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A look back at the past year may help us be alert to problems ahead. Here’s a summary of the most common problems received in the diagnostic lab on woody ornamentals in 2018. As is typical for most years there were more non-disease (abiotic) problems than infectious  (biotic) diseases found on PPDL lab samples in…Read more about Woody Ornamentals Summary 2018[Read More]


The Professional Landscape Management School is held annually in Evansville, IN.  The two day conference for Green Industry professionals focuses on current, research-based best management practices. Leading experts and specialists will be speaking on various topics, such as insect and pest management, plant health care, weed control, and more. Continuing educational credits will be requested…Read more about Professional Landscape Management School[Read More]


The 2019 Indiana Arborist Association Annual Conference will be held in Indianapolis at the Indianapolis Marriott East, January 22-24th, 2019. The IAA and our partners will be offering a full 3-day program with educational opportunities and trade show for anyone involved in planning, planting or managing trees in the built environment. The conference proceedings will…Read more about Indiana Arborist Association Annual Conference[Read More]


This short course has been cancelled for these dates.  We’re working on a new set of dates to offer this program, so keep checking back with www.PurdueLandscapeReport.org for updated information. The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Short Course is an immersive, condensed, intensive entry-level educational experience for personnel in the Controlled Environment industry, as well as those with CEA…Read more about Controlled Environment Short Course[Read More]


This short course has been cancelled for these dates.  We’re working on a new set of dates to offer this program, so keep checking back with www.PurdueLandscapeReport.org for updated information. The Landscape Management Short Course is an immersive, condensed, intensive entry-level educational experience for personnel in the Green industry, as well as those with experience…Read more about Landscape Management Short Course[Read More]


The Indiana Green Expo is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive Green Industry educational conference and trade show serving Indiana and the Midwest.  The 2019 Indiana Green Expo (IGE) is sponsored by the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. Unlike some for-profit trade shows, all proceeds from the IGE are used…Read more about Indiana Green Expo[Read More]


Boxwoods have so many pests it’s a wonder we continue to grow them. On top of boxwood mites, psyllids, and leafminers boxwood blight has been spreading since 2011. Boxwoods are special though so we work to protect them from each new threat. That work will get harder if box tree moth gets established in North…Read more about Watch for potential new boxwood pest[Read More]


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 about Spotlight on Weeds: Common Chickweed[Read More]


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 about Preparations to Prevent Southwest Injury[Read More]


The DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology has discovered that a shipment of boxwood plants infected with boxwood blight was shipped to Indiana in May. This is important because boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) is a fungal disease that infests members of the popular Buxaceae family, and is often transported through the nursery trade. Hosts…Read more about Boxwood blight found in Indiana[Read More]


Burning bush is so named for its brilliant red foliage display in autumn. But we sometimes get questions asking why their shrub fails to color up, with leaves that remain green until they drop from the plant. Fall color or lack thereof is affected by a number of factors, including genetics of the plant and…Read more about Alternatives to Burning Bush for Fall Color[Read More]



Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) on oak is a systemic disease caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) (Fig 1). The bacteria live in the xylem vessels (water conducting elements) and restrict water flow. Xf is transmitted from tree to tree by xylem-feeding insects such as leafhoppers and treehoppers. Numerous woody hosts are susceptible to various…Read more about Bacterial Leaf Scorch of Oak: Lab Confirmation Necessary[Read More]



Tubakia leaf spot, a fungal disease, infects all species of oak. However, oaks in the red oak group such as black, red and pin oak, appear to be most susceptible. Symptoms on oak include small to large dark brown or reddish-brown spots or blotches. (Figs 1,2,3) Spotting that occurs on leaf veins may cause large…Read more about Tubakia Leaf Spot on Oak—A Yearly Event[Read More]


Although most “conifers” are “evergreen”, a few species are “deciduous”. Confused? Perhaps a review of these terms will help. conifer = cone-bearing evergreen = retains at least some green foliage year-round deciduous = all leaves die and are shed annually at same time Evergreens provide green color all year long but that doesn’t mean that…Read more about Even Evergreen Needles Don’t Last Forever[Read More]


It’s never too early to protect your trees from spongy (previously gypsy) moth! Across the Central and Northeastern US spongy moths had a population boom this summer. Although we do not have firm predictions for next year yet, you can still start planning and protecting your trees now! Fall is the perfect time to check…Read more about Spongy moth: What to do NOW[Read More]



Oak wilt has been found in most counties in Indiana and is one of the most serious threats to the health of oak trees in the Midwest, especially those in the red oak / black oak group. The disease is caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum and is spread from tree to tree by sap…Read more about Oak Wilt in Indiana[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 about Spotlight on Weeds: Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)[Read More]


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