Labor is one of the largest expenses in the landscape services industry, and maintenance services, such as pruning, are one of the most labor-intensive tasks. While plant growth regulators (PGRs) can be a cost-effective tool to control growth in shrubs and reduce labor expenses, a lack of information on the economic feasibility of PGRs has…Read more about Costs of applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) for shrub maintenance[Read More]
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Landscape Report
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Dry summers are not that unusual in Indiana. Of particular concern this year is that the dry spell is lasting well into autumn, putting plants in poor condition to get through the winter. Figure 1 from the US Drought Monitor shows that much of Indiana remains abnormally dry to under moderate drought. While some…Read more about Water Now Minimize Winter Injury[Read More]
This very slimy substance (Fig. 1) has many common names, was once classified as an algae but is now known as a Cyanobacterium. It is worse in areas that are frequently wet, such as low areas in lawns or on frequently irrigated golf courses (Fig. 2) or along walkways in nurseries where it can create…Read more about Lawn Jelly? Star Jelly? Nostoc by any other name is just as slimy.[Read More]
Please join us Wednesday (September 16th) for our bi-weekly, live educational series. The event will take place at 12:00 pm (Eastern) on Zoom at https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/96190839031 or on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/PurdueLandscapeReport/. The following speakers and topics will include: Costs of Applying Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) for Shrub Maintenance-Ariana Torres Plant Selections You’ll Live to Regret-Tom Creswell Manganese Deficiency…Read more about Purdue Landscape Report: Virtual Live[Read More]
Purdue Landscape Report: Virtual Please join us tomorrow (September 2nd) for our bi-weekly, live educational series. The event will take place at 12:00 pm (Eastern) on Zoom at https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/96190839031 or on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/PurdueLandscapeReport/. The following speakers and topics will included: Janna Beckerman, Resistance is…..confusing John Bonkowski, Tulip Poplar Summer Leaf Drop Kyle Daniel,…Read more about Purdue Landscape Report: Virtual Live[Read More]
Do you have a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) in your yard and does it look like fall has come early? This is a likely occurrence in the landscape in late summer, especially leading into August. About this time of year leaves on many tulip poplar trees will start to gradually turn yellow before they fall…Read more about Tulip poplar summer leaf drop[Read More]
One of the most common weeds that present significant challenges to both landscapers and growers are thistles. There are several reasons that thistles are difficult to control, including thousands of viable seeds per plant (Fig. 1), rhizomatous growth characteristics (Canada thistle) (Fig. 2), and large root system (Fig. 3). There are three major types of…Read more about Understanding and Controlling Thistle in the Nursery and Landscape[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 about Fall webworms: Should you manage them?[Read More]
This spring the PPDL received several samples, calls and emails related to dying weeping cherry trees (Fig. 1, 2, 3). Reports of this phenomenon came from as far away as Missouri. Ornamental cherry trees (and related Prunus spp.) are susceptible to multiple problems, including southwest injury (Fig. 4) Botryosphaeria dieback/canker (Fig. 5), bacterial canker and…Read more about Weeping Cherry Problems 2020[Read More]
The Purdue Landscape Report Team is excited to offer you an online learning opportunity on Wednesday, August 19th at 12:00 pm (Eastern) via Zoom and Facebook Live. This is part of our on-going, biweekly series. The topics and speakers will vary each session, so check out the newsletter every two weeks to find out what…Read more about Online Learning Opportunity[Read More]
Plants that experience extremes in soil moisture may develop spots on their leaves, called “oedema” (also spelled “edema”). The spots may first appear as a blister or raised spot, particularly on the undersides of leaves, but may occur on the top side as well as on the stems. Eventually, the blister develops a rust-colored, cork-like…Read more about Oedema Is a Corky Quirk[Read More]
Homeowners can easily become injured – often fatally – while attempting to trim trees near overhead electrical wires. Though it is tempting to try to save money with this “do-it-yourself” approach, the potential for electrocution is not worth the risk. It is important to recognize when to call a professional arborist.
Hollyhock (Alcea spp.), an anchor plant for the back of the cottage garden, bloom mid-summer with numerous flowers on tall spikes, providing beauty for us, and food for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. The most common varieties are biennial, taking two years to complete their lifecycle, although some persist as short-lived perennials. Fortunately, they are prolific…Read more about Jolly Hollyhock Rust[Read More]
The Purdue Landscape Report Team began a new, free online series that will continue Wednesday (Aug. 5th) 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 next…Read more about Purdue Landscape Report: Virtual[Read More]
Preemergence herbicides should be the primary tool for a landscape weed control program. The primary reasons to develop a strong preemergence herbicide program are 1) Decreased phytotoxicity (plant damage) to landscape plants and 2) Reducing the amount of times required to visit a property. With the difficulty of attracting quality labor in our industry, time…Read more about Single or Split Application of Preemergence Herbicides: Controlling while extending control[Read More]
Willows (Salix spp.) can be beautiful additions to the landscape. These iconic trees can be found growing naturally in river bottoms, along ponds, rivers, and streams; all areas with consistently moist soil. In the landscape, where soil moisture is much more variable, willows can be stressed by drought, increasing damage from a number of canker…Read more about Black Canker of Willow[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 about Purdue Landscape Report Team Begins New Virtual Series[Read More]
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