Environment Canada is calling for warmer, sunny weather this week with showers moving in by Thursday/Friday. Perfect for getting out to the garden centre and doing some shopping.
Growing Degree Day accumulations to the end of Tuesday, May 10 (GDD 10oC / GDD 50oF).
(Courtesy of Environment Canada). These numbers are only a guide for monitoring purposes. The temperatures at your production facility can vary significantly from the nearest weather station.
| Borden: 14 / 25 | Oshawa: 18 / 32 | Hamilton RBG: 29 / 52 |
| Vineland Stn: 19 / 34 | London CS: 38 / 68 | Windsor A: 53 / 95 |
PLEASE NOTE: The Following Pesticide Recommendations are meant for Exception Uses (e.g. agriculture) under the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban unless the active ingredient is listed under Class 11 pesticides in Ontario Regulation 63/09, effective April 22, 2009.
NEW TOOLS FOR Nursery-Landscape Insect Pest ID: Dave Cheung’s Common Pests of Nursery-Landscape database is now available online. Check out www.dkbdigitaldesigns.com/clm
Weed Identification ONLINE: http://www.weedinfo.ca/home.php
VARIOUS ORNAMENTALS:
Where foliage is emerging, we should all be watching the weather closely and preparing plants for protection against low temperature injury. Historically, frequent, low volume overhead irrigation (e.g. small droplet size nozzles designed for frost protection) throughout the coldest hours of the night/morning have been used to reduce freezing injury on new plant tissue. This takes repeated irrigation events, before temps actually go down to 0oC, to keep a film of water on the plants (it releases heat when it turns into ice). Insulating cloths (light duty thermal blankets) have also been used quite successfully when secured around plants to hold heat around them before the cold temperature events (sometimes in conjunction with irrigation). Fans can also be used to blow cold air off of plants, leaving a void for warmer air to come in (e.g. frost fans in vineyards, polyhouses). Some growers are experimenting with empty airblast sprayers to move cold air away from tender foliage throughout the early morning. Low temperature injury is quite common on new growth of Euonymus in the spring, even if air temperatures don’t fall all the way down below 0oC.
Some bacterial blights (e.g. Pseudomonas blight on Syringa) of woody stock can often be attributed to stressful conditions experienced under poly and also the extreme shifts in temperature once the poly is removed. Pseudomonas bacterial blight looks very similar to low temperature injury, and often the two conditions go hand-in-hand. In container nurseries, where Pseudomonas blight on lilac (and other deciduous shrubs) was a problem last season, you may want to consider an application of copper as buds start to swell. Research also indicates that the copper becomes more effective if combined with Dithane. The bacteria overwinter next to the buds and can infect leaf tissue once bud caps split open. Again, infection and spread of this bacterial disease can be reduced where temperatures and humidity levels are moderated (i.e. ventilation under poly) and new foliage is more gradually hardened off to outdoor conditions. Some growers will leave the poly on into late spring and vent heavily to reduce leaf wetness periods and protect new foliage from low temperature events.
Where new growth is still emerging on Malus sp., the overwintering fruiting structures of apple scab on last year’s foliage may still be infecting new growth. Apple scab appears as a blotching along veins and also on fruit, it is often associated with early leaf drop. Where appropriate, protect new growth before rain events with fungicides throughout leaf emergence (until leaves harden off). The apple scab fungus grows best at temperatures between 16-24oC, a leaf wetness period is required for the spores to germinate and infect emerging leaves. Intervals between fungicide applications can be longer during dry weather. Some newer fungicides registered for apple scab include: Banner Maxx and Serenade Max (a biological). Early applications of copper fungicides will also help protect new shoots from fire blight infections during warm, wet weather this spring.
In the LANDSCAPE and GARDEN, check for overwintered LARVAE of black vine weevil on Rhododendron, Taxus, Thuja, Euonymus etc. in the garden. Where soils are cold and moist you can try an application of nematodes (Steinernema kraussei, NemasysL) by early May to help reduce the population of weevil larvae.
Take a look at the roots of stressed out sod and field grown ornamentals and look for populations of European chafer, May/June Beetle larvae and other white grub species in the soil. Only preventative applications of pesticides are registered for white grubs (nursery production) and the application period is in June and July during the adult flight period. Beneficial nematode applications are not recommended this time of year and are much more effective when applied to early instar larvae, mid-August to early-September.
DECIDUOUS WOODY AND HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS:
Black knot is easy to see on Prunus sp. (cherry) at this time. Monitor gardens and adjacent wild areas for Prunus shrubs and trees for large, black growths along the twigs. The dried, black growth are dead. Outwards from the black knot, look for swollen twig tissue that is orange-brown with splitting bark. Look closely between split bark and you will see olive-green tissue. That green tissue turns into tiny black bumps when the fungus is sporulating. Black knot sporulates when new twigs emerge and will infect them. Black knot infections are nearly invisible for the first year after infection. If you have the time to prune, PRUNE OUT cankers out quite close to the main stem BEFORE TWIGS EMERGE and before fungus sporulates. Pruning too shallow retains the undetectable, developing canker on the tree and does nothing to limit the disease. Fungicides may give some suppressions when sprayed at green tip, pre-bloom and blossom time. Fungicides include Maestro. For more information: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/hortmatt/2003/03hrt03a4.htm
Monitor for fuzzy, tiger moth caterpillars in the greenhouse where deciduous ornamentals (e.g. Salix) are being grown. These fuzzy larvae can consumer foliage quickly. An application of B.t. (Dipel) or Pounce during the evening hours should help knock down the population.
Various species of aphids (e.g. green peach aphid) are being detected on deciduous and broadleaf woody plants in the greenhouse or in the polyhouse. Biocontrol organisms are available to help suppress aphid populations in protected crops (midge: Aphidoletes and wasp: Aphidius). Insecticides registered for aphids in nursery production include: Tristar, Endeavor. Insecticide applications can be very effective where even coverage can be achieved.
The nymphs of many scale insects have overwintered on twigs and are visible at this time. Heavy infestations can be pruned out and destroyed where possible (or use horticultural oil). Some species of scale to monitor for include: Magnolia scale, Fletcher scale (evergreens), Euonymus scale, golden oak scale, fruit Lecanium scale and juniper scale.
Birches with a history of bronze birch borer infestation should be pruned by now. Destroy pruned material to prevent emergence of beetles. Symptoms appear as branch tip death, branch death and death of the leader and progresses quite quickly. Natural resistance to this pest can be enhanced through activities that improve plant health, such as light fertilizing (May, October), irrigating and removing any weeds and grasses that provide competition for the tree. Betula pendula is most susceptible to this pest and should be avoided in areas of known BBB infestation. Betula nigra and its selections have been shown to be quite tolerant to BBB attack.
Where honeylocust podgall midge was a problem in the past, monitor trees for overwintered adult midges. These adults will be emerging as the buds start to swell. Adults will be laying eggs on buds in early spring (reddish eggs on buds and new leaves). Recent research in Oregon suggests that horticultural oil applications targeting the first couple of egg clutches can help reduce the incidence of pod gall midge. This involves applications of product early in the season, starting before foliar emergence.
Eastern tent caterpillar. Newly-hatched larvae can be found forming small tents in branch crotches and create larger tents as the weeks go by. Larvae have hatched (just as the Norway maples are starting to bloom and forsythia is blooming) and the small tents are easily removed by hand. When larvae begin to feed, some control can be achieved using the biocontrol Bacillus thuringienesis (Dipel, Foray) as an evening application.
Gypsy moth egg masses can be scraped off and destroyed at this time. The egg masses appear as raised, buff coloured fuzz on tree trunks, fence posts, buildings and other sheltered locations. When populations are high, you can find them on almost any overwintering object, even on leaf litter! When larvae begin to emerge, some control can be achieved using Bacillus thuringienesis (Dipel, Foray) and spinosad (Success) insecticide in the first 2 weeks after egg hatch. Some keen homeowners can install a burlap skirt at the base of the tree to create a shady, protected area for larvae to hide during the day (this behaviour usually peaks near the end of May). Homeowners will need to inspect burlap skirts and underlying bark crevices daily (1-3 pm is best) and remove/destroy larvae. Sticky bands around trunks will help prevent females from laying eggs above sticky bands and will attract males to the sticky surface. Extremely high populations of egg masses were noted in the Great Lakes region, including Toronto and Mississauga last year. Rainy weather last June helped spread diseases that kill GM larvae before they pupate, but there is still a residual population in many areas.
Viburnum leaf beetle egg masses are just starting to hatch in field/landscape and have already hatched in container production where the foliage is emerging. The larvae are vulnerable to chemical control only during the first 7-10 days after hatch. Larvae feed on the interveinal tissue from the undersides of the leaves, keep that in mind if you are doing insecticidal applications.
EVERGREENS:
Monitor overwintering, galls of cedar-apple rust and cedar-hawthorn rust and branch swellings of pear-trellis rust on Juniper. Prune out galls where they are dormant and destroy. These juniper galls will begin producing orange sporulating bodies during warm, wet/humid weather. These sporulating bodies contain the spores that will infect the alternate Rosaceous hosts: Malus, Crataegus, Amelanchier, Pyrus etc. Keep Rosaceous and Juniper hosts separated from eachother where possible. Apply protectant fungicides (such as Nova) to Rosaceous hosts when the Juniper galls start to sporulate this spring. For photos of galls: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~thsiang/rust/rust.htm.
Cedar-quince rust is sporulating on Juniperus scopulorm in container production. Monitor for the small, orange masses on older twigs. Remove infected twigs or treat susceptible alternate hosts where possible.
Brown shoots on juniper may be a symptom of juniper tip blight (Kabatina is the fungus most commonly found in S. Ontario samples). We saw some on Juniperus scopulorum this week. A small grey band or pinched grey canker can be found at the base of the infected shoot, this is where the spores come from in early fall. Where plants are still dormant, PRUNE OUT DEAD SHOOTS during DRY conditions and remove shoots to reduce disease spread. Disinfect pruning shears between each cut (e.g. rubbing alcohol, other sterilants) to reduce disease spread. Where cankers are found, copper and Dithane are registered to protect new growth in summer.
Volutella blight on boxwood has been detected on some propagative stock of boxwood. Symptoms include black tissue discolouration along stems, tiny orange cushion-like fruiting structures and tip dieback and browning. Although the disease is worse in propagation zones, it can also be found in field production in moderate amounts. Care should be taken to avoid introducing Volutella blight through cuttings from infected plants. Remember, Volutella is often associated with wounds, keep the mother plants protect with fungicides once any pruning or cuttings are taken in the spring.
Where leaf cupping and distortion was a problem last year, look for tiny, orange eggs and newly-hatched nymphs of the boxwood psyllid. The eggs hatch as the new leaves begin to emerge. The nymphs are yellowish-green at first but later secrete a white, waxy substance that can be seen on new foliage and on the nymphs themselves. Treat with insecticides such as insecticidal soap, carbaryl (Sevin) to reduce populations of newly hatched nymphs when new growth appears. Carbaryl is toxic to honeybees so avoid carbaryl applications on plants that are blooming. Where boxwood leafminer was a problem last year, treat new growth with a systemic insecticide (dimethoate) to limit damage from new generation larvae.
Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) was found on B&B Norway Spruce trees (Picea abies) last week. In spring, the early instar larvae feed on male flowers and may mine buds and needles. Older larvae feed on expanding shoots, destroying them before they can fully elongate. The small, green larvae were detected because of small patches of browned foliage that had tiny nests made of shoots wrapped together by silk. Larvae can cause defoliation and also browning of the needles. B.t. (Dipel) is an excellent biological insecticide for suppressing spruce budworm populations in mid-late spring.
Cedar leaf miner larvae have resumed feeding from the inside of leaf scales. Tear along the margin of green and brown tissue and check for the presence of tiny, yellow/green larvae with dark heads (to confirm CLM is the cause of the browning foliage). In the landscape, prune out infested foliage (twig tips) ASAP. Collect and destroy clippings to keep larvae from developing into adults before the first week of May. Foliar applications of systemic insecticides are much more effective when applied to young larvae (August). If no larvae can be found and interior tissue seems to be intact, CLM is not likely the cause of foliar damage (winter desiccation may be suspect).
Overwintering pine weevil adults are still active (Forsythia blooming) and mating on young twigs of pine and spruce right now. Monitor for small black/brown snout beetles around the foliage. Where populations are high, an application of contact insecticide (e.g. carbaryl) on foliage may help reduce numbers. Common weevil pests include white pine weevil (1/4 inch long, two white spots on the back), northern pine weevil and pales weevil (1/2 inch long, brownish black). Pine root collar weevils also overwinter as adults (developmental stages are overlapping), but they feed and lay their eggs at the root collar.
Pine shoot beetle adults have emerged. The tiny beetles take flight after 2-3 days where temperatures reach 10-12oC. Adults lay eggs underneath the bark of stressed or dead pine trees and stumps. Those larvae will develop later in April and May. Remove brood material (i.e. trap (sentinel) logs, snags, dead/dying trees) before new progeny adults emerge (210 GDD, Base 10oC) to comply with the CFIA. All brood material must be burned, chipped (less than 2cm diameter) or buried (30 cm deep) to comply with CFIA standards.
European pine sawfly larvae will be just starting to hatch (where Acer platanoides are in late bloom, Pyrus calleryena ‘Bradford’ begin bloom). Look for tiny, green-tan larvae with dark heads clustered against needles (they really blend in against the foliage!). They can be easily destroyed or manually removed this when they are still small (~1 cm). A low toxic pesticide choice is Success. Closely examine pine trees and shrubs such as Pinus sylvestris, Pinus mugo, Pinus nigra.
Cooley spruce gall adelgid and eastern spruce gall adelgid overwintering females are laying their eggs (under white, woolly masses) and are no longer susceptible to pesticide applications. Galls do not usually have much effect on plant growth but appear unsightly in summer when they turn brown.
Monitor for overwintering Balsam twig aphid eggs on terminal buds on fir, white spruce, Colorado spruce and juniper, they are susceptible to dormant oil applications. Eggs will be hatching in the coming weeks and stem mothers (nymphs) will be developing later this month. The tiny, bluish grey aphid stem mothers can be found on terminal buds. Monitor for stem mothers and apply Diazinon, Malathion and Tristar on warm days NOW (55 to 78 GDD Base 10oC) to target these stem mothers (before the bud caps loosen off).
Photos:
http://www.insectimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=321 http://ctrees.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/PestsofTrueFir.pdf
Taxus or Fletcher Scale nymphs have overwintered on foliage of Thuja and Taxus. Applications of insecticides may give some suppression of this pest at this time (but nymphs were more susceptible in mid-to-late summer of last year). Nymphs will be feeding and producing copious amounts of honeydew in the next 4-6 weeks.
Monitor for eggs of spruce spider mite on conifers with a history of mite damage. Spruce spider mite eggs appear as very tiny, round, reddish-brown spheres that adhere to the UNDERSIDES of twigs and foliage this time of year. You will require a hand lens to see them clearly. Monitor lower branches, this is where most of the feeding damage is done. Horticultural oil applications to target overwintering eggs should be finishing up now and miticide applications (e.g. Floramite, Kanemite, Vendex) should be ready to go for when mite eggs hatch in the coming weeks (Magnolia soulangiana in full bloom).
– See more at: https://lawnsavers.com/nursery-and-landscape-report-2011/nursery-and-landscape-report-for-may-11-2011.html#sthash.BxHqao9t.dpuf
