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Ohio State University Extension - extension.osu.edu

Pam Bennett, Barb Bloetscher, Joe Boggs, Cindy Burskey, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave DykeGary Gao, David Goerig, Tim Malinich, Becky McCann, Amy Stone, and Curtis Young

Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and culturalproblems. Updated weekly between April and October, this information is useful for those who are managing a commercial

nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard looking good all summer.

Welcome to the BYGL Newsletter

April 23, 2009This is the 3rd 2009 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morningconference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

BYGL is available via email, contact Cheryl Fischnich fischnich.1@cfaes.osu.edu to subscribe. Additional Factsheet informationon any of these articles may be found through the OSU fact sheet database http://plantfacts.osu.edu/

BYGL is a service of OSU Extension and is aided by major support from the ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association)http://onla.org/ ; http://buckeyegardening.com/ to the OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team (ENLTT). Anymaterials in this newsletter may be reproduced for educational purposes providing the source is credited.

BYGL is available online at: http://bygl.osu.edu, a web site sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticultureand Crop Sciences (HCS) as part of the "Horticulture in Virtual Perspective." The online version of BYGL has imagesassociated with the articles and links to additional information.

Following are the participants in the April 21st conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloetscher (C. Wayne Ellett Plantand Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Cindy Burskey (Clermont); Jim Chatfield (Horticulture); DaveDyke (Hamilton); Gary Gao (Delaware); Dave Goerig (Mahoning); Becky McCann (Agricultural Business Enhancement Center(ABE); Bridget Meiring (CWEPPDC); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy J. Taylor (CWEPPDC); and CurtisYoung (Allen).

In This Issue:

1. WEATHERWATCH2. HORT SHORTS: GDD (Growing Degree Days); Crabapples: Boom or Bust?; Vegetable Gardening 101; and Plants of the

Week - Perennial of the Week (Spring Bulbs), Woody Plant of the Week (Pawpaw), The Weekly Weed (LesserCelandine)

3. GREEN SHORTS: Lady Beetle Chronicles; The Cincinnati Area Professional Green Infrastructure Network (CAPGIN);and Hamilton County Extension and Collaborators Win Conservation Award at The Cincinnti Flower Show.

4. CLINIC CLIPS5. BUGBYTES: Sawfly Leafminers Fly; The Two Faces of Pine Bark Adelgids; Safari Saves Sensitive Situations; Bees in

Walls; and Flea Weevils Return6. DISEASE DIGEST: Silver-oddo on Tree Bark and Meltdown in Pachytown (Volutella Leaf blight)7 . TURF TIPS: Fairy Rings Not Celestial Beings!; Keeping it on the Level; The Invasion of Dandelions Has Begun; and

Winter Pests Still Active.8. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Making New Plants: International Plant Propagator Society Meeting in Cleveland in October and

Biz Buzz - "Stranger in a Strange Land."9. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Wood Packing Materials Workshops; Plant Diagnostic Academy (PDA); and OSU Arbor Day

Event to Honor Veterans.10. BYGLOSOPHY

Home

Home BYGL Contacts FAQ Web Links Search Site Map

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WEATHERWATCH - April 23, 2009The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center(OARDC) Weather Stations from April 1-21, 2009, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Tuesday,April 21 at 6:00 p.m.

Following a beautiful weekend with temperatures topping 70F, a few days of cooler temperatures and rain gives way to evenwarmer temperatures later in the week and the upcoming weekend.

WeatherStation

Region ofOhio

Ave. High TempF

Ave. Low TempF

TotalPrecip."

Normal Precip."

Soil Temp F2"/3"

Ashtabula NE 52.4 33.7 2.00" 2.50" 50.51/50.06

Wooster NE 56.3 35.4 3.06" 2.40" 51.46/50.70

Hoytville NW 57.2 36.4 2.51" 2.30" 49.02/49.89

olumbus Central 59.1 37.1 3.27" 2.70" 52.99/52.31

Piketon South 62.4 37.8 3.76" 2.20" 54.07/53.20

For more information, see:

OARDC Weather Stations

GROWING DEGREE DAYS - April 23, 2009GDD is a measure of the daily maximum and minimum temperature and directly relates togrowth and development of plants and insects. The GDD of any zip code location in Ohio isestimated using the GDD of ten OARDC weather stations and available on the web at the sitehttp://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/ .

The range of GDD accumulations in Ohio from north to south is 84 to 279. Following is a reportof GDD for several locations around Ohio as of April 22, 2009: Painesville, 84; Cleveland, 88;Toledo, 125; Canfield, 103; Lima, 112; Wooster, 144; Coshocton, 161; Columbus, 201;Springfield, 222; Dayton, 226; Cincinnati, 254; Ironton, 262; Portsmouth, 264; and Piketon, 279.

To put these GDD accumulations into perspective, the following is an abbreviated listing of plant and insect species with theirrespective phenological event and average GDD accumulations at which these events occur. Due to variations in weather,temperature, humidity, etc., these events may occur a few days earlier or later than predicted by the average GDD. By lookingat a city, town, or village near you from the above list, or visiting the above web site, you can see what could be taking placein the landscape around you.

Star magnolia, first bloom, 83; border forsythia, first bloom, 86; eastern tent caterpillar, egg hatch, 92; Manchu cherry, firstbloom, 93; 'Northern Lights' forsythia, full bloom, 94; Norway maple, first bloom, 116; border forsythia, full bloom, 116;'Chanticleer' callery pear, first bloom, 123; sargent cherry, first bloom, 127; larch casebearer, egg hatch, 128 ; Japanese pieris,full bloom, 129; saucer magnolia, first bloom, 133; common flowering quince, first bloom, 137; 'Bradford' callery pear, firstbloom, 142; European pine sawfly, egg hatch, 144 ; weeping Higan cherry, first bloom, 145; P.J.M. rhododendron, first bloom,147; 'Chanticleer' callery pear, full bloom, 149; Norway maple, full bloom, 149 ; inkberry leafminer, adult emergence, 150 ;sargent cherry, full bloom, 151; star magnolia, full bloom, 151; Allegheny serviceberry, first bloom, 153; Manchu cherry, fullbloom, 155; 'Spring Snow' crabapple, first bloom, 155; apple serviceberry, first bloom, 159; spruce spider mite, egg hatch,162 ; 'Bradford' callery pear, full bloom, 164; Allegheny serviceberry, full bloom, 169; saucer magnolia, full bloom, 174; P.J.M.rhododendron, full bloom, 178; boxwood psyllid, egg hatch, 179 ; weeping Higan cherry, full bloom, 179; Koreanspiceviburnum, first bloom, 185; 'Regent' serviceberry, first bloom, 186; Japanese flowering crabapple, first bloom, 189; easternredbud, first bloom, 191; gypsy moth, egg hatch, 192 ; Koreanspice viburnum, full bloom, 205; azalea lace bug, egg hatch,206 ; 'Spring Snow' crabapple, full bloom, 209; common flowering quince, full bloom, 214; birch leafminer, adult emergence,215 ; 'Coralburst' crabapple, first bloom, 217; elm leafminer, adult emergence, 219; common chokecherry, full bloom, 221;alder leafminer, adult emergence, 224 ; honeylocust plant bug, egg hatch, 230 ; sargent crabapple, first bloom, 230;common lilac, first bloom, 234; Ohio buckeye, first bloom, 245; common horsechestnut, first bloom, 251; hawthorn lace bug,adult emergence, 253 ; hawthorn leafminer, adult emergence, 260 ; flowering dogwood, first bloom, 263; red buckeye, firstbloom, 265; blackhaw viburnum, first bloom, 269; imported willow leaf beetle, adult emergence, 274 ; and sargent crabapple,full bloom, 298.

For more information, see:

Growing Degree Days and Phenology for OhioUnderstanding and Using Degree-Days

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CRABAPPLES: BOOM OR BUST?Will it be a bear or a bull market this year for crabapple bloom and subsequent fruiting? It turns out that many factors cancome into play relative to crabapple flowering, from flower bud damage due to frosts and freezes, to the tendency of certaincrabapples for alternate blooming from one year to the next. Another factor that can effects blooming of a wide range ofcrabapples in a given year is when there is a spectacular year for bloom (and fruit) one year for all crabapples (no frosts,perfect moisture during bud formation the previous season., perfect spring weather, etc.), then the next season, relativelyspeaking, may be a bust. This seems to have happened at the International Ornamental Crabapple Society Crablandia plots atOSU's Secrest Arboretum at the OARDC in Wooster.

As Jim Chatfield checked the 76 different crabapple taxa last week at Crablandia, mostly just checking to see how close flowerbuds were to bursting (tight cluster or loose cluster) he realized that possibly over half the taxa had little or no flower buds atall. It's the cost of reproduction. Last year's boom took its toll on many of the crabapples at Crablandia, not all to the sameextent, but some are going to be mainly or completely in the rejuvenative, carbohydrate regeneration vegetative mode for2009. There will still be a crabapple show this year in Crablandia from some taxa, but the overall volume will be turned waydown, possibly more than we have seen in the past 20 years.

Will this be true throughout Ohio this year? Early results suggest not, as BYGLers and nurserymen from more southerly areaswhere crabapples are already in full bloom report good bloom this year, but for Crablandia at least, last year's pleasurepresages this year's paucity.

VEGETABLE GARDENING 101 - April 23, 2009Gary Gao reported that his snow peas are about 3" tall in his garden in central Ohio. Other coolseason crops such as lettuce, spinach, radish and Swiss chard should be actively growing nowas well. If gardeners have not sown seeds of the cool season vegetables yet, they can still dothat. Since Amy Stone reported that there was a chance for snow in the Toledo area, gardenersin northern Ohio might just be right on time with the cool season vegetables, if they sow theseeds now. Some cool season vegetables can be planted as transplants. Some examples arelettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

Where can gardeners get information on vegetable gardening? OSU Extension's Ohioline is agood place to start. The URL address for OSU home vegetable fact sheets is http://ohioline.osu.edu/lines/vegie.html . It is alsoa good idea to check out local garden centers. Other wonderful resources are garden catalogs and websites of mail-orderseed companies. For gardeners who grow vegetables on a larger scale or commercial growers, there are two very usefulresources. One is the OSU Extension Bulletin #672, "Ohio Vegetable Production Guide." This publication can be ordered fromOSU Extension offices. Please call first to make sure this bulletin is in stock. Another way to order this bulletin is throughOSU Extension's eStore at: http://estore.osu‑extension.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=2168 . The second resource for the largerproducers and commercial growers is the OSU Extension's VegNet, which is online at: [ http://www.ag.ohio‑state.edu/~vegnet/]. This website is primarily designed for commercial vegetable growers. However, the information can still be extremely helpfulto home gardeners.

For more information, see:

Ohio Vegetable Production GuideOSU Extensionʼs VegNet

PLANTS OF THE WEEK - April 23, 2009Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the ONLA publications "PerennialPlants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio." The descriptions and photographs of plantswere provided for these publications by the OSU ENLT Team along with other industry plantlovers. These full-color publications are available at http://Buckeyegardening.com for $5.00.Click on "garden store" and then "ONLA plant guides." ONLA members can purchase these inquantities at a reduced price at http://onla.org .

*PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. SPRING BULBS. Most of the spring blooming bulbs such astulips, daffodils, hyacinth and crocus are in some stage of bloom across Ohio. However, theearliest show of colors in the spring has to be planted in the fall. Therefore, take a look at thelandscape and determine what is missing and make plans for this fall. While the onesmentioned above are the most common, consider some of the really cool and unusual bulbssuch as Chinodoxa , Colchicum (autumn crocus), Fritillaria , Leucojum , and Lycoris squamigera(magic lily or hardy amaryllis) and Alium. In addition, there are many unusual and interesting

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(magic lily or hardy amaryllis) and Alium. In addition, there are many unusual and interestingvarieties of tulips, daffodils and crocus that add a different look to any perennial garden.

* WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. PAWPAW (Asimina triloba). This native Ohio plant foundin many woodland patches across the state is in full bloom in central Ohio and will likely bemissed by all but those who are fans! The bloom is really quite incredible starting from the budswelling stage through the bloom stage. However, they are so well camouflaged by the stemsthat most people rarely notice them. As flower buds begin to swell, before the leaves emerge,the bud is a fabulous velvety emerald green. When the flower opens, it is a burgundy-purplishcolored rosette, held closely to the bottom side of the stem. Therefore, look up when walkingthrough a pawpaw grove!

This short tree grows to around 15-20' tall and has large droopy green leaves. It grows bestin the woodland area or along the edge of woods. The greenish-yellow fruits ripen to abrownish-black and are tasty to some; many liken the taste and texture to overripe bananas. There must be at least 2 trees in order for pollination to occur. Note that pawpaws grow ingroups or colonies and one plant can appear as many trees. It is possible that it's only 1 treethat has sent many sprouts up from the roots. Therefore, make sure that there are at least 2different genetic strains in order for pollination to occur if fruit is desired.

*THE WEEKLY WEED. LESSER CELANDINE (Ranunculus ficaria) . This low-growingherbaceous perennial, which belongs to the buttercup family, has shiny dark green leaves thatform a rosette. The leaves are kidney or heart shaped. The flowers of lesser celandine areapproximately 1" and have 8 glossy, butter -yellow petals that are borne singly on stalks. Lesser celandine is found in moist, forested floodplains, and occasionally in some drier uplandareas. This plant, which is invasive, was originally sold as an ornamental species. Lessercelandine escaped cultivation and has spread to many parks, yards and forests. Largecolonies of lesser celandine can cover acres of forest floor and are spread mainly by seed orby unearthed tubers.

To control lesser celandine mechanically, smaller populations can be dug out by using a handtrowel or small shovel. To ensure effective removal, all plant parts must be removed. Tocontrol large populations of lesser celandine, chemical applications of a glyphosate-basedherbicide are more practical. When using any chemical follow the manufacturer's directions.

For more information, see:

ODNR Division of Forestry PawpawKentucky State University Pawpaw Program

LADY BEETLE CHRONICLESMost gardeners are well aware of the value of lady beetles as beneficial insects. Indeed, sixstates have bestowed the rarified status of State Insect (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, NewYork, Ohio, and Tennessee) or State Bug (Delaware) upon lady beetles. Only two statesdesignate a specific species; for Ohio it's the CONVERGENT LADY BEETLE (Hippodamiaconvergens), and for Massachusetts it's the TWO-SPOTTED LADY BEETLE (Adalia bipunctata). Both are native species.

Delaware's inaccurate designation of State Bug reflects the name-challenged status of ladybeetles. Here are the entomological rules: bugs belong to the insect order Hemiptera (the TrueBugs); beetles belong to the order Coleoptera. In keeping with using contractions to differentiate

members of certain groups from non-members (e.g. firefly is not a fly (order Diptera), and mayapple is not an apple), ladybirdbeetle, ladybug, and ladyfly are correct names. Ladybug is not correct since they are beetles, not bugs. The name "lady"originated in the Middle Ages when the beetles were dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called the "beetle of Our Lady." So,entomologists also recognize lady beetle as a correct name even though not all are "ladies;" there are in fact male lady beetles.

There are over 5,000 species of lady beetles (Family: Coccinellidae) world wide, and about 475species in the United States. Most are predators; however, there are a few notorious "goodladies gone bad." The MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE (Epilachna varivestis) and the SQUASHBEETLE (E. borealis) are both serious plant pests.

Lady beetles in Ohio spend the winter as adults. The beetles emerge in the spring to prey uponrapidly expanding populations of aphids as well as other insects and mites. Some studies haveshown that lady beetles can consume as many as 60 aphids per day. The gnashing ofpredatory teeth is not confined to adult lady beetles; their off -spring (larvae) are alsoaccomplished predators. Several BYGLers noted that they commonly use the brightly colored lady beetles as good indicatorsthat pests are afoot on trees and shrubs. Finding these "miniature wolves" among "sheep" means that gardeners andlandscape managers should carefully consider their pest management options to enhance rather than limit the work of these

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landscape managers should carefully consider their pest management options to enhance rather than limit the work of thesebio-allies.

For more information, see:

Cornell Biological Control GuideUniversity of Kentucky, Entomology EntFacts

THE CINCINNATI AREA PROFESSIONAL GREENINFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK (CAPGIN)A federal court order resulting from a law suit filed by the US EPA and the Sierra Club has necessitated an effort to reducestorm water runoff in the Cincinnati area. That suit was brought because combined sewer system overflows (CSO's) result inan average of 14 billion gallons of CSO water being discharged into the Ohio River annually from the Metropolitan SewerDistrict of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC) service area.

There are 2 potential solutions to reducing the discharges; the "gray" (pipes and tunnels) and the "green" (landscape plantings,rain barrels, vegetated roofs, etc.). The leaders in the Cincinnati opted to support a strategy that relies, as much as possible,on a green approach. The advantages would including: saving local residents and businesses very large amounts of money;beautifying the city, making it more attractive to residents and new businesses; reducing the resources needed to treat waterentering the sewer system; reducing air pollution; sequestering carbon dioxide that has been implicated in global warming; andcreating and sustaining green-collar jobs in the area.

To assist in this effort, OSUE, Hamilton County, recently spearheaded an effort to organize and sponsor an organizationdesigned to foster and facilitate cooperation between all businesses, non-profit organizations, and agencies involved in "green"storm water management efforts in the MSDGC service area called CAPGIN. Collaborating organizers and sponsors in thiseffort were the MSDGC, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Hamilton County Storm Water District, and the Hamilton CountySoil and Water Conservation District.

Green storm water management systems which will be promoted and facilitated by CAPGIN include: rain gardens, vegetatedroofs, permeable parking and walking areas, contour plantings, rain barrels, turf, and trees and shrubs. CAPGIN membershipis open to all professionals involved in the green infrastructure industry (landscapers, designers, growers, turfgrass managers,tree care professionals, consulting firms, non-government organizations, developers and construction companies, governmentalentities, etc.).

A web site will be developed and maintained by OSUE, Hamilton County. The site will contain: organizational resources andinstallation resources; plant suppliers; hard goods suppliers; research; area projects; educational opportunities; membership; andbest management practices.

The next CAPGIN meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the Tree Tops Room, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, on April 29,2009. For further information please contact Dave Dyke at dyke.15@cfaes.osu.edu or go to http://hamilton.osu.edu/ .

HAMILTON COUNTY EXTENSION AND COLLABORATORS WINCONSERVATION AWARD AT THE CINCINNTI FLOWER SHOWAs we reported last week, the Cincinnati Flower Growers Association (CFGA)/Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden/OSUExtension Hamilton County collaborated to construct and staff a Grand Marquee exhibit at the Cincinnati Flower Show. Thisexhibit, "Old Rural Conservation Concepts for the New Urban Landscape," was constructed with the goal of demonstrated waterconservation practices. The exhibit's goal was demonstrated so well that it was awarded a silver medal, and The HamiltonCounty Storm Water District Award, "In Recognition of the Best Incorporation of Conservation Practices."

The Cincinnati Flower Show is the only such show in the US recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society. There is still timeto get to this wonderful show, it will be open through this Sunday, April 26. However, don't look for it in the same place aslast year. The show has moved to the Symmes Township Park at 11600 N Lebanon Road, Loveland, Ohio. For moreinformation on the show please go to: http://www.cincyflowershow.com/ .

CLINIC CLIPSThe entomologist received a large ash branch with emerald ash borer larvae tunneling. Although the arborist said the lowerportion of the tree was healthy, it had been topped several years ago and one of the chopped upper limbs had the damage. The tree will be removed, chipped and burned. A dead blue spruce leader was submitted which had both northern pine weeviland pitch mass borer damage. Calls about honey bees in walls and buildings have also begun to swarm in. Two samples were diagnosed with Phytophthora root rot this week: a bare-root Douglas-fir, and some container-grown bluespruce, which were exhibiting symptoms of branch dieback that led to canker formation on the main stem. The cankered area

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spruce, which were exhibiting symptoms of branch dieback that led to canker formation on the main stem. The cankered areatested positive for Phytophthora sp. The clinic is conducting cultures to confirm this diagnosis. Greenhouse tomato seedlingswere diagnosed with cultural/environmental problems which included marginal leaf burning due to excessive drying out betweenwatering and a nutrient deficiency that is a suspected to be potassium.

SAWFLY LEAFMINERS FLYJoe Boggs reported that common chokecherry, common floweringquince, and eastern redbudare now in full bloom in Cincinnati and the accumulated GDD had reached 251. Both thephenological and GDD indicators predict that four leafmining sawflies are flying, or should soonbe flying, in southern Ohio. These include: BIRCH LEAFMINER (Fenusa pusilla); EUROPEANALDER LEAFMINER (F. dohrnii ); ELM LEAFMINER (Kaliofenusa ulmi); and HAWTHORNLEAFMINER (Profenusa canadensis). Indeed, Joe observed two of these sawflies (birch andhawthorn leafminers) buzzing around their namesake hosts in Lexington, KY, this past Friday(April 17).

Larvae of these sawflies mine the leaf parenchyma producing large, blister‑like, reddish‑brown"blotch" mines. The mines usually extend from the leaf margin toward the midvein. Thehawthorn and elm leafminers have one generation per year and the alder and birch leafminershave three generations.

For most insect pests, the occurrence of multiple generations usually means upwardly spiralingpopulations and ever increasing damage as the season progresses. However, for birchleafminer, the opposite is true. Larvae can only mine new leaves. So, most damage occurs inearly spring when the first generation larvae mine the new, expanding leaves. After they finishfeeding for the season, around 80% of the first generation larvae drop to the ground andremain as pre‑pupae until next spring. Control efforts should target the first generation sincethe second and third generations cause little damage, unless the tree is re‑foliating after leaveswere stripped by some other problem such as gypsy moth.

Imidacloprid (e.g. Merit) has proven effective in controlling these sawfly leafminers when appliedas a soil drench over the root zone in October or November. It is too late for soil applicationsmade this spring to prevent all damage since it takes around 30 days for the insecticide tomove into the plant in concentrations sufficient to provide control. However, a soil drenchapplication made now will kill larvae in their developing mines. Foliar applications of pyrethroidinsecticides may also provide some control, although all leafmining activity will not besuppressed where adults have already started laying eggs.

THE TWO FACES OF PINE BARK ADELGIDSJoe Boggs reported observing overwintered immature pine bark adelgids (Pineus strobe ) coveringthemselves in their characteristic white flocculent material on white pines in a landscaping incentral Ohio late last week. The adelgid sinks its sucking mouthparts into the bark of twigs,branches, and main stems of many species of pines, but they have a particular affinity foreastern white pine. Adult females and nymphs cover themselves with waxy, fuzzy, whitematerial. Trunks of heavily infested pines may appear flocked.

Pine bark adelgids are seldom seen as a significant problem in landscapes. However, this sapsucking pest can be a significant problem on closely spaced white pines planted for reforestationor for paper pulp production. Indeed, the adelgid is capable of killing heavily infested trees in

tree plantations. It has been speculated that outbreaks may be linked to stress-related conditions.

The adelgids complicated life cycle coupled with the protective nature of the flocculent covering makes it a difficult pest tocontrol with standard insecticides. In landscapes, the adelgid can be controlled by washing the insects from the bark using aconcentrated stream of water. A soil-drench application of imidacloprid (e.g. Merit) in the fall or early spring will also reduceadelgid populations. However, both approaches are not practical for controlling this adelgid in the white pine plantations.

For more information, see:

OSU Extension, BugDoc FactSheetNC State Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note

SAFARI SAVES SENSITIVE SITUATIONSThe newer insecticide Safari (dinotefuran) has been used on the OSU campus to test its effectiveness on large deciduous treeswith scale infestations. Utilizing integrated pest management practices, OSU's goal is to use products that are safe in public

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with scale infestations. Utilizing integrated pest management practices, OSU's goal is to use products that are safe in publicsites with high visibility where topical sprays are not tolerated. June 2008, Dr. David Shetlar mixed Safari with water according to label directions, and drenched the base of mature hybridelms and a hackberry tree suffering from an intense calico scale population. The product was also drenched at the base ofthornless honeylocusts that had both calico scale and recurrent infestations of mimosa webworm. The mimosa webworm didnot return last year and the scale population on all the test trees is under control. As more information is revealed, this studywill be updated, however it appears that Safari drenched at the base of trees can achieve good control of scales withoutalarming people in the vicinity.

BEES IN WALLSCalls are coming into the CWEPPDC regarding honey bees that "suddenly" appeared in walls or trees in yard. Fortunately theinquirer wants someone to remove the bees instead of killing them, due to the decrease in honey bee populations. Unfortunately, these colonies have been in that site for almost a year, as they swarm in May and June. Once they becomeestablished in warm, cozy hole, they make layers of beeswax in which to feed the young and themselves for the winter. Byspring, although the honeycomb may be mostly empty, neither the queen bee nor the workers are about to leave their colony. One would need to remove portions of the wall or tree in order to take out the honey comb, along with the queen and herworkers. In many cases, this can be done, however the inquirer will need to have a carpenter repair the portion of the wallthat was removed. It is much easier to seal holes in early spring (February-April) to keep the bees from flying in than it is totake out a wall to remove a colony. Donʼt kill the bees without removing the honeycomb though, as unattended comb will meltand attract a myriad of sweet-loving insects. If the bees are in a tree, they can usually be left alone. Honey bees are notaggressive and will not bother people in the area.

ELM FLEA WEEVILS RETURNCurtis Young reported observing the first pair of the elm flea weevils this past Saturday morning (April 18, 2009). The pair wasperched in tandem on the barely expanding leaf buds of one of the weevil's favorite hosts, Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila). Thisearly spring, elm pest feeds, mates and begins laying eggs into the expanding elm leaves. When the female weevil lays(oviposits) her eggs, she chews a small hole into the mid-rib vein of the leaf into which she deposits an egg. When the egghatches, it tunnels through the mid-rib view then into the leaf blade mining its way to the margin of the leaf. At the margin ofthe leaf, the grub (larva, leafminer) expands the mine into a blotch mine along the edge of the leaf. Eventually, it will pupatein a silken chamber inside of the leafmine.

At the current time, it may be too late to prevent all possible damage by the elm flea weevil, but there may still be time toreduce the overall damage that it can do. Management of the elm flea weevil might most easily be accomplished with asystemic insecticide such as imidacloprid (e.g., Merit). Treatment should be applied as soon as possible to take advantage ofthe rapid movement of fluids from the roots to the shoots. Apply the insecticide as a soil drench according to the label.

Photo: cd0006-446.jpg

Keyword: Flea Weevil

For more information, see:

BYGL Issue 10, 2007 - Elm Flea Weevil Article Morton Arboretum Report on the Elm Flea Weevil

SILVER-ODDO ON TREE BARKJoe Boggs reported seeing an unusual fungal growth on the bark of willow oak trees. This silver -colored Ascomycete (cup)fungus, which occurs prolifically in saddle-like patches on bark, looks very similar to what BYGLers noted on honeylocustsduring a nursery visit in 2003 and dubbed "silver saddle" at that time. That fungus was identified as Mycoglaena meridionalisby Richard Harris of the New York Botanic Garden, and he noted that the fungus grows on the bark of many woody plants. Itis not considered pathogenic or damaging to the tree, though relatively little is known of the fungus. This fungus is listed as asometimes fungal partner of a lichen (a fungal and algal symbiosis) in the Lichens of Wisconsin. As indicated in BYGL 2009-2,lichens are not damaging to plants.

Though there are no indications that this fungus damages trees, some growers might be concerned that this fungus is acosmetic detriment to the tree. Since little is known about this fungus in terms of when it colonizes the bark, and since it istypically very difficult to eliminate a fungus already colonizing the tree, BYGLers do not have any recommendations for controlapplications.

Photo: cd0012-34.jpeg

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MELTDOWN IN PACHYTOWNBridget Meiring of the CWEPPDC reported identifying PACHYSANDRA (Pachysandra terminalis)ground cover with VOLUTELLA CANKER and LEAF BLIGHT, caused by Volutellapachysandricola . Leaves of the sample were showing the typical symptoms of Volutella leafblight, withered, brown, blotchy, lesion covered leaves. Also on the stems of the pachysandrawere infestations of a scale insect. According to Diseases of Trees and Shrubs, by Sinclair,Lyon and Johnson "Most reports of outbreaks of Volutella blight mention the association ofprevious winter damage, infestation by scale insects, recent transplanting or shearing, orexposure to bright sun. Thus V. pachysandricola is considered to be an opportunistic parasitethat causes little or no damage to vigorous plants but aggressively colonizes those previously

injured or stressed."

In past reports of Volutella leaf blight, the scale insect was identified as the OYSTERSHELLSCALE (Lepidosaphes ulmi). However, in this case the scale was identified as theEUONYMOUS SCALE (Unaspis euonymi ). Dave Shetlar reported that both of these scaleinsects are known to infest pachysandra. It is important to get a positive identification of whichspecies of scale is infesting the pachysandra, because each scale has different lifecycle timingsand generations. The Euonymous scale hatches before the oystershell scale and it also has twogenerations a season. For control purposes, it is recommended to treat newly hatched crawlers(1st instar nymphs). Thus, it is important to know which scale is infesting to properly timeinsecticide treatments to reduce the stress on the pachysandra. For more information andsuggestions for alleviating this Volutella leaf blight problems on pachysandra, refer to OSU Extension Factsheet HYG-3064,"Diseases of Ground Cover Plants," which is on the web at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3064.html .

For more information, see:

Penn State Entomological Notes on Oystershell ScalePurdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory

FAIRY RINGS NOT CELESTIAL BEINGS!The turfgrass version of crop circles is very apparent in lawns at this time. Pam Bennettreported the appearance of fairy rings followed by curious phone calls from clients on how to getrid of them. These circular or near-circular patches of dark green turfgrass are usually moreevident in the spring and fall, but can also be apparent under certain environmental conditionssuch as a dry August.

Fairy rings are caused by a diverse family of fungi called basidiomycetes; the fungi growunderground on organic matter in the soil. The rings of lush turf growth are caused by therelease of nitrogen in the soil from the activity of the fungi There are 3 types of fairy rings: onewith no mushrooms; mushrooms as well as hyper-stimulate grass growth; and one with only a

ring of mushrooms and no variance in grass coloration.

Fairy rings expand year after year and can be anywhere from 6" to 2' wide to hundreds of feet indiameter.

Controlling fairy rings is difficult and the cost of these treatments is not always justified as thechances for successful elimination are slim. In addition, serious injury to the turf is not usuallynotices. The best approach is to attack it cosmetically. If mushrooms are present, use a hardnose rake to eliminate. Disguise the uber-grass growing symptoms by providing adequate waterto the root zone and moderate rates of fertilizer. This encourages the surrounding grass to"catch-up" to the darker, prolific grass. Additional mowing may be used to keep heights incheck.

Complete eradication might be achieved by removing the sod and soil in the area of the fairy ring. Remove the soil at least15-20" out from the edge of the ring at around 1-3' deep and replace with sterile soil. However, if one small area is missed,the problem keeps going. With all of the extra work to eliminate the rings, it might just be best to tell neighbors that this is aspecial lawn and is blessed by celestial beings creating these cool crop circles! Once weather conditions change, they areless visible.

For More information:

Fairy Ring on Turfgrass - Cornell University Fairy Rings in Lawns/Dark Green Circles in Lawn - Purdue Extension

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KEEPING IT ON THE LEVELDave Goerig reported he spent time this spring in his garage getting his late-model lawn mower ready for the 2009 mowingseason. He changed the engine oil and filter, inspected the belts, replaced the air filter, charged the battery, greased thetractor, checked the tires for proper inflation and even installed a new set of cutting blades. Feeling very excited and quiteaccomplished, Goerig fired up the engine and began to dig into his first mowing of the season. He went on to report thatdigging in is exactly what happened. On the second pass around the lawn instead of seeing the clean cut turf from the newblades, he noticed one side of his mower was apparently off balance and severely scalping the turfgrass. The scalpingoccurred well below the crown of the plant which means those turfgrass plants will die out and he will be reseeding that areaof his lawn. The problem was identified as a broken weld on the rear guide wheel assembly of his mower deck.

Proper maintenance of lawn equipment is important. Employees should take the time each day to keep up with this importantpreventative maintenance part of the job. Inspecting the machinery they operate each day not only identifies performanceissues with the equipment, but also exposes potential unsafe conditions for the operator and the unaware public that seem toalways be around the mowing area.

THE INVASION OF DANDELIONS HAS BEGUN!Spring has sprung! Numerous plants are going through their springtime bloom, including some of the less desirable plants. BYGLers commented on the massive carpets of dandelions that cover home lawns, agriculture fields and turfgrass areasaround businesses. Soon these dazzling fields of golden yellow blossoms turn into fields of "puffball" seed heads to spread thedandelions to new locations. Dandelions are more effectively controlled when they are in puffball stage in spring. The besttime to control dandelions is fall.

Although the dandelions may be growing actively, many of the other broadleaf weeds in lawns have yet to begin their growthand development for this year. Because of this difference in growth and development of broadleaf weeds, proper timing ofbroadleaf weed herbicide applications is a challenge. There is a temptation to apply these herbicides as soon as thedandelions appear, however, if only one application of broadleaf herbicides is applied in the spring/early summer, many of theslower growing broadleaf weeds, such as plantain and ground ivy are missed. Thus, it is recommended that spring applicationsof broadleaf herbicides be delayed until mid- to late May to allow these other weeds to begin growing more actively.

On the other hand, areas with massive populations of dandelions need to be tackled now to reduce the amount of seedsproduced, and to reduce the competition of the dandelions with the turfgrass. This action requires a second application ofbroadleaf herbicides later in the spring/early summer, if other weeds are present.

Most of the broadleaf herbicides are formulations of 2,4 D, MCPP, dicamba, MCPA, 2,4 DP or some combination of theseproducts. Read the labels on these products carefully, paying close attention to limits to the number of applications permittedper year, timing of mowing in relation to the timing of application, environmental conditions, and avoidance of runoff into bodiesof water.

For more information, see:

Broadleaf Weed Control For Home LawnsDandelions

WINTER PESTS STILL ACTIVEDave Shetlar reported that several cool season turfgrass pests are still active in the turfgrass. Saturday evening, around 10:00 p.m. he strafed the surface of his tall fescue lawn with a sweepnet and found a large number of winter grain mites, several bronze cutworm larvae and a bunchof tiny grass sawfly larvae. Apparently, all these were on the grass blades in the middle of thenight munching on the turf! Winter grain mites can be found wherever cool season grasses grow. They are also pests ofsmall grain crops that overwinter in fields. They are in a different family than the spider mitescommonly seen on trees and shrubs and are quite different in appearance. Winter grain mites

are about 1 mm in diameter, dark olive green to almost black with 4 pairs of salmon-pink to almost fluorescent red-orange incolor. When crushed, the mites leave a distinctive dark green spot. Winter grain mites are most active when temperatures are at or slightly above freezing at night, with day temperatures below80F. They are most commonly seen in the fall and spring when the weather is generally within these parameters. Duringmoderate winters, the mites remain active, even under the cover of snow. Although they tend to hide in the thatch during the daytime, the mites may surface during the daytime on cool, overcast days.At dusk, the mites crawl out onto leaves and suck nutrients from the leaf blades. Damaged grass blades can look blanched orappear to have powdery mildew. Turf damaged under snow cover can often looks like snow mold damage - matted andblanched. Fortunately, winter grain mite damage is not very common in turf, and damaged turf rapidly recovers when thespring growth resumes.

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For more information, see:

Buckeye TurfVermont: "Winter Grain Mite: Potential Pest of Small Grains and Orchardgrass"

MAKING NEW PLANTS: INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROPAGATORSOCIETY (IPPS) MEETING IN CLEVELAND IN OCTOBERTim Brotzman, the skilled, creative and inspiring owner of Brotzman Nursery in Lake County is spreading the word about theOctober 14-17, 2009 IPPS Meeting in Cleveland. His words are so well-put that BYGL reprints them in their entirety below. This meeting indeed offers a great opportunity for students of all ages.

"The Eastern Region of The International Plant Propagators Society wishes to encourage student participation in their annualconference. Horticulture students enrolled in any university or tech school program are welcome to apply for a scholarship tosubsidize registration, meals and tour costs. In addition, students in high school vo-hort programs who are nominated by theiradvisors are also welcome.

The Eastern Region has not met in Cleveland since 1990, and this event will provide a unique opportunity for students to havepersonal interaction with an organization and individuals responsible for many of our industry's commonly used productiontechniques. There will be three days of lectures and tours of leading nurseries and botanical gardens. Go tohttp://www.ipps.org/EasternNA for complete conference details.

Although students have always been welcome at IPPS events, this is the first time that a concerted effort has been directedtowards faculty and advisors to encourage them to involve their students in this manner. At the same time, a new fundraisingeffort referred to as Friends of IPPS has been launched. All monies collected will be used exclusively to support studentscoming to the conference. The amount of each individual scholarship to be awarded cannot be determined at this time, as theamount will depend on the number of students and total money available. For more information on the Friends of IPPSprogram or to donate money, contact Tim Brotzman, Co-chair IPPS Local Site Committee at 440-428-3361 ortim@brotzmansnursery.com .

During these times of budget cut backs and reduced educational opportunities outside of the classroom, students mayremember this conference as an experience that reinforces their decision to make horticulture a career. For this reason weencourage teachers to plan this into their students' course activities. Several well known educators and OSU Extensionpersonnel have volunteered to help coordinate these efforts: Messrs. Erik Draper draper.15@osu.edu, Jim Chatfieldchatfield.1@cfaes.osu.edu and Ken Cochran cochran.7@osu.edu may be contacting you as well. Please do your part tosupport horticultural career choices for your students by bringing this to their attention, and I hope to see you in Cleveland thisOctober."

BIZ BUZZ "STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND"In this classic science fiction novel, Robert Heilein tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human raised by Martians, andreturned to earth in early adulthood and imagines his interactions with humans. One wonders if sometimes new employeesmight feel a little like Michael as they report to work for their new jobs.

Nearly all employees want to get off to a good start. The good start depends more on orientation than on how much work theperson does the first few hours on the job. The specific content of the orientation depends on the size and complexity of thebusiness with consideration of the following items.

*Business Characteristics: history of the business; mission statement and goals for the business; management team; layout offacilities, buildings and land; overview of what makes your business unique in the market; role of employees; and yourapproach and expectations with customer service.

*Policies: dress code; time keeping; attendance; breaks; scheduling work; use of equipment and tools; courtesy to otheremployees; probationary period; disciplinary practices; and safety procedures.

*Employee Benefits: pay and paydays; vacation; sick leave; insurance benefits; and rest breaks.

*Job duties: where the work will be done; specific tasks; safety precautions; relationship of the job to other work in thebusiness.

Reaction to these suggestions may be, "It would be nice but.... I don't have time for this stuff because we've got work to do." An employer will benefit from happy, positive and enthusiastic people than with people who are just there to do a job and gohome. Orientation helps people get off to a good start. It increases their chances of being happy with their jobs, and positiveabout the employer and the business.

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about the employer and the business.

WOOD PACKING MATERIALS WORKSHOPSAnyone who makes pallets or exports using packing materials such as pallets, crates or dunnage should attend this program. The Phytosanitation & Exporting with Wood Packing Materials Workshops cover ISPM 15 and how it may impact a company. The Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will offer the program in 14 cities across the Midwest. In Ohio,the program is in Dayton on April 30, Chillicothe on May 4 and Sugar Creek on May 5, 2009. For a brochure or additionalinformation, contact Amy Stone at stone.91@osu.edu or 419-578-6783.

PLANT DIAGNOSTIC ACADEMY (PDA)Check out this intensive 3-day training program consisting of a hands-on approach to learning or refining plant diagnostic skills. These skills include learning key plant identification characteristics, discovering the process to properly diagnose plant problems,identifying woody plant diseases, detecting insect and mite problems, and determining how plants respond to cultural andenvironmental problems. Diagnostic walks and hundreds of plant samples will be used to help participants identify plantproblem symptoms. Teaching will also focus on developing effective strategies for managing plant problems.

This experiential program will be held on May 19, 20 and 21, 2009, at the Cox Arboretum and Gardens Metropark in Dayton,Ohio. Registration deadline is May 12, 2009, and classroom space is limited. Registration fee is $250 which includes allmeals, snacks and class materials. The PDA is hosted by the OSU ENLTT and the OSU Woodland Stewards Team. OSUExtension instructors include Dave Apsley, Joe Boggs, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper and Kathy Smith. For more informationcontact Kathy Smith at 614-688-3136 or visit the Ohio Woodland Stewards website at http://woodlandstewards.osu.edu andlook under "Workshops."

OSU ARBOR DAY EVENT TO HONOR VETERANSA tree will be planted to honor all veterans of the nation's armed forces this Arbor Day during a dedication ceremony at OSUon April 24, 2009.

The event, which begins at 10:00 a.m., takes place at the Colour Columbus Native Tree Collection, north of the Nationwide andOhio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive. OSU's Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is sponsoring theevent. Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"We remember the sacrifices made on our behalf and honor those who chose a career in service to their fellow Americans,"said Mary Maloney, director of Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens. The new tree will be added to ChadwickArboretum's Colour Columbus Native Tree Collection. The location features over 1,000 native trees, grouped according to thestate's four ecological regions.

Columbus Dispatch columnist Mike Harden will be the featured speaker. Parking is available in the Bill Davis Baseball Stadiumlot on Fred Taylor Drive. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the dedication ceremony.

For more information, see:

Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens

BYGLOSOPHY - April 23, 2009Arbor Day is this Friday, April 24 and last week's BYGL printed a long quote from J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day's founder. Here are a few more treeisms for you to use as horti-quoture for your own Arbor Day celebrations.

"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some seeNature all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, Nature isImagination itself." - William Blake

"Tree at my window, window tree,My sash is lowered when night comes on;But let there never be curtain drawnBetween you and me." - Robert Frost

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." - Martin Luther {He must have meant a crabapple tree!}

"Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets. To plant a pine, one need only own a shovel." - Aldo Leopold

"Of all man's works of art, a cathedral is greatest. A vast and majestic tree is greater than that." - Henry Ward Beecher

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"They took all the treesAnd put them in a tree museumAnd they charged all the peopleA dollar and a half just to see'em.Don't it always seem to goThat you don't know what you've gotTill it's gone.They paved paradiseAnd put up a parking lot." - Joni Mitchell

"Well my heart's in the Highlands wherever I roamThat's where I'll be when I get called homeThe wind, it whispers to the buckeyed trees in rhymeWell my heart's in the Highland,I can only get there one step at a time." - Bob Dylan

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Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension isimplied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticideuser bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio StateUniversity Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity, orexpression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veterans status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President forAg. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension, TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.

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