Biology: Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a winter annual broadleaf weed. In lawns, it forms dense, prostrate patches throughout North America, but can grow relatively tall in the landscape. Common chickweed germinates from seed in late summer or early fall. However, germination timings can vary throughout the year if conditions are shady, and moist enough. Identification: Common[Read More…]
Kyle Daniel
The time is now to start protecting your trees! Now that your ears are perked up, let’s talk a bit about Southwest injury on trees. Bark cracking (Fig.1) is a phenomenon that occurs in many species of trees and can have many causes. One of the most common types of bark cracking is termed Southwest[Read More…]
Biology: Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), also known as chufa (chufa is a non-weedy variety that is used for wildlife food plots and is not a cold hardy weed like yellow nutsedge), nutgrass, or watergrass, is a troublesome, difficult-to-control perennial weed found throughout the United States. It is important to understand that yellow nutsedge is not a grass[Read More…]
An abiotic stress in plants is a stress due to a non-living factor, such as temperature, moisture, herbicides, etc. Biotic stress includes a living organism, such as a fungi, insect, etc. This series will explore some of the most common types of abiotic stress you may find in landscapes and nurseries. What is wrong[Read More…]
The Purdue University College of Agriculture hosts a career fair every fall and spring semester. Over 150 companies attend, providing recruiters with the opportunity to educate students about their organizations, advertise positions and/or interview students for permanent or internship positions. During the fall, a Resume Blitz is held the day before the fair. The evening[Read More…]
On July 17th, at the Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, the Natural Resources Commission passed the preliminary adoption of the Terrestrial Plant Rule (TPR) (https://www.in.gov/nrc/files/lsa18316_proposed.pdf). This rule restricts the sale, distribution, and transport of 44 invasive plants, which were determined invasive based on scientific literature by the Indiana Invasive Species Council’s subcommittee, the Invasive[Read More…]
An abiotic stress in plants is a stress due to a non-living factor, such as temperature, moisture, herbicides, etc. Biotic stress includes a living organism, such as a fungi, insect, etc. This series will explore some of the most common types of abiotic stress you may find in landscapes and nurseries. We’ve all experienced the[Read More…]
This article, and many others, will be presented at the 2018 Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day on July 10th. Registration is open and available online: https://www.mrtf.org/event/turf-and-landscape-field-day/?event_date=2018-07-10 Here is the lineup for the field day. A cultural weed control method is one that involves steps to reduce or eliminate weeds via maintenance techniques. In landscapes, the[Read More…]
Biology: Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) is a perennial, broadleaf weed that can be found in nutrient-poor soils; however, they prefer nutrient rich-soils that are moist and often high in calcium. Broadleaf plantain is a common weed in turfgrass, nurseries, and landscapes. It germinates from seed in late spring through mid-to-late summer and occasionally in the[Read More…]
On May 2nd an apartment fire in Greenwood occurred that reportedly originated in the mulched landscape beds. Unfortunately 56 renters were displaced that day, but fortunately no injuries were reported. Several Indianapolis news organizations reported on the origins of the fire that included a couple of quotes that were not entirely accurate. One of[Read More…]
Translated by: Dania Rivera, Ornamental Horticulture Extension Specialist, University of Puerto Rico “El mejor momento para sembrar un árbol es veinte años atrás. El segundo mejor momento es ahora” Anónimo Si vas a hacer algo, hazlo correctamente la primera vez. Esto es cierto para muchos aspectos de la vida, pero, cuando se refiere a la[Read More…]
Biology: Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a common winter annual broadleaf weed found throughout the United States. It can often be mistaken for another closely related winter annual broadleaf, purple deadnettle. Both can be observed by their showy pink to purple flowers which are primarily produced in April, but can appear from March to November in Indiana.[Read More…]
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Family: Asteraceae Life cycle: Perennial Reproduces: Seed Flowers: 1-2” diameter yellow disk and ray flowers on long stalk. Leaves: Simple, lobed (variable), wavy margins (variable), 3-10” long originating from a basal rosette Seedlings: Dicotyledon that is smooth, yellow-green and lack hairs. Comments: A very prominent tap root that can vegetatively[Read More…]
It’s that time of the year. Starting in the southern portions of the state and gradually moving north, trees, shrubs, and flowers are beginning to break bud, showing the flowers that have been protected all winter long. One of the first trees that you will notice, increasingly out of place more each year, is callery[Read More…]
Winter of 2017-18 was pretty harsh compared to most years. Much of central and northern Indiana experienced 13 or more days well below 0º F, while southern Indiana had 4- 5 days just a few degrees below 0º F. In addition, gusty winds contributed to further injury by desiccation of buds and twigs. The consequences[Read More…]
Fill in the blank: Apply crabgrass preemergence herbicide when____________is in bloom. If you said forsythia, you would be correct. Most of us have been told the answer to this for many years, but have you ever thought to yourself, ‘Is it true?’ There are many ways that people make decisions on when to apply herbicides. [Read More…]
