Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition

Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.

 

Companion Website Links:

Rutgers Turf Blog - Articles on turfgrass diseases and cultural practices for the commercial turfgrass industry. Subscription available via RSS.

 

Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

March 15, 2026

NORTH JERSEY CALIBRATION GROWERS MEETING

March 24, 2026
2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Snyder Research & Extension Farm
140 Locust Grove Road
Pittstown, NJ

Program

Program Chair
Janine Spies, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM

2:30 – Registration

3:00 – Welcome and Introductions

3:15 – Airblast Sprayer Calibration Techniques
Chris Lovenduski, Central Jersey Equipment

4:15 – Importance of Calibration for Optimal Pest Control and Resistance Management
Kaitlin Quinn, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

4:45 – Light fare & refreshments (Pre-registration required)

5:00 – Coverage Counts: How to make the most of a pesticide application
Karly Regan PhD, Certis Biologicals

5:30 – Pesticide Safety and Regulations for Specialty Crops
Janine Spies PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:00 – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn. Attendees must be present for the entire program in order to apply for NJDEP credits.

THE FOLLOWING NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS WILL BE AWARDED

4 CAT-10     4 CAT-1A     4 CAT-3A     5 CORE     4 PP2

Click here to register: North Jersey Calibration Event Registration – Fill out form

PRE-REGISTRATION BY March 18, 2026

Registration cost per person is $10. Cash or check (made payable to Rutgers The State University) will be collected at the door.

If you have any questions please contact Kim Crommelin: (908)-788-1338, kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 10, 2026

Networks to Reduce Risk Field Trip – April 11

Field trip to Clover Valley Farm

Saturday, April 11, 10am

Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
March 6, 2026

ALERT: Be prepared to manage White Pine Weevil in conifers early next week

With increasing temperatures, it is plausible that a critical treatment window for controlling White Pine Weevil (WPW) will be present early next week, throughout many areas of NJ. Factors leading to this post include increased air temperatures and climbing growing degree-days (WPW adult movement and egg laying is around 7-58 growing degree-days (GDD50)), and most importantly rising soil temperatures as this pest typically begins movement with soils hovering around 50F. All of these factors lead to the possibility of WPW movement early next week and growers may wish to utilize a preventative, long lasting residual spray (pyrethroids) to target adults before they begin egg laying.

So we have: 

  • NJ will be within the GDD window for adult movement and approaching egg laying (7-58 GDD50)
  • Soil temperatures in some areas may be close to 50F.
  • Increased air temperatures and insect mobility
White Pine Weevil (Pissodes strobi) – potential for emergence as of 3/6/2026 
Region Location CODE METRIC FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WEDS
6-Mar 7-Mar 8-Mar 9-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 GDD50 0 0 9 13 18 31
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 49 (43.5) 52 (50.5) 63 (52) 67 (45) 71 (62) 71 (60.5)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 47.1 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
Central Freehold / Howell NJ50 GDD50 0 0 4 6 9 17
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 42(39) 49(48) 62(51.5) 69(56.5) 74(63) 70(59)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 40.7 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
Northern HACKETTSTOWN G5633 GDD50 0 0 3 3 6 17
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 41(37.5) 47(45.5) 61(49.5) 69(55) 76(63) 68(55)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 34.1 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
USPEST.ORG – Model: simple average/growing degree-day, Min: 50F – Max: 95F, NMME forecast
Forecast:  7-month NMME based seasonal climate forecast (USPEST.ORG) – Subject to change regularly = Check Often
Air temperatures: Weather Underground (https://www.wunderground.com/) and NEWA: (https://newa.cornell.edu/)
Soil temperatures (10cm): https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature
Compiled by Waller. T. 3/6/2026 [twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu]

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
March 5, 2026

South Jersey Calibration Grower Meeting

March 25, 2026

2:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center                 

121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, NJ

Program

2:30 PM – Registration

3:00 PM – Welcome and Introductions

3:15 PM – Airblast Sprayer Calibration Techniques

Chris Lovenduski, Central Jersey Equipment

4:15 PM – Early season management in peaches

 Anne Nielsen PhD, Professor and Extension Specialist in Entomology

4:45 PM – Light fare & refreshments (pre-registration required)

5:00 PM – Coverage Counts: How to make the most of a pesticide application

Karly Regan PhD, Certis Biologicals

5:30 PM – Pesticide Safety and Regulations for Specialty Crops

Janine Spies PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:00 PM – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn

NJDEP Pesticide Recertification Credits are anticipated.

Registration cost per person: $10.

Cash or check (made payable to Rutgers The State University) will be collected at the door.

Pre-register by Thursday March 19.

Click here to register: South Jersey Calibration Event Registration – Fill out form

Program Chair: Janine Spies, Agriculture and Natural Resources County Agent III, Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM

If you have any questions please contact Janine Spies: (352) 231-6330, janine.spies@rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 5, 2026

North Jersey Calibration Grower Meeting

March 24, 2026

2:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research & Extension Farm                                  

140 Locust Grove Road Pittstown, NJ

Program

2:30 PM – Registration

3:00 PM – Welcome and Introductions

3:15 PM – Airblast Sprayer Calibration Techniques

Chris Lovenduski, Central Jersey Equipment

4:15 PM – Importance of Calibration for Optimal Pest Control and Resistance Management

Kaitlin Quinn, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

4:45 PM – Light fare & refreshments (Pre-registration required)

5:00 PM – Coverage Counts: How to make the most of a pesticide application

Karly Regan PhD, Certis Biologicals

5:30 PM – Pesticide Safety and Regulations for Specialty Crops

Janine Spies PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:00 PM – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn

NJDEP Pesticide Recertification Credits are anticipated.

Registration cost per person: $10.

Cash or check (made payable to Rutgers The State University) will be collected at the door.

Click here to register: North Jersey Calibration Event Registration – Fill out form

Pre-register by Wednesday March 18.

If you have any questions please contact Kim Cromelin: (908) 788-1338, kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Program Chair: Janine Spies, Agriculture and Natural Resources County Agent III, Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 4, 2026

ALERT – Potential for Ambrosia Beetle flight early next week – if you regularly have issues with this pest – take notice

The last few seasons we have seen an upswing in ambrosia beetle activity in nursery production, principally in field grown nursery stock of thin barked trees (commonly – dogwood, honey locust, magnolia, maple, redbud, zelkova, styrax, Prunus spp.). Based on evidence from multiple lines of trap collection data throughout the United States, adult female flights appear to be correlated to consecutive days (2-3) of 70F temperatures (highs) with daily average air temps around 65F (max+min/2). That is extremely close to what we will have throughout most areas of NJ early next week, based on 10-day weather forecasts. Note: this is historically very early for treatment of this pest and it will get colder the following days, however, we have missed control opportunities over multiple years so take treatment into consideration if you regularly encounter this pest.

Consider using pyrethroids in your production areas next Monday or Tuesday (weather dependent) if this pest has been a regular problem.

Contact insecticides: 

  • Pyrethroids [3A]: –thrins (bifenthrin, permethrin, etc.) – Pyrethroids longer lasting residual activity is why these materials are so effective against ambrosia beetles. 
  • Systemic insecticides DO NOT WORK

 

Potential for adult female ambrosia beetle flight 2026

Stay informed:

  • Sign up for the 2026 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program – click here to sign up
  • First webinar 4/14/26
  • Program is free, but registration is required – Registration includes:
    • Site visit to your ornamental nursery/farm from Rutgers agents
    • Delivered printed IPM resources (Guides, factsheets, bulletins)
    • Free pheromone & sticky trap kit + guidance on setup/monitoring (for commercial nursery/greenhouse and Christmas tree farms)
    • Access to live bi-weekly webinars (Zoom)
    • (First session TUESDAY 4/14 @ 12PM)
    • Every Second and Fourth, Tuesday, April through September

[Read more…]

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