As we get into the throngs of summer, disease activity takes hold on the cool season turfgrass species we commonly use on lawns. This spring/early summer 2023 much of the state has been in a considerable drought, missing approximately two inches of normal precipitation in both April and May, and three inches below normal so…Read more about Know thy Host, Know thy Disease[Read More]
Resources for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest
Landscape Report
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Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) has been a reliable mainstay in home landscapes for generations. This spring-blooming perennial is also known by a string of other common names, including flowering moss, moss phlox, moss pink, rock phlox, and thrift (not to be confused with sea thrift which is Armeria maritma). Creeping phlox is native to a…Read more about Anthracnose on Creeping Phlox[Read More]
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) has a few disease issues that can cause severe damage to Vinca in cool wet weather, including Rhizoctonia stem and crown rot, Phytophthora root and crown rot, and Phoma stem blight. The last disease, Phoma stem blight, can cause severe damage to Vinca early in Spring when new stem growth emerges (Fig…Read more about Phoma stem blight of Vinca[Read More]
Some of the questions that I get asked quite frequently are “Are my trees ok?”, “Do I need to have an arborist come work on my trees?”, and “Is there anything I can do to help my trees without hurting my savings?”. Just like many questions, the answers are dependent on the situation. There are…Read more about Can I Prune Like the Pros?[Read More]
The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) continues its eastward spread across the US. In 2022, seven new counties were added to the distribution map of this invasive insect. While it is not present in Indiana yet, it is confirmed throughout the eastern USA from northern Georgia to Maine, extending west into Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky….Read more about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Distribution update[Read More]
For some, the term “shade garden” may be an oxymoron. When imagining a garden, most will think of a sunny area filled with flowering plants. So, it’s not surprising that gardeners would often fill shady areas with a hardy, evergreen ground cover and never look back. However, ornamental shade gardens have been the source of…Read more about Throwing Shade on the Perennial Garden[Read More]
Each spring the PPDL receives several samples of oak trees showing curled, twisted, stunted and/or generally ratty looking leaves. When there are holes in the leaves or leaf edges are missing tissue, we add another symptom name to the mix: tatters. Distorted new growth and tatters are most common on white oaks and may occasionally…Read more about Oak Leaf Tatters – a spring ritual[Read More]
Peonies are a common and favored landscape plant in Indiana. Despite their famed attribute of being easy to care for, some annual upkeep will ensure peonies continue to beautifully bloom year after year. Depending on the species and cultivar, peonies will bloom from late spring to early summer. Peonies were traditionally white, blush, pink, and…Read more about The Famed Garden Peony[Read More]
Spring in all its wild weather swings, plant growth and flowering glory has arrived, and along with it, the chore of mowing the lawn. Many decry the labor and monotony, but evidently some do enjoy the practice, as a new video game allows one to mow a virtual yard even when rainstorms are thundering outside….Read more about Throw Some Shade with a Leaf Blower[Read More]
The problem There is another invasive species close to Indiana that landscaping and nursery professionals should look for. Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is native to East Asia, and was first detected in 2021 in New York. Detections in Michigan in 2022 have resulted in a quarantine zone for boxwoods (Buxus spp.) in the state….Read more about Box tree moth on Indiana’s doorstep[Read More]
The Women of the Green Industry will be meeting virtually on June 20th and will feature Beth Berry, Vice-President of Sales for Advanced Turf Solutions. She will be providing a tactical strategy for acquiring your dream role in our industry or a roadmap to start your own lawn or landscape business. You can join the…Read more about Women of the Green Industry Featured Speaker: Beth Berry[Read More]
This series will highlight unique and interesting landscape plants that are not as common in the landscape. Many of these plants aren’t readily available at your local nursery or garden center. If you are interested in purchasing one of these plants, I recommend contacting your local nursery or garden center about availability. Majestic Beauty Tuliptree…Read more about Plant Picks: Majestic Beauty Tuliptree[Read More]
Multiple Dates & Locations Indianapolis – Newfields – August 7, 2023 Elkhart – Wellfield Botanic Gardens – August 10, 2023 Evansville – Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden – August 18, 2023 Register here: https://cvent.me/4zyrLe The Purdue Green Industry team is excited to announce three diagnostic training opportunities around Indiana. This event will feature Purdue…Read more about Landscape Diagnostic Training Opportunities in English and Spanish[Read More]
It’s time for spring cleaning the herbaceous perennial garden, but be careful not to pluck out any of your favorite flowers. With all the green quickly sprouting up, it may be difficult to tell friend from foe. Established herbaceous perennials will emerge from the ground in the same location as the previous year and are…Read more about To Weed or Not to Weed? The Perennial Garden: Early Season Plant Identification[Read More]
Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that attacks a diversity of woody ornamental plants. The bacteria cause flower blights, cankers, shoot blights, and diebacks. Symptoms Symptoms often begin as expanding leaf spots. On lilac and viburnum, small spots expand to irregularly shaped brown lesions with yellow halos (Fig. 1). For most other hosts…Read more about Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae on lilac and other woody ornamentals.[Read More]
It’s that wonderful time of year again where temps are rising, life is coming back into the landscape, and people are thinking about how to improve the urban canopy around them. Well, maybe not that specifically, but we have the urge to plant trees. Whether it’s for Earth Day or Arbor Day or you just…Read more about Re-mulch Your Trees[Read More]
Purdue Professors and Extension Specialists, Dr. Janna Beckerman and Dr. Cliff Sadof, joined Margaret Roach on the podcast ‘A Way to Garden’ recently to discuss the brand-new updates to the Purdue Plant Doctor. A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://awaytogarden.com/diagnosing-plant-troubles-with-the-purdue-plant-doctor/ To listen: Apple ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-way-to-garden-with-margaret/id370801678 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rThGtiQ03JtKBET8zdOqO Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/whdd/a-way-to-garden-with-margaret-roach
If you spend any time reading about native landscapes, you will quickly find numerous articles and guides for plants that are good for pollinators. Many native pollinator species are in decline, and choosing plants that support their lifecycle is a great way homeowners and landscapers can engage with the effort to improve their populations. However,…Read more about Is my urban garden helping native pollinators?[Read More]
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