Hudson
Valley Horticulture
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~
Volume 7, Issue 5
June 12, 2007
Participating Counties: Dutchess * Orange * Putnam
* Rockland * Sullivan * Ulster * Westchester *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu
In this Issue:
•The
2007 Cornell University Turfgrass and Landscape Industry Research
Field Day
•Cornell
Floriculture Field Day and Fifth Annual Kathy Pufahl Container
Design Competition
•Free GIS\GPS and Invasive
Species Training
•Searchable Database for Biopesticide
and Organic Pest Management Solutions
•Decimation of bee colonies
has various causes, with parasites, pathogens and pesticides
possible suspects, Cornell expert says
•Emergency Pesticide Exemptions
Granted for New York to Help with Bee Problems
•2007 Pest Management Guidelines
for Commercial Turfgrass Now Available
•2007 Cornell Guide for the
Integrated Management of Greenhouse Floral Crops Now Available
•DEC Commissioner Advises
Property Owners to Watch For Spring Caterpillar Pests
•Forest Management Resources
at Cornell
•Extension Launches Wildlife
Damage Web Site
•Possible New Control for
Whiteflies Discovered
•Christmas Tree Update-Scouting
Report
•Regional Updates
oWestchester
oRockland
oOrange
oSullivan
oDutchess
•Other
Horticulture Programs
•Tri-County
Nursery Landscape Association Events
2007
Cornell University Turfgrass and Landscape Industry Research
Field Day
Where? Cornell University main campus, Ithaca, NY
When? Tuesday June 19, 2007 from 9:00 AM
to 3:45 PM
The Cornell University programs that conduct research and education
in the turfgrass and landscape
industries are pleased to invite you to the 2007 Industry Research
Field Day. The Field Day will be held
at the Cornell University Turfgrass and Landscape Research and
Education Center on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, NY.
This year’s Field Day will highlight the depth and breadth
of the research and education underway at Cornell University
(CU)
designed to improve the environmental stewardship and profitability
of green industry partners. Many exciting new projects
are underway in golf and sports turf management, as well as
urban and landscape horticulture featuring CU Structural Soil,
the latest tree and shrub selections for the landscape, perennial
plant demonstrations and research and nursery crop
production. There is something for everyone involved in the
green industry.
Several guided and self-guided options are available throughout
the day that will include a diverse trade show of
equipment and wares and our famous Cornell chicken BBQ lunch.
Industry certification credits including New York State
pesticide recertification credits will be awarded for attendance.
For more information on this exciting opportunity for all members
of the green industry in New York, contact
Joann Gruttadaurio at 607-255-1792 or jg17@cornell.edu.
Industry certification credits including New York State pesticide
recertification credits and 4 ISA CEU's will be
awarded for attendance.
Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
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Cornell Floriculture Field Day and
Fifth Annual Kathy Pufahl Container Design Competition
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - Cornell Campus, Ithaca, N.Y.
Featured Speaker:
Jack Williams, Paul Ecke Ranch, "Annuals with Pizazz -
How to Grow Them"
Plus:
Company representatives talking about new plants on the market
Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University, "Solving Annual
Problems"
New this year: A panel discussion - "Growing and Retailing:
Views of the Next Generation" -
moderated by Deborah Sweeton (Technigrowers Greenhouse) and
Mark Adams (Mark Adams Greenhouse), and featuring:
Charlie Cole, D.S. Cole Growers
Ben Huntington, Pleasant View Gardens
Q Pennings, Pennings Greenhouses Inc
Mazanne Pennings, Pennings Greenhouses Inc
Noah Schwartz, Matterhorn Nursery
There is a morning program on the Cornell campus and New York
State Agriculture Commissioner
Patrick Hooker will welcome the Field Day attendees. The afternoon
program is held at an off-campus
research facility where over 1,000 annuals and perennials will
be available for study and discussion.
Again this year there will be the featured Kathy Pufahl Container
Design Competition with outstanding
container gardens. Approximately 50 container gardens will be
on view and available for sale
after the competition. All proceeds will benefit Crohn's Disease
research.
More information
and program registration form [.pdf]
Container Competition
information and registration [.pdf]
Map for Field Day Program
[.pdf]
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Orange County
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Free GIS\GPS and Invasive Species Training
Saturday, June 23, 2007 10a.m.-2:00p.m. Lamont-Doherty Earth
Observatory
Sponsored by:
Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR)
Hudson River Watershed Association (HRWA)
USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)
The invasive vine, Mile-A-Minute Vine (Polygonum perfoliatum)
has spread into the Lower Hudson
estuary watershed. Areas of special concern include the Moodna
Creek and Quassic Creek in
Orange County and many parts of Rockland, Putnam, and Westchester
Counties. This annual
vine grows up to six inches a day climbing over and shading
our native vegetation.
The Lower Hudson working group is mounting an early detection
and rapid response system to
beat this invasive species. Your help is needed!!
Come to a free training in Palisades, NY, Rockland County on
Saturday, June 23.
You will learn about the Mile-A-Minute Vine as well as using
current on-line GIS and GPS systems,
to perform field inventories. You will be getting your hands
dirty during this training, so dress
appropriately. Bring sturdy boots, long pants and long-sleeved
shirts, leather gloves, sun screen
and bug protection. If you have a GPS unit, please bring it
as well. We'll be reviewing how to use
free and low cost tools such as Google Earth Plus, to set up
your own GIS\GPS system.
The Lower Hudson early detection and rapid response program
will be taking place in
June/July/August, wherever the mile-a-minute vine is growing.
To register or for more information, please contact Laura Weyeneth
by June 15,
at laweyene@gw.dec.state.ny.us
or 845-889-4745 x115. Space is limited.
Submitted By Dianne Olsen, Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam
County
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Searchable Database for Biopesticide and Organic Pest Management
Solutions
The Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4), headquartered
at New Jersey's Agricultural
Experiment Station at Rutgers University, announced today the
launch of its Biopesticide /
Organic database on the IR-4 website:
www.ir4.rutgers.edu/Biopesticides/LabelDatabase/index.cfm
The database, which is searchable by crop, pest, and state,
will assist commercial and home
growers of specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits,
vegetables, ornamentals and turf,
but IR-4 also includes minor pests that are found on major row
crops in this database.
How it Works
Once opened, the database enables growers to input their crop,
pest and state and it responds by
providing a list of EPA registered product labels that fit their
criteria. It also supplies the manufacturer
contact information and other pertinent data. "Of course
it is ultimately the responsibility of the end user
to follow label directions," Braverman continued. "Organic
growers will find this particularly useful too,
as the database can limit the search to organically approved
pest management products."
Why Biopesticides?
Biopesticides are primarily natural products or organisms that
are compatible with integrated pest
management. They have broad modes of action which avoids resistance
problems that may exist
with some conventional products. Biopesticides often work best
in rotation with conventional products
so that optimal pest management can be obtained.
Most biopesticides have no restricted entry interval requirements.
So using biopesticides can alleviate
the concerns of homeowners, who may have difficulty keeping
children and pets off treated areas.
Submitted By Dianne Olsen, Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam
County
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Decimation of bee colonies has various causes, with parasites,
pathogens
and pesticides possible suspects, Cornell expert says
Scientists are working hard to understand the sources of a staggering
decline in honeybees
in as many as 27 U.S. states and countries in Europe and Asia
this winter, said Cornell
associate professor of entomology Nicholas Calderone, during
a media teleconference May 10.
In the United States, half a million to a million colonies out
of a total 2.4 million colonies
have died this winter. Both tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi)
and varroa mites (Varroa destructor)
have threatened the bee industry since the 1980s, causing similar
catastrophic die-offs
to bee populations in the winters of 1995-96 and 2000-01. The
mites feed on U.S. honeybees
and act as a vector for a number of bee viruses, though varroa
mites are especially deadly.
While many bees this year exhibit symptoms of mite damage, about
25 percent of the
deaths cannot be attributed to mites or any other known honeybee
pest, Calderone said.
Picture above: Entomology professor Nicholas Calderone speaks
with reporters at the
Dyce Honeybee Laboratory off Freese Road near Cornell, May 10.
For the full article visit www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/public/comm/news/bees.cfm.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
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Emergency Pesticide Exemptions Granted for New York to Help
with Bee Problems
As an aid to helping beekeepers and growers combat Varoa mites
and hive beetles,
two pesticides have been granted emergency use exemptions for
2007:
NYS Coumaphos (CheckMite)
in Bee Hives to Control Varroa Mites and Hive Beetles, 2/07
NYS Fenpyroximate (Hivastan)
in Beehives to Control Varroa Mites during 2007, 3/07
Other exemptions include:
NYS Specific Exemption
for Use of Formetanate Hydrochloride (Carzol SP, EPA Reg. No.
10163-265)
to Control Onion Thrips on Dry Bulb Onions Grown during the
2007 Growing Season in New York State, 5/07
NYS Desmedipham (Betanex)
to Control Broadleaf Weeds in Red (Table/Garden) Beets,
5/07
A complete listing of the Specific Emergency Exemptions granted
to New York State by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be accessed from the
Pesticide
Management Education Program website at pmep.cce.cornell.edu//regulation/sec18/2007/index.html
Submitted By Dianne Olsen, Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam
County
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2007
Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass and the
2007 Cornell Guide for the Integrated Management of Greenhouse
Floral Crops Now Available
The 2007 Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass
includes the
most up-to-date information currently available for managing
disease, insect, and
weed pests in turfgrass management. Highlighted revisions include
updated private
pesticide applicator recordkeeping information, an expanded
sprayer application
technology section, and revised pesticide registration information.
This Guideline
has been designed as a practical reference for producers, pesticide
dealers,
and others involved in turfgrass production.
The 2007 Cornell Guide for the Integrated Management of Greenhouse
Floral Crops
includes the most up-to-date information currently available
for managing disease, insect,
and weed pests in greenhouse floral crops. Highlighted revisions
include updated private
pesticide applicator recordkeeping information, an expanded
sprayer application technology
section, and revised pesticide registration information. This
Guideline has been designed
as a practical reference for producers, pesticide dealers, and
others involved in greenhouse
floral crop production.
Ordering information: Contact your local Cornell Cooperative
Extension county office or order
directly from Liz Powers at (607) 255-7282 or via e-mail at
patorder@cornell.edu.
Customers may also submit orders via our new on-line store at
http://store.cce.cornell.edu/pmep.
Commercial Turfgrass: Item Code: TG-07, List Price: $18.00
Greenhouse Floral Crops: Item Code: GFC-07, List Price:
$25.00
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
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DEC Commissioner
Advises Property Owners to Watch for Spring Caterpillar Pests
Guidance on How to Avoid and Control Defoliators
By Gary R. Goff, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University
Department of Natural Resources
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Pete Grannis
today alerted residents to be on the lookout for common spring
insect defoliators and provided
guidance on how to control these pests.
Overall populations of forest tent caterpillars, eastern tent
caterpillars, gypsy moth caterpillars, saddle
prominent caterpillars and a group of caterpillars commonly
called inch-worms will be high again this
year, Commissioner Grannis said. Most trees will survive an
initial defoliation by these caterpillar
pests in the early growing season and will usually re-foliate
in the early summer when they are gone.
Defoliation can weaken trees making them more susceptible to
other potential stressors such as
drought, disease or other insects. Therefore, consecutive years
of defoliation can kill a tree.
Fall surveys conducted by the DEC Forest Health crews have shown
that there are large populations
of these defoliators in several counties, most of which had
caterpillar problems last year. Because
these caterpillars are somewhat mobile, the damage can easily
spread past these counties.
Effective mechanical treatment options for controlling infestation
on individual trees include hand
removal of egg masses, inhabited caterpillar tents and pupa,
and installation of sticky tree wraps on
trunks to capture caterpillars as they move up and down trees.
If you choose to use pesticides to control defoliator infestations,
these treatments should be used wisely
and according to label instructions. DEC recommends using a
New York State registered pesticide
business that employs certified pesticide applicators. Some
pesticides used to control harmful insects
are contact poisons and could endanger a variety of beneficial
insects, such as honeybees, as well as
nesting birds and other animals. Spraying is not effective against
pupae or egg masses, and is less
effective once caterpillars reach one inch in length. To find
a list of registered pesticide businesses that
can perform pesticide applications on your property, visit DEC’s
website at www.dec.ny.gov, and follow
the link for Pesticides under the Chemical & Pollution Control
section on the homepage.
All treatments, mechanical and chemical, are most effective
when applied while the caterpillars less than
an inch long. Generally, treatments are less effective when
leaf loss is noticeable. Do not attempt to burn
caterpillars and their tents while they are on trees. This is
hazardous to the health of the tree and can be
very dangerous. Contact your regional DEC office or county Cornell
Cooperative Extension office
(www.cce.cornell.edu)
for additional information and management options.
For more details regarding spring defoliators, including areas
that can be affected, visit DEC’s website
at www.dec.ny.gov , and
follow the link to Insects & Other Species, under the Animal,
Plants,
Aquatic Life section on the homepage.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
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Forest
Management Resources at Cornell
Forests cover 62% of NYS and are controlled primarily by private
family ownerships. Many homeowners
have wooded lots covered by areas of forest. Oftentimes homeowners
have questions and/or need guidance
and direction on management of these forested areas. The ForestConnect
program through Cornell
University's Department of Natural Resources, offers a wealth
of information on topics such as
management plans, wildlife management, selling valuable timber
from the forest. ForestConnect also
sponsors a volunteer program called the New York State Master
Forest Owner. These volunteers are
trained by Cornell and are available to visit homeowners who
have a small forested area on their property.
They can provide forest owners information needed to start managing
their forests. For further information
visit www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/mfo.
Written by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dutchess County
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Extension Launches Wildlife Damage Web Site
Paul Curtis, Associate Professor Natural Resources and principle
investigator for the extension
Wildlife Damage Management web site has launched a new website
to help consumers manage
wildlife problems and links people to experts who have this
information. The site, available at
www.extension.org/human-wildlife+relations,
offers a wealth of information and is an excellent
resource for anyone needing information about managing wildlife
problems.
Written by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dutchess County
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USDA Restricts Ash Nursery Stock, Other Plant Products from
Canada
WASHINGTON, May 31, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) today published an interim rule establishing
regulations to
prohibit or restrict the importation of ash nursery stock and
other propagative plant material
from Canada to prevent the artificial spread of emerald ash
borer (EAB), a destructive
wood-boring insect that attacks and kills ash trees, into non-infested
areas of the United States.
Plant health officials in the United States and Canada have
been working cooperatively to
establish a regulatory framework to address the risk of artificially
spreading this plant pest
between the two countries.
APHIS is amending regulations in 7 CFR part 319, "Foreign
Quarantine Notices," to restrict
or prohibit EAB host material from Canada, including nursery
stock, plants, other propagative
plant material, ash logs and wood with bark that cannot be feasibly
inspected, treated or
handled to prevent the introduction of the pest.
EAB, an insect indigenous to Asia, was first found in North
America in ash trees in several
counties in Michigan and a small area in Ontario, Canada. APHIS
subsequently quarantined
13 counties in Michigan and placed restrictions on the interstate
movement of regulated plant
material from those quarantined areas to prevent the artificial
spread of EAB to other states.
The pest has since been found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland
and Ohio and quarantines have
been established in those states as well.
State and federal officials are currently conducting intensive
survey and eradication programs
in the affected areas. Similarly, provincial officials in Ontario
and officials of the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency have been conducting extensive survey
and eradication activities
in infested areas in Ontario.
This interim rule is scheduled to be published in the June 1
Federal Register and becomes
effective upon publication.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before
July 31. Send an original and
three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments
to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0125,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8,
4700 River Road, Unit 118,
Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using
the Internet, go to the Federal
Rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov,
select "Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service"
from the agency drop-down menu; then click on "Submit."
In the Docket ID column, select
APHIS-2006-0125 to submit or view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials
available electronically.
William G. Smith, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University
Written by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dutchess County
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Possible
New Control for Whiteflies Discovered
An unusually durable fungus that was first spotted on tiny insects
feeding on eggplants in
Texas may become a new biological control for the widespread
and costly agricultural pests
known as whiteflies.
The fungus was first isolated by Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) entomologist
Enrique
Cabanillas working with entomologist Walker Jones at the ARS
Beneficial Insects Research
Unit, Weslaco, Texas.
The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (previously known
as B. tabaci biotype B), may be
small in stature, but it can be deadly as a pest sucking and
feeding on the juices of a myriad of
host plants. Heavy feeding can give plants under attack a yellow,
mottled look and eventually kill them.
Whiteflies cause major crop losses, both directly by feeding
and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses.
Pesticides have been ineffective for controlling whiteflies
because of a built-in natural resistance, the
need for repeated applications and the potential hazard some
insecticides may pose to the environment,
animal life or humans.
Isolated by Cabanillas in 2001, the new fungal species has been
named Isaria propawskii. In the Lower
Rio Grande Valley of Texas, it has been shown to kill both larval
and adult stages of silverleaf whitefly. In
fact, since 2001, it has periodically wiped out whiteflies at
the ARS insect-rearing facilities in Weslaco.
Notable aspects of I. propawskii include its natural establishment
in a semiarid region where temperatures
can reach 107 degrees Fahrenheit and its continuing persistence,
even in the absence of insect hosts.
A high spore production in common culture media makes this fungus
comparatively easy to grow in
vitro, in the laboratory.
These features, plus its high pathogenic potential against a
second major insect pest the glassy-winged
sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (previously known as H.
coagulata) make the I. propawskii fungus
a promising candidate for practical biological control of two
major U.S. farm pests.
Written by Alfredo Flores, USDA-ARS Staff Writer, May 2007.
To read more, visit:
www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may07/fungus0507.htm
Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
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Christmas
Tree Update-Scouting Report
Observations:
Rhabdocline Needlecast: the few trees I observed with Rhabdocline
bands were still viable.
Several of the brick shaped lesions were orange and spongy which
indicates sporulation is
still occurring. If this is observed you will need to apply
a fungicide application two to three
weeks after your last spray application. If the lesions have
started to turn black this is an
indication sporulation has ended and sprays are no longer necessary.
Weirs Cushion Rust: yellow banding on Colorado blue spruce
needles was evident at both
farms with several needles showing some orange blistering indicating
sporulation is imminent.
The first application to control this disease should have occurred
at 10% budbreak with two to
three more applications at seven to ten day intervals. In the
case of severe outbreaks I would
suggest tightening up to the seven day schedule.
Elongate Hemlock Scale: crawlers are definitely active
now. Crawlers are orange-yellow
in color and can be seen on the undersides of the needles. The
female scale covering is
amber and the male covering is white with long waxy fibers.
If you see crawlers, begin a
spray program but be consistent. Research by Dr. Paul Heller
of Penn State found three
applications of dimethoate applied four weeks apart or four
applications (if infestations
are heavy) of dimethoate (which is registered in NYS for control
of EHS) applied three
weeks apart resulted in over 95% control. I suggest you be aggressive
in scouting for this
invasive pest. Populations can build very quickly and because
of overlapping generations,
can be a challenge when it comes to achieving effective control.
The spray program
recommended by Dr. Heller accounts for overlapping generations.
Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid: This pest was alive and well
on Douglas fir....the cottony
wax and/or cast skins are very visible. Kinks in the needle
were also visible. I did not
observe any galls on Colorado blue spruce but they should be
visible if your trees have
galls. They should be about 2-4 inches long and forming on the
tips of new growth.
Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid: Though I did not observe any
galls at this farm, these galls
also should be visible by now on Norway spruce. Look for pineapple
shaped galls at the
base of twigs. Once these galls begin to form it is too late
to control them with an insecticide.
Balsam Twig Aphid: curled and sticky (due to the honey dew
produced by feeding aphids)
tips of new growth was seen on Fraser fir. Once this is evident
the window for control has
closed. All true firs are susceptible but balsam and Fraser
fir seem to be more susceptible
to this insect. If your trees are at least two to three years
from being saleable, then control
may not be very necessary. If your trees will be saleable within
two to three years, then
control is suggested.
Spruce Spider Mite: spruce spider mite populations were
evident on Fraser fir. This
mite prefers to feed at the base of the needle of needles of
true firs and Douglas fir. They
prefer older growth and usually do not feed on new growth until
it has hardened off. Spruce
spider mites are an early season feeder. Once temperatures consistently
reach the
mid-80s populations will decline but may resume in the fall
when cooler temperatures
return. To test for mites do a tap test on at least ten branches
around the tree. Hold a
piece of white paper underneath the branch and tap it on the
paper. If more than 10
mites are present control may be necessary.
Two-Spotted Spider Mite: milky white to cream colored eggs
of the two-spotted
spider
mite was also present on Fraser fir. A few orange females were
observed
on the needles. Their damage gives a stippled, bronzed effect
on the upper surface
of the needle and large amounts of webbing.
Written by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dutchess County
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SAVE THE DATE:
Monday, July 9th
Christmas Tree Twilight Mtg. with Dr. George Hudler
Location TBA
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Regional Updates
Westchester County
As of 5/30, Growing Degree Day totals are at 447 which put us
slightly ahead of seasonal
norms in terms of accumulated heat. While our precipitation
levels for the growing season
of 2007 have us totaling over 16 days of rain (a level that
is well above normal), we have
actually only seen one of this rain in May instead of the usual
four days. So in short,
May 2007 has proven to be a rather warm, dry month here in Westchester
County.
Although the drier weather has no doubt lead to the suppression
of a lot of seasonal diseases
that we would normally be getting questions about, we have received
a few calls about rust
diseases on junipers including quince rust and cedar apple rust.
Relative to turfgrass, we
have noted the presence of some disease while on some field
consultations, including
dollar spot, as well as some sections of lawns beginning to
go dormant due to the warm,
dry weather. Certain weed populations seem to also be especially
prolific this year including
clover and annual bluegrass in lawns.
As one can imagine for this time of the year, a wide number
of insects have been noted in the
landscape as the growing season has moved into high gear. Hemlock
woolly adelgid crawlers
are present on hemlock trees, as are the crawlers of elongate
hemlock scale. Speaking of scale
insects, a number of them have been noted either laying eggs
or preparing to do so, including
cottony taxus scale, juniper scale and white prunicola scale.
Remember, treatment for scale
insects is generally recommended at the time of crawler emergence,
so monitoring during this
time of the year is especially important!
Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
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Rockland
County
Rockland County Landscaper Alert
The Rockland County Department of Health has issued an alert
to landscapers and their
employees, on the risks of contracting Lyme disease. Lyme disease
is an infection caused
by bacteria transmitted by a bite from an infected deer tick.
Carried by wild or domestic
animals or birds, deer ticks can be found in brush or woodlands,
backyards, leaf litter,
rock walls, lawns, or shrubs.
Although deer ticks can bite anytime, they are more active in
May-September, when they
are young, the size of a grain of pepper. Ticks at this stage
cause 90% of all Lyme disease
cases. During Oct-May, when ticks are in the adult stage, they
are normally the size of a
sesame seed. In winter, adults are active above 40 degrees F
(5 degrees C); inactive
when the ground is snow covered and temperatures fall below
40 degrees F.
Symptoms may include a flat, expanding rash at the site of a
bite, sometimes occurring in
patches. On light skin the rash will look red, and on dark skin,
it may look like an area of
darker skin color, like a bruise. Other symptoms may include
painful joints and muscles,
fever and chills, irregular heartbeat, facial paralysis, stiff
neck and feeling tired.
To prevent tick bites, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tuck
shirt into pants and pants
into socks. Use tick repellants with caution. A repellant with
N, N diethyl-m-toluamide
(also called DEET) may be used on clothing or exposed skin,
but not on face and hands.
Follow label warnings. Permethrin should be used only on clothing.
You should check
your entire body for ticks before going to bed, and if you find
a tick on you, remove it as
soon as possible. Removing a tick 24 before hours reduces the
risk of getting Lyme
disease. Remove a tick by using a pointed tweezers, grasp the
mouthparts as close
to the skin as possible. Slowly pull the tick out and do not
try to kill the tick while it’s
attached to the skin. Save the tick in a sealed container and
bring it to your county
Cornell Cooperative Extension for identification.
Should you find you’ve been bitten by a tick that’s
been identified as a deer tick, see a
physician immediately when symptoms begin. Lyme disease is treated
with antibiotics,
and most people are cured if treated early. For additional information,
contact your local
Health Dept. In Rockland call: 845-364-3855 or 364-2501.
For tick identification,
in Rockland call the CCE Horticulture lab: 845-429-7085
Written by Donna M. Cooke, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland
County
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Orange
County
This past month the big ticket item has been caterpillars -
eastern tent, gypsy moth,
and sightings of forest tent caterpillars! We have been seeing
mostly eastern tent
(which are pupating now), some gypsy moth (not as many as last
year - probably
due to many succumbing to a fungus disease last year and never
reaching adulthood),
and a few forest tent caterpillars. We can probably anticipate
future problems from
growing populations of forest tent caterpillars in our area.
Other callers on the Garden
Helpline were requesting information on grubs in lawns, roses,
soil sampling, deer
resistant plants, rhododendrons with brown spots (primarily
winter damage), and woodchucks.
Written by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
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Sullivan County
Spring was a little slow starting here in Sullivan County. Our
last scattered frost
was on May 23rd. May has been dry; we are about 4" below
normal rainfall for
the month. There are hot spots of gypsy moth, tent caterpillar
and forest tent
caterpillar scattered throughout the county, however, not to
the magnitude
of the last few years from what I've seen so far. Continued
problem with blue
spruce needle cast disease; many trees are showing severe symptoms.
This
has been a problem for the past several years. Carpenter bees
have been
causing a big problem at many residences in some cases causing
extensive
damage (they love those log homes!).
Written by Marianna Quartararo, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Sullivan County
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Dutchess
County
Dutchess County is holding a program called Deer-Proofing Your
Garden from 7-9 PM
on June 20 at the Farm & Home Center in Millbrook. Brad
Roeller will be giving the lecture.
Drawing upon over 30 years of gardening in deer country, Brad
Roeller will impart lessons
learned in deterring deer from browsing upon ornamental plants.
Learn about environmental
and biological factors which influence deer and their choice
of food that will assist
homeowners and professionals in developing a strategy for “deer-proofing”
their landscape.
The cost is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required.
For more information or to register, contact Nancy Halas at
677-8223, x 115 or nh26@cornell.edu.
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Professional
Horticulture Programs of Interest
Cornell Landscape Architects Short Course
June 15 and 16, 2007, Cornell Campus and Ithaca, NY
For a registration form, please call (607) 255-9552 or download
the
form at www.landscape.cornell.edu/registration%20form.pdf.
NYS ReLeaf Conference
July 19-21, 2007, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
For more information contact: Mary Kramarchyk at 518-402-9412
or email at
mckramar@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Join fellow urban and community foresters, municipal officials,
community
organizations, arborists, and affiliated industry professionals
for a conference that
offers workshops and tours on urban and community forestry issues.
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Tri-County Nursery/Landscape Association In Conjunction
With Cornell Cooperative Extension
Present
2007 Calendar of Events
July 10
Summer BBQ with Hardscape Industry Representatives
Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106
September 11
Golf Outing At Winding Hills
Jim Presutti (845) 567-1611
October 13 & 14
Small Farm and Rural Living EXPO- Ulster Fairgrounds
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234
November 13 -15
Green Industry Show- Rochester
Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106
December 1
Holiday Party
Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074, Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106
All Dates Subject to Change. For more information or to become
a member contact: Kevin Shuback at (845) 651-4074.
Cornell Cooperative Extension County Commercial Horticulture
Educators
Dutchess: Stephanie Mallozzi, sdm10@cornell.edu, 845-677-8223
x 104
Orange: Rosemarie Baglia, rsb22@cornell.edu, 845-344-1234
Putnam: Dianne Olsen, dko3@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738
Rockland: Caryn Singer (for Paul Trader), cs356@cornell.edu,
845-429-7085 x 117
Ulster: Teresa Rusinek, tr28@cornell.edu, 845-340-3990
Westchester: Rick Harper, rwh26@cornell.edu, 914-946-3005
Sullivan: Marianna Quartararo, mdq2@cornell.edu, 845-292-6180
x 112
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