~Hudson
Valley Horticulture~ Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley ~~~~~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~~~~~ Volume 6, Issue 9 September 8, 2006 |
Participating Counties: Dutchess * Orange * Putnam * Rockland * Sullivan
* Ulster * Westchester *
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I was a bit surprised when I recently learned that crabgrass was once promoted as a grain crop in the United States. But why be surprised? Many of our most troublesome pests are imports, introduced with the best of intentions and without much thought to the consequences. Crabgrass supposedly evolved on the continent of Africa. It was one of the earliest grain crops, preceding wheat and other grains. Europeans discovered it and used it in Europe before they inadvertently brought it to the United States as a contaminant in fodder and food. The United States Patent Office (the forerunner of the United States Department of Agriculture) allegedly imported crabgrass around 1850 to help provide forage for farm animals. The grass was very successful, so much so that it fell into disfavor because it encroached upon cultivated field crops, yards, and gardens. Thus, its popularity as a forage diminished up until the past thirty years during which crabgrass has been regaining its legitimacy as a forage crop with producers and the academic sector. However, the homeowners and gardeners perception of crabgrass is still not favorable. According to Andy Senesac, Cornell University Weed Scientist, crabgrass is probably the most troublesome weed that we have, annually costing millions of dollars for control by chemicals and mulches. Despite this intensive level of control, crabgrass continues to be a serious weed in many of the same sites that it is managed, like home lawns and landscaped areas. Crabgrass will persist as a weed in turf and landscape
regardless of its standing as a forage crop. Where it is not wanted,
it can be effectively managed through early detection and timely action.
If you would like more information on crabgrass management, contact
your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program representative. Return
to Index ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 22, 2006) Maryland officials today
confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
in ash trees located in the Clinton/Brandywine area of southern Prince
Georges County. The affected trees were discovered during survey and
eradication efforts begun after the detection of the insect in Maryland
in 2003, when a Michigan nurseryman shipped infested trees into a Prince
Georges County nursery. DNR foresters together with MDA are proactively following this course of action to safeguard Maryland's trees on both private and public lands, neighborhood trees and the nursery industry, said DNR Secretary of C. Ronald Franks. Since 2003, efforts to eradicate the insect included the collection and destruction of all trees sent to Maryland from the Michigan nurseryman, destruction of all ash trees within a mile radius of the introduction point, and three years of surveillance, which produced no emerald ash borers until now. Maryland's nursery and greenhouse industry accounts for
$303 million of the states $1.4 billion agriculture industry. Ash is
the most common tree in Baltimore with approximately 293,000 trees and
accounts for about six million trees in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service has
created an online tool, available at www.nrcs.usda.gov/energy
, which helps to increase energy awareness in agriculture. The website
contains energy estimators on the topics of tillage, nitrogen, and irrigation.
The recently added irrigation estimator enables growers to enter information
about their irrigation system and receive an analysis of changes they
could make that could result in a savings of energy and/or water. EPA Issues New Rules About Pesticide Containers EPA's final regulations, "Standards for Pesticide
Containers and Containment" were published on August 16, 2006 (Federal
Register Vol. 71, Number 158, pp. 47329 - 47437. The rules govern refillable
and non-refillable containers, repackaging, labeling and containment
structures. Most of the new ruling pertains to manufacturers, but if
your business re-sells products, you should take a look. Also, the "containment
structures" part will affect all of us. A summary of these regulations
can be accessed from the following link: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/container_requirements.pdf Invasives Benefit from Altered Environment University of Michigan researchers have found that invasive
species (in this case, cattails) alter the environment to make it inhospitable
to native species in order to benefit themselves, the invader. Check
web-site for full article. < http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2006/Aug06/r080906
> http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html? Dutchess County I am still seeing interesting dieback symptoms on two year old growth of Douglas fir. It seems stress from the rainy and cold spring have spurred needle damage that resembles Siroccus or botrytis blight. An interesting discovery though...a Douglas fir sample sent up to the diagnostic lab yielded a result of Diplodia tip blight. I was very surprised as I only usually associate Diplodia on pines. The literature does list Diplodia as occurring on Douglas fir. The Diagnostic Lab however, felt this infection was secondary to the primary problem which is most likely environmental. Rhododendron lace bugs are still active. Damage from this
pest can mimic spider mite damage. When looking at the top surface of
the leaf a stippling similar to the stippling caused by spider mites
is evident. But if you turn the leaf over you can find both immature
and mature stages of the lace bug feeding (nymphs and adults). The conspicuous
varnish-like excrement is evident on the underside of the leaves. Orange County During our field site visits, we have continued to observe
many of the usual diseases that occur on ornamental plantings during
this time of the year including Black spot on Roses and Powdery mildew
on a wide number of ornamentals including Lilac, Peony, and Phlox. The
warm weather of August can encourage very high populations of Two-Spotted
Spider Mites and thus monitoring for feeding damage is important. Keep
an eye out for Spruce Spider Mite populations that may begin to reappear
on conifers with the onset of cooler nights. We continue to note many
of the other diseases mentioned in our last update including Guignardia
leafblotch on Horse-chestnut and Dutch Elm Disease or Elm yellows symptoms
on Elm trees. Samples from the lab are numerous and have included Fusarium
dry rot & Fusarium root rot on beans, Sawfly feeding damage on hibiscus,
and European pine shoot moth feeding on (in) the shoot tips of Mugho
pine. Also, based on our samples and phone calls, this has truly been
a banner year for the large, ground-nesting Cicada Killer Wasps that
generally don't sting but catch the attention of many a passer-by! Are you looking for cutting-edge information from Cornell University on total landscape care, cultural practices and plant establishment? If so, sign up for the Landscape Management Short Course. Each session will include presentations and open dialogue on all aspects of grounds care including turf management, plant selection, pest management, trees, shrubs, and flowering bedding plants. The program will be useful to any horticulture industry professional who installs and maintains landscapes in an urban or suburban setting such as arborists, turf professionals, gardeners, contractors, municipal grounds professionals parks and institutional grounds employees. Topics covered include: Basic soils, tree and shrub care, pruning, fertilizer calibration for woody plants, turf management and the selection and care of annuals, perennials and ground covers. Notable speakers include Richard Weir III, Scott Clark, Ralph Tuthill and Dr.Tamson Yeh. Classes will be held at Farmingdale State University on eight Thursday evenings, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, September 21st to November 9th, 2006. No testing will occur but DEC, ISA and CNP recertification credits will be awarded to those attending all eight sessions! Information/Registration Fees: A registration fee of $400.00 includes course related Cornell publications/ handouts and refreshments. Checks should be made payable to Cornell University. For further registration details contact Richard Weir at 516-922-1956 or rw38@cornell.edu Workshop: Working Together for the Landscape
of Tomorrow
On Wednesday morning, November 1st, Jim and Peter will conduct the workshop, Introduction to Using Growth Regulators. Proper use of plant growth regulators is a critical part of producing high quality crops that do not become overgrown in your production or retail greenhouse, but do grow out for customers and are not stunted. Jim and Peter will share the basics for using commercially available growth regulators to effectively manage plant size. Learn how they work, and when to use sprays, sprenches (heavy soil surface spray), drenches, and liner dips. Come learn how to best use growth regulators on plugs, bedding plants, vegetative annuals, pot crops and more. On Wednesday afternoon, Jim and Peter will conduct the workshop Advanced Workshop on Using Plant Growth Regulators. Whats new in PGRs? How do growing media components affect PGR activity? Get your questions answered and come hear about new ways to use plant growth regulators. Stretch your knowledge base with cutting-edge research-based information presented by Jim and Peter. To be added to our mailing list to receive the 2006 New England Greenhouse Conference Program or for more information, contact: Cindy Delaney, Show Coordinator, 1 Main Street, No. 36, Winooski, VT 05404, Phone: 802-655-7769, Fax: 802-655-7769 Email: delaney@sover.net or visit our web site: www.negreenhouse.org Mark your Calendars Today for this Continuing Education Opportunity for Golf Turf Professionals: Make plans to attend Cornell's Advanced Golf Pest Management
Short Course, January 24, 25, 26, 2007 on the Cornell campus in Ithaca,
New York A printable version of the Hudson Valley 2006 Regional Horticulture Program Calendar is available online at the following link: http://www.cce.cornell.edu/ulster/Ag/AGEVENTS.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're not
already a member, please consider joining the Tri-County Nurseryman/Landscape
Association, Region 7 of the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association.
It's a great way to network, learn and meet other people within our
industry. Certified
Landscape Technician Training |
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