Immediate potential for boxwood blight in many parts of NJ over the next 4 days

Breaking- Due to the potential for rainfall and high humidity levels, there is an immediate risk of boxwood blight infections in many parts of New Jersey. Be mindful that even though we have had very little precipitation in the state as of late, we are well within the boxwood blight growth range and prior cover-sprays may have been washed off by irrigation or the interval to reapply has come due.

Preventative spray programs should continue or be initiated for high value crops or installations.  

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 5/26/2021
Region Location CODE 26-May 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Infection Risk Infection Risk Very Low  Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Low Infection Risk Very Low  Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Please check your local boxwood blight risk here (click here and type in your area code – select closest station)

 

These advisories are general in nature and change rapidly so someone from your business should be using this risk model (CLICK HERE) daily if boxwood is important to your financial stability – In 30 seconds you can have a better idea of boxwood blight (and other pathogen) activity in your immediate area!

  • (click on the link – input area code – select closest weather station – check 7-14 prediction – click on graph / table) 

Fungicide options; 

  1. You very well may have these materials already applied as ‘cover-sprays’ – But – be mindful that protectant fungicides lose efficacy the more rain/irrigation they are subjected to, and reapplication may be warranted especially if the reapplication interval has come due.
  2. ROTATE between Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC codes) whenever possible

Format: [FRAC code]: Chemical name (Trade names)

  • [M05]: Chlorothalonil (Daconil WS)
  • [M05 + 1] Chlorothalonil + Thiophanate methyl (Spectro 90WDG)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [7] Fluopyram  (Broadform)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [3] Triadimefon (Armada 50WDG)
  • [M03] Mancozeb
  • [12] Fludioxonil (Medallion WDG)
  • [3] Tebuconazole (Torque)
DISCLAIMER: The label is the law, always refer to it for allowable host crops, use-restrictions, application rates, reapplication intervals, re-entry intervals (REI), and mix compatibility information. Production and pesticide information on this site are for private/commercial pesticide applicators and landscape professionals only, and are NOT for home gardener use. Provided materials represent examples and do not cover all possible control scenarios. Trade-names listed do not imply endorsement and are used as examples only. Please contact your local agent or chemical sales representative for more information or to discuss additional pest management options.

New Jersey Reopens State Parks and Golf Courses

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 133, will be reopening state parks and golf courses, and restoring the authority of county governments to determine whether county parks will be open or closed. The order takes effect at sunrise on Saturday, May 2.

State Parks and Forests:

The order allows State parks and forests to open to the public for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, hiking, walking, running or jogging, biking, birding, and horseback riding. Picnic areas, playgrounds, exercise stations and equipment, chartered watercraft services and rentals, swimming, pavilions, restrooms, and other buildings and facilities, such as visitor centers, interpretive centers, and interior historical sites, shall remain closed at this time. To limit physical interaction, the State parks and forests must implement reasonable restrictions that include:

• Limiting parking to 50% of maximum capacity and prohibiting parking in undesignated areas;
• Prohibiting picnics;
• Requiring social distancing to be practiced except with immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners; and
• Banning organized or contact activities or sports; and gatherings of any kind.

The order also recommends that people wear a cloth face covering while in public settings at the parks and forests where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

County Parks:

The order opens county parks to the public, except any parks closed by the county prior to Executive Order No. 118 that required all county parks be closed (the county will now have the ability to reopen its parks if it chooses). This will treat county parks the same way as municipal parks – the locality gets to determine whether they are open or closed. County and municipal parks that remain open must abide by the restrictions placed on State parks in today’s Order.

All recreational campgrounds and transient camp sites at campgrounds shall remain closed to the public. Residential campgrounds, including mobile home parks, condo sites, and existing/renewing 2020 yearly seasonal contract sites may remain open. Counties and municipalities can also place restrictions on the ability of residential campgrounds, including mobile home parks, to accept new transient guests or seasonal tenants, as defined by Administrative Order Nos. 2020-08 and 2020-09.

Golf Courses:

The order also opens golf courses so long as they adopt minimum social distancing policies that include:
• Implementing electronic or telephone reservation and payment systems while still providing options for populations that do not have access to internet service or credit cards;
• Extending tee times to sixteen minutes apart;
• Limiting the use of golf carts to one person unless being shared by immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners;
• Requiring frequent, and after each use, sanitization of high-touch areas such as restroom facilities, range buckets, golf carts, and push carts;
• Restricting the touching of golf holes and flags;
• Closing golf center buildings, pro shops, and other buildings and amenities;
• Removing bunker rakes and other furniture-like benches, water coolers, and ball washers from the course;
• Discontinuing club and equipment rentals;
• Prohibiting the use of caddies; and
• Limiting tee times to two players unless the foursome consists of immediate family, caretakers, household members or romantic partners.

The golf course may impose additional restrictions as necessary to limit person-to-person interactions. The order also recommends, but does not order, that employees, players, and other individuals on the golf course wear cloth face coverings while on the golf course. Additionally, the order clarifies that miniature golf courses and driving ranges must remain closed.