Welcome to the BYGL Newsletter 7/18/08 11:57 AM Ohio State University Extension - extension.osu.edu Home BYGL Contacts FAQ Web Links Search Site Map Pam Bennett, Barb Bloetscher, Joe Boggs, Cindy Burskey, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke Gary Gao, David Goerig, Tim Malinich, Becky McCann, Amy Stone, and Curtis Young Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and cultural problems. Updated weekly between April and October, this information is useful for those who are managing a commercial nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard looking good all summer. Home Welcome to the BYGL Newsletter July 17, 2008 This is the 16th 2008 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio. BYGL is available via email, contact Cheryl Fischnich [ fi[email protected] ] to subscribe. Additional Factsheet information on any of these articles may be found through the OSU fact sheet database [ http://plantfacts.osu.edu/ ]. BYGL is a service of OSU Extension and is aided by major support from the ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association) [ http://onla.org/ ] and [ http://buckeyegardening.com/ ] to the OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT). Any materials in this newsletter may be reproduced for educational purposes providing the source is credited. BYGL is available online at: [ http://bygl.osu.edu ], a web site sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences (HCS) as part of the "Horticulture in Virtual Perspective." The online version of BYGL has images associated with the articles and links to additional information. Following are the participants in the July 15th conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloetscher (Entomology/C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Joe Boggs (Hamilton/Piketon); Jim Chatfield (OSU Extension Center at Wooster/ Hort and Crop Science); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Gary Gao (Delaware); David Goerig (Mahoning); Michael Loos (Cuyahoga); Tim Malinich (Lorain); Becky McCann (ABE Center); Joe Rimelspach (Plant Pathology); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy Taylor (CWEPPDC); and Curtis Young (Allen). In This Issue: 1. WEATHERWATCH 2. HORT SHORTS: Plants of the Week [Woody, Tupelo or Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica); Perennial, Gaillardia or Blanketflower (Galardia xgrandiflora); Annual, Cleome or Spider Flower (Cleome spp.) and Weed,]; and Toxic Tree Troubles. 3. BUGBYTES: Hummers That Aren't Birds (Hummingbird Moth); Another Weed Attacked (Goldenrod Leaf Miner, Basswood Leaf Miner, and Locust Leaf Miner); Lace Bug Potpourri; Gallmania (Mossy Rose Gall and Hackberry Petiole Gall); Pearleaf Blister Mite; Bug ID Makes Boggs Buggy (Small Milkweed Bug, Boxelder Bug, and Aster-Coneflower Bug); and Windshield Wipes (Stag Beetles, Spotted Grapevine Beetle, and Imported Cabbage Butterflies). 4. DISEASE DIGEST: Plant Diagnostic Academy Notes (Oak Leaf Blister, Guignardia Leaf Blotch of Aesculus, Powdery Mildew of Magnolia, Rose Black Spot, Phyllosticta Leaf Spot of Maple, and Cedar Hawthorn Rust). http://bygl.osu.edu/ 1 of 10 Welcome to the BYGL Newsletter 7/18/08 11:57 AM 5. TURF TIPS: Lots of Beetles = Lots of Grubs??? 6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Are You A Potential Crime Scene?; A Rain Garden/Landscape Water Management Manual for Southeast Ohio Under Development. 7. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Foundry Sand in Soil Applications Forum, July 23rd and July 24th; Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session; 41st Annual NGLCO Summer Field Day; Turfgrass Research Field Day; Ohio Lawn Care Outdoor Summer Seminar; and Mahoning Valley Plant Diagnostic Workshop. WEATHERWATCH - July 17, 2008 Temperatures are on the rise across the state - it's beginning to feel like July! Temperatures are reaching into the 90's, with prediction of rain limited to isolated storms. The following weather information summarizes data collected at various OARDC Weather Stations spanning the dates: July 1- July 16, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Thursday, July 17, at 6:00 a.m. Weather Station Region of Ohio Ave. High Temp F Ave. Low Temp F Total Precip." Normal Precip. " Soil Temp F 2"/3" Ashtabula NE 79.8 59.7 3.54" 1.5" 71.57 / 72.83 Wooster NE 82.1 58.6 3.04" 2.2" 72.99 / 73.30 Hoytville NW 85.6 60.9 3.88" 1.9" 69.79 / 71.21 Columbus Central 82.5 61.4 0.95" 2.5" 77.70 / 75.25 Piketon South 83.7 60.9 2.37" 1.8" 89.93 / 86.32 For more information, see: OARDC Weather Station PLANTS OF THE WEEK - July 17, 2008 Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the ONLA publications "Perennial Plants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio." The descriptions and photographs of plants were provided for these publications by the OSU ENLT Team along with other industry plant lovers. These full-color publications are available at [ http://Buckeyegardening.com ] for $5.00. Click on "garden store" and then "ONLA plant guides." ONLA members can purchase these in quantities at a reduced price at [ http://onla.org ]. *WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. TUPELO or BLACK GUM - (Nyssa sylvatica). The tupelo or black gum is a large tree reaching heights up to 50', and is an excellent specimen tree because of its consistent fall color. It grows best in a moist, well drained, acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 to 6.5. The tree however, is very tolerant of less than desirable growing conditions, and is hardy to zone 3. The habit is somewhat pyramidal when young, and seems to mature into an upright-oval look. The foliage is dark green during the summer; changing to a very showy bright orange to scarlet color in autumn. The tree produces a bluish black drupe type fruit about 1/2" long, that is attractive to birds. Although the tree is difficult to transplant because of an extensive taproot, the industry does have several growers that are successfully producing this tree. *PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. GAILLARDIA or BLANKETFLOWER - (Galardia xgrandiflora.). This genus of perennials is another group where extensive breeding has brought them back into popularity in recent years. Plants tend to grow around 3-4' tall with about a 2' spread. They begin to bloom in July and last well into August and longer if deadheaded. They are a great full sun plant, but must have good drainage as they won't survive in wet winter clay soils. The daisy-shaped flower colors are red, yellow, burgundy, and a blend; some of the newer cultivars have bright orange flowers. One of the most interesting recent introduction is 'Fanfare' with orange and yellow fluted flowers; it grows 12-14" tall. 'Summer's Kiss' with salmon, apricot, gold, and yellow flowers growing 18" tall and 'Tokavar' with brick red flowers on 18" plants are both newer cultivars that also make great cut flowers. Some varieties only last 2-4 years in a typical garden.Photo: cd0011-229 *ANNUAL OF THE WEEK. CLEOME or SPIDER FLOWER - (Cleome spp.). Large flowers bloom prolifically atop long stems on this well-known annual. Known as the spider flower because of the "spidery-like" flowers, the cleome is an excellent plant for cottage or Victorian gardens or fillers in the perennial bed or in large containers. Many cultivars of this plant are started by simply scattering seed in http://bygl.osu.edu/ 2 of 10 Welcome to the BYGL Newsletter 7/18/08 11:57 AM the garden. Many will also continue to self-seed throughout the years. Plants grow to around 3-4' tall and about 1-2' wide. Flower colors are usually pink, lavender, and white depending upon the variety, and the blooms continue all summer without deadheading. Numerous cultivars have been recently introduced to compliment the old-fashioned varieties. 'Sparkler' flowers grow atop 4' stems and are great when used in the middle of a pot of petunias (looking like a sparkler shooting out of the container!). One cultivar that has caught a lot of attention lately is 'Senoria Rosalita'. The plant is a bit more compact than most and grows to around 2-3' tall with purple flowers on top that last from the early season until frost. The best feature, however, is that the foliage remains on the plant all season whereas many other varieties have bare legs with blooms on top. TOXIC TREE TROUBLES The Mahoning County Extension plant pest clinic is operated by the Mahoning Master Gardener Volunteers. These dedicated diagnosticians take their service to the office seriously. Occasionally, samples of plant problems come into the office that perplexes this seasoned group, as was the case last week. Dave Goerig noted reviewing a bag full of wilted vegetable plants, with roots attached that emitted a slight nutty odor. It turns out the vegetable gardeners who brought in the sample unfortunately located their new garden close to a black walnut tree. The roots of BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra) and BUTTERNUT (Juglans cinerea) produce a substance known as JUGLONE (5-hydroxyl-alphanapthaquinone). Many plants such as tomato, potato, blackberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel, and rhododendron may be injured or killed if planted within the rootzone of one of these trees. The toxic zone from a mature tree occurs on average in a 50' to 60' radius. Not all plants are sensitive to juglone. For a partial list of plants that show resistance to this toxic tree, review OSU Extension Factsheet HYG-1148, "Black Walnut Toxicity to Plants, Humans and Horses." For more information, see: OSU Fact Sheet HUMMERS THAT AREN'T BIRDS Once again, BYGLers are receiving calls about hovering critters that look and act like humming birds, but are a little too small to really be a bird.