UMass Extension Landscape Message #23
September 18, 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 month of September this newsletter will be updated bi-weekly. The next update will be available on October 4, 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: A brief return to warm summer weather finished off this two-week reporting period.  The temperatures have hovered in the low 70s F and upper 60s F during daytime, with most night temperatures in the 50s F.  Fall color is beginning to appear on those species that color up early, and fall bloomers are brightening up the perennial border.  Soil moisture levels are good.  This is a great time to renovate lawns.  Pests/Problems:  Fall invaders, such as the western conifer seed bug are beginning to show.  Skunks, starlings, and crows are ripping up lawns in search of grubs.  This has been a great year for slugs and snails.  Dogwood sawfly was observed on red twig dogwood.  Lacebugs are still active on pieris, sycamore, and azalea.  Oak mite damage is evident.  Needle cast is present on white pine.  Giant tar spot is defoliating Norway maples.  Sweet autumn clematis is blanketing shrubs along the sides of the road.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: Hanson received 5.5 inches of much needed rain over the past two weeks, most of which came from Hurricanes Hanna and Ike.  Landscape roses, Heptacodium miconoides, Hydrangea paniculata, butterflybush, Aster divaricatus and other fall asters, Sedum sp., Japanese anemones, many ornamental grasses, Albizia julibrissin, Rudbeckia trilobum, Perovskia, Corydalis lutea, Heliopsis 'Summer Sun', Physostegia, Chelone, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Coreopsis 'Harvest Moon', Cimicifuga simplex, goldenrod, Hosta, Joe-pye-weed, and Lobelia syphilitica are in full bloom.  Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' and rose-of-sharon are ending bloom. The fruit of autumn olive, crabapple, staghorn sumac, Kousa dogwood, and Viburnum are also providing landscape color.  Pests/Problems:  Beneficial insects, earwigs, slugs, aphids, mites, snails, lacebugs, ticks, and mosquitoes are all active.  Powdery mildew is prevalent on a wide range of plant material.  Giant tar spot is showing up on Norway maple.  Continue to be on the lookout for ground-nesting wasps as well as wasps nesting in bushes and trees.  Ragweed, healall (Prunella vulgaris), and fall dandelion are in full bloom.  You may have seen in the news that the Asian longhorned beetle was found in Worcester, MA.  For more information, photos, updates, etc., please visit our Asian Longhorned Beetle information page. 

East Region (Boston) – General Conditions: No conditions report this week. See Environmental Data and Phenology below.

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: Another wet two weeks.  Nights are cool with sunny, warm days.  Pests/Problems:  Crabgrass is setting a bumper crop of seed for next year.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: Fall-like conditions prevail in Hopkinton with cool nights and warm days.  Pests/Problems:  Black spot on roses and dogwood anthracnose seen in area.

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

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: Rain continued to fall in the Pioneer Valley, although it has been drier during the last week.  The asters, roses, and mums are coming on as the goldenrods fade.  Fall colors are becoming more visible on some woody plants such as dogwood, ash, katsuratree, sumac, and poison ivy.  Established turf continues to look green and plush, and newly seeded lawns are greening up well.  Pests/Problems:  Many herbaceous and some woody plants look “faded” because it was another banner year for leaf spots and shoot blights.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Much of the Berkshires will probably have experienced frost by time this report is published.  Nevertheless, landscapes continue to appear lush and vibrant.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a two-week period, September 3, 2008 through September 16, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on September 16, 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
Heptacodium miconoides (Seven-Sun Flower)	full	full	full	full	full	full	*	*
Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis)	full	full	full	f/end	full	full	*	full
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed)	full	full	full	f/end	end	f/end	full	full
Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)	end	full	f/end	f/end	full	f/end	f/end	*
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)	end	end	f/end	end	full	f/end	f/end	full
Campsis radicans (Trumpetcreeper)	end	end	f/end	*	end	*	f/end	end
Lythrum salicaria (Loosestrife)	end	end	end	*	end	end	f/end	*
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree)	end	*	full	*	*	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:

• Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon Caterpillar (Anomis commoda) is active.  These cryptically-colored caterpillars usually rest on the stems of hibiscus (Rose-of-Sharon, in particular) and writhe wildly when disturbed or handled.  Their feeding usually results in nothing except the main veins being left, but often they consume those as well.  Inspect for defoliation and then inspect very closely for the dull-colored caterpillars lying on the stems; they are difficult to see.  When occurring in large numbers this pest is capable of creating complete defoliation.  Treat with a spinosad product.
  
  
• Mimosa Webworm damage is obvious now.  The tied and skeletonized foliage has turned brown. It is too late now for management.
  

Hymenoptera Sawfly (Caterpillar) Larvae:

• Red-Headed Pine Sawfly remains active.  This species has a rust-colored head capsule and a yellow body with black spots.  This caterpillar can remain active well into October and is capable of causing much damage if not treated.  A product that contains spinosad or one of the registered pyrethroid products may be necessary to reduce or eliminate the numbers of this pest.  Mugo pine is a preferred host. 
  
  
• Dogwood Sawfly remains active and can be found feeding well into October if the weather remains mild.  Common host plants are the redosier dogwoods and grey dogwood.  This caterpillar is a pale yellow color and has black spots.  However, in many larval stages, it has a white pubescence covering the body.  This white color and the typical posture of the caterpillar to lie in a curled position on the foliage gives it the appearance of a bird dropping and not an insect.  Inspect for these white caterpillars and for feeding damage.  Treat with a product that contains spinosad if found in large numbers.  Smaller populations can be removed by hand and destroyed. 
  
  
• Hibiscus Sawfly remains active.  These green caterpillars cluster together on foliage and skeletonize all but the main veins of the foliage of certain hibiscus, especially rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos).  It can be quite destructive.  Winter survival of this pest is uncertain in MA.  If found, it should be treated with a registered insecticide, such as one containing spinosad or a pyrethroid product.  For more detailed information visit the following web site from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station: http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2815&q=376942&pp=12&n=1
  

Beetles:

• Viburnum Leaf Beetle adults remain active.  They can be found mating and laying eggs on favored host plants.  Treat with a registered pyrethroid insecticide if necessary.  The adult beetle will remain active until the first frost.
  

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; and if the weather remains mild, it can feed through September.  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, and rhododendron.  Systemic imidacloprid appears to be quite effective for managing this pest, but it is too late for application now.  Horticultural oil sprays or insecticidal soap sprays that are targeted to the foliage underside are also effective for the small nymphs.  Susceptible plants growing in sunny areas will experience more damage given that heat greatly encourages lacebug populations. 
  
  
• 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.  Cool-season mites, such as the Spruce Spider Mite are still very active and will be for several weeks on such hosts as spruce, fir, and hemlock.  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 remains dormant, but it can still be managed even in this stage.  Use a horticultural oil spray at the summer rate. (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.  Horticultural oil sprays, which also work well on hemlock woolly adelgid, tends to provide minimal control for this scale.  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.
  

Wood Attackers:

• Asian Longhorned Beetle has been positively found in the northeastern section of Worcester, MA in an established population.  The current 'Regulation Area' is approximately 16 square miles and extends towards the towns of Holden, West Boylston, and Shrewsbury.
  
  

  For complete details on this emerging issue please visit our recently established web information center, Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts.

  
  
• 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.

House Invaders:

• Ladybugs and the Western Conifer Seedbug will soon be seeking sheltered sites for over-wintering.  Oftentimes, these sites are homes.  Inspect now for failed caulking around all windows, doors, and attic vents.  Also, repair any torn screening on windows, doors, and vents.  Keeping these insects out is the key to dealing with them. 

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

WEEDS -

Winter annual weeds are continuing to germinate, and some early germinating winter annuals have become quite large.  Attempt to treat these weeds early before they become too large.

Japanese knotweed is in flower now or just a bit past full flower; therefore, it is time to treat.  Use glyphosate 41% at a 2% spray solution sprayed to the initiation of drip.  Do not use combinations that contain diquat (Reward™) or tank-mix Scythe™ with the glyphosate.

Spot treat perennial weeds in the landscape with glyphosate products.

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

WEEDS -

Identify and record areas where crabgrass was a major problem this year, so a preemergence herbicide can be applied next spring.  Post emergence application for crabgrass should not be done at this point.  Overseed and/or fertilize crabgrass infested areas to help turf recovery from thinning due to weed pressure

Broadleaf herbicide applications should be in full swing now.  Fall applications, while not as fast acting as spring applications, provide very effective control.  The additions of surfactant or spreader/stickers to broadleaf herbicide combination products can result in severe injury.  Read and follow the product label.  Products that contain dicamba and/or triclopyr should be used to control ground ivy and violets.

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/soiltest Alternatively, call the lab at (413) 545-2311.

NEXT UPDATE: The next issue will be available on October 4, 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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