Begonia

Geranium

Osteospermum

Calibrachoa

Impatiens

Petunia

Chrysanthemum

Lobelia

Tomato

Gazania

New Guinea Impatiens

Verbena

Systemic materials, on the other hand, move within the plant; applied to the media they will move throughout the entire plant, including new shoots. However, systemics take time to move up to the new shoots and control doesn’t happen until the toxic material is present where the insects or mites are feeding. The woodier the plant, the more slowly systemics move. In very woody stock plants, the material may not move into the shoots at all. One solution is to spray systemic materials on the tops of plants (Marathon II). Remember that insecticides tend to move upward in the plant, not downward; there will be little control of insects or mites below where the application was made.

Another problem with systemics is that the amount of toxic material present in the new shoots is very small. Aphids may concentrate enough toxic material in the sap they feed on to be killed, but chewing insects may not get enough to be controlled. Translaminar materials don’t have surface residues but move into the leaf where a reservoir of active ingredient remains for a period of time providing longer control. Don’t confuse translaminar with systemic – translaminar materials move only short distances not through the entire plant. Thorough coverage is still very important.

It is important to note that EPA is only allowing two weeks, until February 22, 2007, for comments to be submitted, so we need to move fast. Also, please be sure that every comment submitted be identified with the docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0028.

• Via the Internet: Federal Rulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov . Then follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• By mail to: Office of Pesticide Progams Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
• By delivery (e.g., FedEx) to: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Room S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 So. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.

Each year, MSU evaluates the landscape performance of over 1,000 cultivars of annual plants. In the past few years, the gardens staff has also evaluated plant performance in large containers.

The MSU Annual Trials website contains searchable databases, where you can search each year’s entries by genus, series, cultivar, company or rating. The database includes unbiased notes and photos of the trials. The top performers of each plant species are listed and grouped into the best-performing plants from seed, vegetative cuttings and in containers. In addition, the “Spartan Selects” identify the best-of-the-best plants in our growing conditions in Michigan.