UMass Extension Landscape Message #26
December 2, 2011

 

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is an educational newsletter intended to guide landscape, nursery and urban forestry professionals in identifying pests in the landscape, monitoring their development, planning management strategies and creating site-specific records for future management reference.

 

This will be the final Landscape Message for 2011, thanks for a great season! The message will be on hiatus in January and February 2012. New messages wil be available beginning in March of 2012.

 

SCOUTING INFORMATION BY REGION

 

REGIONAL NOTES -

Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) – General Conditions: November was an exceptionally mild month, with temperatures ranging 10–15 degrees above the normal for this time of year. Some daytime temperatures approached 70º F while nighttime lows rarely went below the mid 40'sº F. Light frost occurred only twice during the month and lawns are still actively growing, albeit slowly.  Leaves have finally fallen from most of the oaks and fall clean-ups are still in progress. Soil moisture levels are good and some hardy roses are still in bloom. Pests/Problems:  Winter moth male flights were first observed on November 10, a bit earlier than past years. Flights are erratic and light in areas that have seen heavy defoliation in the past while heavier flights have been observed in other parts of the Cape. Deer tick adults are out in large numbers this fall. Check carefully after working in tick habitat; toss work clothes in a dryer for ten minutes to kill any hitch-hiking ticks.

Southeast Region (Hanson) – General Conditions:  Warm weather continued into November, similar to November 2010. This November has been was of the warmest Novembers on record and reportedly, the second warmest November on record for Boston. Like November 2010, many areas of the county have yet to have a killing freeze. Landscape roses are still in bloom along with sporadic blooming of Viburnum plicatum, P.J.M. Rhododendron, Forsythia and Lamium. Surprisingly, fall color came on strong in early-mid-November. Again, this was similar to 2010. In many areas, foliage did not significantly drop until the last two weeks of November. Hanson received 3.75 inches of rain and soils are moist. The fruit of Viburnum, holly, bittersweet (invasive), barberry (invasive), Bayberry and Eastern red cedar are plentiful and adding color to the landscape. Pests/Problems: Winter moths began to gradually emerge in early November and have been appearing in greater numbers for the past two weeks. (See Bob Childs’ insect report below). Winter moths usually continue to emerge into December and sometimes into early January, usually when temperatures are above freezing. Winter moths emerge at dusk and are active at night. Fall invaders (ladybugs, Western conifer seed bugs, etc) have not been seen in the usual great numbers this year. A few western conifer seed bugs have been observed but again, not in the usual numbers. Adult deer ticks are active and according to Roberta Clark, Cape Cod extension, the number of ticks is high. As fall cleanups continue, don’t forget to take precautions and check for ticks! Deer continue to browse. Although mosquito season is finally over, this warm weather has produced a few stragglers. The fruits of bittersweet, burning bush, barberry, autumn olive, etc. are easily observed now that the foliage has fallen. Digging out or cutting back these invasive plants now will aid in slowing the spread of these plants by birds and other wildlife.

East Region (Boston) – General Conditions: November of 2011 has turned out to be the second warmest in recorded history, 1975 remains the warmest on record. The average high temperature for the month is 50º F with an average low of 34º F; however this year, they averaged 57.6º F and 38.3º F respectively. We received 86 GDDs this month, compared to an average of 43.9 GDDs received in the previous 5 years. November 28th was 20º F above the historical average. On several occasions, the daily low was actually warmer than the historical daily high. We received 4.95 inches of precipitation falling in four separate events, each totaling over one inch of rain. Most deciduous trees have finally dropped their leaves. Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) is flowering as is H. vernalis (Ozark witch hazel), perhaps slightly premature. Pests/Problems:  The warm temperatures have brought many plants into sporadic bloom including Cotoneaster sp. (cotoneaster), Prunus sp. (cherry) and Spiraea sp. (spirea), while others have already started to break bud [Sambucus sp. (elderberry)]. Taraxacum sp. (dandelion) is in both bloom and seed. Winter moth male adults are flying and mating; they are now quite conspicuous at dusk near outdoor lights.

Metro West (Acton) – General Conditions: The area is still recovering from the October 30th snow storm.  Branches can still be seen broken and hung up in tree canopies and/or are littered throughout the landscape; some trees remain standing in need of a final cut while others require  some much needed pruning and stumps exist where trees once stood.  On the positive side, the unseasonably warm temperatures have made clean up easier and dare I say pleasant.  Pests/Problems:  Despite the orange and yellow color, beauty and food that the fruit from the Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) vine may provide in the outdoors at this time of the year, this plant should be removed from the landscape.  Without the competing foliage on most trees right now and the fruit on this vine, it is very easy to see to what extent that it grows into the tree canopy and the damage and girdling that it does to its host tree as it twines itself around its trunk and branches.

Central Region (Boylston) – General Conditions: Deer are active – rubbing & feeding. The sparse acorn crop promises to make for a hungry herd this winter. Deer ticks are very abundant.

Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) - General Conditions:  Adequate rainfall with cool temperatures maintained soil moisture at relatively high levels.  Lawns remain lush and green.

Berkshire Region (Great Barrington) - General Conditions: Conditions have been unusually mild for this time of year. As an example, soil temperature on Nov. 30 was 50º F.  Often, soils are frozen by that time.  Forsythia has been blooming though sparsely.  This is not uncommon when long mild periods occur in fall.  Despite November being a fairly dry month, soil moisture levels are high.  This bodes well for plants, especially evergreens, as they go into winter. Pests/Problems:  Deer ticks are abundant.  Anyone working outdoors needs to take extra precautions to avoid tick bites. There have been many incidences of Lyme Disease and Erlichiosis.  Moles and voles are very active.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA -

 

The following growing-degree-day (GDD) and precipitation data was collected for an approximately four-week period, November 3 through November 30, 2011. Soil temperature and phenological indicators were observed on or about November 30, 2011. Total accumulated GDDs represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments for the 2011 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

Region/Location	2011 GROWING DEGREE DAYS		Soil Temp (°F at 4" depth)	Precipitation (4-Week Gain)
	4-Week Gain	Total accumulation for 2011
Cape Cod	103	3061	50°	4.00"
Southeast	69	2815	48°	3.75"
East	90	3355	51°	4.95"
Metro West	n/a	2890	58°	2.81"
Central	n/a	2731	44°	3.78"
Pioneer Valley	39	2901	52°	3.17"
Berkshires	21	2318	50°	2.35"
AVERAGE	64	2867	50°	3.54"
n/a = information not available

 

CAPE COD REGION - Roberta Clark, UMass Extension Horticulturist for Barnstable County, Barnstable.

SOUTHEAST REGION - Deborah Swanson, UMass Extension Horticulturist for Plymouth County, Hanson.

EAST REGION - Kit Ganshaw & Sue Pfeiffer, Horticulturists, reporting from the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain.

METRO WEST REGION – Julie Coop, Horticulturist, reporting from Acton.

CENTRAL REGION - Joann Vieira, Superintendent of Horticulture, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston.

PIONEER VALLEY REGION - Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, UMass, Amherst.

BERKSHIRE REGION - Ron Kujawski, Horticultural Consultant, reporting from Great Barrington.

 

WOODY ORNAMENTALS

 

INSECTS -

 

Winter Moth adults are active.  The drab grey males do fly while the females are virtually wingless and cannot fly.  They are most active at night, especially after a rain and especially if the weather is warm.  Females emerge from the soil, visually seek a vertical silhouette (such as a tree trunk), run to it and upwards all-the-while emitting a pheromone that attracts hundreds of male moths.  During years of high emergence numbers, the scene is often referred to as ‘a blizzard of moths’.  The males are also easily attracted to outside lightning and often congregate on porches or lighted holiday decorations.  Thus far this November, winter moth emergence has been quite substantial and more are expected within the next couple of weeks, especially if the nights remain as warm as they have been in recent weeks.  This portends a large population of winter moth caterpillars early next spring, excluding any unforeseen events that may diminish the population numbers over the winter.  This insect hatches from the gg in the very early spring, just prior to budbreak, and wriggles into the swelling buds to feed.  Dormant oil sprays can be applied to blueberries and apples, in particular, at that time as long as the correct weather conditions prevail.  The tiny caterpillars also balloon onto new plants once the buds open and can infest or re-infest new plants at that time.  Spinosad products are very effective once the buds are open and the caterpillars are free-feeders.  Maples, crabapples, apple, blueberry, birches, oaks, and many other deciduous species are susceptible host plants.

Reported by Robert Childs, Extension Entomologist, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences Department, UMass, Amherst.

DISEASES -

 

This year there was an assortment of leaf spot, conifer needle cast, and shoot blight diseases on woody plants.  If a severe outbreak of these diseases occurred on high value trees or shrubs, note that when making plans for next season.  Consider gradually replacing highly susceptible plants with plants better suited for site conditions as well as disease resistant varieties/species when available.  It is too late this growing season to control these diseases with fungicides.  If desired, fungicides can maintain the appearance of high value woody plants during future rainy springs by protecting immature leaves and shoots.  Begin as buds open/new leaves emerge.  If rains persist, reapply 1-2 times at label intervals.  However, chemical treatments are most effective when used in conjunction with sanitation activities this autumn and early next spring, which reduce inoculum levels (disease pressure) around host plants.  In addition, promote drying of foliage by pruning trees and shrubs to increase sunlight penetration and air circulation.

 

Reported by Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, Amherst.

 

WEEDS -

 

No report this month

 

LANDSCAPE TURF

 

No reports this month.

 

This message is produced by the UMass Extension, Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program. The copy is prepared by from data and reports provided by the staff and faculty of the UMass Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program and the UMass Extension Turf Program as well as cooperating horticulturists and Green Industry professionals. The text is compiled and adapted for access via the internet by Jason Lanier.

 

DISCLAIMER: This message is intended for commercial use. UMASS Extension assumes no liability for recommendations. The use of trade names (*) does not imply endorsement. Similarly, there may be other products you prefer to use.

 

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