UMass Extension Landscape Message #13
May 29, 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 May and June this newsletter will be updated weekly. The next update will be available on June 5, 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 weather finally gave way to more seasonal warmth over the past reporting period, with outstanding weather occurring over the Memorial Day weekend.  Landscapes are looking lush, with many shrubs and spring perennials in bloom. With Memorial Day behind us, it is now time to plant annuals and other tender plants in the landscape. Doublefile viburnum is a highlight in the landscape.  Pests/Problems:  Cicadas should be out any day now, as soil temperatures move into the low 60’s F.  Winter moth caterpillars are about 1/2 inch long and hanging from silken threads.  Some foliar damage is evident in the few hot spots around the Cape.  Gypsy moth caterpillars are about 3/16 inch long and ballooning.  Eastern tent caterpillar nests are large. Lily leaf beetle larvae are presently feeding.  Asiatic garden beetle is active.  Dog tick adults and nymphs of deer ticks are active.  Do thorough tick checks after working in brushy or grassy areas.  Sycamore anthracnose is visible on sycamore and susceptible London planetrees.  Native dogwood bracts are spotted and distorted, with foliar leaf spots beginning to show up.  Cedar apple rust galls are still active on eastern red cedar.  Scab lesions are showing up on susceptible crabapples.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions:  Sunny days with just a trace of rain.  Soils are drying out. Redbud, rhododendrons, azaleas, Geranium sp., doublefile viburnum and other viburnums, Rutgers hybrid dogwoods, Laburnum sp. (Goldenchain Tree), Fothergilla, Kerria, hybrid lilacs, Wisteria,  Arisaema, Corydalis lutea, Dicentra eximia, Dicentra spectabilis, tree peony, bearded iris, Lily-of-the Valley, Solomon's seal, columbine, Helleborus foetidus, Lunaria, Pulmonaria, Polemonium, Phlox divaricata, Phlox subulata, Phlox stolonifera, Primula, Tiarella, Trillium, Vinca minor and ajuga are in full bloom.  Cornus kousa bracts are expanding and are starting to show color.  Doronicum sp., bearded iris, and Siberian iris have started to bloom.  Pests/Problems:  Winter moth caterpillars are beginning to pupate, but many still may be found feeding on susceptible trees, shrubs and perennials.  Winter moth was observed feeding inside the flower buds of roses!  Overall, winter moth damage appears to be much less evident then in previous years.  Termites are swarming outdoors in Hanson.  Mustard sallow or the pale mustard sallow caterpillars are feeding on witchhazel 'Arnold Promise.'  Roseslug sawfly larvae are feeding on the undersides of rose foliage.  If left unchecked, these larvae will skeletonize the foliage.  Lily leaf beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, boxwood psyllid, wasps, hornets, carpenter bees and bumble bees, mosquitoes, black flies and ticks are active.  Frequent tick checks are recommended for everyone active out-of-doors.  We continue to see few gypsy moth and forest tent caterpillars.  Beneficial insects are active.  Buttercups, and veronica are all in full bloom.  Azalea leaf gall (Exobasidium vaccinii) is showing up on deciduous azaleas.  The Hanson office has received calls regarding mosquitoes.  Plymouth County Extension does not spray for mosquitoes.  The number to call for Plymouth County residents is:  781-585-5450, Plymouth County Mosquito Control.

East Region (Boston) – General Conditions: Cool, breezy, and pleasant.

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: Warming up at last. Pests/Problems:  Many winter moth caterpillars are crawling on the ground.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: Nighttime conditions have suddenly become more seasonable.

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

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: After a couple rainy days last week, the cool weather gave way to a warmer weekend.  Lawns are full and green.  Phlox, irises, bleeding hearts, and columbines, to name a few, are plants in bloom in gardens, while most trees are filling out their crowns as new foliage continues to actively expand.  Pests/Problems:  New leaves developed on London planetrees that sustained significant leaf browning due to frost/freeze episode earlier this month.  The orange-red gelatinous fruiting structures of cedar-apple and quince rust are prominent on infected juniper, especially after/during rainy episodes.  Black flies continue to be abundant and hungry.  Windy, warm, and relatively dry weather brought on another fire danger warning for Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas. 

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Combination of sunny and windy conditions has left soils with low levels of moisture.  However, predicted rain showers should supersede the need for irrigation.  Pests/Problems: Larvae of viburnum leaf beetle are still actively feeding on foliage of several viburnum species.  Ticks, mosquitoes, carpenter bees and an assortment of pesky gnats are other prominent pests.  Diseases observed this week include Chrysomyxa needle rust on Colorado blue spruce and bacterial blight on lilacs.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a one-week period, May 21, 2008 through May 27, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on May 27, 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
Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood)	begin	begin	begin	*	*	*	begin	begin
Wiegela florida (Wiegela)	*	b/full	full	*	begin	*	*	begin
Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe Tree)	*	*	full	*	*	*	begin	*
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust)	*	*	full	*	*	*	*	*
Kolkwitzia amabilis (Beautybush)	*	*	full	*	begin	*	*	*
Deutzia spp. (Deutzia species)	begin	full	begin	*	full	full	*	begin
Syringa meyeri (Korean Lilac)	begin	full	begin	full	full	begin	b/full	*
Spirea x vanhouttei (Vanhoutte Spirea)	b/full	full	full	full	begin	begin	full	begin
R. catawbiense (Catawba Rododendron)	b/full	full	full	full	begin	b/full	b/full	full
Enkianthus. campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus)	full	full	full	*	full	full	full	full
Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)	full	full	full	*	full	full	full	full
Leucothoe spp. (Fetterbush, Leucothoe)	full	*	*	end	full	full	*	*
Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac)	full	end	full	end	end	f/end	full	f/end
Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn Olive)	full	full	f/end	end	end	full	*	end
Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian Honeysuckle)	full	full	*	*	end	full	f/end	f/end
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)	f/end	f/end	end	end	end	end	end	f/end
Malus spp. (Crabapple)	f/end	end	end	end	*	end	end	f/end
Halesia spp. (Silverbell)	*	end	end	*	end	end	end	f/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 - No reports of large numbers of this pest in MA have been received, yet.  It is assumed that numbers are low and that this pest will be of little concern this year.
  
  
• Forest Tent Caterpillar - No reports this year of large numbers of this pest in MA have been received yet.  It is assumed that numbers are low and that this pest will be of little concern this year.
  
  
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar - This native caterpillar is nearing maturity in the larval stage and should begin to pupate within the next week or so, especially if temperatures remain warm, as predicted.  If treatments are still deemed necessary, use a product 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.  Treat with a spinosad product or one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides. 
  
  
• Winter Moth - This caterpillar is nearing maturity and will pupate soon.  In areas where their activity started earlier, pupation has most likely already begun.  Unless noticeable defoliation and large numbers of caterpillars are seen, it may not be necessary to treat this pest now.  Spinosad products work extremely well in the management of this pest.
  
  
• Euonymus Caterpillar is active and attacks several different forms of euonymus; the tree form is often the preferred host, but others are susceptible.  This yellow caterpillar with black spots is “smooth-skinned” and initially appears sawfly-like, but closer inspection of the numbers of pairs of prolegs lets us know that it is in the lepidoptera and not the hymenoptera.  When occurring in large numbers, this caterpillar produces copious amounts of silk all throughout the plant.  Much defoliation can occur.  Treat the same as the other lepidoptera caterpillars, although, it may be too late for B.t. to be effective.  This pest overwinters as a young larva and resumes activity once the new foliage appears in the spring. 
  

Hymenoptera Sawfly (Caterpillar) Larvae:

• European Pine Sawfly − This sawfly caterpillar is now active on such host plants as mugo pine. 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 needles 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 the plant.  Small populations on individual branches
  
  
• Azalea Sawfly Caterpillar − This green 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 leaving 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.  This pest has been active now for two to three weeks, and damage is becoming quite evident. 
  
  
• Birch Sawfly − The caterpillars of this pest will soon be observed wrapped 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 pyrethrods work well.  Also, insecticidal soap works well when the larvae are still quite small. 
  

Beetles:

• Lily Leaf Beetle - The bright red adults have been active now for several weeks, and mating pairs have been observed in the warmer regions (Amherst) for the past two weeks.  Eggs will appear soon 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.  Inspect all viburnum plants brought into the region from areas that already have this pest.  The larvae are active now and will continue to feed until late June.  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 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 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.

Piercing-Sucking Pests:

• Lacebugs will become active very soon.  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.
  
  
• Snowball Aphid remains actively feeding, but all of its injury has already 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.  Control measures now are not recommended.
  
  
• Taxus Mealybug is active.  Move the foliage of Taxus (Yew) 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 a horticultural oil spray or with one of the registered pyrethroid insecticides.
  
  
• 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.  Inspect very closely for the now-active mites, 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.  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 to 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
  
  
• 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.  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 and can occur on conifers other than 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.  Both of our finds were on fir.  Inspect needles for yellowing (stippling) and the presence of the scale on the needle undersides.  Treat with a horticultural oil if found.
  
  
• Cottony Camellia Scale (aka Cottony Taxus Scale) is active.  Inspect the foliage of Taxus and certain hollies for white, oval and waxy scale coverings.  If found, inspect foliage further for the tiny yellow nymphs, which have overwintered on the twigs and have now migrated to the foliage.  This pest has been actively feeding already this spring.  If this pest was active last year, then look for the buildup of sooty molds as well.  Larger populations numbers can contribute to poor plant growth and unsightly sooty mold.  Systemic imidacloprid or dintotefuran (Safari™) should be effective.  Oil sprays, also, are effective but be careful with their use on hollies, which may be sensitive to oils. 
  
  
• 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 as the new foliage is just 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 insecticide.  Systemic imidacloprid can also be effective, but it is too late in the year to achieve the necessary uptake in time to be effective for this season.  In most areas of the state, this pest no longer poses any real threat of creating important injury this year.   
  
  
• Boxwood Psyllid causes cupping of the new foliage that 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 almost mature and will be dropping from the foliage to the ground in order to pupate.  There are multiple generations of this pest each year, but the first (current) is by far the most important.  The others never create noticeable injury.   In most areas of the state it is now too late for control measures.
  
  
• Inkberry Leafminer − This is one of the “Holly Leaf Miners” and is specific to inkberry.  Inspect now for browned foliage tips.  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 reinfestation of the host plants.
  
  
• Arborvitae Leafminer − There are two species of what is commonly called “arborvitae leafminer” in Massachusetts.  The more common species remains within the foliage as a larva until early to mid June whereupon it pupates (within the foliage), and the tiny off-white moths then appear around mid to late June.  The adult moths are not attracted to yellow sticky cards, so gently shake foliage to dislodge the moths.  Treat with a pyrethroid insecticide when the adults are found to prevent reinfestation.  The other specie, which is more common in coastal areas of MA, emerges early in the season and spins a small silken cocoon that slightly resembles a fuzzy grain of rice.  In large numbers, there may be countless numbers of these cocoons visible on the foliage.  Again, wait for the adults to emerge and treat the same as the other species.  Eggs of both species are deposited on the foliage and not within the foliage.  A well-timed horticultural oil spray may be effective for managing these eggs, but timing is essential.  Most eggs (both species) will be on the undersides of the foliage.
  
  
• Native Holly Leafminer − This pest of American holly has been in the foliage as a larva since last June.  It creates a serpentine (winding) mine initially and, then, it settles in one part of the leaf and makes a large blotch mine.  Several mines may be present per leaf when it occurs in large numbers.  Pupation will begin soon, and the adult flies start to emerge around mid June.  Monitor for the adult flies with yellow sticky cards and treat with a pyrethroid insecticide when present to prevent reinfestation.
  
  

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 early in the spring 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.

Miscellaneous Stuff:

• 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

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

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 June 5, 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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