UMass Extension Landscape Message #24
October 2, 2008

Feel that the message below is not the latest one? Try pressing the 'refresh' or 'reload' button in your web browser.

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 October through February, this newsletter will be published monthly. The next update will be available on or about November 6, 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: This reporting period has gone from dry to wet.  The Cape had no measurable precipitation from September 16 to September 25; but starting on September 26, it rained non-stop until the morning of the 29th.  In all, the Cape received rainfall ranging from 4.5 inches on the lower Cape to close to 6 inches on the Upper Cape.  It is time to start the fall clean up.  Ornamental grasses provide color and interest in the landscape.  Fall color is slowly developing on red maple and sweet gum.  Pests/Problems:  Reports of critters and birds digging in lawns have come into the office.  European giant hornets ate, hollowing out, apples and other fruit.  Many mushrooms are popping up in lawns.  Fall browning of evergreens is beginning to appear.  Adult deer ticks are active.  Giant tar spot has been wide spread on the Cape this year. This fungus has defoliated many Norway maples.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: Just as soils were beginning to dry out, Hanson received 4.6 inches of rain over the past two weeks, most of which came from Hurricane Kyle.  Landscape roses, Hydrangea paniculata, butterflybush, Aster divaricatus and other fall asters, Sedum sp., Japanese anemones, many ornamental grasses, Corydalis lutea, Physostegia, Chelone, Coreopsis 'Harvest Moon', Actea (Cimicifuga) simplex, and Joe-pye-weed are in full bloom.  The fruit of hollies, autumn olive, crabapple, staghorn sumac, Kousa dogwood, and Viburnum are also providing landscape color, along with the early fall color of red maples, sugar maples and  various other plants.  Pests/Problems:  Boxelder beetles, earwigs, slugs, aphids, mites, snails, lacebugs, ticks, and mosquitoes are all active.  Fall invaders like Western conifer seedbug and Asian ladybug will be showing up soon to enter buildings. Giant tar spot is very evident on Norway maple.  With all this rain over the past few months, many plants are showing signs of various leaf blights, like anthracnose.  Continue to be on the lookout for ground-nesting wasps, as well as wasps nesting in bushes and trees.

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

Metro West (Waltham) – General Conditions: Fall is still showing signs of arriving.  The red maples are continuing to color up, and the nights are gradually getting cooler.

Metro West (Hopkinton) – General Conditions: Very humid and mild conditions over the last two weeks.   Local reservoirs are full, and plants have plenty of moisture going into fall.  Red maples in low-lying areas are now a brilliant red.  Woodbine is, also, bright scarlet.     .

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: Wet and cool.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: The Pioneer Valley was dry for over ten days until last Friday when we received over 2 inches of rainfall.  Air temperatures were cool during the two-weeks.  Lawns continue to thrive while gardens are beginning to fade except for fall asters, mums, and marigolds.  Autumn colors are beginning to show in a number of trees and shrubs. 

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: A significant amount of fall foliage is visible throughout the Berkshires but is not yet at peak.  Interestingly, there is a lot of leaf drop occurring.  Both the color change and leaf drop seem a little premature, perhaps due to foliar diseases.  Soil moisture is high and gardens, and landscapes remain lush.  Pests/Problems:  Wasps and hornets are abundant and aggressive.  Use caution when working around shrubbery, stone walls, and other potential locations of their nests.  Deer browsing on landscape plants is on the increase.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a two-week period, September 17, 2008 through September 30, 2008.  Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on September 30, 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)	end	end	end	*	end	end	*	*
Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis)	f/end	full	full	end	end	full	*	end
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed)	end	full	end	*	end	end	f/end	end
Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)	end	full	end	*	end	full	end	f/end
Hybiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)	end	end	end	*	end	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:

• Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon Caterpillar (Anomis commoda) remains 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. 
  
  
• Orange-Striped Oakworm has pupated and is no longer a threat to foliage.
  
  
• 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 consume 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 may still be active, but reports of sightings have dropped dramatically.
  

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
  
  
• Lacebugs are mostly dormant now. 
  
  
• 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.  Treat with a horticultural oil spray using 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
  

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 33 square miles and extends into the towns of Holden, West Boylston, Boylston, and Shrewsbury.  Surveys have, thus far, identified approximately 1200 trees infested with Asian longhorned beetle.
  
  

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

  
  

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

LANDSCAPE TURF

WEEDS -

At this time of the year, summer annual weeds such as crabgrass, spotted spurge and carpetweed are beginning to “melt away”.  “Melting away” is a term I created to describe the slow decline of summer annuals in response to cooler weather and shorter days. At the same time cool-season grasses are actively growing and rebounding from stresses of summer. 

Now is the time to scout for summer annual weeds and evaluate this season’s management program.  Map and/or record problem areas and plan next year's control measures.  Overseeding and/or fertilization can be used to fill openings or thinning in turf stands that have developed as a result of summer annual weed pressure.

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 or about November 6, 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.

Comments or suggestions in regard to the Landscape Message? Please e-mail the webmaster.

Missed a previous message? Visit the Landscape Message Archive.