Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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Winter Pest Monitoring in the Landscape
During the winter dormant season, there are a significant number of potential pests of ornamentals that require monitoring. Pest populations ignored during the off season is a missed opportunity to evaluate future problems. These potential concerns can be especially pronounced on evergreen shrubs and conifers. Therefore, this winter do not make the mistake of thinking that landscape problems can be forgotten about until next spring. A little vigilance now can go a long way toward recording & possibly reducing future problems. The following is a review of some of the major pest problems that require monitoring and possible management actions during the next few months.
Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program Now Available for Eligible Producers Affected by 2018, 2019 Natural Disasters
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program began Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021. [Read more…]
Diplodia Tip Blight: The Key to Infections is Found Within the Cones
Diplodia Tip Blight (Diplodia pinea) is a fungus disease in the landscape commonly observed on Austrian pines (Pinus nigra), but can also be found infecting mugo, red, black, & Scots pines. This blog will emphasize with photos the infections seen on Austrian pines.
The symptoms of Diplodia Tip Blight are stunted or dead shoots. With extensive infections, almost every branch & twig can be affected as the disease spreads over the years. The lower branches of the Austrian pines are usually infected first. For numerous years, the upper canopy will initially show few symptoms. The fungus kills developing needles in the spring, resulting in dead candles that are deformed & much shorter than the growth found on healthy twigs.
![](https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-Diplodia-Tip-Blight-4-300x225.jpg)
Austrian pine with obvious symptoms from Diplodia Tip Blight infections. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
![](https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-Diplodia-Tip-Blight-17-300x225.jpg)
Stunted or dead newly emerged twig shoots on Austrian pine branch. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
USDA Extends Crop Insurance Flexibilities Amid Continuing COVID-19 Pandemic
Through today’s announcement, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is extending crop insurance flexibilities for producers amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, relief provided for electronic notifications and signatures is extended through July 15, 2021; organic certification, replant self-certification and assignment of indemnity are extended through June 30, 2021. [Read more…]
Primer on Anti-Transpirant Applications
Purpose
During the weeks of late fall & early winter, many landscapers apply their annual anti-desiccant sprays to broadleaf evergreen plants. Some of the common trade names of these liquid resin, spray-on products include Vapor-Guard, Wilt-Pruf, Stress Guard, and Nu-Film. Although plants go dormant during the winter, evergreens will continue to transpire given certain conditions. These applications help reduce excessive water loss from leaves during the dry winter months when the ground is frozen. An anti-transpirant is a film-forming complex of polyethylene’s and polyterpenes that when applied to foliage will reduce the moisture vapor transmission rate. Although much of the transpiration from leaves occur through small openings (stomates) under the leaves, a significant amount of water loss can also occur directly through the leaf cuticle or epidermis. The anti-transpirants function by increasing cuticle thickness of broadleaf evergreens.
![](https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Anti-Transpirant-10-Rhododendron-winter-injury-300x231.jpg)
This Rhododendron may have some winter injuries, but the primary cause for the plant decline is from wood borers. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
![](https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/b-Anti-Transpirant-35-Holly-Winter-Burn-300x225.jpg)
Desiccated holly leaves (Winter Burn) with obvious symptoms. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)