All plants are susceptible to attack by pests and pathogens. Under certain conditions, a homeowner may require the use of a pesticide, but only after they’ve included, or exhausted the use of cultural practices like removal of diseased tissue (sanitation and eradication); considered resistant varieties to replace continual problem plants; and making sure the plant[Read More…]
Resources for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest
Landscape Report
Found 506 Articles
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. Japanese Painted[Read More…]
The unpredictable Midwest weather has gardeners checking their rain gauge daily, because one rule gardeners learn early on is that landscapes need about an inch of water each week. Of course, there are many factors that will impact the accuracy of this very general rule such as soil type, average temperature, sun exposure, plant type,[Read More…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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