A fungus among us
What do you do when your 30 year old oak starts sprouting some odd-shaped mushrooms at the base of the tree trunk? Sadly, there’s not much you can do – more than likely your tree is host to… Read More
Category: Pests & Disease
When the bough breaks
Remember when it was the common notion that termites in trees did no harm – they were simply scavenging on decaying wood? Well it turns out that there are new and ‘improved’ termites which actually kill trees. Termite… Read More
Hey, ho, io!
They can be fairly hard to spot if you’re zipping through the landscape at 8 mph on a golf cart, but it is also hard to ignore 50 feet of a defoliating hibiscus hedge as a result of the… Read More
CLASS: Limited commercial “Roundup” license seminar and exam
If you do landscape maintenance for hire, on private or commercial properties, and wish to apply pesticides (including Roundup), this six-hour training class is required to obtain the Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance (LCLM) license (commonly called the “Roundup… Read More
I spy… whitefly!
When is a scale insect not a scale insect? When it’s actually the juvenile stage of a whitefly. That is what some of the local landscapers found out while scouting for pests. The pupal cases of both Tetraleurodes (e.g., mulberry whitefly)… Read More
Backyard poultry linked to recent salmonella outbreaks
By Dr. Maria Rometo Extension Agent II Recent Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry handling have infected more than 600 people in 45 states, including Florida, prompting health experts to re-issue guidelines for poultry handling. The outbreaks have… Read More
Rover Ants in Your Neighborhood
Dark Rover Ants (Brachymyrmex patagonicus) are an introduced nuisance ant species that can be found throughout the Southeastern United States. These very small brown ants, ranging in size from 1-3mm, live in colonies built in the soil. These… Read More
Downy Mildew on Viburnum
Downy Mildew on Awabuki Viburnum During the winter months when nights are cool and foggy, conditions are right for downy mildew to form on Awabuki Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki). The disease, which is difficult to control, tends… Read More
Palmetto Weevils
Post by Bob Mertens; Horticulture Program Specialist Once considered a minor pest of palms, the palmetto weevil (Rhynchophorus cruentatus) has in recent years become a serious problem on Canary Island Date palms (Phoenix canariensis) and increasingly on Bismarck… Read More
Fluttering Into History
Monarch butterflies are an ambassador of the insect world. We have all seen a monarch butterfly, brilliant orange and black flying gracefully from flower to flower in our landscapes. Many of us take for granted this gossamer visitor,… Read More