Lead Editor: Curtis Young

Contributing Authors: Pam Bennett, Joe Boggs, Cindy Meyer, Jim Chatfield, Erik DraperDave Dyke, Gary Gao, Tim Malinich, Bridget Meiring, Amy Stone and Curtis Young

Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and cultural problems. Updated weekly between April andOctober, this information is useful for those who are managing a commercial nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard

looking good all summer.

BYGL May 05, 2011Thursday, 05 May 2011 18:56

BUCKEYE YARD AND GARDEN LINE 2011-05

05/5/11

From: Curtis E. Young (Lead editor and contributing author) and Erik Draper (Co-editor and contributing author).

Pam Bennett, Joe Boggs, Jim Chatfield, Dave Dyke, Gary Gao, Dave Goerig, Tim Malinich, Bridget Meiring, Cindy Meyer and Amy Stone (Contributing authors).

Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) enhanced with photos and links is available online at: http://bygl.osu.edu. Become a fan of the BYGL on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/OSUBYGL or follow the BYGL on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/OSUBYGL .

This is the 5th 2011 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators,Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'); Perennial (Wild Columbine); Woody (Koreanspice Viburnum); Vegetable (Cabbage); and Weed(Giant Hogweed).

2. HORT SHORTS: Growing Degree Days (GDD); Pruning Raspberries; and Wet Weather Weeding.3. BUG BYTES: A Void of Honeybees; Firewood Beetles Flare-Up; Roseslugged Leaves; Buzz-Bumbling Beetles (May/June Beetles); and Windshield Wipes (Spruce

Spider Mites, Azalea Lace Bug, European Pine Sawfly)4. DISEASE DIGEST: Crabapples Rusting Away?; Wet, Wet, but no Scab Yet?; and (Another) Great Year for Botrytis on Asiatic Lilies (and Other Plants).5. TURF TIPS: Mud Chimneys are Rising (Terrestrial or Burrowing Crayfish).6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Viburnum Leaf Beetle Egg Hatch.7. WEATHERWATCH.8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Southwest Ohio BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About.9. BYGLOSOPHY.

APPENDIX - ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCES

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

Home BYGL 2011 Text Only Contacts Search Site Map ENLT Presentations

*ANNUAL - PLECTRANTHUS 'MONA LAVENDER' (Plectranthus spp.).

Belonging to the mint family, this annual has incredible lavender blooms held above the plant. In Ohio gardens,it is an annual that grows with a rounded mound shape and gets around 18" tall and as wide. 'Mona Lavender'can be used in containers, bedding areas, and mixed into the perennial garden. In large containers, it makesan excellent filler plant. It takes full sun or light shade and is considered deer resistant. The flower spikes havetubular, lavender flowers that last for a long period of time, making deadheading an easy task. The foliage isshiny and deep-green on top and a rich-purple on the underside.

For more information, see:

Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening information on growing Plectranthus'Mona Lavender'

*PERENNIAL - WILD COLUMBINE (Aquilegia canadensis).This native North American plant is in full bloom in central Ohio and is a great plant for shady woodland and natural areas aswell as in the perennial garden. Wild columbine grows 1-3' tall (top of the bloom stems) and has red and yellow bell-like flowersthat are attractive to hummingbirds (if they are around). The plants grow on a range of soils, under varying moisture conditions(dry to moist) and are adaptive to a variety of conditions including full sun to partial shade. They are excellent in areas that onewants to naturalize as they spread prolifically under good growing conditions. However, on the other hand, in the garden whereone might want to maintain control, columbine can re-seed and become a problem. To keep them in their place, deadhead theflowers before the seeds develop.

Columbine foliage is soft and somewhat frilly, and quite attractive after flowering, as long as soils aren't completely dry. Inaddition, wild columbine appears to be less susceptible to leafminer feeding which devastates other species and hybrids.

For more information, see:

Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening information on Aquilegia canadensis or red columbineUSDA Plant Profile on Aquilegia canadensis or red columbine

*WOODY - KOREANSPICE VIBURNUM (Viburnum carlesii).

Koreanspice viburnum is a great fragrant shrub for well-drained, slightly acidic soils. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shadeand can reach heights of 5-8' and 4-8' in width. Plants have a wonderful satiny, dull-green color to the leaves which are verypubescent on the leaf surface. In the fall leaves turn dark-red color. The flowers of Koreanspice viburnum have a semi-snowballarrangement and are pink to red in bud and white when blooming. This plant has a few pests/diseases that attack it such asbacterial leaf spot, viburnum borer (a species of clear-wing moth), aphids and nematodes. Plants should be pruned afterblooming. The cultivar 'Aurora' has been a tried and true selection that has a great spicy fragrance with slightly pink to whiteflowers. 'Diana' is a compact cultivar with purple leaves and reddish-purple petioles.

For more information, see:

University of Illinois Extension - Selecting Shrubs for Your Home

*VEGETABLE - CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea).

Cabbage is a member of the Brassicaceae (Mustard) family, and is thought to be native to the Mediterraneanregion of the world. The common cabbage is an herbaceous biennial plant that is valued for its foliage.Throughout the centries, cabbage plants have been selected to grow short stems with close internodes. Theseselections have given us the modern plant which develops a mass of crowded leaves we recognize as"cabbage heads". Commercial cabbage production is a significant industry in Ohio, serving local and regionalprocessing (sauerkraut) and fresh (especially slaw) markets.

Cabbage can definitely be planted into the garden now. Choose from varieties that mature early in the season;(80-100 days), midseason; (95-115 days), or late season (110-130). Cabbage cultivar groups include white-colored foliage as well as a red or purple-colored foliage. Cabbage grows best in an alkaline soil, (pH 7 orabove) with moderate fertility. Crop rotation practices in the garden each year will go a long way towardpreventing diseases associated with this plant.

For more information, see:

OSUE Vegetable Bulletin section on Cabbage

*WEED - GIANT HOGWEED (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

Giant hogweed truly is herculean in stature. This herbaceous plant can reach heights of 10-15' in most any soiltype, then crown itself with clusters of small flowers arranged in large, flat topped, umbels that measure up to2.5' in diameter. The foliage unfolds and expands up to 5' as it reveals its deeply incised, lobed shapes. Mostwould agree it is an impressive plant! To many gardeners, it would be considered worthy and deserving of aprominent place in the garden. But wait! There's a dark side to this unique plant.

Giant hogweed is an herbaceous dicot plant and may grow as either a biennal or a perennial. It often colonizesclose to the original site where it was first introduced relying on its large, compound, leaves to shade-outcompeting plant species. As a member of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family, the inflorescence appear in theshape of umbrellas when in full bloom, and retain that shape as each of the little flowers are pollinated andproduce seed. The giant hogweed inflorescence is similar in appearance to other members of the Apiaceaefamily, such as wild carrot (Daucus carota) and cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum). The stems on this giant arehollow and generally measure 2-4" in diameter. Cow parsnip and wild carrot may look similar, but their heightsand inflorescence sizes rarely reach half the size of hogweed.

Giant hogweed is a public health hazard! It has the potential to cause severe skin irritations in susceptiblepeople. The plant sap produces painful, burning blisters within 24-48 hours after contact with exposed skin.The sap can also turn skin blotchy-red to purple in color, which could persist for months. The U.S. Departmentof Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates and monitors thewhereabouts of noxious and invasive plant weeds as one of its many services.

For more information, see:

OSUE FactSheet on Giant Hogweed

2. HORT SHORTS.

A. GROWING DEGREE DAYS (GDD).

GDD is a measure of the daily maximum and minimum temperature and directly relates to growth anddevelopment of plants and insects. The GDD of any zip code location in Ohio is estimated using the GDD of tenOARDC weather stations and available on the web at: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/ .

The range of GDD accumulations in Ohio from north to south is 130 to 412. Following is a report of GDD forseveral locations around Ohio as of May 4, 2011: Painesville, 130; Cleveland, 146; Toledo, 151; Canfield, 166;Findlay, 158; Van Wert, 169; Wooster, 201; Coshocton, 272; Columbus, 334; Springfield, 307; Dayton, 316;Cincinnati, 381; Ironton, 409; Portsmouth, 412; and Piketon, 401.

To put these GDD accumulations into perspective, the following is an abbreviated listing of plant and insectspecies with their respective phenological event and average GDD accumulations at which these events occur.

Due to variations in weather, temperature, humidity, etc., these events may occur a few days earlier or later than predicted by the average GDD. Bylooking at a city, town, or village nearby on the above list, or visiting the above website, one can see what is taking place in the landscape.

Japanese pieris, full bloom, 129; saucer magnolia, first bloom, 133; common flowering quince, first bloom, 137; Bradford callery pear, first bloom, 142;European pine sawfly, egg hatch, 144; weeping Higan cherry, first bloom, 145; P.J.M. rhododendron, first bloom, 147; chanticleer callery pear, fullbloom, 149; Norway maple, full bloom, 149; inkberry leafminer, adult emergence, 150; sargent cherry, full bloom, 151; star magnolia, full bloom, 151;Allegheny serviceberry, first bloom, 153; Manchu cherry, full bloom, 155; spring snow crabapple, first bloom, 155; apple serviceberry, first bloom, 159;spruce spider mite, egg hatch, 162; Bradford callery pear, full bloom, 164; Allegheny serviceberry, full bloom, 169; saucer magnolia, full bloom, 174;P.J.M. rhododendron, full bloom, 178; boxwood psyllid, egg hatch, 179; weeping Higan cherry, full bloom, 179; Koreanspice viburnum, first bloom, 185;regent serviceberry, first bloom, 186; Japanese flowering crabapple, first bloom, 189; eastern redbud, first bloom, 191; gypsy moth, egg hatch, 192;Koreanspice viburnum, full bloom, 205; azalea lace bug, egg hatch, 206; 'Spring Snow' crabapple, full bloom, 209; common flowering quince, full bloom,214; birch leafminer, adult emergence, 215; 'Coralburst' crabapple, first bloom, 217; elm leafminer, adult emergence, 219; common chokecherry, fullbloom, 221; alder leafminer, adult emergence, 224; honeylocust plant bug, egg hatch, 230; sargent crabapple, first bloom, 230; common lilac, firstbloom, 234; Ohio buckeye, first bloom, 245; common horsechestnut, first bloom, 251; hawthorn lace bug, adult emergence, 253; hawthorn leafminer,adult emergence, 260; flowering dogwood, first bloom, 263; red buckeye, first bloom, 265; blackhaw viburnum, first bloom, 269; imported willow leafbeetle, adult emergence, 274; Sargent crabapple, full bloom, 298; red horsechestnut, first bloom, 304; pine needle scale, egg hatch - 1st generation,305; cooley spruce gall adelgid, egg hatch, 308; eastern spruce gall adelgid, egg hatch, 308; common lilac, full bloom, 315; 'Pink Princess' weigela,first bloom, 316; blackhaw viburnum, full bloom, 322; redosier dogwood, first bloom, 323; dwarf fothergilla, full bloom, 325; 'Winter King' hawthorn, firstbloom, 328; lilac borer, adult emergence, 330; slender deutzia, first bloom, 338; Japanese kerria, full bloom, 342; common horsechestnut, full bloom,344; red chokeberry, full bloom, 351; doublefile viburnum, first bloom, 353; Pagoda dogwood, first bloom, 363; red Java weigela, first bloom, 365; blackcherry, first bloom, 368; common sweetshrub, first bloom, 371; lesser peach tree borer, adult emergence, 372; Ohio buckeye, full bloom, 374; hollyleafminer, adult emergence, 375; Vanhoutte spirea, full bloom, 406; euonymus scale (first generation), egg hatch, 406; black cherry, full bloom, 419;and Miss Kim Manchurian lilac, first bloom, 422.

More Information:

Growing Degree Days and Phenology for OhioUnderstanding and Using Degree-Days

B. PRUNING RASPBERRIES.BYGLers received a few phone calls about pruning raspberry plants. Gary Gao noted that raspberry plants should have been pruned in March. However, pruning too lateis better than not pruning at all. It is critical to find out which type(s) of raspberries gardeners have. Raspberries can be red (summer or fall), purple, black, and gold oryellow. It is very important to understand the terms used to describe various parts of a raspberry plant before attempting to prune raspberries. Raspberry canes are oftwo types, primocanes and floricanes. Primocanes are first year canes while floricanes are second-year fruiting canes. Refer to OSUE FactSheet HYG-1421-98,"Raspberries for the Backyard Fruit Planting," for additional information.

Summer red raspberries should be pruned twice a year, first in the spring and immediately after harvest. The spring pruning, in late March or early April, consists ofremoving all weak canes and cutting back tall canes (over 5') to 4.5-5'. The second pruning consists of the removal of canes that produced fruits, right after harvest.

Everbearing red raspberries such as "Heritage" raspberry can be pruned to produce fruit once a year or twice a year. If gardeners follow the pruning methods used forsummer red raspberries, "Heritage" raspberry will produce fruit once in early summer and once in fall. However, many home gardeners and commercial growers mow orcut all "Heritage" canes to the ground in early spring (March or April) for the sake of simplicity. "Heritage" raspberry pruned this way will produce only one crop starting inearly August in southern Ohio, and mid-August in central Ohio. It is too late to use the "mowing" method now (early May). However, gardeners can still remove thefloricanes that fruited last year. They can also thin floricanes to 6" between canes, if there are too many canes. All canes should be in a strip of 18-24". Those canes thatgrow outside the 18-24" strip can be removed now.

Black and purple raspberries are pruned three times a year: in the spring, summer, and after fruiting. First pruning is done in spring when lateral branches are cut back to8-10" in length in mid-March. Long laterals can still be cut back now, though very late, to reduce competition among the berries so that the remaining berries will getbigger and sweeter. Second pruning is called tipping or heading of new canes or primocanes. When grown without supports, summer tipping is done when blackraspberry canes reach 24" in height and when purple types reach 30". Tipping is done by removing the top 2-3" of new shoots as they develop. Third pruning involves theremoval of canes that produced fruits, right after the harvest.

For more information, see:

OSUE FactSheet on raspberriesOSUE Bulletin on Home Fruit Production

C. WET WEATHER WEEDING.Wet and cloudy days in the spring are ideal for controlling weeds. Dave Goerig reported this is the best time of the year to pullout persistent perennial weeds in the flower and vegetable gardens. Hand weeding and cultivation are effective cultural controlmethods to eliminate unwanted plants in the garden. If you are following the USDA guidelines for organic gardening practices, itis the preferred method. When pulling persistent perennial weeds, try to remove as much of the root system as possible. Forinstance, the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) which produces a carrot-like tap root can reestablish itself with a piece of root nolarger than 1/2" in diameter and length. Plan on continuing to weed each week until the weed's root system is totally depleted.

A BYGLer added that it is also very important not to compact the soil in the garden as one reaches for all those easily pulledweeds. Spring soils are wet and wet soils compact easily if walked on. One solution is to cut out a weeding board to kneel onfrom a sheet of plywood. If one had two of these, one could navigate and weed over wet gardens while minimizing soilcompaction. Additionally, it is not recommended to till a wet garden. Tilling wet soils is a sure way to increase compaction and

making soil clods in the garden.

If one is gardening conventionally, there is still time to get pre-emergent herbicides down to keep weed seeds from germinating in the garden. A light rain is not aproblem for most pre-emergent herbicides; in fact most pre-emergent herbicide labels require the products be watered in after application. Remember, pre-emergentherbicides work on weed seeds in the garden; they do not control plants that are already emerged. If using a post-emergent herbicide in a perennial garden, be cautiousas most perennial plants are very sensitive to post-emergent herbicide overspray or drift. Also, post-emergent herbicides require a certain amount of time for the productto remain on the foliage to work properly; consequently, rain will wash herbicides off easily if they have not dried completely on the foliage making the application lesseffective.

For more information, see:

OSUE Bulletin 867-99 Controlling Weeds in Nursery and Landscape PlantingsWeed Control for the Garden and Landscape

3. BUG BYTES.

A. A VOID OF HONEYBEES.

Barb Bloetscher, State Entomologist/Apiarist with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, shared a concernregarding a stinging outbreak of calls about HONEYBEES (Apis mellifera). Many callers were panicked andwant to know what to do with honeybees that have overwintered in the walls of homes, foundations and othervoids/spaces in man-made structures.

Some local beekeepers will remove colonies from walls if the entire hive, honeycomb and all, is accessiblewithout having to tear apart the house. Some beekeepers may charge for this service, while others may chooseto provide this service for free. However, there is no standard fee. Some beekeepers insist that the homeownerfirst sign a form stating that the beekeeper is not responsible for any structural damage to the house; therefore,be aware that the stipulations for removing a honeybee colony may vary widely from beekeeper to beekeeper.

The homeowner needs to follow some basic rules: 1) Don't spray bug killer or insecticides on the outsideentrance, where bees are entering or exiting, as it could chase bees into the building; 2) If they chew a hole intothe house, plug their newly created entry hole to keep them out of the interior of the house; however, NEVERplug the entrance or exit hole on the outside if the building; 3) Don't ignore them and hope they will go away ontheir own. They will not abandon their hive; 4) If the bees are killed inside of the void, the wax comb and honeywill melt and attract ants, beetles and other pests to the home. The wax comb and honey needs to be removed;and 5) If a pesticide is used in the wall void to kill the colony, seal up the entrance hole as soon as possibleafter the bees die, so that other scavenging bees don't go in to steal the insecticide-laced honey. These beestake the tainted honey back to their own colony. This will also prevent other bees, wasps and other insect pestsfrom trying to move in and occupy that same space. Note that most of these guidelines also apply to dealingwith yellowjacket nests in wall voids.

The website that lists all county bee associations can be found at: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/plant/apiary/Docs/Apiary_Docs_CountyBeeContacts.pdf . Anyone may call thesecounty contacts to collect honeybee swarms or colonies.

B. FIREWOOD BEETLES FLARE-UP.

This is the time of the year when a number of beetles emerge from firewood to the surprise and consternation ofhomeowners if the wood is stored in or around homes. Dave Shetlar reported that BANDED ASH BORERS(Neoclytus caprea) are emerging from firewood in central Ohio and Joe Boggs noted that he has received e-mail images of PAINTED HICKORY BORERS (Megacyllene caryae) that have emerged from firewood in thesouthwest part of the state. Both beetles are native to North American and belong to the beetle familyCerambycidae. Members of this family are referred to as "longhorned beetles," based on their unusually longantennae; however, the antennae of banded ash borer and painted hickory borer are not particularly long.

Both beetles have tapering, cylindrical, 3/4-1" long black bodies covered by yellow to light-yellow or cream-colored markings. The wing covers (elytra) on the banded ash borer have two distinct white circles at the front,which look like shoulder-pads, followed by two thin, white transverse bands. The band closest to the circleslooks like a flattened "M." The underside of the abdomen sports yellowjacket-like yellow and black bands, thusthe common name.

The painted hickory borer has rows of horizontal yellow bands on the upper surfaces of the head and thorax.The first marking from front-to-back on the elytra is also a yellow horizontal band; however, the second markingappears as a distinct "W" that is light yellow to cream-colored. The remaining markings are yellow and appearas broken W-shaped bands. The beetles look very similar to LOCUST BORERS (M. robiniae); however, paintedhickory borers emerge from cut wood in the spring and locust borers emerge from live trees in late summer toearly fall.

Despite their common names, both beetles infest a wide range of hardwoods. Banded ash borers target ash,hickory, elm, and occasionally, white oak. Painted hickory borer infests hickory as well as ash, black locust,hackberry, honeylocust, oak, Osage orange, walnut, and butternut. Fortunately, painted hickory borers onlyinfest dead wood that has been cut for less than one year and banded ash borers infest dying or recently deadtrees. In fact, both beetles are considered forest products pests since they often target fresh-cut logs to beused for lumber or firewood. The beetles will not infest older dead wood; they will not infest wood that has beendried or processed into home furnishings, or used as structural wood. So, beetles that emerge from infestedfirewood in or around a home are only a nuisance pest.

For more information, see:

Utah State University Fact SheetCornell University Cooperative Extension Monroe County Fact Sheet

C. ROSESLUGGED LEAVES.

The distinctive "windowpane effect" caused by the feeding activity of BRISTLY ROSESLUG SAWFLY (Cladiusdifformis) larvae is now appearing on rose leaves in southwest Ohio. Joe Boggs noted that the amount ofdamage observed is highly variable from location to location, perhaps because of heavy rains in April.However, this is a "season-long" pest with as many as six generations occurring in Ohio. Larvae will certainlyreappear and the damage will escalate with each successive generation.

The semi-transparent, pale-green larvae are covered with short bristles; however, the bristles are difficult todetect without magnification. Early instar larvae feed as leaf skeletonizers on the lower leaf surface. The upperepidermis remains intact and eventually turns white producing the "windowpane" symptom. The thin veneer ofthe leaf epidermis eventually falls from the leaf to produce holes. Later instars feed between the main veins todirectly produce holes. Multiple holes caused by larval feeding activity often produce "see-through" leaves.High populations spawned by the multiple generations of this sawfly can cause significant injury to roses.

Damage by this sawfly can be prevented by making a soil drench application of imidacloprid (e.g. Merit) ordinotefuran (e.g. Safari) at the time leaf buds start to open. However, it is not too late to reduce the season-longimpact of this multiple generation pest. An application made now will help stem the tide of damage caused bysuccessive generations of this rose pest.

For more information, see:

University of Guelph Fact Sheet on Rose Pests

D. BUZZ-BUMBLING BEETLES

BYGLers noted that the familiar "bzzzzzzz...thud!" sound made by MAY/JUNE BEETLES as they fly aroundporch lights at night and bounce off walls, doors, windows, startled homeowners, etc., is now being heard insouthern and central Ohio. There are five species of beetles in the genus Phyllophaga in Ohio that share thegeneral common name of May or June Beetles. The 1/2-1" long adults are slightly oblong, and reddish-brown toblack in color. Their obnoxious evening behavior often causes them to be dismissed as nuisance pests. In mostcases, this is true. Although adults of most of these species feed at night on flowers, or tree and shrub foliage,they seldom cause significant damage.

*Amy Stone and Dave Goerig reported that Alleghany serviceberry is in full bloom in northern Ohio which is a goodphenological indicator that the overwintered eggs of SPRUCE SPIDER MITES (Oligonychus ununguis) arehatching. Egg hatch was reported to have occurred in central and southern Ohio more than two weeks ago (BYGL2011-02); however, heavy rains in those parts of the state have largely washed the mites from their conifer hosts.Therefore, it is very fitting that this report is under "Windshield Wipes."

*Joe Boggs reported observing AZALEA LACE BUG (Stephanitis pyriodes) nymphs crawling about on theirnamesake host in southwest Ohio. Like all lace bugs that infest evergreens, azalea lace bugs spend the winter inthe egg stage on leaves and stems. This means damage appears early in the season soon after egg hatch. Boththe nymphs and adults use their piercing/sucking mouth parts to feed on the underside of the leaves. Their feedingdamage produces tiny yellow or whitish spots (stippling) on the upper leaf surface. Lace bugs also depositunsightly hard, black, varnish-like spots of excrement onto the leaf surface as they feed. Heavy feeding from largeinfestations may cause large, yellow, blistered areas on leaves, resulting in chlorotic leaves and early leaf drop.Damaging populations can be controlled by applying a properly labeled insecticide to the underside leaf surface.

However, large numbers of these beetles occasionally produce noticeable leaf damage, and their nocturnallife-style makes them a deceptive defoliator. In 2000, conspicuous defoliation of oaks and maples caused bythese beetles was reported in central Ohio and in some areas of Kentucky. In a few cases, the damage literallyoccurred overnight. The defoliation involved the removal of all of the leaf tissue with the exception of the mainveins. Since the beetles are night feeders, casual observers were left in the dark trying to explain the damage.Although damage may appear severe, the beetles only fly for a few weeks, leaving plenty of time for defoliatedtrees to produce new leaves.

Larvae of these beetles are white grubs with feeding habits similar to JAPANESE BEETLE (Popillia japonica)and MASKED CHAFER (Cyclocephala spp.) grubs; however, May/June beetle grubs prefer pasture grasses.Hence, damage to trees most often occurs near pastures. Likewise, significant May/June beetle grubpopulations are seldom found beneath older lawns, but are sometimes observed where new homes occupyground which was recently in pasture. Larvae require anywhere from 1 to 5 years to complete theirdevelopment, depending upon the species.

For more information, see:

OSU Extension "BugDoc" FactSheet

E. WINDSHIELD WIPES.BYGLers also ran into a number of other insect and mite pests this week including:

*Curtis Young reported observing newly hatched EUROPEAN PINE SAWFLY (Neodiprion sertifer) larvae feeding onthe needles of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris). These larvae were only hours old collectively feeding on a singleneedle. This observation was made in Ada, Ohio on 4/30/2011. Joe Boggs reported this event in SW Ohio 2 1/2weeks ago in BYGL 2011-02. Following this progression of egg hatch of European pine sawfly up through thestate helps emphasize how spread out the development of plants and pests can be in a single season in Ohio.

4. DISEASE DIGEST.A. CRABAPPLES RUSTING AWAY?

Joe Boggs reported seeing evidence of the CEDAR-APPLE RUST cycle being beautifully played out as described by JimChatfield in last week's BYGL newsletter. That is pretty high praise coming from a guy known for his love of all things insect! Alocal arborist called Joe and told him that he had to see this tree, because the almost startling spots (lesions) created by therust infections in the crabapple leaf were a must-see event.

The infections on the crabapple leaves were from the millions of fungal spores that hadearlier oozed out of the galls that formed on near-by junipers. The recent deluges thatresulted in relatively constant high moisture created the perfect conditions for thesespores to be released from the galls. The spores were splashed and blown all around toland on and infect leaves of crabapples. After about one month, the infections developedinto almost garish, orangish-red lesions on the upper leaf surfaces. The fungus goes

through a sexual reproductive cycle in the crabapple leaves. Later in the summer and into the fall, the fungus will emerge throughthe bottom surface of the leaves. These spores, released from the crabapple leaf, will be splashed and blown around to potentiallyland on and re-infect junipers. Of course, Joe will also try to insinuate that in this incredible display of fascinating fungal infections,an insect just has to be involved somewhere in moving the spores between its alternate hosts (wishful thinking)!

For more information, see:

OSUE FactSheet - Cedar Rust Diseases of Ornamental Plants

B. WET, WET, BUT NO SCAB YET?Joe Boggs, in southern Ohio, was examining what was left after the blooms of trees were blown off in the last storm, and noticedsome olive-green fuzz on the half-emerged crabapple leaves. Upon a closer inspection, he pronounced it to be the first findingof the year for the fungal pathogen, Venturia inaequalis, commonly known as APPLE SCAB. This fungus survives year-to-yearinside diseased leaves that remain on the ground under the tree. In the spring, millions of spores are released into the air duringperiods of rain in April, May and June. They are blown around and land on succulent, susceptible, plant tissues like youngleaves, flower parts and fruits. This fungus needs a film of water on the surface of leaves, flowers or fruit within which its sporesgerminate and then penetrate into the tissues of the plant; this is the point of primary infection.

After considering the weather of the last month, the Crabapple Duo of Chatfield and Draper believe the almost constant Aprilshowers will bring May's scab covered crabapple leaves and flowers! Because the apple scab fungus needs free standing wateron the leaf surface for infection, it is a simple equation to predict this disease. The drier the weather conditions are and therefore

the crabapple leaf surface, the lower the number of infection periods, which results in a lower incidence of the apple scab disease. The greater the number of hours ofleaf wetness as a result of wet weather conditions, the greater the number of infection periods, which leads to higher/greater incidence of disease; consequently, we aregoing to have a GREAT year of apple scab!

For more information, see:

Apple Scab on Crabapple At Secrest Arboretum: 2003Purdue University- Apple Scab of Flowering Crabapples

C. (ANOTHER) GREAT YEAR FOR BOTRYTIS ON ASIATIC LILIES (AND OTHER PLANTS).

In BYGL 2010-10, Pam Bennett reported that she had extensive botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) showing up on her Asiatic lilies.Others also reported similar occurrences that year. In BYGL 2011-2, Dave Dyke reported that he was seeing quite a bit ofbotrytis in greenhouses around his area. And now, Pam reported that she is seeing botrytis on tulips as well as the Asiatic liliesin her garden; another gardener in the area reported it on peonies. It's no wonder that reports of this disease are coming in,since this disease thrives on cool, wet weather conditions and can affect the leaves, stems, flowers and buds.

One answer to help stop botrytis from progressing is sunshine and good air movement- without water! Does anyone know where this can be found in Ohio this spring? Itwould likely command a premium price! Changing the environmental conditions canhelp to minimize or reduce the problem. Good air circulation is important. Otheroptions include removing infected tissue from the plant and the garden in order to

decrease the potential for infection. A copper-based fungicide helps to control further infections of botrytis, however, with allfungicides, timing is everything.

For more information, see:

Clemson Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Gray Mold (Botrytis Blight)Michigan State Extension Fact Sheet on Lilium Disease Problems

5. TURF TIPS.A. MUD CHIMNEYS ARE RISING.

Joe Boggs reported that mud "chimneys," the nuisance handiwork of TERRESTRIAL or BURROWING CRAYFISH, are risingabove turfgrass in southwest Ohio. He noted that size of some of the chimneys is truly impressive. There are several species ofburrowing crayfish and most belong to two genera: Cambarus and Fallicambarus. Like their aquatic cousins, these crayfish usegills to extract oxygen from water. However, unlike their water-soaked cousins, burrowing crayfish spend most of their lives onland. They dig their burrows down to water so they have a ready source of oxygen. This connection to a high water tableexplains why most burrowing activity occurs in poorly drained soils near streams or around shallow ditches.

The crayfish throw soft mud up around their exit holes as they excavate the soil. These chimney-like structures may tower 3-8"above the soil surface presenting a real hazard to mowing. Indeed, hitting a brick-hard dried crayfish chimney with a mowerdulls the blade and sends up a huge cloud of dust, often accompanied by a stream of expletives. Unfortunately, there is littlethat can be done to directly control these crayfish. Pouring materials down the holes to kill the crayfish is strongly discouraged

since the burrows extend down to ground water which could become contaminated.

Management generally focuses on physically reducing the high profile of the chimneys, patience, and habitat modification. The chimneys can be stomped or rakedsmooth prior to mowing. Patience focuses on recognizing that most of the crayfish's excavation activity occurs early in the season, and will subside as the seasonprogresses. Habitat modification focuses on improving water drainage to lower the water table. This may involve lowering nearby drainage ditches.

A more direct approach to managing these annoying crustaceans is to apply a little Navy SEAL stealth to hunt them down and kill them. The omnivorous crayfish mayrange several feet from their burrows at night in search of plant and animal food, living or dead. They are not fast as they crawl across the ground and are highlysusceptible to a well-aimed foot.

For more information, see:

N.C. State Ornamental and Turfgrass Fact Sheet

6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS.

A. VIBURNUM LEAF BEETLE EGG HATCH.

Curtis Young reported that he collected stems from viburnum shrubs in NE Ohio (Firestone Metropark, Akron,Ohio) to make an observation on viburnum leaf beetle (VLB)(Pyrrhalta viburni) development. VLB spends thewinter in the egg stage of its life cycle. The eggs were deposited in pits chewed into the bark and wood ofviburnum stems last summer. After depositing 8 or so eggs into the pit, the female sealed the eggs into the pitby packing the chewed plant material over the eggs then sealing the deal by defecating on them as well. Curtis

collected the stems Thursday evening (4/28/2011) and examined them on Friday morning (4/29/2011). OnFriday morning, tiny (3/32"), newly-hatched VLB larvae were observed mobbing along the collected stems.Popping the caps off of the other egg pits revealed other hatching eggs. Although the eggs may have been"forced" to hatch by bringing them into a warm office, it does indicate that hatch in the field could happen anytime with the occurrence of the next sunny, warm day.

In the field, newly-hatched VLB larvae move from the egg pits to newly-expanding viburnum leaves. Typicallythe larvae feed from the underside of the leaves. The young larvae also tend to hug the main veins of theleaves. The color of their bodies is a light yellow-green color and as described above, larvae are tiny. All ofthese characteristics will initially make finding larvae a difficult task. As they mature, their bodies and the amountof defoliation will both increase making them more easily observed.

For those wishing to manage the amount of injury produced by VLB larvae, the time to treat with a foliarinsecticide is fast approaching. VLB is not specifically mentioned on many insecticide labels, however there arenumerous insecticides labeled for general use on many trees and shrubs which would include viburnums. Likemany leaf beetles (e.g. elm leaf beetle) there are several all-purpose insecticides that are effective against them(e.g. permethrin).

For more information, see:

The Viburnum Leaf Beetle in OhioCornell University Citizen Science - VLB Project

7. WEATHERWATCH.The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the datesfrom January 1-April 30, 2011, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.

While the rainy weather continued to "soak" BYGLers reports this week, Pam Bennett reminded the group of a BYGL weather report from 14 years ago. We seemed to bein a similar boat!

(BYGL, May 1996) Reports of heavy rainfall continue to pour in; however, tales of Kevin Costner (a.k.a. "The Mariner") filming a sequel to "Water World" in Ohio is probablyan exaggeration. Of course, with Jane Martin reporting that rainfall was 4.7" above normal in Columbus for April, speculation on the sequel's location will continue.

Other rainfall figures for 1996 (as of May 7) for various locations around the state include: Mansfield is 10.93" above normal for the year; Cincinnati is 7.5" above normal;Youngstown is 2.72" above normal; Akron-Canton is 2.55" above normal; and Cleveland stands at 2.33" above normal. These numbers were plucked from the NationalWeather Service Web Site: (http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/oh/climate.html) where Extensioneers will find predictions of ... more rain.

Floating back to the present, Joe Boggs reported that Cincinnati only had two sunny days during the entire month of April with 18 days of measurable rainfall. The 13.52"of rain that fell in April was +9.56" above normal and shattered the previous record for total rainfall during the month of 9.77" set in 1998. Total rainfall fell just short ofbreaking the all-time record for rainfall in any month since records began to be kept back in 1835. The all-time record for rain in a month was set in 1937 when 13.68" ofrain fell during the month of January.

With all the rain, fields remain unplanted across Ohio and farmers and gardeners alike are getting a little antsy to get outside.

WeatherStation

Region ofOhio

Ave. HighTemp F

Ave. LowTemp F

TotalPrecip."

NormalPrecip."

Soil Temp F2"/3"

Ashtabula NE 40.2 24.9 13.85 9.4 55.58/55.88

Wooster NE 43.4 26.5 12.4 12.2 54.71/53.53

Hoytville NW 42.0 25.0 11.94 9.2 62.24/58.68

Columbus Central 47.4 30.4 15.83 13.5 53.78/53.11

Piketon South 50.3 30.6 21.09 13.0 56.85/56.94

For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, visit: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/weather.htm

8. COMING ATTRACTIONS.A. SOUTHWEST OHIO BYGLIVE! DIAGNOSTIC WALK-ABOUT.

The second 2011 Southwest Ohio BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About will be held this coming Monday, May 9, at the CincinnatiZoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, 45220. Join OSU Extension's Joe Boggs and Julie Crook and Zoo hostsSteve Foltz (Director of Horticulture) and Brian Jorg (Manager of Horticulture) to walk-about from Noon-3:00 p.m. to look atplants, plant pests, plant diseases, plant physiological problems, animals (e.g. Joe Boggs), and other points of considerableinterest.

This monthly hands-on training series for Green Industry professionals provides the following training credits: ISA CertifiedArborist CEU's; ONLA OCNT credits, and Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) CEU's for LandscapeArchitects. Visit the following website for more information including registration information as well as driving directions: http://hamilton.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/byglive-diagnostic-walk-about .

9. BYGLOSOPHY."Dear beautiful Spring weather, I miss you. Was it something I said?" - "Skipper" Kim Corbin

APPENDIX - ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCES:Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science PlantfactsThe C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)Buckeye TurfOhio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer ProgramEmerald Ash Borer Information

Following were the participants in the May 3rd conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Julie Crook (Hamilton); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Goerig(Mahoning); Cindy Meyer (Butler); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy Taylor (C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); andCurtis Young (Van Wert).

BYGL is available via email, contact Cheryl Fischnich fischnich.1@cfaes.osu.edu to subscribe. Additional fact sheet information on any of these articles may be foundthrough the OSU FactSheet database http://plantfacts.osu.edu/ .

BYGL is a service of OSU Extension and is aided by support from the ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association) http://onla.org/ ; http://buckeyegardening.com/ to the OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team (ENLTT). Any materials in this newsletter may be reproduced for educational purposes providing the source iscredited.

BYGL is available online at: http://bygl.osu.edu, a website sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences (HCS) as part of the"Horticulture in Virtual Perspective." The online version of BYGL has images associated with the articles and links to additional information.

Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made toproduce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on anondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. Thisstatement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA. Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration andDirector, Ohio State University Extension, TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.

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Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produceinformation that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available toclientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity, or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteransstatus. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension, TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.

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