Names of insects are a common source of confusion, in part because gardeners are prone to nickname plants and animals they see, and many common names sound similar.
Two fungal canker diseases are common on various types of evergreen trees. A canker is an area of dead bark on a limb or trunk of a tree. On evergreens, cankers usually are visible as areas on the bark leaking abundant white, sticky resin.
With the Horticulture In-Service wrapping up last week, one participant asked what types of resources we use to help us, the "so-called experts", answer questions.
The growing season is over and most of us are taking a break from gardening. However, there are a few key actions you can take now to minimize disease problems in your garden next year:
July is the month for fireworks; it is also the month when the Iowa State University Extension Home Demonstration Garden Field Days begin. This year we plan to end the month with a bang - for your taste buds at least.
The most common disease of peonies in this area, peony leaf blotch, is just beginning to appear now. This disease is caused by the fungus Cladosporium paeoniae and is also known as stem spot or measles.
With the arrival of spring, ticks are starting to be sent to our office for identification. So far, most of these ticks have been either the adult stage or nymph stage of the lone star tick or the American dog tick.
Anthracnose is a fancy term for certain leaf spot or leaf blight diseases. Cool and wet spring conditions favor the fungi that cause anthracnose. Oak anthracnose has been common this spring.
We have recently received several samples in the Plant Disease Clinic from yews that are turning brown. Yews are typically very hardy plants, and are not susceptible to many diseases.
Lawn mowers and string trimmers are potentially lethal weapons when used carelessly around trees and shrubs. Young, thin-barked trees are particularly prone to injury.
Pachysandra is a common groundcover plant. The most common disease affecting this plant is Volutella blight (sometimes called leaf blight and stem canker), caused by the fungus Volutella pachysandrae.
With the recent warm weather, lawns have turned vibrant green overnight. When brown patches appear in lawns during the season, lawn enthusiasts become discouraged.
When asked to describe a fungus, many people might detail the problematic blue-green fuzzy growth found on an old piece of cheese lost in the refrigerator or on stale pieces of bread left on the counter too long.
Swiss needle cast is a fungal disease that causes needle discoloration on Douglas fir trees. Symptoms are usually most visible on the inner portions of lower branches, where infected needles turn yellow-green and brown and then fall off.
There has been considerable interest in Formosan termites after an article began circulating on the Internet claiming Formosan termites will be coming to eat your house if you buy low priced wood-chip mulch from garden centers this spring.
Bacterial blight and Southern bacterial wilt are two common bacterial wilt diseases that cause similar symptoms in geranium and may result in significant losses.
Cushioned mailers, an assortment of boxes, and business reply return labels are available to county extension offices for shipping plant samples to the Plant Disease Clinic.
When selecting perennials for the home landscape, it's important to consider their size, bloom period, hardiness, and cultural requirements. Another consideration is their longevity. Some perennials are extremely long-lived.
