs; Integrated Pest Management and Plant Health Care; Streetscape Design and Planting; Selecting Turfgrasses for Low Maintenance Sites; Turf Pesticides and the Environment; Children's Protection Act and School IPM Plans; and Guidelines for Planting within the 100 Foot Wetland Buffer. Click here to order online from the UMass Extension Bookstore External link or contact (413) 545-0895; eweeks@umext.umass.edu for information.

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 External link

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 External link Alternatively, call the lab at (413) 545-2311.


NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available on May 22, 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.

DISCLAIMER. This message is intended for commercial use. UMass Extension assumes no liability for recommendations. It is the responsibility of the applicator to verify the registration status of any pesticide BEFORE applying it. Different states have different regulations as well. The use of trade names (™) does not imply endorsement. Similarly, there may be other products you prefer to use.

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UMass Extension's Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program
UPCOMING EVENTS

Visit our Conferences & Workshops page for details & registration

5/28
10/1
Scouting Turf & Woody Ornamentals
7/23 Great Ideas Summer Conference
Ipswich, MA
7/30
8/6
8/27
Weed Identification Workshops
UMass Extension

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UMass Extension's Professional Management Guide for Trees and Shrubs