3/23/2019
A day in the life… Plant Clinic (aka The Help Desk) Homeowner Home and Garden advice Of an OSU Master Gardener MG program began as a way to meet demand for this information Restricted to calls from non-commercial sources Provide diagnosis and Diagnosing Home Gardener problems advice within the office and making recommendations or by phone
OSU Extension Service: 1320 Capitol St. NE Two big advantages…
1. It’s free! 2. Talk to an actual person
Requests are either…
A service for residents PhoneVisits to calls the (or office e-mail) of Marion County
In 2018, there were 1,543 requests for info
1 3/23/2019
Requests for information are usually: 4. Critter problems Deer control moles 1. Plant identification voles gophers Ornamentals Weeds 5. Requests for cultural information Apple/pear/plum variety Tree fruit Lawns Small fruit Pruning Ornamentals propagation 2. Insect Identification 6. Plant problems (including lawns) 3. Pests in the home Cultural ants (carpenter, sugar) Disease termites Insect pest pests of stored products Herbicide damage spiders!
Difficulties: A simple intake form assists with problem solving:
1. Client may only tell you so much 2. You cannot visit
Recording inquiries The resources we use are…
Tallied in October for OSU year-end report
Books Web-based
2 3/23/2019
We also can use other faculty and clinics…
Insects (and spiders): • Insect ID clinic- Bill Gerth • No charge per sample
Plant Disease: • Plant Disease Clinic-Melodie Putnam Miscellaneous others • $75 charge per sample Also: Distance Diagnostics http://www.dddi.org/OSU/index.cfm Plant ID: • OSU Herbarium-Dr. Melanie Link-Perez • No charge per sample
Inquiries to avoid: What kind of information do we give out? 1. Commercial operations… Verbal: Information just over the phone • Size of operation • Is product being sold?
Photocopies of book chapters
Refer these to commercial agents! OSU publications • Printed from the web • Hard copies from office files http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/
Others… Other things we do not do…
2. Human health issues • Poisonous plants Soil or water tests
house calls
EM 8677: Laboratories serving Oregon 3. Legal disputes EC 628: Soil sampling for home gardens and small acreages
3 3/23/2019
You don’t have to do it all by yourself! So if you are in doubt…Leave it for me!
MG volunteer
Community Horticulturist
Crop Specialist
Diagnosing plant problems First, identify the plant
1. Growing conditions
2. Biotic problems
3. Resources
Neil Bell OSU Extension Flowering pear Marion and Polk Counties (Pyrus sp.)
1. Determine that a “real” problem exists
• What are the characteristics of the plant?
• How does it display them through the year?
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ) with Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) Spruce (Picea sp.) and Russian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
4 3/23/2019
Western redcedar (Thuja occidentalis): foliar browning Dwarf Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium ‘Compacta’)
Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia sp. Rhododendron sp.
2. What is the “population” of the plants?
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
5 3/23/2019
The “population” refers to the number of plants of the species of interest that are present
Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), with Hebe (Hebe sp.)
3. And…how many of the plants are affected?
Azalea cultivars (Rhododendron spp.): Powdery mildew (Erysiphe azaleae) Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
6 3/23/2019
4. What is the pattern of damage within the population?
Turfgrass: undetermined problem Red Alder (Alnus rubra)
Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living) 1. Entire population uniformly affected
Normal Abnormal
Uniform pattern Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living) Usually the result of non-living, environmental causes 2. Same part of entire population affected Occurs over the entire population of plants, or discrete groups
Abnormal
Periwinkle (Vinca major)
7 3/23/2019
Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) Foliar browning on Pinus, Rhododendron and Euonymus
Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living)
Abnormal
Random pattern=biotic factors (diseases/pests) Random pattern Occurs because of progressive spread of a living organism
Abnormal
Noble Fir (Abies nobilis)
8 3/23/2019
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi): Black Root rot? Turf: Cranefly (Tipula sp.) damage
Don’t overanalyze “uniform” versus “random”
Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis): spider mites Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) near La Grande, OR
Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) Turfgrass (unknown species)
9 3/23/2019
Is the pattern… A. Uniform Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random B. Random
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Massachusetts’) Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
5. What part or parts of the plant are affected?
Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random
Boxwood (Buxus sp.) Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Just leaves?
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos x media): Leaf gall aphid (Tamalia cowenii) Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Anthracnose (Kabatiella sp.)
10 3/23/2019
Leaves and fruit?
Leaves, fruit and shoots?
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): Apple (Malus sp): Mummyberry (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) Scab (Venturia inaequalis)
Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.): Mummyberry (Monilinia sp.) Cherry (Prunus avium), Coryneum blight (Wilsonomyces carpophilus))
Stem-tip dieback? Individual stems dying back entirely?
Atlas Blue Cedar (Cedrus atlantica ): Needle Blight (Sirococcus conigenus) Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum): Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae)
11 3/23/2019
Twig or branch dieback?
Black walnut (Juglans nigra): Thousand Cankers Disease (Geosmithia morbida) Cherry (Prunus sp.)
The whole plant? The whole plant?
Escallonia (Escallonia sp.) English Walnut (Juglans regia)
Birch: Betula utilis Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Phytophthora Canker (Phytophthora sp.)
12 3/23/2019
6. What is the pattern of damage within the plant… Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living)
Normal Abnormal
Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living)
Abnormal Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’): sunburn
Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): Nitrogen deficiency Cyclamen (Cyclamen sp.): leaf-edge chlorosis
13 3/23/2019
Random pattern=biotic factors (diseases/pests)
Abnormal Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata): Leaf spot (Diplocarpon mespili) Weeping Cherry: (Prunus sp.)
Is the pattern… Is the pattern… A. Uniform A. Uniform B. Random B. Random
Juniper (Juniperus sp.) Boxwood (Buxus sp.)
14 3/23/2019
A. Uniform Is the pattern… Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random B. Random
Hebe (Hebe ‘Emerald Gem’) English Yew (Taxus baccata)
Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living) 7. What is the pattern on the plant part?
Normal Abnormal
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): drought stress
15 3/23/2019
Random pattern=biotic factors (diseases/pests)
Abnormal Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): blossom-end rot
Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): Beets (Beta vulgaris ): Powdery mildew (Eriysiphe azaleae) Leafminer (Pegomya sp.)
Pear (Pyrus communis): Maple (Acer sp.): Bladdergall mite Scab (Venturia pirina) (Vasates quadripedes)
16 3/23/2019
And on conifers….
Normal
Weeping baldcypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’)
Uniform pattern=abiotic factors (non-living)
Abnormal
Grand Fir (Abies grandis), Phenoxy herbicide damage
Random pattern=biotic factors (diseases/pests)
Abnormal
Douglasfir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): Needle cast (Rhabdocline spp.)
17 3/23/2019
Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random
Douglasfir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa argentata) Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttalii)
Is the pattern… Is the pattern… A. Uniform A. Uniform B. Random B. Random
Aspen (Populus tremuloides) Apple (Malus domestica)
8. When did the symptoms appear?
Is the pattern… A. Uniform B. Random
Apple (Malus domestica) Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria sp.): Frost damage Photo: Luanne Whitaker
18 3/23/2019
Symptoms appear early in the year?
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): cold injury
Symptoms appear later in the year
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)-Shothole (Thyrostroma carpophilum) Viburnum tinus-sunburn
Symptoms appear after specific event
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe syringae) Birch (Betula sp.): exposure to phenoxy herbicide
19 3/23/2019
Symptoms appear after specific event 9. Are the symptoms spreading, improving or constant?
Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis): spray damage by horticultural oil 2007 2009
Aspen (Populus tremuloides) Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana): Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora spp.) Leaf scorch
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
20 3/23/2019
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Cherry (Prunus sp.)
Symptoms stay the same
Rosa Berries ‘N’ Cream™ Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.)
10. Are any signs of a pest present? Symptoms: Physical characteristics of a problem expressed by the plant.
Include: • wilting Damage from non-living • leaf discoloration factors will induce symptom • leaf spots development, but there will • leaf distortion be no signs of a pest • defoliation • galls • cankers • rots/dieback • “plant decline”
Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): Cucumber (Cucumis sativus): wilt Sunburn
21 3/23/2019
Holly (Ilex sp.): leaf discoloration Western Spicebush (Calycanthus occidentalis): leaf spots
Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Leaf distortion due to phenoxy herbicide European Pear (Pyrus communis): Fruit distortion due to true bug feeding damage
Birch (Betula sp.): gall Fraser Photinia (Photinia x fraseri): defoliation by Leaf Spot (Diplocarpon mespili)
22 3/23/2019
Forsythia (Forsythia sp.): Stem Gall (Pseudomonas savastanoi) Oak (Quercus sp.): Leaf blister (Taphrina caerulescens)
Alder (Alnus rubra): cankers (undetermined cause) Peach (Prunus persica): dieback and canker
Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): rot caused by Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans) Plant decline
23 3/23/2019
Signs: evidence of the actual causal agent Diseases: • fungal fruiting bodies • fungal mycelia
Insects: • the insect itself • boring holes • foliage or twig feeding • sawdust • frass…
Other… • rodent mounds/holes • slug trails Goldenchain tree (Laburnum x watereri): aphids Apple (Malus domestica): Crane fly (Tipula sp.)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): Sclerotinia wilt (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) Apple (Malus domestica): Rust (Gymnosporangium sp.)
Big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum): Tar spots (Rhytisma punctatum) Apple (Malus domestica): Leaf roller (species undetermined)
24 3/23/2019
Hebe (Hebe sp.): Meadow spittle bugs Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): Azalea Lace Bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) (Philaenus spumarius)
Viburnum davidii: leaf notching due to root weevils Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens): White Pine weevil (Pissodes strobi)
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens): White Pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens): White Pine weevil (Pissodes strobi)
25 3/23/2019
Apple: (Malus domestica): frass of the Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer (Choreutis pariana) Hosta: slug trails
Some signs cannot be seen without magnification
Vole burrows Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus): Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Virus (RBDV)
Cherry (Prunus sp.): possible Bacterial canker damage (Pseudomonas syringae) ‘Brooks’ Plum (Prunus domestica): possible Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae)
26 3/23/2019
‘Brooks’ Plum (Prunus domestica): possible Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae) Pear (Pyrus communis): Leaf spot-undetermined cause
Common cultural and environmental problems in Cultural causes of plant problems the garden and how to recognize them
• Planting practices
• Rootbound plants
• Root damage
• Pruning injury
• Herbicide injury
White-bark birch (Betula jacquemontii)
27 3/23/2019
Root-bound plants
Fig (Ficus carica): circling roots
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Western Juniper European White Birch (Betula pendula) (Juniperus occidentalis)
28 3/23/2019
Pruning problems
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Rockrose (Cistus x hybridus)
Oriental Arborvitae: Platycladus orientalis
29 3/23/2019
Pesticide injury
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus): glyphosate damage Photo: B. Strik
Bearded Iris (Iris sp.): glyphosate damage
Pine (Pinus sp.) Oak leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): phenoxy herbicide damage Phenoxy herbicide damage
30 3/23/2019
Rose (Rosa sp.): acetic acid herbicide injury
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara): phenoxy herbicide damage
Environmental causes of problems
• Cold Injury
• Pollination problems
• Sun (too much or too little)
• Water (too little or too much)
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Wind/hail/lightning Cold Injury
Cold injury results from: Rare to see winter injury to deciduous shrubs and trees or conifers
• Winter low temperatures
• Unexpected frosts
Shrub dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’) Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
31 3/23/2019
Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) Mexican orange (Choisya ternata)
Apple (Malus domestica) Marion trailing blackberry (Rubus ‘Marion’)
Frost damage
English yew (Taxus baccata): snow damage Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) Photos: B. Strik
32 3/23/2019
Pollination problems
Honeybee (Apis mellifera) on blueberry flowers (Vaccinium corymbosum) Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)
Too much or too little sun
Grape (Vitis sp.) Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
Sunburn can occur on leaves, flowers, fruit or stems… Distinguish between excess sun (sunburn) and drought stress
Sunburn occurs when a plant, or plant part is exposed to too much sun and heat, even if well-supplied with water
Drought stress occurs to any plant when soil water becomes limiting
33 3/23/2019
Rhododendron: (Rhododendron sp.) Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii): yellow-foliaged cultivar
Hosta sp.: sunburn
Sunburn on flowers
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): heat? Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
34 3/23/2019
Sunburn on fruit
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Lack of sun can cause problems…
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pandula’): winter sunburn?
Flowering dogwood: (Cornus canadensis)
35 3/23/2019
Mugo Pine: Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) (Pinus mugo)
Too much or too little water
Symptoms of drought stress Drought stress is dependent on:
• Inherent drought tolerance of plant • Drooping foliage • Tip burn • Weather conditions (temperature, wind) • Brown areas on leaves • Site exposure and aspect • Loss of older leaves • Shoot dieback • Soil conditions (moisture, structure etc.)
• Irrigation (and it’s efficacy)
Hebe sp.
36 3/23/2019
Eastern Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) Red Alder (Alnus rubra): drought stress
Katsura tree: (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.)
37 3/23/2019
Drainage Problems
Douglasfir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Drainage problems result from:
• Topography
• Impervious soil
Leyland Cypress: (x Cupresssocyparis leylandii)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus): Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora spp.) Boysenberry (Rubus ‘Boysen’)
38 3/23/2019
Nutrient deficiencies in plants
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’
Nutrients required by plants Location of symptoms:
Major nutrients: Minor nutrients: Base of plant – mobile (N, P, K, Mg) Nitrogen (N) Iron (Fe) Phosphorus (P) Zinc (Zn) Potassium (K) Manganese (Mn) Whole (mid) plant – partially mobile (S, Mo) Copper (Cu) Calcium (Ca) Molybdenum (Mo) Magnesium (Mg) Boron (B) Sulfur (S) Chlorine (Cl) Top of plant – immobile (Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B)
Also: salt toxicity….
Mobile nutrient: symptoms at plant base
Flowering plum (Prunus x blireana)
39 3/23/2019
Mobile nutrient: Nitrogen deficiency
Japanese Fatsia (Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’) Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): Nitrogen deficiency
Turf: Nitrogen deficiency
Immobile Nutrient: Iron
Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.): pH-induced Fe deficiency
40 3/23/2019
Immobile Nutrient deficiency in fruit: Calcium
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum: pH-induced Fe deficiency Apple (Malus domestica): bitter pit
Salt toxicity
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum): Blossom end rot Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus): salt toxicity
41 3/23/2019
Wind
Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta): scarred fruit
Hail
Apple (Malus domestica): Hail damage Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): hail damage
Websites for home garden problems
Pesticide recommendations for homeowners • Plant Disease Control: • PNW Disease Management Handbook http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/
• Insect Pest Control: • PNW Insect Management Handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect
• Weed Control: • PNW Weed Management Handbook http://pnwhandbooks.org/weed/
Douglasfir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): Lightning damage
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