Field trip to Clover Valley Farm
Saturday, April 11, 10am
Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6
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 6, 2026 Tim Waller
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] | |||||||||
March 5, 2026 Janine Spies
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
March 5, 2026 Janine Spies
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
March 4, 2026 Tim Waller
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
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
March 2, 2026 Tim Waller
Approaching boxwood blight season – 2026 (threat this week in Central and Southern NJ)
March weather is always unpredictable, however, if we have sustained periods of increased temperatures (above 50F) and spring rains, boxwood blight (BWB) can become an issue quickly.
[pictorial tri-fold] Common Boxwood Pests and Diseases (click-here). This includes Box Tree Moth images. Print the PDF out double-sided, then fold.
If you suspect Boxwood Blight and would like to have this verified – please contact the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (click here) for sample submission instructions
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/2/2026 | ||||||||
| Region | Location | Station
CODE |
MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT |
| 2-Mar | 3-Mar | 4-Mar | 5-Mar | 6-Mar | 7-Mar | |||
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Infection Risk | Low | Low |
| Southern | Vineland | NJ73 | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Infection Risk |
| Southern | Millville | KMIV | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Infection Risk | Low | Low |
| Southern | Bridgeton | D4116 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Infection Risk | Low | Low |
| Southern | Mays Landing | G4661 | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Infection Risk | Low | Low |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Central | Princeton | F0303 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Infection Risk | Very Low |
| Central | Somerville | F6261 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Infection Risk | Infection Risk |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Low |
| Northern | Randolph | AU137 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Low |
| Northern | Belvidere | E7133 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Very Low |
| Please check your local boxwood blight risk at (https://uspest.org/risk/boxwood_app) | ||||||||
There is a minor potential for boxwood blight infections this Thursday, Friday, & Saturday throughout Southern and Central NJ. Incoming rains, coupled with warmer temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week. This will likely extend into the following week with anticipated higher temperatures.
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It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in boxwoods throughout the state if you have not already done so.
- If BWB is important to your business – Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails, and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool.
