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In February, I was scheduled to speak at a landscape program in Rockville, MD. Before I went on, I had a chance to chat with one of the other speakers–the esteemed entomologist from the University of Maryland, Dr. Mike Raupp–who said concerning the Emerald Ash Borer, “nobody believes you until the trees start dying.”
Thin-canopied ash trees in a central-Jersey landscape. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL
Date: March 7 and 8, 2016
Location: NJ EcoComplex, Bordentown, NJCome learn about the exciting world of greenhouse production! In this two-day class, our team of expert instructors will cover the core topics you need to either get your greenhouse off the ground or improve an existing program. The class will include a tour of the EcoComplex greenhouse and a mini trade show featuring greenhouse structures and supplies.
This class will cover the topics below and more!Click to View Agenda & Registration Form
• Greenhouse Structures
• Heating
• Ventilation
• Cooling
• Supplemental Lighting
• Shading
• Control Systems
• High Tunnel Production
• Crop Production
• Hydroponics
• Irrigation
• Nutrient Management
• Pests and Diseases
• Aquaponics
• Specialty Crop Production
• Business Plan Basics
• Marketing and Sales
Many people are pleased that typical winter temperatures have taken so long to show up. Below are some interesting observations from early- to mid-winter in New Brunswick. Relatively warm soil temperatures (as high as mid-60s °F) stimulated growth late into December.
Dandelion bloom on 15 December 2015 in New Brunswick.
In New Jersey, dormant oils (3-4%) are typically applied during March & April. However, many landscapers also apply dormant oils during the late fall months. Dormant oils have proven to be an effective material against a wide range of insect/mite pests & their eggs. Typical landscape pests targeted include spruce spider mites/eggs, southern red spider mites/eggs, oak spider mite eggs, aphid eggs, soft scales, armored scales (to a lesser degree), hemlock rust mites, spruce gall adelgids, lace bugs (deciduous plants), cankerworm eggs, psyllids, plant bugs, etc.
Effective dormant oil sprays require
coverage, coverage, coverage.
Photo credit: SK Rettke of RCE
Some overwintering eggs such as Cankerworm eggs can be effectively destroyed by dormant oils.
Photo credit: Utah Extension.edu
Occasionally, observations of White Spruce (Picea glauca) or Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens) within landscapes, nurseries, & Christmas tree farms will show current needle growth having a blue or blue-green color, but with older, inner needles having lost the desirable color and turning pale or even yellow. Although sometimes seen on Norway Spruce, these symptoms are most common on the White & Colorado Spruce species. Sometimes symptoms can become dramatic and initiate both aesthetic and plant health concerns. Although the reasons for such symptoms can be from a complex number of conditions, a compromised root system is typically the underlying cause.
Colorado Spruce showing symptoms of undesirable discoloration of older, inner needles. Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke of Rutgers Coop. Ext.
During the later weeks of summer & early weeks of fall the mysterious removal of bark sections typically found on branches of Birch, Rhododendron, and Lilac can sometimes be observed. These girdled or stripped bark sections are probably being done by European Hornets. These vespids have been reported to potentially have a worse temperament than timber rattle snakes.
River Birch branch girdled by European Hornets.
Photo by SK Rettke of RCE
European Hornet actively foraging on bark & sap of Birch branch. Photo by SK Rettke of RCE
