Landscape Problems

I talked about this at about the same time last year but the problem has not gone away.  The scale problem on hollies has only gotten worse when gone untreated.  After a consult yesterday with Dr. Lee Townsend it turns out we are fighting Cottony Camelia Scale.  Cottony camellia scale is a sap-feeding insect that infests camellia, holly, yew, euonymus and maple. Infested plants usually have a significant amount of black sooty mold growing on the sugary “honeydew” or liquid waste produced by the insects.  Heavy infestations may cause the leaves to turn light green in the spring. The easily overlooked flat females, living on the underside of leaves, are about 1/8 inch long, oval and yellowish tan with a brown margin. However, they produce very noticeable elongate white cottony sacs containing several hundred eggs.

Management alternatives:

Light infestations often can be managed by hand-picking and destroying infested leaves. Remove any cottony egg masses found on leaves in mid- to late May.

Prune and destroy more heavily infested leaves and branches when practical.

Crawlers hatch from these eggs from late May through June. They settle on the undersides of the leaves to feed on sap and grow through winter. This is the stage that is most vulnerable to control with insecticides or insecticidal soap. Treatment should be made in late June. Use of insecticidal soap helps to preserve natural enemies of the scale.

Use a superior dormant oil spray during the winter to kill overwintering scales on the foliage.

Whitehall and Locust Grove trip with Master Gardeners

Some of the Master Gardeners and I took a little day trip on Saturday to Louisville to visit the gardens at Whitehall and the gardeners fair at Locust Grove historic home.  We saw some bueautiful sites including the Peonies in full bloom at Whitehall.  The white Peony to the right is called Krinkled White and was an absolutely striking.  This would be considered an open faced single peony.  The pink Peony pictured is called Pink Giggles and I believe the picture says it all. 

The Garden Fair had it all and featured plants from Bob Hills place, and many other locations around Kentuckiana.  It was a wonderful trip for all involved.

Fruit Facts

The April - May issue of Fruit Facts is posted on our Horticulture Web site in the pdf format at:

http://www.ca.uky.edu/fruitfacts/
Please note the Fruit Grower Orchard Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 19th at Reid’s Orchard in Owensboro.

Articles in this issue include:

Fruit Crop News
Upcoming Meetings
Fruit Grower Orchard Meeting
Scab Infections Are Likely on Apple and Crabapple
Fruit Disease Forecasting Using Kentucky Mesonet Weather Data
KyFarmStart: Kentucky’s Beginning Farmer Program
Fertilizer Price Update
Walnut Bunch Disease
Monsanto’s New Gambit: Fruits and Veggies
Receiving Fruit Facts Electronically on the Internet


John Strang, Extension Fruit Specialist University of Kentucky

Emerald Ash Borer

By Lee Townsend

The degree day model predicts the beginning of EAB emergence during this week in central Kentucky; it should reach its peak in about 2 weeks. Individual beetles live for about 3 weeks so adults could be around from mid-May through early July. Adults will feed on ash foliage high in the crown for several days before mating and laying eggs. Suspected infested ash trees outside of the EAB quarantine area (a triangular are bounded by Lexington – Louisville – Covington and the Body – Greenup county area should be reported to the Office of the State Entomologist (859) 257-5838. Insects suspected of being emerald ash borers can be taken to the Nelson County cooperative extension service office at 317 South Third Street Bardstown KY.

Severe storms over the past several days have knocked down a number of the purple EAB traps. The surveyors will be checking and rehanging downed traps so it is best to leave them where they can found and re-set.

Whats Eating my Oak leaves?

     Oaks can be stripped of their leaves practically overnight by May beetles. Active now, these beetles are approximately 1" long and cylindrical, color varies from brown to black.

     The species which attack oak feed at night, stripping the foliage and leaving only veins. Consequently, the damage is present but there is no sign of the cause. The beetles leave the trees during the day and may be found under leaves or grass around the tree. Sevin is very effective against these insects. The feeding period lasts for several days but one treatment should be sufficient.

     The larval stages are white grubs that feed on the roots of grasses. Large expanses of turf or pasture can produce thousands of these beetles. Fortunately, the beetles are around for only a short time and oaks will push out a new set of leaves.

This weeks Checklist

• Make sure to get your pre-emergence control down for crabgrass control.  The following is to an article from this blog from not to long ago. 
• If fruit trees look just a little light in color now would be a good time to apply a little nitrogen fertilize.  Don't apply to much but just enough to add good color.  
• Keep up spray programs on all fruit especially peaches and strawberries.  Captan will be an important spray during this heavy wet and dark time.  Spray Guide.
•  I know it is frustrating but make sure you wait until the soil dries out good before trying to plant flowers and vegetables.