Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition

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July 30, 2014

It’s Back!

Boxwood samples have been coming into the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory on a daily basis since the winter. Most of them have been diagnosed with winter damage, boxwood leafminer, or Volutella stem and leaf blight. Yesterday, we got our first sample with boxwood blight! The situation was typical of several others in New Jersey – new transplants this spring and then a bunch of dead shrubs mid-summer.

Boxwood blight infected sample is in the black plastic bag. Winter damaged boxwood sample is on the counter. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL

Boxwood blight infected sample is on the floor in the black plastic bag. Winter damaged boxwood sample is on the counter. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL

Just a short note today to keep you on your toes! And by the way, please notice how the sample was submitted – an entire plant, double-bagged…

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab Tagged With: ,
July 26, 2014

Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Earns Pesticide Core Credit

The NJ Dept. of Ag, Helena Chemical, and the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex are offering a series dates for free plastic pesticide container recycling disposal. These are offered to agricultural, professional and commercial applicators holding a NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. State, county and municipal government agencies may also participate. Spread the word and recruit participants for this free service – we are hoping to exceed last year’s collections.

The NJ Dept. of Ag will be on-site to inspect the containers and issue one Core Credit to license holders who follow the processing guidelines. To receive Credit, participants must bring their Pesticide License and prepare the containers. Core credits will not be issued to participants who do not prepare containers. Dates and locations are listed below.
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Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
July 17, 2014

What is that on my shoe?

Some may call it endoplasmic reticulum, some may run screaming from the blob, and still others might simply say that the dog just yacked in the yard. Me, I just call them cool and with all the rain and humidity in the last couple weeks, the Plant Diagnostic Lab has had a run on slime molds.

Slime mold (Physarum) plasmodia on Kentucky bluegrass. Photo: Becky Sesnowich, Tinton Falls

Slime mold (Physarum sp.) plasmodium on Kentucky bluegrass. Photo: Becky Sesnowich, Tinton Falls

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab Tagged With:
July 7, 2014

Golf Turf Diseases of the Week: Here Comes the Fuzz!

For the most part, late spring and early summer this year has been reasonable, weather-wise. So goes the weather, so goes the turfgrass. So far, the turfgrass submissions to the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory have been slow and steady… until last week, that is. Golf turf suddenly realized it was summer and the party started with some dollar spot.

Dollar spot sample. You know things are crazy in the field when we get samples of dollar spot from golf guys! Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL

Dollar spot sample. You know things are crazy in the field when we get samples of dollar spot from golf guys! Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab Tagged With: , , , ,
July 2, 2014

Correction of White Pine Weevil Injury

Damage from previously active White Pine Weevil larvae (Pissodes strobi) has been evident for the past several weeks on Eastern white pine, Norway spruce, Siberian spruce, Colorado blue spruce, & Douglas-fir. The larvae began feeding within the terminal leaders last April. When the terminal leader is heavily infested, larvae feed side by side in a ring encircling the stem. By late spring or early summer, most White Pine Weevil larvae have pupated & emerged as adults. The terminal leader has become stunted and wilted. It is too late in the season to save the leader and it should be pruned out. To re-establish a new leader and retain the desirable Christmas tree shape read further & follow the procedures suggested.

The 2014 leader & laterals of this Eastern white pine was killed by White Pine Weevils this past spring

The 2014 leader & laterals of this Eastern white pine were killed by White Pine Weevils this past spring. Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke of RCE

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf
June 27, 2014

Localized Drought Stress is Here

As stated in an early post, summer stress is developing throughout the state. Summer stress isn’t widespread or severe but it is developing, particularly wilt stress, within very localized areas of many landscapes. Landscapes that receive little to no irrigation are especially prone to wilt and drought stress right now.

Turf Subtle Wilt Stress

6-22: Symptoms of subtle wilt stress. Healthy turf will likely to tolerate this level of wilt stress.

Turf Advanced Wilt Stress

6-25: More advanced symptoms of wilt stress. Suspend mowing until rain or irrigation restores soil water.


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Filed Under: Turf