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Visit The University of Massachusetts Amherst Apply Give Search UMass.edu (/) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources from UMass Extension and the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment: ag.umass.edu/coronavirus (/coronavirus) LNUF Home (/landscape) About (/landscape/about) Newsletters & Updates (/landscape/newsletters-updates) Publications & Resources (/landscape/publications-resources) Services (/landscape/services) Education & Events (/landscape/upcoming-events) Make a Gift (https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1640/alumni/index.aspx?sid=1640&gid=2&pgid=443&cid=1121&dids=2540) Landscape Message: September 4, 2020 September 4, 2020 Issue: 16 UMass Extension's Landscape Message is an educational newsletter intended to inform and guide Massachusetts Green Industry professionals in the management of our collective landscape. (/landscape) Detailed reports from scouts and Extension specialists on growing conditions, pest activity, and Search CAFE cultural practices for the management of woody ornamentals, trees, and turf are regular features. The following issue has been updated to provide timely management information and the latest Search this site regional news and environmental data. Search Registration has begun for our UMass Extension GREEN SCHOOL! (/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pest- alerts/images/content/green_school_2020_virtual.jpg) Green Newsletters & School is going VIRTUAL for 2020! Classes will be Oct. 26 - Dec. Updates 10. This comprehensive 12-day certificate short course for Green Landscape Message Industry professionals is taught by UMass Extension specialists, (/landscape/landscape- message) University of Massachusetts faculty, and guest presenters. Archived Landscape Messages Three Specialty Tracks Are Offered: (/landscape/landscape- * Landscape Management message-archive) * Turf Management * Arboriculture - specifically geared toward professional arborists Hort Notes (/landscape/newsletters- Find the full schedule and registration info at http://ag.umass.edu/greenschool updates/hort-notes-clippings- (/greenschool) from-garden) For eligible employers in Massachusetts, the registration fee may be partially Archived Hort Notes (/landscape/newsletters- reimbursed (up to 50%) through the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund updates/hort-notes-archive) Express Grant Program. Employers should submit an online application to the Express Grant program at least 4 weeks in advance of Green School's starting date. To find out if Garden Clippings you qualify and to apply for benefits, go (/landscape/newsletters- to http://workforcetrainingfund.org/apply/express-program/ updates/garden-clippings) (http://workforcetrainingfund.org/apply/express-program/). Subscribe to GreenInfo Mailing List » The Landscape Message will be updated bi-weekly in September. The next message (/landscape/email-list) will be available on September 18. To receive immediate notification when the next Landscape Message update is posted, be sure to join our e-mail list Connect with UMass (/landscape/email-list). Extension Landscape, Nursery To read individual sections of the message, click on the section headings below to and Urban Forestry Program: expand the content: (https://www.facebook.com/UMassExtLandscape)Scouting Information by Region Environmental Data The following data was collected on or about September 2, 2020. Total accumulated (https://twitter.com/umasslandscape)growing degree days (GDD) represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments for the 2020 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly. Soil Temp GDD (°F at 4" Precipitation MA depth) Time/Date of Region/Location Readings 2-Week (2-Week Gain) 2020 Total Sun Shade Gain CAPE 294 2199 70 67 0.27 12:00 PM 9/2 SOUTHEAST 286 2376 70 67 0.80 3:30 PM 9/2 NORTH SHORE 262.5 2288.5 66 62 0.81 9:30 AM 9/2 EAST 295.5 2512.5 71 68 2.31 5:00 PM 9/2 METRO 294 2301 64 61 1.84 6:45 AM 9/2 CENTRAL 254.5 2321 59 58 1.60 7:00 AM 9/2 PIONEER VALLEY 252.5 2308.5 69 64 1.02 5:00 PM 9/2 BERKSHIRES 228 2086.5 69 63 1.19 10:00 AM 9/2 AVERAGE 271 2299 67 64 1.34 _ n/a = information not available Updated as of 9/1, this map shows the majority of MA in either a "Moderate Drought" or a "Severe Drought" category: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA) To track water use restrictions/bans by town, regularly check the MassDEP map: https://www.mass.gov/doc/water-use-restrictions-map/download (https://www.mass.gov/doc/water-use-restrictions-map/download) Phenology INDICATOR PLANTS - STAGES OF FLOWERING (BEGIN, BEGIN/FULL, FULL, FULL/END, END) PLANT CAPE SE NS EAST METRO CENT PV Clematis Begin * Begin/Full * Begin * Begin/Full paniculata (sweet autumn Clematis) Polygonum Full Full * Begin * * Full cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) Hydrangea Full/End End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full paniculata (panicle Hydrangea) Hibiscus Full/End End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End syriacus (rose- of-Sharon) Buddleia Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End Full/End davidii (butterfly bush) Clethra End Full/End End End End End End alnifolia (summersweet Clethra) Lythrum Full/End End End End End End End salicaria (purple loosestrife) * = no activity to report/information not available Regional Notes Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) General Conditions: The average temperature during the two-week period was 70˚F with a high of 91˚F on August 25 and a low of 51˚F on August 31. Over the past week or so it has felt very much like late summer with several nights reaching into the 50s. Days are noticeably shorter. During the period there were several precipitation events, however amounts were negligible with just over a quarter inch in all. The total precipitation recorded in Barnstable for June, July and August combined was 3.11 inches. Top soil and subsoil moisture are dry. Pests/Problems: The primary issue seen in the landscape is plant stress because of low soil moisture due to a lack of precipitation. Wilting, scorch, premature defoliation, and plant failure are seen in unirrigated landscapes. Dry conditions are hampering the ability to renovate damaged lawns. Insects or insect damage observed during the period include Lecanium scale on numerous hosts (nymphs can be observed on leaves), pine tip moth damage to pitch pine and mugo pine, hemlock wooly adelgid and hemlock elongate scale on hemlock, black turpentine beetle damage to pitch pine, white pine weevil damage to white pine, lacebugs on azalea, Andromeda, and sycamore, dogwood sawfly larvae on pagoda dogwood, chilli thrips damage on bigleaf Hydrangea, Hibiscus sawfly on Hibiscus, two spotted spidermite on butterfly bush and sunflower moth damage to Echinacea. Disease symptoms or signs observed during the period include powdery mildew on the usual suspects, cedar apple rust on apple, Cercospora leaf spot on bigleaf and oak leaf Hydrangea, Phytophthora root rot on lavender and aster yellows on goldenrod. Crabgrass is beginning to flower. Southeast Region (Dighton) General Conditions: We've moved into late summer with cool nights and more moderate daytime temperatures. However, drought still stalks the landscape despite some passing showers and thunderstorms. Unirrigated lawns are generally reduced to straw and weeds. Spotted spurge, yellow wood sorrel and crabgrass are all advancing. Chickweed is already germinating where it has moisture. Some day-length sensitive summer annuals have stopped blooming. Monarch caterpillars are finger size. Mud daubers, carpenter bees, yellow swallowtail butterflies, hummingbirds and others frequent the few remaining blooms. Japanese knotweed is in full bloom. Among the plants presently flowering I've noticed: Phlox paniculata (garden Phlox), Rudbeckia spp. (black-eyed-Susan), Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree), Hydrangea paniculata, Hosta spp. (plantain lily), Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Rosa 'Knockout', Salvia yangii (Russian sage), Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac), Albizia julibrissin (mimosa), Campus radicans (trumpet vine), Reynoutria japonica (Japanese knotweed), Solidago spp. (goldenrod) and Ambrosia artemisiifolia (annual ragweed). Pests/Problems: Both EEE and West Nile Virus infections have been reported. We are all preoccupied with PPE for virus prevention lately, but don't forget to cover up. Use repellent and avoid hours when mosquitoes are active. Mildew is becoming a problem. With high humidity and temperatures in the 60s there is a potential for Botrytis bud rot. Now is the time to harvest, reseed, divide and replant. North Shore (Beverly) General Conditions: During this August 20 - September 2 reporting period, scattered thunderstorms were reported in the region for a few days, bringing some much needed rainfall. Approximately 0.81 inches of rainfall were received during this period. The prolonged period of hot, humid and dry conditions seems to be over. The rain showers ushered in cooler temperatures throughout the region. The average daily temperature during this two-week period was 68˚F, with the maximum temperature of 89℉ recorded on August 21 and the minimum temperature of 51℉ recorded on August 31. Because of the rain showers during this period, the turf that had gone dormant and brown during the hot dry weather has started to green-up. Woody plants seen in bloom include: silk tree or mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata),