Missouri Environment and Garden Newsletter, March 2015
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Missouri March 2015 Volume 21, Number 3 Mizzou Plant Diagnostic Clinic 2015 The Mizzou Plant Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) is open all year to receive plant samples that are affected by a disease or disorder. The PDC can also identify pesky weeds, plants of interest, mushrooms and insects or spiders. Last year the Clinic processed 445 samples, over 50% of these consisted of ornamentals, turf, and fruit or vegetable producing plants. Diseases ranged the gamut from anthracnose to wilts, making it an interesting year in the Plant Clinic. In 2014, most woody ornamentals were diagnosed with leaf spots and vascular wilt diseases. Bacterial blights and root rots were most problematic in herbaceous ornamentals. On zoysiagrass lawns, both chinch bugs and large patch were most often diagnosed. The food producing plants had a myriad of issues ranging from root rots to leaf spots. The PDC is open all year. It is encouraged that you get a diagnosis before applying pesticides or other controls, as this will allow for selection of a control measure that will most effectively deal with your precise pest problem. The PDC is open for sample drop off, Monday Figure 1: Oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) on Nuttall oak through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Sample can also be mailed directly (Quercus texana) Photo by Paul A. Mistretta, USDA Forest to the PDC or dropped off at your local extension office. If possible, Service, Bugwood.org take a picture of the sick plant before digging it up; if several plants are affected a picture of the entire planting is also encouraged. Pictures may be submitted in an email to [email protected], printed and submitted with the sample or supplied on a flash drive. As always, please include a Submission Form, which has been filled out as completely as possible, with the sample. Submission Forms and information on how to collect and ship samples can be found on the website: www. plantclinic.missouri.edu, or at your local Extension Office. MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, 28 Mumford Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, phone: (573) 882-3019, email: [email protected] Patti Hosack In This Issue Division of Plant Sciences (573) 882-3019 Mizzou Plant Diagnostic Clinic 2015 ......... 1 Lee Miller New Bedding Plants for 2015 ...................... 2 Division of Plant Lightening Damage in Trees ....................... 5 Sciences April Gardening Calendar .......................... 8 [email protected] Figure 2: Large patch (Rhizoctonia solani) Photo by Lee Miller. Missouri Environment & Garden newsletter is published by the MU IPM Program of the Division of Plant Sciences Extension. Current and back issues are available on the Web at http://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/. Mention of any trademark, proprietary product or vendor is not intended as an endorsement by University of Missouri Extension; other products or vendors may also be suitable. Editor: Amy Hess ([email protected]) New Bedding Plants for 2015 Colorful herbaceous ornamental plants continue to be the “jewel in the crown” of most landscapes. This, in part, explains why each year dozens of new annuals and perennials are introduced to the gardening public. This year, a total of 55 new bedding plants are available for your consideration. While new is not always better, most of these introductions represent improvements in plant performance for the species in question. Listed below are a number of new cultivars that should do well under Missouri conditions. Agastache Arizona™ Sandstone, Arizona™ for a “thriller” element. The Cannova series Dianthus Diana Crimson Picotee Sun and Arizona™ Sunset (Agastache x includes ‘Yellow’, ‘Bronze Scarlet’, ‘Red Improved (Dianthus chinensis). Not hybrida). Agastache (giant hyssop) is a Shades’, and ‘Rose’. From Ball Seed. known for its ability to tolerate heat, perennial known for its upright growth dianthus is a good choice for early or and aromatic foliage. The Arizona™ series Coleus Marquee Blonde Bombshell late-season color. Its ability to tolerate produces an abundance of flower spikes, (Solenostemon scutellarioides). From light freezes helps to extend the gardening each loaded with tubular flowers. Plants shadowy patios to sun-drenched gardens, season. The Diana series is known for its require little care once established and the Marquee coleus collection takes a upright mounded plants that provide bright are great at attracting hummingbirds and starring role thanks to amazing colors, color to the landscape or container gardens. other pollinators. From American Takii. easy-care attitude, and the ability to From HemGenetics. serve as the “filler” in pots and mixed Angelonia Serenita™ Pink (Angelonia combination planters. It has excellent Dianthus Interspecific Jolt™ Pink angustifolia). Angelonia is gaining garden performance. Its elongated (Dianthus barbatus interspecific). Jolt™ popularity in the gardening world each year leaves make for a wonderful textural is an interspecific dianthus with brightly due to its heat-tolerant nature. Vigorous, component. Available in three colors: colored and large, showy flowers on strong compact plants flower continuously spring ‘Blonde Bombshell’, ‘Red Carpet’, and ‘Box stems that perform well all summer long. through frost, providing an outstanding Office Bronze’. From Ball Seed. It is the most heat tolerant dianthus on show of color. The Serenita™ series is one the market, sporting very showy, bright of the few angelonia available from seed. Corn, Ornamental Japonica Striped pink fringed flowers. Low maintenance 2014 AAS winner. From Harris Seeds. Maize (Zea mays). This unique ornamental and trouble-free, the Jolt™ series represents corn comes from Japan. Growing 5-6 ft. an advancement in heat tolerance for this Calibrachoa Hula Soft Pink (Calibrachoa tall, it has variegated leaves striped with cool-loving garden plant. Recipient of the hybrid). ‘Hula Soft Pink’ is a good choice for green, white, yellow and pink. It bears dark AAS award. From Pan American Seed. massive mounds of color. Soft pink flowers purple tassels and the mature kernels are are highlighted by a vibrant magenta ‘hula purple in color. Provide this introduction Digitalis Foxlight (Digitalis hybrid). hoop’ of color. A reliable performer, it does with plenty of sun and adequate space for The Foxlight series of hybrid digitalis equally well in baskets and containers. best color. From Seeds by Design. makes a great focal point in gardens From the Dummen Group. and containers with its bold colors. The Dahlia XXL Sunset (Dahlia grandiflora). blooms face outward on tall spikes for Canna Cannova Yellow (Canna x The huge blooms on ‘XXL Sunset’ are outstanding flower display. Good for generalis). The Cannova series of seed canna sure to be the talk of visitors to a garden. attracting hummingbirds, it is available is an excellent choice for backgrounds in The XXL series of dahlias are strong and in three colors: ‘Ruby Glow’, ‘Plum Gold’, the landscape, or any place a taller plant is proven garden performers - consistently and ‘Rose Ivory’. From Ball Seed (Darwin needed. Its tropical appearance enhance the receiving top marks at trial gardens across Perennials). design of any garden. Place it in containers the country. From the Dummen Group. continued on pg. 3 MEG - March 2015 2 Volume 21, Number 3 New Bedding Plants for 2015 (continued) Euphorbia Glitz (Euphorbia graminea). Compact SunPatiens® produce dense, Ornamental Pepper Mambo™ Purple ‘Glitz’ is the first baby’s breath Euphorbia bushy plants that are well-branched and Orange and Mambo™ Yellow (Capsicum from seed. Prolific flowering, its delicate, covered with flowers. They grow 24” to annuum). airy habit and tiny white flowers mix well 36” tall and equally wide in the garden, but with other annuals. It is an ideal choice slightly shorter in containers and baskets. Ornamental Pepper ‘Mambo’™ Purple for baskets, mixed containers, or grown In the garden, the Compact series is early Orange’ and ‘Mambo™ Yellow’ are ideal on its own. It offers drought tolerance and to flower and well behaved with an upright, for fall plantings and great for Halloween has long lasting displays of flowers. From ‘stocky’ growth habit. Compact SunPatiens decorating. Fruit emerge dark purple and Harris Seeds. are good choices for exceptional patio mature to brilliant orange; plants will have pots and hanging baskets as well as for the both purple peppers and bright orange Geranium Big EZEE Red (Pelargonium x garden. From Sakata Seeds. peppers. From American Takii. hortorum). ‘Big EZEE Red’ is not an average geranium. Bred for the heat, this reliable Impatiens SunPatiens® Spreading Shell Petunia Easy Wave Velour Red (Petunia performer and is a vigorous grower loaded Pink (Impatiens x hybrida). The truly x hybrida). ‘Easy Wave Velour’ petunias with flowers. It’s perfect for completing unique genetic background of SunPatiens® have deep, dark texture and fashion- mixed plantings, and also stands well on Shell Pink delivers unsurpassed garden forward color. Plant habit is more compact its own. From the Dummen Group. performance with season-long, soft than regular Wave petunias. Plant this pink flowers that never slow down. This fabulous petunia anywhere you’d like to Geranium Nano™ Violet (Pelargonium x impatiens thrives under heat, rain and add summer-long color. It is perfect for a hortorum). ‘Nano™ Violet’ is a new beautiful humidity. The vigorous spreading plants patio display on your patio, or trailing from vibrant color addition to this compact series keep their shape all summer; plus, they do hanging baskets overhead.