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Last Tuesday, July 9th, we held our annual Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day.  The weather could not have been more ideal for a July day in Indiana.  The morning started out with 23 dozen donuts, and gallons of coffee, at 9:00 am.  After opening remarks, the groups broke up into the various tracks, which…Read more about Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day: A unique educational experience for the Green Industry[Read More]


Our Green Industry team is fortunate to have an economist, Dr. Ariana Torres, as part of our group.  In addition to her business and marketing background, she also has experience in the greenhouse and floriculture industry, as well as a grower for several years.  She’s been developing programs and publishing in scientific journals about the…Read more about Business and Marketing Practices of U.S. Landscape Firms[Read More]


Don’t miss the 2019 Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day on July 9th!  Your opportunity to interact with Purdue Specialists, see the latest on-going research and best management practices, and network with others in the Green Industry.  This is the premiere Green Industry education event that you’ll find this summer!  https://www.mrtf.org/event/turf-and-landscape-field-day/?event_date=2019-07-09   In the landscape track,…Read more about Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day[Read More]


The Cooperative Extension Service is a national network of land-grant colleges, universities, and the United States Department of Agriculture serving communities across the country by providing research-based information and educational programming. Purdue Extension serves Indiana residents in the following program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Human Sciences, Community Development, and 4-H Youth Development….Read more about Purdue Extension and the Purdue Master Gardener Program: Resources for Home Gardeners[Read More]



Although most cities contain an Elm Street, very few cities can claim having mature American elms on that street, or any other. The American elm was a premier street tree: Tolerant of compacted soil, fast growing, long-lived, and with a beautiful vase-shaped form. It’s very popularity led to its downfall. The introduction of Dutch elm…Read more about Dutch Elm Disease[Read More]


Like anthracnose diseases of other shade trees, sycamore anthracnose is a very common occurrence in the landscape (Figure 1). Symptoms of sycamore anthracnose normally develop as small spots or dead areas centered along the veins of leaves or along leaf margins (Figure 2). Under conducive conditions these spots expand, killing more leaf tissue and causing…Read more about Sycamore Anthracnose – Don’t let the rains get you down[Read More]


Introduction The Colorado Blue spruce is not native to Indiana and tends to be susceptible to disease.  One common disease, caused by the fungus Rizosphaera kalkhoffii, results in the defoliation of the tree.  If left untreated needlecast can lead to the death of the tree. Symptoms and Signs Symptoms of needlecast don’t develop until two…Read more about Needlecast in Colorado Blue Spruce[Read More]



Sudden oak death, as the name suggests, is a disease that is capable of rapidly killing certain species of oaks.  It was first identified in California, in 1995. Two years earlier it was identified in Germany and the Netherlands, killing rhododendron. Because the pathogen originally infected and killed tanoaks, an undesirable, understory scrub tree, it…Read more about **SPECIAL ALERT** Sudden Oak Death[Read More]


Although most people are understandably concerned about boxwood blight, boxwood does suffer from a number of diseases, including Volutella blight and Macrophoma leaf spot. Unfortunately, boxwood also suffers from a stem decline, caused by Colletotrichum theobromicola. The following was written by Dr. Raj Singh, LSU. Boxwood Stem Decline by Dr. Raj Singh Available on line…Read more about Other Boxwood Issues[Read More]



Biology: Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a common winter annual broadleaf weed found throughout the US. It is closely related to another winter annual broadleaf, henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Both have vibrant purple flowers that can been seen now in lawns, landscapes, and fields.  To see more about henbit, refer to this article from last spring: https://purduelandscapereport.org///article/spotlight-on-weeds-henbit-lamium-amplexicaule/…Read more about Spotlight on Weeds: Purple deadnettle[Read More]



Hosta Virus X (HVX) is not a new problem, however, it’s not as prevalent as it was nearly a decade ago because growers have gotten better about recognizing the disease and removing infected plants from their nurseries. The most common symptoms include mottled, light or dark green discolorations along leaf veins (Fig 1). HVX may…Read more about Hosta Virus X[Read More]


A question that I often receive goes something like…. ‘How do I control grassy weeds in liriope and iris?’ At first glance, it would appear that those ornamental plants are very similar to grasses, but looks may be deceiving as they are actually not grasses.  We know that broadleaf weeds can be controlled in grasses…Read more about Killing Grasses in ‘Grasses’? How to control grasses in non-grassy ornamental plants[Read More]


A new publication for nursery growers has been released!  This publication, a joint venture between Purdue University and Indiana Department of Natural Resources, informs that nursery and landscape industry about new state regulations regarding invasive plants.  The rule goes into effect in two stages. As of April 18, 2019, it is illegal to introduce a…Read more about What Nurseries Need to Know About the Invasive Species Regulation? New Publication for Nursery Growers[Read More]


Oak leaf blister is caused by the fungus Taphrina caerulescens.  Infections occur as buds swell and open during wet, spring conditions. Leaf blister symptoms usually appear within several weeks following infection as 1/4-1/2 inch circular, light green bulges on the top surface of leaves.(Fig 1) From the underside, the affected areas are sunken or depressed. These…Read more about Oak Leaf Blister – No Cause for Concern[Read More]


Q: I’ve attached pictures of the only tree we have on our property. Because it is our only tree, I am deeply concerned with the possibilities of irreparable damage to it. As you can see, one of the branches broke off during a November windstorm. Unfortunately, that left a bare gap on the trunk. Please…Read more about Ornamental Pear Fallout[Read More]


We all know that plants take up nitrogen in significant quantities, compared to some of the other essential nutrients.  What most don’t know is that elemental nitrogen (N) is not what is taken up by plants.  In fact, nitrogen can be taken up in only two forms, ammonium (NH4) and nitrate (NO3). Fertilizer labels will…Read more about Changing pH and Fertilizing at the Same Time? How nitrogen sources can change soil pH[Read More]


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