THE ARBOR DOCTOR

Despite all the news about Asian Longhorn Beetle, we are NOT treating for it at this time. The protocol as of this writing is that ANY area with infected trees is quarantined and the trees destroyed.  Therefore, until something changes, it is pointless to treat for ALB.

However, ash trees MUST be treated for Emerald Ash Borer.  Unless something changes, and it often does, report anyone marketing Asian Longhorn Beetle treatments to the Better Business Bureau.  We will let you know if treatments become recommended.

The herbicide Imprelis is believed to be behind yellow needles and contorted growth in spruces and other evergreens.  Read more>>>

Sycamore is a far more common tree than you may realize, but it’s also one of the least “ordinary” of trees. Also known as Plane trees (genus Platanus), the Sycamores deserve a closer look.

Continue reading »

See story and video here>>>

 Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announce that surveys are under way in Bethel, Ohio, after the detection and identification of the Asian longhorned beetle. Bethel is located 30 miles southeast of Cincinnati. First discovered in the U.S. in 1996, Asian longhorned beetles attack several species of trees including maple, willow, horsechestnut, buckeye, and American elm. While in its larvae stage, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) kills trees by tunneling into large branches and the trunk.

Ohio is the fifth state to detect ALB, which APHIS confirmed in Bethel after a citizen reported finding unusual damage in three maple trees to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry service forester. Previous infestations sites, where the beetles arebeing successfully contained, include Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. APHIS and ODA inspection crews are surveying the southern portion of Bethel and the surrounding area to determine the extent of the ALB infestation. Crews will inspect host tree species susceptible to ALB for signs of the wood-boring beetle using ground surveyors and specially trained tree climbers. APHIS and the ODA are working cooperatively with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the USDA Forest Service, and the town of Bethel to evaluate the scope of the infestation and to inform the public about the exotic, invasive pest.

Citizens can help by reporting sightings of an unusual beetle and any signs of infestation to a designated, toll free hotline 855-252-6450. Adult ALB are usually large, distinctive-looking insects measuring 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, not including antennae. Their white-banded antennae can be as long as the body itself in females and almost twice the body length in males. Signs of infestation include perfectly round exit holes (about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter) made by adult beetles when they emerge from trees; the pockmarks on tree trunks and branches where female beetles deposit eggs; frass (wood shavings and saw dust) produced by larvae feeding and tunneling; early fall coloration of leaves or dead branches, and running sap produced by the tree at the egg laying sites, or in response to larval tunneling. To report signs or symptoms of ALB, please call the Ohio Survey Program toll free at 855-252-6450. For more information, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov and www. agri.ohio.gov.  Note to reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet and through really simple syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page at www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link.  

Last Friday I sent out an email and newsletter about it getting dry.  It worked.  It started raining within a few hours and I have had 3.5 inches in the past week.  The rain was fairly widespread, the heaviest in my area and near the airport.  As always, especially in summer, it varied some.  Bill Lagergren said he missed a lot of it west of Ross, OH, and has probably had about an inch in the past week.  Maysville had only a quarter inch last weekend.  Still, I don’t think there are many places hurting for rainfall at this point and a lot more is expected in the next couple of days, as much as 3+ plus inches by Monday morning in some spots.  No drought here!

See blog article from June 9, 2011 as well.

As I drove around town yesterday, I noted many lawns taking on a brown cast.  I have had only 0.06 inches of rain at my location in the past 14 days.  Combined with persistent heat, this has caused considerable drying.  My friend, nurseryman Bill Lagergren, reports the top 3 to 5 inches of soil are quite dry now, while the soil is still moist below this.  Some rain occurred Friday and more is forecast, but both recent rains and forecast rains may be scattered and not benefit everyone.   It is now time to water, especially new transplants and shallow rooted trees and shrubs.  Please see this link for watering tips:  http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/art-and-science-watering-garden

Very Important pine and spruce information from Ohio State University Extension:

 Numerous calls came in to Extension offices throughout Ohio in the past week from landscapes, commercial plantings, and golf courses concerning issues with Norway spruces as well as white pines.  The symptoms on Norway spruce include significant needle twisting and browning, terminal curling and drooping on new growth, and in some cases needle browning and twisting on older growth.  These symptoms are different from earlier Norway spruce symptoms this spring (total or sectional dieback) presumed to be associated with weather conditions over a number of months.   

There are a number of unanswered questions relative to this new damage as to: why there is such variability of injury, the potential for the plants to recover, the range of host plants that are affected, whether or not environmental conditions this spring or last fall contributed to the problem, etc.  From what OSUE BYGLers have seen, a common denominator of this particular damage on these samples appears to be an association with turfgrass applications of the herbicide Imprelis. 

This post-emergent, low-volume broadleaf herbicide from DuPont is a highly effective product that is being used by applicators for the first time in the field this year.  It is a new subclass of pyrimidine carboxylic acid herbicide, named aminocyclopyrachlor.  From the samples sent to Extension offices and labs and subsequent field visits to look at symptoms, this looks to be a significant problem with, as noted, many unanswered questions. Research and trials on the use of this chemical for turf care has been extensive, but widespread field use and experience is in early stages.  

Damage noted this past week during field visits and from reports of damage from e-mails, phone calls, and images indicate variable damage of affected plants in group plantings.  At one site, there was significant browning and distortion on over 10% of the Norway spruces planted on a large mound.  Some effects were obvious on over half of these spruces, and on some spruces, over 50% of the foliage had browned as of the time of observation. BYGL writers will update readers and others as more is learned.  In addition, OSUE staff will monitor certain sites to get a handle on plant recovery, make new site visits to the extent needed and possible, update a list of hosts where problems have been noted, and will forward additional information from other sources as obtained.   

Please note that the Ohio State University C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC) can evaluate samples for evidence of disease and insect damage, but do not do chemical residue testing.

Arbor Doctor recommends you check with your turf care provider.  Arbor Doctor partner Turfman is aware of this problem and is taking action, but your provider may not be informed.