Hort Update for the week of 8/31/2009
1. It’s time to…… Late summer and early fall are important times to fertilize, seed/overseed, core aerate and power rake cool season turfgrass. These grasses actively grow and produce roots and rhizomes due to cooler temperatures. Best plant care practices promote growth to help cool season grasses recover from summer heat and drought. For information on timing of practices, see the NebGuides Kentucky bluegrass and Tall Fescue Lawns
Calendars:
Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn Calendar, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
Tall Fescue Lawn Calendar, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
2. Stinkhorns are orange, slimy structures that smell bad and attract flies. A type of fungi or mushroom, they often grow in mulched plant beds. While unsightly and smelly, they’re otherwise harmless fungi living off dead organic matter. They start off as a golf ball sized egg-like structure in the soil. As the fungus develops, an orange stalk grows up to four to eight inches tall. It has a slimy cap coated with olive green to brown spores. The odor attracts flies and other insects which crawl on the stinkhorn, become covered with slime and spores, then fly to other areas spreading spores. Eventually, stinkhorns wither and disappear. They can be raked up and discarded if their odor or appearance are unwelcome.
3. Winter annual weeds, such as henbit and speedwell, germinate in September and early October with plant growth, blooming and seed production taking place during spring and early summer. If herbicide control is needed, apply a pre-emergence herbicide (dithiopyr, isoxaben, pendimethalin or prodiamine) in early September to kill seedlings at germination. Determine why turfgrass is not competing with winter annuals and change cultural practices to promote grass density.
4. Billbug damage- Root feeding by older larvae in July may cause turf to appear drought stressed. Under heavy billbug pressure, areas of lawn may turn brown with patches of turfgrass dying. Insecticides are not recommended at this time of year. Billbug larvae are small grubs about the size of a puffed rice kernel and cream colored with a reddish head and no legs. Adults are one-fourth inch long black weevils with a distinct snout. In May, adults deposit eggs in bluegrass stems near plant crowns. Newly-hatched larvae tunnel in grass stems causing discoloration and dieback. They emerge from stems and feed on roots in mid-summer. On lawns with a history of billbug damage, an application of Merit (imidacloprid) applied during the second week of May provides effective control.
Bluegrass Billbugs, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
5. Brown Patch causes roughly circular patches of dead and dying grass. Tan colored, irregularly shaped leaf spots with reddish margins are found on leaf blades. Fungicide applications are often not recommended after August 1. Preventive applications of Prostar (commercial use), Bayleton, and chlorothalonil (Daconil) do a fairly good job of suppressing the disease when applied at monthly intervals in June, July, and August. Curative applications of chlorothalonil beginning a few days after symptoms of brown patch develop may suppress injury. In many cases, lawns damaged by brown patch recover in two to three weeks, provided the outbreak is not sustained by continuous hot, humid weather; and treatment may not be necessary.
Brown Patch Disease of Turfgrass, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
6. Dollar Spot Small (three to six inch diameter), roughly circular patches in lawns. Spots may coalesce into a larger patch. Grass blades have tan, band-like lesions with red margins. Damage is usually most severe where nitrogen is deficient. With timely rains this year, nitrogen may have been leached out of the root zone. The best control can be nitrogen fertilization. Turfgrass can be treated with products containing benomyl, mancozeb, propiconazole, thiophanate-methyl.
Dollar Spot Disease in Turfgrass, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
7. Summer patch is caused by a fungus attacking turfgrass roots during spring. Fungicide applications should have been made in late April and May. They will not be effective now. Although infection takes place in spring, summer patch symptoms often do not appear until summer when the function of infected roots is reduced. Fall lawn care practices will help turfgrass areas recover. Overseeding now with summer patch resistant cultivars provides the most effective long term control.
Necrotic Ring Spot and Summer Patch Diseases in Turfgrass, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
8. Hackberry leaf yellowing and defoliation is fairly common. Causes may be due to lacebug feeding, environmental conditions or tree decline caused by repeated exposure to herbicide drift and other environmental stresses. Lacebugs are tiny, flat, square-shaped insects with white lacy wings. They feed on leaf undersides by sucking sap from the plant. This feeding causes leaves to discolor, usually turning a dirty yellow color. Control of lacebugs, or other sapsucking insects such as aphids, is usually not necessary when damage occurs so late in the season.
9. Kermes scale is a soft scale that feeds only on oaks. Heavy infestations cause "flagging", where leaves on branch tips turn off-color, droop and often drop off. Adult scales are easy to see and often found in clusters. They are rounded, about one-fourth inch in diameter, and brown. They appear similar to buds or other plant growth. Timing of egg hatch varies depending on the species. Those found on bur oak hatch in June. Those found on pin oak hatch in September. At egg hatch, crawlers can be killed with insecticides such as acephate. Imidacloprid (Merit) can be applied as a soil drench in late fall or March to control scales next year. Over-wintered scales may be treated with dormant oils in late winter or early spring.
Kermes Scale on Oak, Colorado State University
10. Oak twig girdlers starting to cause twig dieback. Squirrels chewing leaves off tree may be confused with girdler damage. Twig girdler is a small, slender, bronze-to-black beetle that emerges from May to September and deposits eggs on twigs at the junction between current and previous year's growth. Larvae hatch and bore into twigs. As they grow, they mine spirally so terminal clusters of dead leaves ("flags") appear in August and September. During the next year, larvae continue to mine deeper into twigs and complete development, pupating in the fall. While damage is obvious, it is rarely severe, and there is rarely a need for control.
Flatheaded Borers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
11. Honeylocust spider mite is similar to the twospotted spider mite. Both are barely visible to the unaided eye and feed on leaf undersides. Leaves of infested trees turn bronze and may drop prematurely. Problems tend to be most common on street trees and trees in other dry sites. Regular watering during hot summer months helps reduce mite populations to reduce tree damage. Natural spider mite predators often reduce mite populations by late August. If chemical control is needed, honeylocust spider mites are more easily controlled than twospotted mites. Bifenthrin (Talstar) and Acephate (Orthene) are two recommended.
Insect and Mite Pests of Honeylocust, Colorado State University
12. Burcumber/Wild cucumber vines may appear to be taking over trees in windbreaks, especially cedars. In years of adequate rainfall, these are rampant growing annual vines that appear similar to one another. Burcumber fruits are clusters of small, prickly seed pods; each containing one seed. Wild cucumber fruits are one to two inch long spiny, oval fruits with four black seeds. Because these are annual plants, vines growing now will be killed by frost. New plants that grow next year will grow from seed. Pre-emergence herbicides applied in early to mid May will kill seedlings as seed germinates. Some broadleaf herbicides will give partial control of these vines now, but most plants have already produced seeds for next year; and, vines growing now will die with the first frost.
13. Black spot causes leaves of roses to turn yellow and develop black spots. Subsequent defoliation affects plant appearance, reduces plant vigor, and increases the risk of winter kill. While fungicides are recommended for black spot; it is now too late in the season for fungicides. Sanitation, removing and destroying affected leaves and diseased canes, should be done throughout the season but especially during late summer and early fall. To control black spot, plant resistant roses or apply fungicides in spring beginning just as roses begin to grow. Repeat applications according to label directions.
Black Spot of Roses, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
14. Soldier beetle are orange with two black spots on their wings and look similar to lightning bugs. Soldier beetles are beneficial. They eat many problem insects and pollinate flowers when feeding on nectar. Soldier beetles are found most often on yellow flowered plants such as false sunflower, goldenrod and Helenium. Control is not needed.
Soldier Beetles, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
15. Thrips are very tiny, sap-sucking insects that get inside flower buds and cause damage. Infested buds do not open or open partially with damaged petals. Thrips are difficult to control once inside unopened buds where insecticides cannot reach. Malathion and insecticidal sprays control thrips on leaves and opened flowers. A systemic insecticide may help. For best control, apply an insecticide before or just as flower buds form. Thrips infest many flowers including gladiola, rose, coral bells, iris, and many more.
16. Rosy apple aphid feeding causes deformed and stunted fruit and leaves and development of a black sooty mold. As they feed, aphids excrete excess sap known as honeydew on which sooty mold grows. If heavy enough, sooty mold can affect photosynthesis, reducing fruit yield and quality. Controlling these aphids with insecticides depends on proper timing. Overwintering aphid eggs may be controlled with a dormant spray, although applications at the pink bud stage, after eggs have hatched, are more effective .
Rosy Apple Aphid, Ohio State University
17. Pears need to be harvested when mature, but not ripe. If allowed to ripen on the tree, they often rot first. Pears are ready to harvest when they change from dark green to light green, the “freckles” change from white to brownish, and the stem separates from the tree with an upward twist. After harvesting, pears will ripen in 7 to 10 days at room temperature. They will store for one to three months at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When needed, take them from storage to ripen at room temperature.
18. Rhubarb harvest can take place now; however, stem quality and flavor will not be as good as during spring due to exposure to hot summer temperatures. Also, harvesting now may reduce stem size and shorten length of harvest next spring.
19. Flowers, but no fruits are being reported in cucumbers. Possible explanations are a lack of insect pollination, cool night time temperatures; or a gynoecious (female flowers only) variety was selected and the entire seed packet was not planted. With gynoecious varieties, one or two seeds of varieties with male flowers are included in the packet to provide pollen for pollination. Also, the first flowers produced on cucumbers are all male flowers. Eventually, the plant produces female flowers and fruit develops.
20. Slow ripening of tomatoes is most likely due to cooler than average nighttime temperatures.
21. Tomato fruit cracking results when a heavy rain or irrigation takes place, especially following a dry period. The sudden uptake of water can cause mature fruit to crack. Harvest and eat these fruit as soon as possible. Use mulch and irrigate to maintain consistent soil moisture. Harvest on a regular basis to remove fully grown and mature fruit.
22. Internal blossom end rot is also found on tomatoes. This is most often seen in Roma tomatoes. Blossom end rot typically occurs as a dry, brown rot on the blossom end of the fruit. Internally, it appears as black collapsed areas inside the fruit. This problem is not an insect or disease. It is a physiological disorder associated with a calcium deficiency in developing fruit. Rarely is blossom end rot due to a lack of calcium in soil, but occurs when plants cannot pull calcium up quickly enough for developing tissues. Calcium is a nutrient that must be dissolved in water to move within a plant so water deficits are contributing factors. Drought stress, low daytime humidity, high temperatures and rapid, plant growth caused by excess nitrogen favor blossom end rot. To reduce it: 1. Prevent drought stress on plants; 2. Use organic mulch to conserve soil moisture; and 3. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization. Foliar applications of calcium have little effect on blossom end rot due to poor absorption and movement of calcium from leaves to fruits.
23. Fall gardening time is here. Cool season vegetables can be planted to mature during the cooler weather of fall. For tips on fall gardening and information on what and when to plant, UNL Extension has a NebGuide on fall gardening available.
Fall Gardening, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
24. Wolf spiders are large, somewhat hairy spiders found indoors and outdoors. While frightening to some because of their large size, wolf spiders are not considered poisonous; although a bite may cause a reaction in sensitive individuals. Wolf spiders are beneficial because they feed on many insects. They do not build webs to catch their prey, but actively hunt. They are called wolf spiders because they pounce on their prey. Wolf spiders are common outdoors in shrubbery and dense grass where there are many insects. They accidentally find their way indoors, most often during late summer or fall. Because only a few wolf spiders usually find their way indoors, insecticide applications are not necessary. Instead, place sticky traps, such as small mouse glue boards, in the corners of rooms to trap unwanted spiders and other insects. Make sure screen doors are tight fitting and caulk or screen openings spiders and other insects may use to enter the home.
Wolf Spiders, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
25. Cobwebs in evergreens may cause homeowners to think these are spider mites or some other harmful pests. Highly visible cobwebs are webs of beneficial spiders. Insecticides should not be applied. Cobwebs can be brushed from trees with a broom or hosed with a spray of water.
| Current Problems: | Major Symptom: |
| Lawns | |
| 1. It's time to ... | Fertilize, seed, aerate, and power rake cool season grasses |
| 2. Stinkhorns | Orange, slimy, smelly fungi growing in wood mulch |
| 3. Winter annual weed control | Apply pre-emergence herbicides if winter annuals are a problem |
| 4. Billbug damage | Turfgrass areas appear drought stressed |
| 5. Brown patch | Roughly circular patches of reddish brown grass |
| 6. Dollar spot | Small circular patches of brownish tan grass |
| 7. Summer patch | Circular or serpentine shaped areas of tan grass |
| Trees & Shrubs | |
| 8. Hackberry leaves yellowing | Premature leaf yellowing and leaf drop |
| 9. Kermes scale | Off color or dead branch tips in oaks |
| 10. Oak twig girdler | Dead and clipped branch tips in oaks |
| 11. Honeylocust spider mite | Bronze colored leaves |
| 12. Burcucumber/ wild cucumber | Rampant growing annual vines in windbreaks |
| Landscape Ornamentals | |
| 13. Black spot (rose) | Yellow leaves with black spots, defoliation |
| 14. Soldier beetles | Reddish orange beetles with two black spots |
| 15. Thrips | Flower buds fail to open or petals damaged when buds open |
| Vegetables & Fruits | |
| 16. Rosy apple aphids | Deformed and stunted fruit and leaves, sooty mold |
| 17. Pear harvest | Harvest when mature, but not ripe |
| 18. Picking rhubarb now | Best to wait until spring |
| 19. Flowers, but no cucumber fruits | Poor pollination, environmental, gynoecious cukes |
| 20. Slow ripening (tomato) | Cool nighttime temperatures likely cause |
| 21. Fruit cracking (tomato) | Maintain consistent soil moisture, harvest when ripe |
| 22. Internal blossom end rot | Blackening of inside of tomatoes, often Romas |
| 23. Fall vegetables- what to plant | NebGuide on available on what and when to plant |
| General Issues | |
| 24. Wolf spiders | Large, hairy spiders found indoors and outdoors- beneficial |
| 25. Cobwebs on evergreens | Spiders, not spider mites- these are not a pest |
1. It’s time to…… Late summer and early fall are important times to fertilize, seed/overseed, core aerate and power rake cool season turfgrass. These grasses actively grow and produce roots and rhizomes due to cooler temperatures. Best plant care practices promote growth to help cool season grasses recover from summer heat and drought. For information on timing of practices, see the NebGuides Kentucky bluegrass and Tall Fescue Lawns
Calendars:
Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn Calendar, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
Tall Fescue Lawn Calendar, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
2. Stinkhorns are orange, slimy structures that smell bad and attract flies. A type of fungi or mushroom, they often grow in mulched plant beds. While unsightly and smelly, they’re otherwise harmless fungi living off dead organic matter. They start off as a golf ball sized egg-like structure in the soil. As the fungus develops, an orange stalk grows up to four to eight inches tall. It has a slimy cap coated with olive green to brown spores. The odor attracts flies and other insects which crawl on the stinkhorn, become covered with slime and spores, then fly to other areas spreading spores. Eventually, stinkhorns wither and disappear. They can be raked up and discarded if their odor or appearance are unwelcome.
3. Winter annual weeds, such as henbit and speedwell, germinate in September and early October with plant growth, blooming and seed production taking place during spring and early summer. If herbicide control is needed, apply a pre-emergence herbicide (dithiopyr, isoxaben, pendimethalin or prodiamine) in early September to kill seedlings at germination. Determine why turfgrass is not competing with winter annuals and change cultural practices to promote grass density.
4. Billbug damage- Root feeding by older larvae in July may cause turf to appear drought stressed. Under heavy billbug pressure, areas of lawn may turn brown with patches of turfgrass dying. Insecticides are not recommended at this time of year. Billbug larvae are small grubs about the size of a puffed rice kernel and cream colored with a reddish head and no legs. Adults are one-fourth inch long black weevils with a distinct snout. In May, adults deposit eggs in bluegrass stems near plant crowns. Newly-hatched larvae tunnel in grass stems causing discoloration and dieback. They emerge from stems and feed on roots in mid-summer. On lawns with a history of billbug damage, an application of Merit (imidacloprid) applied during the second week of May provides effective control.
Bluegrass Billbugs, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
5. Brown Patch causes roughly circular patches of dead and dying grass. Tan colored, irregularly shaped leaf spots with reddish margins are found on leaf blades. Fungicide applications are often not recommended after August 1. Preventive applications of Prostar (commercial use), Bayleton, and chlorothalonil (Daconil) do a fairly good job of suppressing the disease when applied at monthly intervals in June, July, and August. Curative applications of chlorothalonil beginning a few days after symptoms of brown patch develop may suppress injury. In many cases, lawns damaged by brown patch recover in two to three weeks, provided the outbreak is not sustained by continuous hot, humid weather; and treatment may not be necessary.
Brown Patch Disease of Turfgrass, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
6. Dollar Spot Small (three to six inch diameter), roughly circular patches in lawns. Spots may coalesce into a larger patch. Grass blades have tan, band-like lesions with red margins. Damage is usually most severe where nitrogen is deficient. With timely rains this year, nitrogen may have been leached out of the root zone. The best control can be nitrogen fertilization. Turfgrass can be treated with products containing benomyl, mancozeb, propiconazole, thiophanate-methyl.
Dollar Spot Disease in Turfgrass, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
7. Summer patch is caused by a fungus attacking turfgrass roots during spring. Fungicide applications should have been made in late April and May. They will not be effective now. Although infection takes place in spring, summer patch symptoms often do not appear until summer when the function of infected roots is reduced. Fall lawn care practices will help turfgrass areas recover. Overseeding now with summer patch resistant cultivars provides the most effective long term control.
Necrotic Ring Spot and Summer Patch Diseases in Turfgrass, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
8. Hackberry leaf yellowing and defoliation is fairly common. Causes may be due to lacebug feeding, environmental conditions or tree decline caused by repeated exposure to herbicide drift and other environmental stresses. Lacebugs are tiny, flat, square-shaped insects with white lacy wings. They feed on leaf undersides by sucking sap from the plant. This feeding causes leaves to discolor, usually turning a dirty yellow color. Control of lacebugs, or other sapsucking insects such as aphids, is usually not necessary when damage occurs so late in the season.
9. Kermes scale is a soft scale that feeds only on oaks. Heavy infestations cause "flagging", where leaves on branch tips turn off-color, droop and often drop off. Adult scales are easy to see and often found in clusters. They are rounded, about one-fourth inch in diameter, and brown. They appear similar to buds or other plant growth. Timing of egg hatch varies depending on the species. Those found on bur oak hatch in June. Those found on pin oak hatch in September. At egg hatch, crawlers can be killed with insecticides such as acephate. Imidacloprid (Merit) can be applied as a soil drench in late fall or March to control scales next year. Over-wintered scales may be treated with dormant oils in late winter or early spring.
Kermes Scale on Oak, Colorado State University
10. Oak twig girdlers starting to cause twig dieback. Squirrels chewing leaves off tree may be confused with girdler damage. Twig girdler is a small, slender, bronze-to-black beetle that emerges from May to September and deposits eggs on twigs at the junction between current and previous year's growth. Larvae hatch and bore into twigs. As they grow, they mine spirally so terminal clusters of dead leaves ("flags") appear in August and September. During the next year, larvae continue to mine deeper into twigs and complete development, pupating in the fall. While damage is obvious, it is rarely severe, and there is rarely a need for control.
Flatheaded Borers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
11. Honeylocust spider mite is similar to the twospotted spider mite. Both are barely visible to the unaided eye and feed on leaf undersides. Leaves of infested trees turn bronze and may drop prematurely. Problems tend to be most common on street trees and trees in other dry sites. Regular watering during hot summer months helps reduce mite populations to reduce tree damage. Natural spider mite predators often reduce mite populations by late August. If chemical control is needed, honeylocust spider mites are more easily controlled than twospotted mites. Bifenthrin (Talstar) and Acephate (Orthene) are two recommended.
Insect and Mite Pests of Honeylocust, Colorado State University
12. Burcumber/Wild cucumber vines may appear to be taking over trees in windbreaks, especially cedars. In years of adequate rainfall, these are rampant growing annual vines that appear similar to one another. Burcumber fruits are clusters of small, prickly seed pods; each containing one seed. Wild cucumber fruits are one to two inch long spiny, oval fruits with four black seeds. Because these are annual plants, vines growing now will be killed by frost. New plants that grow next year will grow from seed. Pre-emergence herbicides applied in early to mid May will kill seedlings as seed germinates. Some broadleaf herbicides will give partial control of these vines now, but most plants have already produced seeds for next year; and, vines growing now will die with the first frost.
13. Black spot causes leaves of roses to turn yellow and develop black spots. Subsequent defoliation affects plant appearance, reduces plant vigor, and increases the risk of winter kill. While fungicides are recommended for black spot; it is now too late in the season for fungicides. Sanitation, removing and destroying affected leaves and diseased canes, should be done throughout the season but especially during late summer and early fall. To control black spot, plant resistant roses or apply fungicides in spring beginning just as roses begin to grow. Repeat applications according to label directions.
Black Spot of Roses, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
14. Soldier beetle are orange with two black spots on their wings and look similar to lightning bugs. Soldier beetles are beneficial. They eat many problem insects and pollinate flowers when feeding on nectar. Soldier beetles are found most often on yellow flowered plants such as false sunflower, goldenrod and Helenium. Control is not needed.
Soldier Beetles, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
15. Thrips are very tiny, sap-sucking insects that get inside flower buds and cause damage. Infested buds do not open or open partially with damaged petals. Thrips are difficult to control once inside unopened buds where insecticides cannot reach. Malathion and insecticidal sprays control thrips on leaves and opened flowers. A systemic insecticide may help. For best control, apply an insecticide before or just as flower buds form. Thrips infest many flowers including gladiola, rose, coral bells, iris, and many more.
16. Rosy apple aphid feeding causes deformed and stunted fruit and leaves and development of a black sooty mold. As they feed, aphids excrete excess sap known as honeydew on which sooty mold grows. If heavy enough, sooty mold can affect photosynthesis, reducing fruit yield and quality. Controlling these aphids with insecticides depends on proper timing. Overwintering aphid eggs may be controlled with a dormant spray, although applications at the pink bud stage, after eggs have hatched, are more effective .
Rosy Apple Aphid, Ohio State University
17. Pears need to be harvested when mature, but not ripe. If allowed to ripen on the tree, they often rot first. Pears are ready to harvest when they change from dark green to light green, the “freckles” change from white to brownish, and the stem separates from the tree with an upward twist. After harvesting, pears will ripen in 7 to 10 days at room temperature. They will store for one to three months at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When needed, take them from storage to ripen at room temperature.
18. Rhubarb harvest can take place now; however, stem quality and flavor will not be as good as during spring due to exposure to hot summer temperatures. Also, harvesting now may reduce stem size and shorten length of harvest next spring.
19. Flowers, but no fruits are being reported in cucumbers. Possible explanations are a lack of insect pollination, cool night time temperatures; or a gynoecious (female flowers only) variety was selected and the entire seed packet was not planted. With gynoecious varieties, one or two seeds of varieties with male flowers are included in the packet to provide pollen for pollination. Also, the first flowers produced on cucumbers are all male flowers. Eventually, the plant produces female flowers and fruit develops.
20. Slow ripening of tomatoes is most likely due to cooler than average nighttime temperatures.
21. Tomato fruit cracking results when a heavy rain or irrigation takes place, especially following a dry period. The sudden uptake of water can cause mature fruit to crack. Harvest and eat these fruit as soon as possible. Use mulch and irrigate to maintain consistent soil moisture. Harvest on a regular basis to remove fully grown and mature fruit.
22. Internal blossom end rot is also found on tomatoes. This is most often seen in Roma tomatoes. Blossom end rot typically occurs as a dry, brown rot on the blossom end of the fruit. Internally, it appears as black collapsed areas inside the fruit. This problem is not an insect or disease. It is a physiological disorder associated with a calcium deficiency in developing fruit. Rarely is blossom end rot due to a lack of calcium in soil, but occurs when plants cannot pull calcium up quickly enough for developing tissues. Calcium is a nutrient that must be dissolved in water to move within a plant so water deficits are contributing factors. Drought stress, low daytime humidity, high temperatures and rapid, plant growth caused by excess nitrogen favor blossom end rot. To reduce it: 1. Prevent drought stress on plants; 2. Use organic mulch to conserve soil moisture; and 3. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization. Foliar applications of calcium have little effect on blossom end rot due to poor absorption and movement of calcium from leaves to fruits.
23. Fall gardening time is here. Cool season vegetables can be planted to mature during the cooler weather of fall. For tips on fall gardening and information on what and when to plant, UNL Extension has a NebGuide on fall gardening available.
Fall Gardening, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension
24. Wolf spiders are large, somewhat hairy spiders found indoors and outdoors. While frightening to some because of their large size, wolf spiders are not considered poisonous; although a bite may cause a reaction in sensitive individuals. Wolf spiders are beneficial because they feed on many insects. They do not build webs to catch their prey, but actively hunt. They are called wolf spiders because they pounce on their prey. Wolf spiders are common outdoors in shrubbery and dense grass where there are many insects. They accidentally find their way indoors, most often during late summer or fall. Because only a few wolf spiders usually find their way indoors, insecticide applications are not necessary. Instead, place sticky traps, such as small mouse glue boards, in the corners of rooms to trap unwanted spiders and other insects. Make sure screen doors are tight fitting and caulk or screen openings spiders and other insects may use to enter the home.
Wolf Spiders, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
25. Cobwebs in evergreens may cause homeowners to think these are spider mites or some other harmful pests. Highly visible cobwebs are webs of beneficial spiders. Insecticides should not be applied. Cobwebs can be brushed from trees with a broom or hosed with a spray of water.
