Resources for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest
Landscape Report
Entomology
Dead leaves covering trees (image 1) or on the ground beneath them (image 2) in July would normally be a worrying sign for tree health, but this year much of the damage can be blamed on 17-year cicadas. This damage is unlikely to cause serious trouble for healthy, large trees and management is relatively simple.[Read More…]
Whether it be a hail storm, late frost, or an early season pest, springtime is when Mother Nature tests the patience of even the most experienced gardeners. While many gardeners have learned the hard way not to plant during a warm spell two weeks before the frost-free date, many more are unable to resist the[Read More…]
This past February was among the coldest and snowiest we had since 2014. Yet despite our discomfort, it won’t be an issue for most insect pests that attack landscape plants. Most species regularly survive winters that are far colder. Indeed, the snow cover probably protected many insects from freezing in this year’s winter weather. Insects[Read More…]
As the fall weather starts you might be tempted to put away your bugspray along with your shorts and flipflops but hold up! You still might need it. Some ticks may still be active well into the fall and even in the winter. These tiny animals are more than just a nuisance. They often carry[Read More…]
Most experienced gardeners will tell you that removing the dead foliage and stems of perennials and annuals in the fall is a great way to help next year’s garden get off to a good start. Removing the stubble and leaves can remove overwintering fungi and insects that can attack plants in the spring. It also[Read More…]
Have you noticed large, messy webs on trees? You may have seen a colony of fall webworms. These caterpillars hatch in mid-July but tend to become more noticeable as the summer progresses. They often eat branches bare of leaves but are they a threat to tree health? What do they look like? Fall webworms[Read More…]
The Purdue Landscape Report Team will begin a new, free online series that will start tomorrow (July 22) and follow the day after the newsletter every two weeks at noon Eastern time zone. The topics and speakers will vary each session, so check out the newsletter every two weeks to find out what follows the[Read More…]
Several caterpillar pests feed on trees and shrubs in July. Although most trees can tolerate some defoliation, the injury can be unsightly for much of the summer. Damage to plants can be reduced by timely applications of insecticides. Proper choice of insecticides can reduce impacts on pollinators and natural enemies of spider mites that do[Read More…]
Late frosts and wet weather were especially hard on oaks this spring. Surviving leaves on many oaks did not grow normally. Sustained warm weather in the summer will allow oaks to grow past their injury and thrive. Oak tatters is a common response to cold snaps in the late spring. Leaf growth is distorted. Affected[Read More…]
Trees and shrubs can lose their leaves for many reasons. The maple tree in the cover photo is planted in a parking lot, and mulched incorrectly. The parking lot location gives the tree much less access to rainwater than a tree planted in a park-like pavement free location. Deep mulch piled like a volcano aggravates[Read More…]
Jumping worms (a.k.a. snake worms, crazy worms, Amynthas spp.) While you’re gardening in the coming weeks keep your eyes peeled for jumping, wriggling worms. Asian jumping worms are spreading in the Midwest and they can do serious damage to your yard. Where are they from? No one is sure exactly how jumping worms were[Read More…]
Earthworms are not the only wigglers in the soil beneath your feet. Nematodes, microscopic roundworms, can be found in soil across the globe (even Antarctica!) and are often a barometer of soil and environmental health. However, the nematodes we encounter more frequently feed on plants and cause us, as plant stock producers and consumers, a[Read More…]
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