Landscape Message: April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019
Issue: 
3

UMass Extension's Landscape Message is an educational newsletter intended to inform and guide Massachusetts Green Industry professionals in the management of our collective landscape. Detailed reports from scouts and Extension specialists on growing conditions, pest activity, and cultural practices for the management of woody ornamentals, trees, and turf are regular features. The following issue has been updated to provide timely management information and the latest regional news and environmental data.

The Landscape Message will be updated weekly in April, May and June. The next message will be posted on April 19. To receive immediate notification when the next Landscape Message update is posted, be sure to join our e-mail list.

To read individual sections of the message, click on the section headings below to expand the content:

Scouting Information by Region

Environmental Data

The following data was collected on or about April 10, 2019. Total accumulated growing degree days (GDD) represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments for the 2019 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

MA Region/Location

GDD

Soil Temp
(°F at 4" depth)

Precipitation
(1-Week Gain)

Time/Date of Readings

1-Week Gain

2019 Total

Sun

Shade

CAPE

0.0

1.5

47

43

0.68

12:00 PM 4/10

SOUTHEAST

1.5

6.0

47

43

0.95

7:46 AM 4/10

NORTH SHORE

0.0

9.5

42

38

0.32

1:00 PM 4/9

EAST

2.5

15.0

48

43

1.09

4:30 PM 4/10

METRO

2.0

9.0

45

39

1.10

4:30 PM 4/10

CENTRAL

2.0

7.5

39

39

0.89

4:00 PM 4/10

PIONEER VALLEY

1.0

8.5

49

43

1.22

3:00 PM 4/10

BERKSHIRES

0.0

9.0

45

40

0.90

10:15 AM 4/10

AVERAGE

1.0

8.0

45

41

0.89

-

n/a = information not available

Phenology

Indicator Plants - Stages of Flowering (BEGIN, BEGIN/FULL, FULL, FULL/END, END)
PLANT NAME (Botanic/ Common) CAPE S.E. N.S. EAST METRO W. CENT. P.V. BERK.

Forsythia x intermedia (border Forsythia)

Begin

Begin

Begin

Begin

*

*

Begin

*

Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris)

Full

Full

Begin/Full

Full

Begin

Begin

Begin/Full

*

Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry dogwood)

Begin/Full

Full

Begin/Full

Begin/Full

Begin/Full

Begin/Full

Full

Begin

Acer rubrum (red maple)

Begin

Full

Begin/Full

Full

Begin/Full

Begin/Full

Full

Begin

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Full

Begin/Full

Full

Begin/Full

Full

Full

Full

Begin
* = no activity to report/information not available

Regional Notes

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable)

General Conditions: The average temperature over the last week was 44.5˚F with a high of 57˚F on April 6 and a low of 33˚F on April 7. During the period, approximately three-quarters of an inch of precipitation fell during several small rain events. Overall, the period has been seasonably chilly. Galanthus spp. and Narcissus spp. are in bloom. Magnolia stellata is beginning to open. Some apples and crabapples are in the green tip stage.

Pests/Problems: There are few pests to report at this time. Hemlock woolly adelgid is active. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is beginning to bloom. It’s time to think about pre-emergent crabgrass controls. Blacklegged ticks are active.

Southeast Region (New Bedford)

General Conditions: Early spring continues with cool temperatures and high winds. Evening temperatures are dropping into the low 20’s and 30’s. Day temperatures are getting into the mid 50’s which feel cooler due to wind, cloud cover, and moisture levels. With almost an inch of rain this week the soils are moist and heavy yet workable. Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood), Helleborus spp., Forsythia ovata (early Forsythia), Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’, Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), and early daffodil cultivars are just beginning to bloom. Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry dogwood), Cornus officinalis (Japanese Cornelian cherry), Stachyurus praecox (Stachyurus), and Lindera obtusiloba (Japanese spicebush) continue to bloom. Abeliophyllum distichum (white Forsythia), Corylopsis spicata (spike winter hazel), and Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' (pink dawn Viburnum) are blooming this week.

Pests/Problems: Due to cool temperatures, there is not much to report on pests and diseases. Early spring weeds are popping up. Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) emerged in full force while bittercress is blooming and Ficaria verna (lesser celandine) is in bud. Hemlock woolly adelgid is active and monitoring for winter moth is on the spring tasks list.

North Shore (Beverly)

General Conditions: The weather this reporting period was variable. The first few days of the period were mild, with day temperatures in the mid 50s to low 60s (degrees Fahrenheit). However, the night temperatures were colder - in the mid 30s. Because of the low night temperatures, there were no growing degree day accumulations during this reporting period. Soils are well saturated as a result of the rains in the last few days. Landscapers and homeowners are busy with spring cleanup, but it is difficult to work the soil in these conditions. Wait for the soil to dry out before digging or planting. Approximately 0.49 inches of rain were received at Long Hill during the week of 4/3 to 4/10. The cold weather has slowed down the flowering of most plants that bloom during this time of the year. However, the weather forecast for next week calls for temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. This will help accelerate plant growth and flowering for some trees and shrubs. Woody plants observed in bloom include: Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas), goat willow (Salix caprea), Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica), Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis), ‘Arnold’s Promise’ witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia), American filbert (Corylus americana), February Daphne (Daphne mezereum), and fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum farreri). Early spring flowering bulbs seen in bloom include: Siberian squill (Scilla siberica), Puschkinia (Puschkinia libanotica), white Tommy Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus), glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa), mini daffodil (Narcissus spp.) and hellebores (Helleborus orientalis).

Pests/Problems: Ticks are active so begin to monitor yourself for them. Continue to prune off broken branches, but wait for some time until growth begins before pruning branches and twigs showing dieback to make sure they are actually dead.

East Region (Boston)

General Conditions: The slow start to spring has continued. Low temperatures over this past week ranged from 24˚F to 38˚F, averaging 34˚F. High temperatures ranged from 41˚F to 67˚F, averaging 55˚F. We received precipitation on five of seven days, accumulating 1.09 inches of total rainfall. We gained 2.5 GDDs for a total of 15 so far this year. Plants in bloom include: Abeliophylum distichum (white Forsythia), Cornus officianalis (Japanese cornel dogwood), Corylopsis coreana (Korean winter hazel), Forsythia x intermedia ‘Courtasol’ “Gold Tide®”, Lindera obtusiloba (Japanese spicebush), Lonicera x purpusii (Purpus honeysuckle), Magnolia stellata (star Magnolia), Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood), Rhododendron dauricum and R. mucronulatum (both Korean Rhododendrons), Salix gracilistyla (rose-gold pussy willow), Salix gracilistyla var. melanostachys (black pussy willow) and Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ (Bodnant Viburnum). Siberian squill, Crocus spp. and hellebores continue to flower while daffodils are just beginning.

Pests/Problems: At only 15 GDDs, insect activity has been minimal. Tiny Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) seedlings have emerged in disturbed areas. Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bittercress) and Lamium purpureum (red dead nettle) are flowering. Many Rhododendrons and other broadleaf evergreens are showing various signs of wilt and dieback. There is still time to remove Viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) egg masses from infected Viburnum.

Metro West (Acton)

General Conditions: As the proverb says, “April showers bring May flowers”. The first round of April showers came and left us with some flowers, erosion, saturated soils, warm temperatures, swollen buds, and greening lawns. Average rainfall total for the month of April is 4.16” and I have recorded 1.10” for the first nine days of this month so far. Since the last report, one week ago, there has been a gain of only 2 growing degree days, resulting in little progress with seasonal blooming. However, observed in some stage of bloom this past week were the following woody plants: Acer rubrum (red maple), Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry dogwood), C. officinalis (Japanese Cornelian Cherry), Hamamelis x intermedia cultivars (witch hazel), Magnolia stellata (star Magnolia), and Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris). The following bulbs and herbaceous plants are in bloom: Adonis amurensis (amur Adonis), Chionodoxa spp. (glory-of-the-snow), Crocus spp. (Crocus), Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop), Helleborus niger (Christmas rose), Narcissus spp. (daffodil), Petasites japonicus (Japanese butterbur), Puschkinia libanotica (striped squill), Scilla siberica (Siberian squill), and Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage). Other signs of spring observed in the landscape are: buds swelling on the Forsythia spp., Fothergilla spp., Lindera benzoin (spicebush), Syringa spp., and Viburnum spp.; the sounds of peepers in the early evening hours can be heard; street sweepers are out doing their thing, the smell of controlled burn brush fires, and landscape crews out in full force completing spring and winter storm clean ups and spreading mulch.

Pests/Problems: The wind has been persistent, with gusts recorded up to 23 mph, which has resulted in a number of residual broken tree limbs falling to the ground. In most cases, these were hangers that were previously broken in one of our winter storms. Soils are well saturated. Deer, ticks and rodents are active and feeding. Allium vineale (wild garlic) has exploded with the rain and heat over the past weekend - its leaves seemed to have appeared overnight!

Central Region (Boylston)

General Conditions: Colder than average temperatures have slightly delayed the onset of spring here in central Massachusetts. Magnolias are just beginning to show signs of opening, Forsythia are showing signs of color, but not yet blooming. Witch-hazels are still holding strong. New this week are Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, our earliest blooming cultivar. Although we haven’t recorded much precipitation in April, it has rained more often than not for the past week.

Pests/Problems: There is nothing significant to report over the past week. Lots of signs of winter vole activity and deer browse continue to be a problem, but we’re still cutting back winter deadwood so have not yet seen many signs of pest and disease issues.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst)

General Conditions: High temperatures over this past reporting period continued to oscillate, ranging from the mid-40s to over 70°F, while low temperatures ranged from the mid-30s to the high 40s. The weekend weather (4/6 and 4/7) was some of the best we’ve experienced so far this year, with plentiful sun and mild temperatures. It was a great time to be outdoors, where there’s so much to do this time of year! Spring winds continue to blanket the valley and red flag warnings, indicating high wildfire risk, were issued during the week. Despite the burst of recent rainfall on 4/8 and 4/9, soils are slowly beginning to drain and are not nearly as saturated as they were immediately after the snow melted. However, if soil compaction is a concern, then care should be taken to avoid low spots in the landscape. Numerous trees and shrubs on the UMass campus have swollen or broken buds, including: elm, katsura, birch, maple, Viburnum, larch, honeysuckle, crabapple, serviceberry and Forsythia, among others. Lawn grasses are noticeably greening and there’s still plenty of time for pre-emergent applications to control crabgrass. After last year’s banner season, expect a heavy seed bank waiting to explode once soil temperatures consistently surpass the mid-50s. As a general rule of thumb, crabgrass seed begins germinating around the time that Forsythia blooms are dropping. While seed germination continues through the season, the bulk of the overwintering seed germinates in the spring. According to the Northeast Regional Climate Center, March in the Pioneer Valley was drier than average with near-normal to slightly below-average temperatures.

Pests/Problems: White pine weevil is a concern now that temperatures are regularly exceeding 50°F. Inspect the terminal leader of eastern white pine, Norway spruce and Douglas-fir for feeding injury. Adults overwinter in the organic layer beneath trees and feed and oviposit in the terminal shoot. Young and vigorous trees in full sun are most susceptible to infestation. Scout conifer needles for armored scales such as the elongate hemlock scale and pine needle scale. Treatment for these pervasive pests should take place once new growth has flushed. Also, scout for rust mite and spider mite injury on landscape conifers, especially hemlock and spruce. The Magnolia scale was a very abundant pest in the landscape last season. Horticultural oil can be applied now to smother overwintering nymphs. If a systemic is used, wait until after bloom to protect pollinators. It’s become clear that despite the fact that the 2018–2019 winter was not especially cold, winter burn on Rhododendron and azalea was considerable in the area. The exact type of winter injury that plants experienced remains a bit of a mystery. In nearly all locations, we can rule out drought stress inhibiting cold weather acclimation, given the overabundance of rainfall last year. Also, the region did not experience a major winter thaw in January or February that would have dramatically warmed the foliage, leading to excessive transpiration and subsequent desiccation. However, plants in direct sun can experience transpirational water loss and desiccation during the winter, which is why Rhododendron naturally curl their leaves to reduce their surface area.

Taking a closer look at this past winter’s weather may offer some insights as to the exact stress. Throughout the Pioneer Valley, we experienced a very cold November, with temperatures 3–5°F below normal. It’s possible that plants were not fully acclimated and were injured at this time, as the region saw single digit temperatures on 11/23. Conversely, December was 1–3°F warmer than average and high temperatures of 65°F (12/21) and 59°F (12/22) were recorded late in the month. As the calendar turned to 2019, both January and February temperatures were near-normal. Ambient air temperatures dropped below zero in late January and early February (1/21–1/22 and 1/31–2/2). Coupled with strong winds, wind chill values of -20°F to -30°F were certainly possible in many locations, leading to freeze injury. It’s also possible that desiccation from winds alone was enough to cause injury. This is especially apparent on plants where lower branches covered under snow appear healthy, while upper canopy branches that were fully exposed are injured. Recent examination of mature Rhododendrons with symptoms of winter burn in the UMass Rhododendron garden shows that while many upper canopy shoots have curled and pale green leaves, the buds and shoots are still viable. With that in mind, it may be best to wait until mid-May before deciding to prune out winter-injured shoots and branches. PJM Rhododendrons, known for their extreme winter hardiness, appear mostly unscathed.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington)

General Conditions: A snowfall of 1.4 inches (more at higher elevations and certain locations on the New York border of Berkshire County) on April 5th and a couple of days of brief showers left soils too wet for most planting. Despite a high of 64˚F on 4/7, temperatures during the scouting period were at or just below normal. Consequently, there was no change in total Growing Degree Days from the last report. Plant development was slow during the period. Hamamelis x intermedia cultivars remain in bloom as does winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), species Crocus (Crocus chrysanthus, C. tomasinianus), and snowdrops (Galanthus spp.). Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae), Iris reticulata and Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) are also blooming. High winds averaging 18 mph, with gusts to 35-40 mph, brought down branches and a few trees which caused some brief power outages on April 4th. As mentioned, soils are still quite wet and it is advisable to stay off turfgrass. Turfgrass is just starting to green up but has shown little growth as of April 10th. With warming temperatures over the weekend of 4/13, growth of turfgrass should pick up speed.

Pests/Problems: Due to the cool temperatures, pest development has been slow or non-existent. On the otherhand, there have been more and more reports of deer ticks attaching themselves to those working outdoors. This LM scout received a tick bite after just a brief trek in a leaf-laden area. Reports from various health and environmental agencies predict a very high population of these ticks this year. Learn and make the time to implement protective measures to avoid attachment of deer ticks (also called blacklegged ticks) and other ticks when working in grassy and/or shrubby areas. Boxwood leaf miner larvae are actively feeding within the leaves of boxwood. They can be viewed by using a scalpel or sharp knife to slice into the “bubbles” on the undersides of leaves. Pruning boxwood and disposing of the debris will help in the management of this pest. Winter desiccation is evident on many broadleaf and needled evergreens. It seems that dwarf Alberta spruce were particularly affected in this area.

Regional Scouting Credits

  • CAPE COD REGION - Russell Norton, Horticulture and Agriculture Educator with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, reporting from Barnstable.
  • SOUTHEAST REGION - Kristin McCullin, Horticulturist reporting from Haskell Public Gardens, New Bedford.
  • NORTH SHORE REGION - Geoffrey Njue, Green Industry Specialist, UMass Extension, reporting from the Long Hill Reservation, Beverly.
  • EAST REGION - Kit Ganshaw & Sue Pfeiffer, Horticulturists, reporting from the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain.
  • METRO WEST REGION – Julie Coop, Forester, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, reporting from Acton.
  • CENTRAL REGION - Mark Richardson, Director of Horticulture reporting from Tower Hill Botanic Garden,Boylston.
  • PIONEER VALLEY REGION - Nick Brazee, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, reporting from UMass Amherst.
  • BERKSHIRE REGION - Ron Kujawski, Horticultural Consultant, reporting from Great Barrington.

Woody Ornamentals

Diseases

Recent pests and pathogens of interest seen in the UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab (https://ag.umass.edu/services/plant-diagnostics-laboratory):

Monitoring at the UMass Cold Springs Orchard shows that the apple scab pathogen, Venturia inaequalis, is not yet active. As crabapples and apples leaf out, they are very susceptible to the primary apple scab infection. Once established in the foliage, the pathogen will asexually reproduce, continuing to re-infect the leaf and nearby leaves whenever environmental conditions allow. Last year, premature leaf shedding due to apple scab began in late May. However, because of the ample moisture from July onward, trees were still flushing new growth into late July, compensating for the loss of blighted leaves. But by late August to late September, many landscape trees were badly defoliated due to the disease. Most crabapples and apples in the landscape do not require fungicide treatment, but if trees are newly transplanted or part of a home orchard, then applications may be warranted to lessen the stress.

Phyllosticta leaf spot on American holly (Ilex opaca). Mature hedge that resides in full sun with well-drained, loamy soils. Over this past winter, yellowing leaves were observed in the canopy. Phyllosticta is a common foliar pathogen on various Ilex species and injury is often associated with predisposing stresses typical of landscape settings. If blighted leaves and shoots can be pruned out then no further action is required.

Rhizosphaera needle cast of blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’). Mature tree, estimated at 30-years-old, growing in a half-sun setting but generally neglected. The lower canopy was exhibiting symptoms of needle blight and Rhizosphaera was abundant on the submitted needles. Marginally hardy in this region, blue atlas cedar can suffer significant winter burn if exposed to persistent winds. Rhizosphaera is common on true cedars (Cedrus) but the diffuse canopies of blue atlas cedar help to keep outbreaks less severe compared to spruce.

Report by Nick Brazee, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, UMass Amherst.

Insects

Woody ornamental insect and non-insect arthropod pests to consider, a selected few:

This wood-boring beetle readily attacks ash (Fraxinus spp.) including white, green, and black ash and has also been found developing in white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) and most recently, has been reported in cultivated olive (Olea europaea). Adult insects of this species will not be present at this time of year. Signs of an EAB infested tree may include (at this time) D-shaped exit holes in the bark (from adult emergence in previous years), “blonding” or lighter coloration of the ash bark from woodpecker feeding (chipping away of the bark as they search for larvae beneath), and serpentine galleries visible through splits in the bark, from larval feeding beneath. Positive identification of an EAB-infested tree may not be possible with these signs individually on their own.

  • Winter Moth: (Operophtera brumata) The eggs of this insect, if they can be found, were laid by the females who emerged in November of 2018 and were active through the winter months (mainly November through December when temperatures are above freezing). Eggs are currently present in the landscape and hidden in cracks and crevices of bark or beneath lichen on host plants such as oak, maple, apple, blueberry, crabapple, etc. Eggs are tiny and green when first laid, but quickly turn a red-orange color soon after. At this time, anyone monitoring winter moth eggs will most likely see that they are orange in color. As the egg develops, it will turn a bright blue color, shortly prior to egg hatch. For more information about the life cycle and management of winter moth, please visit thisfact sheet: Winter Moth Identification and Management https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/winter-moth-identification-management

Winter moth is a non-native insect that was identified in Massachusetts for the first time in 2003 following persistent reports of defoliation in eastern areas of the state such as Cape Anne and on the North Shore near Cohasset, Hingham, and Rockland on the South Shore in the late 1990’s. For more detailed information about the history of this insect pest in North America and Massachusetts, please visit this fact sheet: Winter Moth in Massachusetts: History and Biological Control https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/winter-moth-in-massachusetts-history-biological-control

  • Gypsy Moth:(Lymantria dispar) Egg masses laid by female moths in 2018 can be seen at this time. This is the stage of the insect that overwinters. Egg masses are “fuzzy” or hairy and brownish-tan in color. Each egg mass can hold up to 500-1000 eggs. These masses may be found on host plant trunks and branches such as oak (favored), maple, birch, poplar, and many others, but are also laid on inanimate objects including the surfaces of homes, outdoor furniture, camping equipment, firewood piles, etc. This may make the accidental movement of gypsy moth egg masses possible.

Egg hatch for this insect is also not yet upon us, and occurs after winter moth egg hatch. Gypsy moth egg hatch typically occurs between 90 -100 growing degree days, using a base of 50°F and average temperatures. This is usually around the first week in May in Massachusetts, but variations in temperature may lead to early egg hatch in the last week in April. This can also coincide with serviceberry (Amelanchier) bloom. After egg hatch occurs, groups of tiny gypsy moth caterpillars may remain on their egg mass just before crawling to the canopy of their host plant, where they can disperse using a technique known as “ballooning”. Ballooning occurs when very young caterpillars spin a silken thread and catch the wind to blow onto a new host plant once the thread breaks. This method of dispersal can lead to host plants becoming defoliated that previously did not have egg masses directly on them, however egg masses may be present on nearby oaks, for example, and provide a local population of caterpillars.

Now (until before the last week in April) is a great time to scout the landscape and count the number of gypsy moth egg masses present not only on valuable landscape specimens that are hosts for this insect, but on nearby forested hosts such as oak which might provide sources of ballooning caterpillars. Egg mass counts can help us make decisions regarding whether or not to manage for this insect. Some individuals also use this opportunity to scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, although this is time consuming and some egg masses will be missed.

  • Asian Longhorned Beetle: (Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB) Look for signs of an ALB infestation which include perfectly round exit holes (about the size of a dime), shallow oval or round scars in the bark where a female has chewed an egg site, or sawdust-like frass (excrement) on the ground nearby host trees or caught in between branches. These particular signs of damage from the beetle may be more visible at this time of year, when host trees such as maples are leafless. Be advised that other, native insects may create perfectly round exit holes or sawdust-like frass which can be confused with signs of ALB activity.

The regulated area for Asian longhorned beetle is 110 miles2 encompassing Worcester, Shrewsbury, Boylston, West Boylston, and parts of Holden and Auburn. If you believe you have seen damage caused by this insect, such as exit holes or egg sites, on susceptible host trees like maple, please call the Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program office in Worcester, MA at 508-852-8090 or toll free at 1-866-702-9938. Adult insects of this species will not be present at this time of year.

To report an Asian longhorned beetle find online or compare it to common insect look-alikes, visit: http://massnrc.org/pests/albreport.aspx or https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pests-diseases/alb/report

Concerned that you may have found an invasive insect or suspicious damage caused by one? Need to report a pest sighting? If so, please visit the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project: http://massnrc.org/pests/pestreports.htm .

A note about Tick Awareness: deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) are all found throughout Massachusetts. Each can carry their own complement of diseases. Anyone working in tick habitats (wood-line areas, forested areas, and landscaped areas with ground cover) should check themselves regularly for ticks while practicing preventative measures. Have a tick and need it tested? Visit the web page of the UMass Laboratory of Medical Zoology (www.tickdiseases.org) and click on the red Test a Tick button for more information.

Reported by Tawny Simisky, Extension Entomologist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery, & Urban Forestry Program

Plant of the Week

Looking for early spring color? Lindera benzoin is a native shrub with early yellow flower.

https://extension.umass.edu/plant-identification/spice-bush

Report by Mandy Bayer, Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture, UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture

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Diagnostic Services

A UMass Laboratory Diagnoses Landscape and Turf Problems - The UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab is available to serve commercial landscape contractors, turf managers, arborists, nurseries and other green industry professionals. It provides woody plant and turf disease analysis, woody plant and turf insect identification, turfgrass identification, weed identification, and offers a report of pest management strategies that are research based, economically sound and environmentally appropriate for the situation. Accurate diagnosis for a turf or landscape problem can often eliminate or reduce the need for pesticide use. For sampling procedures, detailed submission instructions and a list of fees, see Plant Diagnostics Laboratory

Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing - The University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory is located on the campus of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Testing services are available to all. The function of the Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory is to provide test results and recommendations that lead to the wise and economical use of soils and soil amendments. For complete information, visit the UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory web site. Alternatively, call the lab at (413) 545-2311.

Ticks are active at this time! Remember to take appropriate precautions when working and playing outdoors, and conduct daily tick checks. UMass tests ticks for the presence of Lyme disease and other disease pathogens. Learn more