Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition

Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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July 24, 2026

Rutgers Ornamental IPM Webinar Featuring Guest Speaker Joe Boggs

Join us for the next session of the 2026 Rutgers Ornamental IPM Webinar Series

Tuesday, July 28th 12pm to 1pm.

The Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program hosts free live webinars on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from April through September.

The next session will feature Live IPM Updates for Green Industry Professionals and a presentation by Joe Boggs, Assistant Professor at Ohio State University Extension, on Taking Pictures for Insect Identification. https://bygl.osu.edu/node/51

All webinars are recorded and the slideshows can be downloaded for reference.

Here is the link for the recording of our last session on 7/14/26 featuring Live Pest Updates and a presentation by Paul Kurtz from NJDA speaking on Oak Diseases https://rutgers.zoom.us/rec/share/g7qt5jzed2o-vMK7YBT80vNTrlBStZ5XBFRce0GHEKyFIcvivtVDTNcKE1Diw0A-.IDvT98ltArj5T72O

Passcode: bq4UzSs#

The printable slides can be accessed here:  https://go.rutgers.edu/furqrefl

Or by scanning this QR code:

 

Visit the Rutgers Nursery IPM Website to sign up for this free program if you are not already enrolled: https://sites.rutgers.edu/nursery-ipm/

Please keep sending us your insect/disease photos and communicating what you are seeing in the field. We appreciate it and it helps everyone out!

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , ,
July 21, 2026 and

Specialty Crop Twilight Meeting August 20

Join us at the Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Station on Thursday August 20, 2026 for a Specialty Crop Twilight Meeting. The event will run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and will be held at 283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.

This event will be a great opportunity for growers to see a demonstration of eight biodegradable plastic mulches and various ornamental nursery crops in a field setting. The full agenda is below.

This event is free, but pre-registration is required:

Please RSVP by August 13th to reserve your spot:

Contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

at 732-431-7260 or Catherine.vanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us

Pesticide recertification credits have been requested and will be assigned soon.

 

5:30 PM – Sign-In, Light Dinner Served

5:55 PM – Welcome Remarks

6:00 PM – Pesticide Safety: Reading the Label and Selecting the Proper Product

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

6:30 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch for Tomato Production (Field Tour)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

7:00 PM – Blight Resistant Boxwoods and Alternative Shrubs (Field Tour)

William Errickson, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

 

Special thanks to the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey for sponsoring dinner!

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 13, 2026

Fillable Forms Now Requested by NJDEP Pesticide Control for Worker Protection Standards Training

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Pesticide Control Program is asking farmers to now use the fillable rosters for the required Worker Protection Standards training for both the “Handler” and “Worker” categories. Please see the correspondence from NJDEP PCP at the end of this article. The Handler rosters are the only rosters required to be sent to DEP after training workers as pesticide handlers. The Worker rosters are to be kept on file on the farm. Handler rosters must be sent to NJDEP within 30 days of training.

Fillable Handler Form https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/pesticides/bpc/wps/handler.pdf

Fillable Worker Form https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/pesticides/bpc/wps/worker.pdf

To contact NJDEP Pesticide Control Program, their address, phone and email are below:

Address: NJDEP Pesticide Control Program, 401 East State Street, Mail Code 401-04A, P.O. Box 420
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420

Phone: 609-984-6568

Email: wpspesticides@dep.nj.gov

Email correspondence received from NJDEP PCP on July 8, 2026:

Dear Growers,

To help us accurately review and process your handler training records, we ask that you please use the fillable Handler Training forms when documenting employee training.

Using the fillable forms ensures that employee names and other information are clear and legible when submitted. Handwritten forms can sometimes be difficult to read, which may delay the review process or require us to request additional information.

 Please also note that fillable Worker Roster forms are available. Both the Handler Training forms and Worker Roster forms can be found on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of Pesticide Control website at https://dep.nj.gov/pesticides/compliance-enforcement/worker-protection/#agricultural-worker-protection-standard-guide.

 Although the forms are fillable, handlers and workers must still sign the forms after completing the training.

 We appreciate your cooperation in using these fillable forms for all future submissions. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing the forms, please let us know.

 Thank you for your continued cooperation.

 NJDEP Bureau of Pesticide Control

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf Tagged With: , , ,
June 30, 2026

Dangerous Heat: Actions to Stay Safe

Dangerous heat will impact NJ and the region this week, with maximum air temperatures Wednesday to Saturday forecasted to reach the mid-90s to 105 degrees. The heat index, which factors in relative humidity, is expected to soar as high as 110 degrees. As a result, an Extreme Heat Warning has been issued for the majority of NJ (Wednesday to Saturday) with an Extreme Heat Watch being issued for the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland (Thursday to Saturday).

Precautions must be taken to prevent heat-related illnesses among the agricultural workforce:

  1. National Weather Service graphic on extreme heat watches and warnings for the region. Adjust work schedules and discontinue outdoor work during the hottest parts of the day.
    1. You can utilize the OSHA/NIOSH Heat Safety Tool (phone app) for site-specific heat indices to aid planning.
    2. Remember: heat index is measured in the shade and does not factor in the effect of work in direct sunlight.
  2. Reduce workload intensity by increasing the number of workers per task, rotating jobs, and increasing the frequency of breaks.
  3. Train everyone on the farm to recognize and respond to signs of heat-related illness in themselves and others.
    1. Reinforce training with signage such as this informative ‘Prevent Heat Illness at Work’ poster from OSHA which is available in English, as well as Spanish.
  4. Keep hydrated! Cool water should always be available to everyone. Drink water constantly including before, during, and after work and encourage others to do the same. Sports drinks are generally not necessary when you drink ample water and eat regular meals.
  5. Select light-colored, breathable clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Your clothing must allow for rapid evaporation of sweat – the body’s mechanism for cooling.

Take extreme caution over the next several days to safeguard yourself and others from heat-related illnesses. For more resources on preventing heat-related illness among the agricultural workforce, visit our Heat Stress and Agriculture website. 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
June 15, 2026

Landscape IPM Walk at Deep Cut Gardens

Formal garden

June 30, 2026 – 9:00am to 11:00am

Location: Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Rd., Middletown Township, NJ 07748

NJ Pesticide License Recertification Credits

  • 3A: 4
  • 8C: 4
  • 10: 4
  • PP2: 4

This program will provide hands-on experience in IPM best management practices. Participants will tour the ornamental plants of Deep Cut Gardens and learn about scouting, monitoring, timing, insect and disease ID for common issues in our area. Safe application of pesticides with a focus on reduced risk materials will also be covered for each pest. Deep Cut Gardens contains specimens of many of the common plant species that green industry professionals work with in the field, making it an ideal environment to learn about proper best management practices for common problems that they may encounter in their operations. Boxwoods, roses, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous annual and perennial species will be covered. Landscape IPM Walk at Deep Cut Gardens Flyer

This program is geared towards commercial nursery growers and landscapers and will be led by:

  • Steve Rettke: IPM Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
  • Bill Errickson, PhD: Agriculture Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

 

Space is limited.

Pre-registration is required: $25 (cash, check, or purchase order)

Please RSVP to reserve your spot.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

732-431-7260

Catherine.vanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us

 

Hosted by the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth and Cumberland County

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery Tagged With: , , ,
June 10, 2026

Box Tree Moth CONFIRMED in Cape May, NJ

Cape May County NJ, with inset of Rio Grande (township)
Cape May County NJ, with inset of Rio Grande (township)

Box tree moth (BTM) has been confirmed in Cape May County, NJ.

An official NJDA press-release expected within days – this PPA post has no legal bearing. 
  • What is happening:
  • Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) has been reported and Federally confirmed in the area of Rio Grande, Cape May County.
  • USDA and NJDA have established a monitoring zone surrounding the infestation.
  • A quarantine will be established for all of Cape May County, NJ.
  • The quarantine will apply to ANYONE moving boxwoods out of Cape May County
  • NJDA has an official reporting tool and website for BTM
  • If you see this pest 1) Report it, 2) Eradicate it, 3) remove it (if applicable) following guidelines

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,