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‘The Bride’ pearlbush has been around in the nursery industry for several decades, but it is not utilized as often as other spring flowering shrubs such as forsythia, azalea, spirea, and deutzia.
Japanese stewartia is an exquisite small-to-medium-sized ornamental tree that adds a touch of elegance to the landscape.
I visited a site this morning that had significant Imprelis damage in 2011. I am seeing an array of symptoms that I believe are tied to the original application of Imprelis in April 2011.
Yellow nutsedge is an interesting perennial weed in that it is a sedge, rather than a grass or a broadleaf weed. It can be a problem in lawns and ornamental planting beds. While yellow nutsedge thrives in damp soil, it will grow in less favorable sites just as well.
As summer approaches and temperatures rise, the interaction between grasses and environmental stressors becomes problematic. The combination of heat, drought, wear, and disease are responsible for most of the injury seen during the summer. Heat stress is the underlying factor that weakens turf to the extent that it is more easily killed or injured by one of the other common midsummer stressors. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be aware of as the heat builds.
Penn State’s Plant Disease Clinic has received a greenhouse-grown petunia (‘Madness, appropriately enough!) infected with a species of Phytophthora.
In the past several years, new Rudbeckias have been introduced which boast exceptionally large flowers in vibrant colors. Most professionals are familiar with Rudbeckia fulgidia, the perennial black-eyed Susan. These newer varieties are members of the species hirta, and are generally considered annuals or short-lived perennials.
With the extended growing season this year, most turf areas will benefit from sequential applications of preemergence (PRE) herbicides for crabgrass control.
The Plant Disease Clinic has received a greenhouse-grown petunia infected with a Phytophthora.
This spring Penn State has received calls from Erie to Chester County and everywhere in-between about armyworm infestations in grass pastures, corn and small grain fields.
University of Tennessee Research Foundation Releases IPMPro™ Mobile App
Mowing during wet conditions should be avoided whenever possible.
Why should beneficial insects matter to you? Numerous studies have documented the effectiveness of specific beneficial species against certain plant pests. It makes sense to maximize the impact these naturally occurring “workers” have on your nursery or the properties you manage.
What perennial grows well in shade, offers beautiful variegated foliage, and is deer resistant? It is the 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year, ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera. Grown primarily for its exquisite silver and green variegated foliage, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ enjoys moist, but well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Everyone loves flowers, but most trees only bloom for a few weeks out of the year. Those that have attractive summer foliage, fall color and interesting bark offer more than one season of beauty and really earn their keep in the garden.
Field horsetail is part of the ancient genus Equisetum, which was the dominant plant group during the Carboniferous age more than 230 million years ago. It looks like the prehistoric survivor that it is, and can be one of the toughest weeds to manage.
Recently we have received several greenhouse plant samples in the Penn State Plant Diagnostics Lab with root problems. The common theme is over-fertilization, and some were also infected with Pythium root rot. Pythium is aggravated by over-fertilization. Symptoms include stunted and yellowed plants, stubby roots, dead darkened roots, and dying plants.
Over the last 3 weeks, the Plant Disease Clinic has received many greenhouse samples with root problems from a wide variety of plant material.
The warm spring weather has sped up the arrival of some common turf insect pests.
With the extremely wet soils all last season, we’ve seen many samples with Phytophthora.



