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| Landscape Alert newsletter | ||||
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| Vol. 22, No. 3, April 27, 2007 |
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| In this issue Landscape and nursery  Protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer Freeze effects on magnolias and red maple To stake or not to stake? Scouting for pests: Broad mite Scouting for diseases: Anthracnose Scouting for diseases: Daylily leaf streak Fasciation: A weird plant deformity On-line Annual Trials information and photosTurfgrass Early spring weeds flowering Understanding home lawn grub control productsChristmas trees and forestry New map for 2007 gypsy moth spray window dates Insects to scout for week of April 29 Christmas tree and forestry insect update Disease update About pine bark adelgid Manganese deficiency of Fraser and balsam firsOther news Application technology for small acreage producers Weather news |
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| Protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer David Smitley Entomology After three years of testing at several different locations we now know that imidacloprid applied as a basal soil injection (by arborists) or as a basal soil drench (by homeowners) works well to protect healthy trees from emerald ash borer. The key is to start early before seeing any signs of canopy thinning or dieback due to emerald ash borer. If you are in an infested area and some trees in the area are already showing signs of infestation the safest option is to do a basal soil drench and a trunk injection the first year. Homeowners can do the basal soil drench themselves. They can purchase Bayer Tree and Shrub Insect Control (containing imidacloprid) at a local garden center. It comes in a 32 oz blue plastic bottle. Pour one ounce of this product for each inch of circumference around your ash tree into a bucket, fill the bucket with water, and pour the solution around the base of the trunk sometime between now and June 1. The basal drench needs to be repeated each spring to provide reliable protection. It takes two years of treatments on larger trees (>6” dbh) to provide adequate protection. The cost for treating a 10” dbh trees is approximately $25 per year. ACECAP implants containing acephate is another systemic insecticide product that can be used by homeowners in May. In our test results the ACECAP implants did not work as well as the imidacloprid basal drench in the second year, so I suggest only using the basal drench for healthy trees, or perhaps a combination of both the basal drench and the ACECAP implants the first year, then only the basal drench in subsequent years. If homeowners prefer to hire an arborist, now is the time to contact one. Most of the treatments are done in the spring. The advantage of hiring an arborist is that you will get their expert opinion on when to begin treatments, if it is too late or not, and how to water and fertilize ash trees which will help treated trees survive borer attack. |
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| Freeze effects on magnolias and red maple
A tree care company near Dearborn, Michigan sent the Landscape Alert team the following question: “We have three magnolias on our property that do not look like they will flower. Following the icy cold, snow change in weather we had the week of April 9, the flower buds seem to have dried up and leaves are sprouting instead. We have six maples that seed and they, too, are sprouting leaves and not seeds. We walked the neighborhood observing other trees and couldn’t find any magnolias that looked like they would flower. We would appreciate any insight you might have. |
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| To stake or not to stake? Bert Cregg Horticulture and Forestry Springtime is tree planting time. A frequent question that arises is whether or not newly planted trees should be staked. In Michigan, staking is frequently necessary when planting bare-root, container-grown, and even some balled in burlap (B&B) trees to prevent blow-over due to our prevailing winds. Many B&B conifers are dug from sandy soils resulting in a loose rootball. The key in staking trees is to ensure that it is done properly. Here are some keys to proper staking. Use appropriate materials. Use commercially available strapping and staking materials to reduce the risk of excessive rubbing and damage to tree trunks. Do not use rope or bare wire. Stakes should be driven outside the rootball and deep enough to penetrate through backfill and into native soil to improve stability. Remove staking after one or two years. Within one year of transplanting most trees will have established sufficient new roots into native soil to be wind firm. Staking material left on trunks can eventually girdle new trunks (see photo). The two stake method (see photo) is simple and works well for a variety of tree. Larger trees and conifers may require three stakes or guying. |
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| Scouting for pests: Broad mite Raymond Cloyd Entomology Broad mite resembles cyclamen mite in size and appearance. The primary difference is that broad mite eggs have noticeable bumps on the surface and cyclamen mite eggs are smooth. Management: Dispose of all plants exhibiting symptoms of broad mite damage. Also, remove all plants within 1 foot of damaged plants. Broad mite control with miticides is difficult because they tend to be located in hidden, hard-to-reach areas. Information is from the new field guide A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials. Ordering information, call 517-353-6740 or visit: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/pocketGuidesLandsc07.pdf |
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| Scouting for diseases: Anthracnose Jan Byrne MSU Diagnostic Services Pathogen: Colletotrichum spp. (view images) Hosts include: Althaea, Bergenia, Heuchera, Hosta, Limonium, Sedum and Lupinus. Symptoms: Symptoms vary, depending on the host. Althaea seedlings and young plants are especially susceptible to infection: leaf spotting and stem lesions can be severe. Lupine seedlings are especially vulnerable: infected plants wilt and have necrotic lesions on stems. Leaf spots, shepherd’s crooks and crown rot develop on more mature lupine plants (see photo). Anthracnose causes severe stem girdling and crown rot on sedum. Susceptibility varies with cultivar. Infection on hosta causes leaf spots with bleached out centers and reproductive structures (black dots) are often visible in these lesions. Spread: Disease can be seed-borne in some perennial crops. The pathogen persists on infested material. Spores are splash-dispersed by rain and irrigation. Management: Space plants to promote air circulation around them. Remove diseased plant material – Colletotrichum. spp. will sporulate readily on dead plant material in the production area. Fungicide applications may be needed. Lupine seedlings can be infected by seed- borne inoculum. Disease management must rely heavily on the use of disease-free seed and fungicide applications to seedlings. Information is from the new field guide A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials. Ordering information, call 517-353-6740 or visit: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/pocketGuidesLandsc07.pdf |
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| Scouting for diseases: Daylily leaf streak Jan Byrne MSU Diagnostic Services Pathogen: Collecephalus hemerocalli. (view images) Hosts: Hemerocallis. Symptoms: Elongated brown lesions, which are lengthwise on the foliage, surrounded by a chlorotic halo. Lesions that affect the midrib of a leaf cause the leaf to senesce from the lesion to the leaf tip. Tissue in the center of the leaf becomes necrotic, creating a dead streak down the middle of the infected leaf. Flower production may be decreased. Spread: Diseased plant material can introduce the pathogen into a production area. C. hemerocalli produces wind-borne spores on infected leaves. Sclerotia, an overwintering structure, are produced on dead or dying foliage. Management: Cultivars vary in their susceptibility. Remove dead foliage from the preceding year. Poorly managed plants in overcrowded growing situations are more likely to become diseased. The disease is more severe early in the growing season. Temperatures above 90°F limit disease development. Information is from the new field guide A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials. Ordering information, call 517-353-6740 or visit: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/pocketGuidesLandsc07.pdf |
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| Fasciation: A weird plant deformity Steven Gower MSU Diagnostic Services We occasionally have plants submitted to the lab with a weird plant deformity known as fasciation. Fasciation is a term that describes the abnormal fusion and flattening of plant organs, usually stems, resulting in ribbon-like, coiled and contorted tissue. A stem from autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) was submitted with this abnormality. (view photo) Autumn olive is an invasive large and spreading shrub with leaves that are bright green above and silvery-green below. Stems and twigs are silvery to golden-brown. The stem end submitted was flattened, ribbed and coiled. Although rare, fasciation has been observed on many woody and non-woody plants. It is believed to be caused by some sort of genetic mutation in the meristematic tissue. Other causes of fasciation can include bacterial infections, insect injury, chemical exposure or physical injury. Distorted tissue can be pruned out and growth will often revert back to normal. Plants with fasciation should not be propagated, as progeny may inherit the mutant trait. |
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On-line Annual Trials information and photos
So, take advantage of this resource. If you need high resolution images of any photos, contact us and we can get those to you. If you have comments or questions on the Annual Trials web site, please contact: Dr. Norm Lownds, Trials Coordinator, lownds@msu.edu, or phone: 517-355-5191 ext. 1-349. |
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| Early spring weeds flowering Kevin Frank and Ron Calhoun Crop & Soil Sciences April showers bring May flowers. The end of April and early May is typically the time of year when many turf areas are full of bright colorful flowering weeds. Now if you don’t mind some color and are patient, your best course of action is what I refer to as the go back inside and sit down method, i.e. do nothing. However, if you’re trying to eliminate some pesky weeds from your lawn, a very good time to control many of these broadleaf bandits is at flowering. Just as a reminder, the best time to control many broadleaf weeds is during the fall – but we’ll save that one for our annual fall roundup issue. Currently purple deadnettle, common chickweed, henbit, and shepherd's purse are all flowering in the landscape. These weeds are winter annuals and are always the first to flower in the spring. The time window to control these weeds is very small and it is generally not advised to spray anything as these weeds will complete their life cycle quickly and not be a factor in the turf until the fall when they can be effectively controlled by a properly timed herbicide application. Dandelions are also coming on strong right now and will no doubt be extra frisky after the recent rainfall. The normal temptation is to go after the dandelions at peak flowering, but waiting until the end of the flowering cycle is a much more effective time to actually kill some plants. If you spray early, you will only burndown the top portion of the plant and it will likely be necessary to make a repeat application around Memorial Day to clean up the re-growth. For additional information and models on predicting weed flowering throughout the region take a visit to www.gddtracker.net. This website is designed for turfgrass professionals to help predict optimum control windows for many weeds and for Poa annua seedhead suppression on golf courses. |
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Understanding home lawn grub control products
Sevin-Lawn Insect Granules (20 lb bag) Made by Garden Tech carbaryl 2.0% 9 lb/1000 ft2 Apply in spring or fall to active grubs. Eliminator - Lawn Insect Killer Granules w/Sevin (20 lb bag) 24 hr Grub Killer Plus "contains Dylox" (15 lb bag) Complete Insect Killer (10 lb bag) Grubex (14.35 lb bag) Season Long Grub Control w/Merit (14.35 lb bag) Grub & Lawn Insect Control (15 lb bag) Grub Stop Once & Done Ant, Flea and Tick Eliminator (25 lb bag) Made by Spectracide lambda cyhalothrin 0.1% Will not kill grubs at any rate. |
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| New map for 2007 gypsy moth spray window dates Mike Bryan Michigan Dept. of Agriculture Each year the Michigan Department of Agriculture and MSU Extension evaluate the progress of gypsy moth egg hatch in order to set the opening and closing dates for the gypsy moth spray window. This year we have refined the process using historical degree day accumulation data available online through MSU IPM Resources at: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/landscapeipm/gddlandchart.htm . The state has been divided into five gypsy moth spray window zones that roughly correspond to historical degree day trends. These zones are comprised of the counties shown below. 2007 Gypsy moth spray window zones (view map) Zone 1 - Counties of Berrien, Cass and Monroe. Zone 2 - Counties of Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Montcalm Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Saint Clair, Saint Joseph, , Sanilac Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne. Zone 3 - Counties of Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Clare, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Huron, Isabella, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Manistee, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Wexford. Zone 4 - Counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Iosco, Marquette, Menominee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Otsego and Roscommon. Zone 5 - Counties of Alger, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Emmet, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Presque Isle and Schoolcraft. Gypsy moth spray window dates The following chart shows actual and projected open/close dates for application of the two groups of pesticides used for regulatory treatment of gypsy moth in nursery stock and Christmas trees.
** Projections are based on 30 year historical degree day data. Since gypsy moth development will vary by location, you will need to monitor development around your farm. Weather conditions will affect caterpillar development and may effect end date of the spray windows. Growers should watch the Landscape CAT Alerts for additional announcements. |
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| Insects to scout for week of April 29 Jill O’Donnell Christmas Tree ICM educator Southern Lower Peninsula Gypsy moth - egg hatch Eastern pine shoot borer – first adult active European pine sawfly – first larvae Pine bark adelgid - egg hatch Spruce spider mite – egg hatch Central Lower Peninsula Balsam twig aphid – stem mothers present Cooley spruce gall adelgid – first nymphs on Douglas fir Gypsy moth- egg hatch Eastern pine shoot borer – first adults active European pine sawfly – first larvare Spruce spider mite – egg hatch Northern Lower Peninsula Balsam gall midge – adults laying eggs Balsam twig aphid – stem mothers present Cooley spruce gall adelgid – first nymphs on Douglas-fir Cooley and eastern spruce gall adelgids – first adults active Upper Peninsula White pine weevil – first adults Zimmerman pine shoot moth – first larvae Cooley and Eastern spruce gall adelgids |
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| Christmas tree and forestry insect update Jill O’Donnell Christmas tree ICM educator Pales weevil In the traps we have out in the Manton area, we found the first white pine and Pales weevil adults this past Monday (April 23). Pales weevil is usually more of a problem on choose and cut farms, but can also cause damage when Christmas tree fields are harvested near by. Female weevils are attracted by the odor of fresh pine resin in the spring and lay eggs in the inner bark of new stumps. The larvae feed in tunnels in the larger roots of the stumps. The tunnels may be only a few inches long initially, but can extend several feet into the root during the summer. Adults will emerge in late summer to early fall to feed for a short period of time before they move to the litter to overwinter. To control the egg laying adults, remove new stumps by early spring to eliminate the weevils breed material or drench the stumps and surrounding soil with a registered insecticide once such as chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 4E, Warhawk, Nufos4E, Yuma 4E and Whirlwind) between now and mid-May. Cooley spruce gall adelgid on Douglas-fir The overwintering nymphs are easily found on the needles of Douglas-fir. If you have had a heavy problem with this adelgid you could spray now. Often growers will treat after bud break when the adelgids have moved to the new growth. Eastern spruce gall adelgid (view image) The cottony egg masses of Eastern spruce gall adelgid can easily be seen near the base of buds. Target your pesticide application now before buds begin to swell. Balsam twig aphid If you have fir trees, I hope you have been monitoring them carefully, especially those you plan to harvest within one to two years. Growers in Greenville and McBain are beginning to find stem mothers on balsam and Fraser firs. That means if you needed to use an insecticide, you might still have a few days to do it, before the next generation of aphids appears. Once the second generation of aphids is present, and the buds have broken, applying an insecticide will not prevent damage. Research done by Dr. Deb McCullough found the ideal time to target your pesticide application is between 100 to 140 GDD50. Keep in mind that if you only had minor to moderate aphid damage last year, you probably don't need to spray. There are many different kinds of predators that will be happy to feed on your aphids, all summer long. |
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| Disease update Jill O’Donnell Christmas tree ICM educator The cream to orange colored blisters pushing through the bark from white pine blister rust can be found now on the branches and on the trunk of the tree. (view photo) The spores released in the spring infect Ribes (gooseberry or currant) allow the fungus to continue its life cycle. The rust fungus on Ribes will produce another spore that will infect white pine in mid-summer to early fall. Eliminating the Ribes within 1,000 feet of white pine plantations should reduce the amount of infection as spores from white pine cannot re-infect white pine. It is important to rogue out infected branches and twigs as the fungus will grow down the branches to the main stem and eventually kill the tree. Needle cast symptoms on last year's needles are continuing to show up now, particularly Rhabdocline and Swiss needle cast of Douglas fir, Rhizosphaera on spruce and Dothistroma on Austrian pine. Timing for control of these pathogen is when the new growth has emerged and is 0.5 to 2 inches long. Also, I have seen some new foliage browning showing up in the last few weeks on Douglas-fir, balsam and Fraser fir. I am not finding any fruiting bodies and believe this has been caused by cold and wind damage due to the unusual cold weather we had March and April. |
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| About pine bark adelgid Jill O’Donnell Christmas tree ICM educator Pineus strobi (Homoptera: Adelgidae) is found throughout the United States wherever white pines grow. This insect is quite small, dark and covered with white, waxy strands. Infested trees can be recognized by the presence of patches of this white, cottony material on the smooth bark of the trunks and limbs and at the bases of needles. Heavily infested trees may appear whitewashed. The insect uses its long, needle-like mouthparts to pierce the tree bark and feed on the sap. According to Howard Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services, “The adelgid overwinters as nearly mature female nymphs that begin feeding during the first warm days of spring. When mature, the females begin to lay eggs that begin to hatch in late April in Michigan. These eggs produce both wingless and winged forms. The wingless forms fly off to nearby spruce trees to lay eggs but the offspring from these eggs eventually die. The wingless forms that remain on the white pine produce as many as four more generations during the growing season. Healthy trees do not appear to suffer any permanent damage from pine bark adelgids, however, the cottony patches may affect the overall appearance of the tree.” Pine bark adelgids seldom require chemical control measures to protect the health of the tree. If large numbers persist and the tree becomes unsightly, then dormant oils, superior (summer) oils, and insecticidal soap will reduce aphid numbers without harming beneficial insects. A more aggressive control strategy is to spray the trees in late spring or early summer with a broad-spectrum insecticide. These sprays will destroy the natural enemies of the many potential pest species that feed on pines so they should be used only after attempts have failed to control the aphids. Be sure to read and follow all the instructions and safety precautions found on the pesticide label before using any pesticide. |
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| Manganese deficiency of Fraser and balsam firs Steven Gower MSU Diagnostic Services Samples of both Fraser and balsam firs submitted to the lab in recent weeks showed signs of poor growth and development. (view photos) The outermost, newest needles of each branch were extremely chlorotic. The symptoms progressed from very chlorotic to almost a bronzing of the needles. There were no plant pathogens or insects detected. These symptoms are indicative of a micronutrient deficiency often called pH induced chlorosis. This occurs when essential micronutrients, usually manganese and iron, are unavailable for uptake when the soil pH exceeds a critical level and shows very poor and unsatisfactory growth results. Soil and tissue nutrient tests confirmed our suspicion of manganese deficiency in both the Fraser and balsam firs. Both soil and tissue tests are recommended to distinguish between soil nutrient availability and plant uptake problems induced by high soil pH. The discolored firs were generally found in soils with a pH from 6.8 to 7.4 along with low soil phosphorus and potassium. The optimal pH range for Fraser and balsam fir is 5.0 to 6.0 and 5.0 to 6.5, respectively. Very poor and unsatisfactory growth will result if the soil pH level nears or exceeds the upper end of these ranges. Fraser fir is especially sensitive to fluctuations in soil pH across the landscape. Tissue tests confirmed manganese deficiency as the most limiting factor in the tissue of the Fraser and balsam firs (Tables 1 and 2). This deficiency was induced by high soil pH – not by low soil manganese. Table 1. Recommended nutrient sufficiency range for Fraser fir*.
Table 2. Recommended nutrient sufficiency range for Balsam Fir*.
Unfavorable soil pH is the principal factor that limits plantings of certain conifers, so proper site selection is very important. Adjustments in nutrient status and pH are more easily done before planting. After planting, soil amendment may still be the best long-term approach for satisfactory growth of the trees and will obviously depend on the date of harvest. Soil pH may be lowered to appropriate levels by the addition of sulfur or very acidic fertilizers. Foliar applications of soluble manganese sulfate can be a rapid way to help alleviate manganese deficiencies. These applications are temporary and provide a quick fix of the problem. With this in mind, multiple applications of manganese sulfate would be needed during the year. Foliar applications of manganese sulfate should be made three, six and nine weeks after bud break. Manganese sulfate should be applied at 0.5 to 1.0 lb. manganese per acre. Be sure to check the percent manganese content and specific supplier recommendations for the product that you are using. |
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| Application technology for small acreage producers Roberta Dow Northern District Water Quality Educator Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program Michigan State University Extension This workshop is designed for pesticide applicators working with nurseries, greenhouses, vegetables, floral, forest and other small acreage settings. June 14 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM Two core recertification credits for commercial and private applicators have been applied for. The cost is $5. The rest of the program expense is sponsored by a North Region Project GREEEN grant. To register, send check for $5 to Roberta Dow, MSU Extension Grand Traverse County, 520 W. Front St., Traverse City, Michigan 49684-2208. For more information, contact Roberta Dow, dowr@msu.edu |
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| Weather news Jeff Andresen Agricultural Meteorology Geography Following a period of mild temperatures and resumption of growing degree day accumulations late last week, cooler temperatures returned earlier this week in association with the formation of an upper air troughing feature across the region. On the surface, an area of low pressure will move from the eastern Lower Peninsula into Ontario on Friday, April 27, continuing the threat of rainfall for another 12 hours before warmer and drier weather develops this weekend. Best chances for rain Friday into early Saturday will be across eastern areas of the state. Rainfall totals are expected to be light, remaining below 0.10 inches in most cases. A warming trend will begin on Saturday and should continue into early next week. Daytime temperatures will reach the mid 60's north to the low 70’s south Saturday, increasing into the 70’s statewide on Sunday and Monday. Low temperatures will range from the 30’s north to the low 40's south, warming to the 40's to low 50's by Sunday. The next chance for significant precipitation will be late Monday or Tuesday as a frontal system approaches the state from the north and west. Further ahead, medium range forecast guidance suggests the eventual return of a troughing feature across the western United States, with southwesterly flow across the Midwest and Great Lakes Regions. This type of pattern would suggest an active storm track across the Midwest, with relatively frequent chances for precipitation and an elevated risk for severe weather. The official NOAA 6‑10 day and 8‑14 day outlooks (covering May 2-6 and May 4-8) both call for above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation totals statewide. New NOAA Climate Prediction Center long lead outlooks for the next couple of months are highly vague. For both the month of May and the May-July period, the outlooks call for the equal odds or climatology scenario statewide for both mean temperatures and total precipitation, with near equal odds of below, near and above normal levels. The outlooks do suggest increased odds of above normal temperatures for Michigan during the latter half of the summer. The outlook for the Midwest region is very similar, with the equal odds scenario for precipitation and temperature early, followed by increased odds of above normal temperatures across western sections of the region later in the summer. ENSO conditions in the equatorial Pacific are currently near neutral levels, with hints of a possible cool or La Nina event at some point later in the year. |
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