There's a Fungus Among Us! by Kerry D. Heafner

Northeast Region Horticulture News

Volume 1, Issue 3 Fall, 2018

There’s a Fungus Among Us! By Kerry D. Heafner NE Region Master Gardener Groups: As daytime temperatures moderate  NORTHEAST LOUISIANA MASTER and relative humidity levels remain high, the GARDENERS, OUACHITA PARISH. flora of fleshy fungi in North Louisiana really shows out. Conditions are perfect for mush-  RIVER RIDGE MASTER GARDENERS, rooms to show themselves in our landscapes WEST CARROLL AND EAST CARROLL and many clients may be intimidated by mush- PARISHES. rooms and not fully understand what they rep-  DELTA MASTER GARDENERS, CON- resent or may wonder if they are harmful to CORDIA, CATAHOULA, AND TENSAS their gardens. Other people may wonder if the PARISHES. mushrooms growing on their property are edi-  D’ARBONNE MASTER GARDENERS, ble and be tempted to trial them on a dinner UNION PARISH. plate. Of course, the LSU AgCenter does not recommend that wild mushrooms be con- sumed unless their identification has been confirmed by an experienced, professional mycologist (one who studies fungi).

The good news is that only a small percentage of mushrooms are dangerously tox- ic, and simply touching a deadly poisonous mushroom is essentially harmless. The tissue has to be ingested in order for the dangerously toxic mushrooms to do their damage. And, that damage comes in the form of organ failure up to 48 hours AFTER ingestion.

Some mushrooms are just mildly toxic and cause stomach upset of varying degrees. A common mushroom found in lawns in our area is called “The Vomiter” for good reason. Chlo- rophyllum molybidtes is a large, white mush- Northeast Region room typically forming “fairy rings” in lawns of Horticulture Agents: all our turfgrasses. Because they are almost KERRY HEAFNER: solid white, they bear a striking resemblance to MOREHOUSE, OUACHITA, AND UNION some of the lethally toxic mushrooms called PARISHES “Destroying Angels” or “Death Angels” in the DONNA LEE: EAST CARROLL, WEST genus Amanita. C. molybdites can be readily CARROLL, AND MADISON PARISHES. distinguished from it’s lethal cousins by its habi- tat (open, grassy areas instead of wooded are- Top: Cap of Chlorophyllum molybdites is white and KYLIE MILLER: CATAHOULA AND CONCORDIA PARISHES as), and by the white gills turning sea foam may be large. Middle: The gills of C. molybdites turn sea foam green shortly after the mushroom is picked. green shortly after the mushroom is picked. CAROL PINNELL-ALISON: FRANKLIN Gills of Amanita stay white after being picked. Bottom: A fairy ring of C. molybdites in a grassy road AND RICHLAND PARISHES median. Pictures by Kerry D. Heafner. Northeast Region Horticulture News

A Fungus Among Us! (continued) Dangerously toxic species in our area fall into the genus Amanita, spe-

cifically for our area: A. bisporigera, A. elliptosperma, and A. virosiformis groups, all grouped into Section Phalloideae of the genus Amanita. They are found under canopies of oak and pine because they are symbi- otic with tree roots and allow the trees to more efficiently absorb some nutrients and water from the soil. Solid white mushrooms, white gills, white cap, white stalk, white spores, distinguish dangerous taxa from other white mushrooms. Another important character is the little cup, just at ground level, that the stalk sits in. This is called the volva (obscured by a piece of bark in the picture at left), and is a hallmark character of the genus Amanita. Their wooded habitats are also distin- guished from a lawn or pasture habitat where other white mushrooms may occur.

Members of the genus Agaricus (bottom left) are white mush- rooms that often occur in lawns or pastures and may be mistaken for one of the deadly amanitas. In fact, A. bisporus is cultivated as the widely sold grocery store mushroom. We call them protobello mush- rooms when they are fully expanded. When A. bisporus and A. cam- pestris, another common lawn mushroom, are fairly young, gills are pink and turn brown either as the mushroom ages or soon after the mush- room is picked. Unlike in Amanitas, members of the genus Agaricus will have no volva at the stalk’s base. It should be emphasized that just because some mushrooms found in lawns and pastures are in the same genus as the grocery store mushroom does NOT mean that they are safe to consume!

As we all know, small children have a propensity for putting things they pick up into their mouths. Fortunately, wild mushroom poi- sonings are rare in our area. However, parents still need to be aware of what may be out in the yard that little ones may encounter. Simply touching a poisonous mushroom is not dangerous. Mushroom tissue has to be ingested for any toxins to take effect.

Top: Amanita bisporigera and similar species are deadly poisonous and distinguished from other species by their solid white body and gills. They will also often have an unpleasant, chlorox-like odor. They are found under oaks and pines. Bottom: The genus Agaricus is comprised of common lawn mushrooms that may be mistaken for deadly Amanitas. Pink gills that quickly turn chocolate brown distinguish them from dangerous species. Pictures by Kerry Heafner.

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There’s a Fungus Among Us! (continued)

Other species of white mush- rooms may also be mistaken for deadly Amanitas. Leucoag- aricus americanus (Left) is often found in beds mulched with wood chips. Ink caps, Coprinus and Coprinopsis, are solid white at first, then deli- quesce into a black liquid as a way to disperse spores (Right).

Photographs by Kerry Heafner.

Fall Landscapes By Kylie C. Miller

A change of season brings on a change in dé- cor and landscape. Garden mums are a fall favorite, sold in almost every nursery or garden center, and begin blooming in late September and October. These plants, also known as chrysanthemums, are short, dome shaped, and covered in flowers. These popular plants come in colors of yellow, bronze, white, pink, orange, and purple that attractively fit into any land- scape design. If you are looking for instant impact for an event, you may select mums that are already in full bloom. However, if you choose plants with closed Garden mums are fall staples in Louisiana! Photograph by Randy buds and healthy foliage they may last you as long as 6 LaBauve, LSU AgCenter. weeks. Mums that are bought already in full bloom, cool season colors that look great in beds or containers. Orna- will not stay attractive as long. Once you get them mental kale and cabbage transplants are often found together home, you can replant garden mums in your beds or in in garden centers and have only a few differences. Ornamental new containers. They perform best in full sun and need cabbage is more uniform and has relatively smooth leaves. Kale water daily to keep the soil moist, but not saturated. It has textured or feathery leaves. Together, the mix of different is best to water from the base of the plant, under the colors and leaf textures is eye catching in your containers or blooms, using a watering can or garden hose. landscape. Selecting the correct variety to grow depends on Aside from the traditional mums, another your individual preference or location needs. Redbor kale, increasingly popular option is ornamental kale and which is also edible, is a Louisiana Super Plant. cabbage. Their attractive leaves com in brilliant

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Fall Landscapes (continued)

Kale Cabbage ‘Redbor’ kale (picture right)  Redbor  Osaka is an excellent choice for  Glamour Red  Toyko achieving cool season color and texture. Edible and  Chidori Red  Pigeon ornamental, it is a Louisiana  Nogoya Purple Super Plant!  Peacock Photograph by Igor Kamalov.

Kale and cabbage both like well-drained soil in full sun. Unfortunately, like our gardens, insect control will be important to retain the aesthetics. Worms are the largest concern and there are several insecticides labeled for control. Treat them when you begin to see insect activity, and follow label directions.

Another interesting plant to add to your landscape is ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard. It has hardy petioles of rainbow colors like red, gold, yellow, and white that look stunning in the landscape. It is also edible, and a good source of calcium, potassium, iron, vitamins A and C and riboflavin. Swiss chard is easy to grow, requires full sun, and can be cooked like spinach or other mild greens. It looks great mixed with pansies, kale, or any other plants in your landscape.

Finally, you might want to consider ornamental peppers in your fall landscapes. These attention grabbing plants come with bright fruit and foliage that come in many sizes and colors. Ornamental peppers can be purple, yellow, red, or orange and may have multiple colors on the same plant. Plant pepper plants in full sun and space plants accord- ing to their maturity size. These traditional and non-traditional ornamentals produce many bright colors and leaf textures that make your landscape and containers interesting. They look great when you mix and match your favorites to create your own personal fall display.

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Do We Need to Continue With Lawn Care in the Fall? By Donna R. Lee

The answer is a resounding yes! Although our lawns do not need as much tender care as they do in the active growing seasons of spring and summer, there are still tasks we can complete to improve our lawn health. Typically in the fall months our temperature begins to decrease which will slow down the growth of our lawns. This does not mean no growth. We will still need to mow as needed but most likely not as often. Remember to cut a 1/3 of the grass blade or less. At this amount the clippings will be smaller which means no raking and also will compost much easier back into the soil. If you were unable to keep If you are thinking about putting out potassium make sure to pull to a regular mowing schedule and must take more a soil sample as stated above. If your analysis calls for other nu- than a 1/3 off rake this excess. The excess can be trients to be applied then do so in April once the lawn has begun growing. used in a compost bin or ornamental bed as mulch.

Leaving it on the lawn can lead to smothering the Did you have areas with water standing for long periods? Fall roots. The same can be said for fall leave drop. Fall would be a great time to take care of that issue. You may not leaves left on the lawn can hold an excessive amount want to grade your lawn for improved drainage, I know I would of moisture which leads to disease. Leaves will also not, but you can see if adding a bit of top soil to fill the low area will help. This will probably work best on small areas. Once this is smother the lawn. done you can reseed, plant plugs, rolls of sod or squares of sod. Another task to think about is aeration. Soil can become compacted even in lawns which decreas- Were weeds an issue? First, identify the weed then find es air circulation and water and sunlight penetration. the correct herbicide to use. Both of these problems can be An aerator pulls small core plugs from the soil allow- solved with the help of your local county agent or horticulture ing air circulation and water and sunlight penetration. agent. For fall you would need a pre-emerge herbicide that will kill the weed as it emerges. Early spring would be the time to Did you have issues in your lawn during the apply a post-emerge herbicide that will take care of the weed growing season? Now is a great time to pull a soil that has emerged. sample for analysis. Soil samples tell you exactly which nutrients are deficient and how much to apply. Remember, a healthy lawn will smother out weeds, en- Too much of any one nutrient can cause issues such as dure drought and freezing temperatures much better and re- disease to become prevalent. However, the only nu- sistant disease development. trient which would should be applied during the fall If you have questions call your local county agent or horticulture would be potassium. Potassium is the nutrient associ- agent. ated with winterizing fertilizer that we see in nurseries and stores.

Page 5 Northeast Region Horticulture News Louisiana Super Plants for Cool Weather! The onset of cooler weather doesn’t mean color in the landscape has to be compromised!

When visiting nurseries and garden center for fall plants, seek out Louisiana Super Plant selections for performance dependability.

If you’re a traditionalist and plant pansies and violas every fall, consider the ’Sorbet’ series of violas. They are early bloomers and are available in a variety of colors.

 Full sun  Grows 6” tall by 12” wide  Space 10” to 12” apart  Plant fall through early spring

‘Amazon’ dianthus (above) is a stunning hybrid series that has deep green foliage and flow- ers in three electric hues : Neon Purple, Neon Cherry, and Rose Magic. Plant now for inter- mittent blooms during winter and a stunning dis- play in early spring.

 Full sun

 18” to 36” tall by 10” to 16” wide

 Space 12” to 16” apart

 Plant now through March ‘Yellow Duet’ (top) and ‘Yellow’ Sorbet violas will make fall beds explode with color! Photographs by LSU Ag Center.

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Louisiana Super Plants for Cool Weather! (continued)

Blue is often thought of as a cooling color in beds enduring summer heat. Blue is also a welcome sight dur- ing the grey of winter! ’Diamonds Blue’ delphinium (right) makes a real splash when mixed with yellows or pinks and reds.  Full to part sun

 Plant now through February

 Grows 14” to 16” tall by 12” to 14” wide

 Space 12” apart

Don’t think just in terms of cool season annuals. Now is the perfect time to get perennials like shrubs planted, too! In our area, camellias are the go-to shrubs for fall and winter color. ‘Leslie Ann’ camellia (left) is no stranger to Louisiana landscapes. It’s dependability led to being selected as a Super Plant in 2015! A sasanqua, ‘Leslie Ann’ will get larger than its companion Super Plant ‘Shi Shi Gashira’ and will have bi– or tri-colored petals that contain white, pink, and red hues.

 Plant in well-drained, acidic soil

 Sun to part shade

 Grows to 8’ tall by 4’ or 5’ wide

 Blooms late October through early January

If you like roses and are short on space or simply don’t want the maintenance involved with caring for hybrid teas, consider adding ‘Drift’ roses (right) to your landscape for season-long color next summer. They are quickly overtaking Knock Out® roses in commercial markets and it’s easy to see why. Fall is the perfect time to plant roses!

 Full sun

 Well-worked soil with good drainage

 Grows 14” to 16” tall and as wide

 Available in a variety of colors

 Plant now through February Page 7 LSU AGCENTER

It’s Time to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs! By Carol Pinnell-Alison

One of the most care free gardening rewards is planting spring flowering bulbs. Once planted these plants can give a gar- dener years of beautiful blooms. October and November are the months we should plants these bulbs. Garden centers will start stocking bulbs soon or they can be ordered from seed companies. Make sure you select healthy, mature, disease free bulbs. General- ly, the larger the bulb the larger the bloom. Most spring flowering bulbs prefer a sunny, or partial shaded location in a well-drained soil.

Bulbs can be planted in exiting beds or in newly-prepared beds. If planting bulbs in a prepared bed, be careful with the amount of fertilizer added to the bed as fertilizer may cause bulb burn and injury. Think about where to plant the bulbs for the best display of color, texture, length of bloom and size of flowers. A large planting of the same color catches the eye better than a scattering of several colors.

Bulbs that do well in our area are daffodils, narcissi, jon- quils, hyacinths, Dutch iris and snow flake. These bulbs will give years of repeated bloom with little care. Tulips are a poplar bulb but are not adapted to our mild climate. Tulips need to be placed in the refrigerator for 45 to 60 days prior to planting. Do not freeze the bulbs. Plant immediately after removal from the refrigerator in December or early January. Tulip bulbs can be dug after blooming but usually do not store well for planting another year.

Plant daffodils, narcissi, jonquils, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs 2-5 inches deep depending on the size of the bulb. Dutch iris and snow flake bulbs are planted 3-4 inches deep. Make sure the roots of the bulb are in contact with soil, no air pockets. After a few years, the bulbs may need to be dug, separated, and replanted.

Daffodils (Top), Paperwhites (Middle), and Hyacinths (Bottom) make spring sparkle with color and fragrance. Plant bulbs now for the spring bloom. Photographs by Carol Pinnell-Alison.

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Agents’ Q & A for Fall

Question: The leaves on my tropical hibiscus are turning yellow then falling off. What’ s caus-

ing this and what should I do?

Answer: As we’ve moved into fall, the number of daylight hours has been decreasing since June

21st. We’ll have the fewest number of daylight hours on or about December 21st. Because this

“photoperiod” is decreasing, plants halt production of chlorophyll and don’t replace what gets

oxidized in green leaves. The green pigment gives way to other pigments that have been

masked by chlorophyll. Some tropical plants, which normally aren’t exposed to seasons, may be

particularly responsive to this effect. Move the plant indoors to a high light situation.

Question: Should I winterize my lawn?

Answer: Only if it needs it. Remember, Deep South turfgrasses are headed into dormancy

during this time of year. Bombing them with nitrogen will stress them. Instead, use a fertilizer

with a higher potash (potassium) content than nitrogen to promote healthy root growth.

Go to the Ag Journal page at www.myarklamiss.com to submit your lawn or garden question. Tune in to Louisiana Living with Ashley Doughty on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., and LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Kerry Heafner will answer your questions!

Page 9 Mark Your Calendar!

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