Landscape Message - Landscape Nursey and Urban Forestry

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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 of March through June, this newsletter will be published weekly. The next update will be available on or about March 20, 2009.

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

REGIONAL NOTES -

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) – General Conditions: February experienced typical weather for the period, with temperatures in the upper 30 and low 40 degrees F being the norm. The Cape did experience three days with temperatures in the mild 50s. Crocus and snowdrops began to bloom, and we had little in the way of snow for the month. March, however, came in like a lion, with gale force winds, snow sleet, and ice. While total amounts were less than off Cape areas, it was heavy, heart-attack snow. Hybrid witchhazel offers a bright spot of color in the landscape. Pests/Problems: Adult deer ticks will be active any time the temperatures are over 35° F. Broken limbs should be pruned out and cleaned up this month.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions: February was mild without significant storms, with several days over 50 degrees F. However, some areas of the county reported a low of -8 degrees F on the 6th of February. Amounts of snow varied around the county with Hanson receiving approximately 7.5 inches of snow, Halifax 5.5", and Hingham 8.1". Rainfall also varied around the county with Hanson receiving approximately 2+ inches. Hamamelis mollis 'Pallida' started to bloom about the third week of February and Hamamelis x intermidia 'Arnold Promise' and 'Jelena' started to bloom at the end of February. Both are now in full bloom. Snowdrops and winter aconites started to bloom about the third week of February and Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) was reported to be in full bloom in Halifax, MA. Helleborus x hybridus is just starting to come up and show color. However, most of those perennials are now covered with over 6 inches of snow that fell March 1-2. Pests/Problems: Deer continue to browse. The Plymouth County Extension office has received several inquiries regarding "a forecast" for winter moth caterpillars this spring. While we have no definitive data or crystal ball, we are thinking that we will see high numbers of winter moth caterpillars based on the high number of moths that emerged last fall and the high number of females caught on bands. There are no other pest problems to report.

East Region (Boston) – General Conditions: February’s snowfall of 7 inches was less than average, and it stayed with us for most of the month. In the last week or so it finally melted exposing the snowdrop plants that are now buried under the 8.5 inches of new snow that fell in Boston on March 1 and 2. Just coming into bloom are the various Hamamelis x intermidia hybrids 'Arnold Promise,' 'Jelena,' and 'Ruby Glow' as well as the Hamamelis mollis hybrids 'Pallida' and 'Princeton Gold.' Pests/Problems: There are no pests to report at this time other than the four-legged ones. We are seeing damage this winter from deer and rabbit browsing.

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: The march Nor’easter which is striking today has covered the ground yet again. Bare patches a few days ago revealed emerging bulb foliage and the white blossoms of Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.). Hamamelis 'Jelena' has been the first witchhazel to bloom unfurling its orange petals on warmer days. 'Pallida' has also opened in the last week or so, only to close up again in the colder weather. Pests/Problems: Vole activity has been prolific under the snow. Deer have been feeding extensively on fruit trees and unprotected evergreens.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions: Witchhazel in front of Arnold House is in full bloom while that growing by Herter Hall is ending. The temperatures were typically just above or below normal for the last month. The sun shines brightly, but snow covers the ground in Pioneer Valley with Monday’s 8 inches. Pests/Problems: With the persistence of the snow cover, scouting the UMass Campus revealed no insect or disease problems in the landscape, except black knot on an ornamental plum and a wild black cherry. However, deer browse/feeding damage is evident on trees and shrubs in landscapes that border areas where deer numbers are high.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: It’s colder than a well-diggers shovel! Winter conditions exist, i.e. frigid temperatures, harsh winds, frozen soil, and snow cover. Pests/Problems: With the snow cover, food supply for deer is limited. As such, they are browsing heavily on woody landscape ornamentals. High winds and ice have caused some damage to trees and shrubs.

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for a four-week period, February 5, 2009 through March 3, 2009. Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on March 3, 2009. 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.

CAPE COD REGION - Roberta Clark, Horticulturist for Barnstable County, Barnstable.

SOUTHEAST REGION - Deborah Swanson, Horticulturist for UMass Extension in Plymouth County, Hanson.

EAST REGION - Julie Coop, Manager of Plant Health, Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain.

METRO WEST REGION – James Martin, Consulting Arborist, reporting from the UMass Extension Center, Waltham.

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.

Trees and shrubs – The spring and summer of 2008 was wet in many parts of Massachusetts, which resulted in a lot of leaf spot and shoot blight disease infections. These diseases, as well as branch cankers, may disfigure woody plants, but they seldom kill otherwise healthy plants. However, if leaf spots and blights were serious problems last year, infected plant material from last years may produce fungal fruiting structures this spring that release an abundance of inoculum. Collect and dispose of infected leaves and shoots before the new growing season begins to reduce inoculum levels. During wet springs, these spores infect young leaves and shoots. For high value plants where appearance is important, consider several applications of fungicides beginning as buds open if conditions are wet this spring. Alternatively, consider gradually replacing plants with recurring leaf spots and blights with resistant varieties or other plant materials better adapted to the site.

In addition, scout rosaceous plants watching for brown-black branches infected with the fire blight bacterium, such as crabapple, apple, pear, firethorn, hawthorn, cotoneaster, and related plants. Remove dead branches and dispose of them away from the plants to reduce inoculum. Lilacs with dead shoots from bacterial blight also benefit from their removal. Disinfect pruning tools between each cut with 70% ethyl alcohol, a 10% bleach solution, or a comparable bacterial disinfectant.

Look for swollen branches (twice or more the normal diameter) on plum and cherry trees infected with black knot canker. Prune to remove infected branches and, also, to improve the branch structure within the tree crown. Removal of inoculum before the fruiting structures erupt through the bark helps reduce inoculum that could cause new infections in the spring and is a key factor in managing this disease.

Ramorum blight, also known as sudden oak death (SOD) and ramorum dieback: The Phytophthora ramorum detection, quarantine, and eradication survey completed its seventh year as an APHIS regulatory program in 2008. The program began by monitoring nine counties in California and part of Curry County in Oregon. It focused on regulating movement of risk articles such as wood, soil, foliage, and nursery stock. Infested areas grew to 14 California counties and the larger part of Curry County in Oregon, which Oregon aggressively surveyed and treated since 2001. Discovery of a shipment of P. ramorum-infected camellia plants from a large production nursery to many nurseries nationwide resulted in the APHIS regulatory program receiving a great deal of scrutiny and policy revision in 2004. As a result, in January 2005 APHIS extended the regulation of nursery stock to the entire states of California, Oregon, and Washington.

Summary of Phytophthora ramorum detections in 2008: The 2008 surveys detected P. ramorum in 31 sites: 28 nurseries and 3 landscape plantings. In addition, Oregon identified an expansion of their Curry County infestation resulting in an increase in the area quarantined to about 162 square miles.

California – Detections in 12 nurseries surveyed by regulatory inspections, state nursery inspections, and self-reporting by the nurseries. Of these 12, one retail nursery was positive in 2007.

Oregon – Detections in 5 nurseries by regulatory inspections and one landscape planting found in a trace forward. Of these 5, one production nursery was positive in 2007.

Washington – Detections in 5 nurseries by regulatory inspection and state nursery inspection and one landscape planting found in a trace forward. Of these 5, one production nursery was positive in 2007.

Texas – Detection in 1 residential find from a trace forward.

Florida – Detections in 2 nurseries were positive of which one was also positive in 2007, found by follow-up inspection, and one was detected as positive through a link to the nursery that was positive in 2007.

Mississippi – Detection in 1 nursery that was also positive in 2007, found by follow-up inspection.

North Carolina – Detection in 1 nursery by CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey) program.

South Carolina – Detections in 2 nurseries, one by a link to the NC detection and second by State inspector.

Note: There were no updates for 2009 at this time.

Federal Regulation, State Inspection, Nursery Survey, and Other Finds: There was no report this month.
Forest Detection Survey: There was no report this month.

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

2008-2009 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 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 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

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 March 20, 2009.

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 Landscape Message #3 March 6, 2009

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

UMass Extension Landscape Message #3
March 6, 2009