Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter
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Of UNIVERSE V NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materjalsl The Minimum Fee for each Lost Book is $50.00. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and ntay result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L16I—O-1096 DEC 1 3 1999 ^^RICULTURE LIBRARY —— ^ 5 :OOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE HOME, YARD GARDF^^ I DrcT ^ '^-' ( f collegeliege of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences, university ( Illinois at urbana-champaign A Illinois natural history survey, champaign NcvviLtriER (,PR25B97 ^G Ubrar^ No. 1» April 16, 1997 newsletter coordinator, at (217) 333-6650. If you wish issues the Home,Yard and Garden This is the first of 22 of to discuss a specific article in the newsletter, contact Pest Newsletter. It will be prepared by Extension specialists the author whose name appears in parentheses at the in plant pathology, agricultural entomology, horticulture, end of the article. The author's telephone number will and agricultural engineering. Timely, short paragraphs usually be listed at the end of the newsletter. (Phil about pests of the home and its surroundings will make up Nixon) the newsletter When control measures are given, both chemical and nonchemical suggestions (when effective) will be given. PLANT DISEASES Welcome Plant Clinic Opens May 1 Welcome to the first issue of the 1997 Home, Yard The plant clinic serves as a clearinghouse for plant and Garden Pest Newsletter. The newsletter reports problems sent to the University of Illinois. Diagnosis on the appearance and management of diseases, is provided for trees, shrubs, turf, fruit, vegetables, weeds, and insect pests of turfgrass and ornamental field crops, and almost any other type of plant you can plants in Illinois to the professional landscape imagine. Specialists are called to help with diagnoses maintainer, arborist, lawn care specialist, golf course as needed; in an average year, about 20 different superintendent, sod grower, nurseryman, and garden specialists may provide input on plant samples. Plant center operator. Management methods and suggested clinic services include plant and insect identification; pesticides will primarily be those appropriate for the diagnosis of disease, insect, weed, and chemical professional rather than the homeowner. Many times, injury (chemical residue testing is not available); however, the methods will be appropriate for nematode assays; and help with nutrient-related homeowner use. problems, as well as management recommendations will publish 22 issues, most of which will be We involving these diagnoses. four pages long, with an occasional longer issue. The University of Illinois Plant Clinic is open Issues will be published biweekly during April, May 1 through September 12, 1997. Much of the weekly during May, June, and July, and then biweekly operation of the clinic is supported by user fees. These again during August and September. There will also fees, which have not increased since last year, are be an issue near the end of October and another near listed below. A check (payable to the University of the end of November. All issues are published on a Illinois) should accompany each sample. schedule to coincide with pest management needs. We welcome input concerning the newsletter. Let us General diagnosis (including cuhures) $ 1 know what you like or dislike about our newsletter Specialty tests (SCN, PWN, ELISA)* $ 1 and give suggestions on how it could be better. With Other nematodes (usUally com) $30 only a few authors for our articles, it is difficult for us *SCN indicates the test for soybean cyst nematode. PWN to see or hear about every pest problem that develops indicates pinewood nematode analysis. ELISA is a technique used throughout Illinois. If you see something unusual to test for various viral pathogens. either in the fact or in the timing of its occurrence A specimen data form, or equivalent information, let one of the authors know or contact Phil Nixon, the should always accompany a plant sample. The ability itate, County, Local Groups, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating he Cooperative Extension Service-provides equal opportunities in programs and employment (BS — to provide a thorough diagnosis is directly related to also infect the twigs of trees weakened by stress (such the quality of the sample and the type of information as drought, compacted soil, root injury, hail, or winter provided. (As the saying goes, "garbage in—garbage injury). Cankers develop on the twigs, usually causing out.") Each Cooperative Extension Service unit office noticeable sap exudate at the canker. When the canker should have a copy of the specimen data form. girdles the twig, tissue beyond that point dies. In the Photocopy these as needed. You can also find the last two or three years, we have seen an increase of form in the Master Gardener Manual at the end of the Sphaeropsis twig blight at the clinic. disease section (or the end of the IPM section, de- This disease is difficult to control. In fact, even the pending on your version). best efforts do not always give 100 percent satisfac- When submitting plant samples, prepare them to tory results. The first step is to recognize the disease. survive a rough ride in a very hot mail truck. When Look for black pinhead-sized fruiting bodies of the sending whole plants, wrap them as you would if you fungus in the brown needles at the tips of branches. intended them to be planted. Wrap soil and roots in The combination of tip blighting and these fruiting plastic to retain moisture and to keep soil off the bodies is probably enough evidence to suspect foliage. Do not wrap foliage in plastic. If only leaves Sphaeropsis blight. If necessary, laboratory confirma- are sent, place them between cardboard and keep tion is quick and easy. them dry. We can always rehydrate dry material at the Next, remove all dead wood (or as much as pos- clinic, but it is not possible to remove mold from sible) from the tree. This is best done in the dormant rotted tissue. Send as much of the plant as possible season but can be done at other times when the affected as well as healthy tissue—and carefully label foliage is dry. Cones are the next target for control. the sample. A photograph of the plant and surround- You will find hundreds of the black fruiting bodies of ing area is always helpful. this fungus on cones, which serve as a major overwin- When in doubt about how to package a sample or tering site. Remove cones from the tree and the what to send, call the clinic at (217) 333-0519. The surrounding ground. mailing address is Plant Clinic, 1401 West St. Mary's We don't always advocate fungicide sprays for Road, Urbana, IL 61802. Business hours are 8:00 a.m. disease control, but in this case chemicals are neces- to noon and 1 :00 to 4:30 p.m., weekdays only. Ar- sary for near-complete control. Three sprays are rangements can be made to drop off samples at other recommended: one at budbreak (very soon now), one times. (Nancy Pataky) at half-candle elongation (about 10 to 14 days after the first spray), and another at 10 to 14 days after the Sphaeropsis Blight of Pine (formerly Diplodia second spray. Chemical options are listed in the 7997 Blight) Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turf Pest Man- This disease of pine has been quite devastating the agement Handbook. University of Illinois Grounds last several years. The fungal pathogen thrives in cool, Department personnel have dealt with this disease and wet weather and often invades injured wood. We have have tried many chemicals. They have had the best experienced lengthy, cool, and wet spring weather for luck with Cleary 3336. This is not a scientific evalua- the past two years, and winter freeze-thaws have been tion but an observation of success. A product contain- common. Ideal weather conditions, plenty of fungal ing the same active ingredient and packaged for inoculum, and susceptible pines have set the stage for homeowner use is called Ferti-lome Halt systemic. Sphaeropsis blight. We see most problems on Austrian For more details about this disease, consult Report on and Scotch pines, but other pines are susceptible. The Plant Diseases No. 625, a fact sheet available through disease may even occur on some fir and spruce the Crop Sciences Department, Plant Pathology species. Extension. (Nancy Pataky) The fungus {Sphaeropsis sapinea) infects young, healthy, unwounded needles of new candles (new HORTICULTURE growth), which is where we see the typical blighting of branch tips. All needles in the terminal 6 inches or Spring Cleanup and Preparation Tips so of growth turn brown and dry out. This phase of This has been a long, cold winter but spring is just the disease is unsightly but does not cause branch around the comer. Regardless of the amount of death. Usually the tree develops new growth below cleanup you did last fall, some spring cleanup, the dead area and results in crooked-looking branches pruning, and preparation is needed. so typical of Austrian pine. The fungus may, however. i\o. I • /\prii 10, /yy/ Pruning Raspberries: Spring pruning of red and buds. Do not prune back material until the buds start yellow raspberries should be done before the buds to grow. Once new growth appears, prune dead begin to swell. All short and weak canes should be material back to the new growth, bud, or a branch.