Signup to receive email updates
Authors

John Fulton
Former County Extension Director
Recent Posts
Blog Archives
- March 2017 (7)
- February 2017 (2)
- December 2016 (1)
- October 2016 (4)
- September 2016 (7)
- August 2016 (12)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (11)
- May 2016 (5)
- April 2016 (8)
- March 2016 (11)
- February 2016 (2)
- December 2015 (1)
- November 2015 (2)
- October 2015 (6)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (9)
- July 2015 (10)
- June 2015 (7)
- May 2015 (6)
- April 2015 (8)
- March 2015 (5)
- October 2014 (3)
- September 2014 (5)
- August 2014 (7)
- July 2014 (10)
- June 2014 (10)
- May 2014 (10)
- April 2014 (8)
- March 2014 (3)
- December 2013 (2)
- October 2013 (6)
- September 2013 (2)
- August 2013 (4)
- July 2013 (4)
- June 2013 (7)
- May 2013 (11)
- April 2013 (8)
- March 2013 (3)
- February 2013 (2)
- November 2012 (1)
- October 2012 (3)
- September 2012 (2)
- August 2012 (1)
- July 2012 (9)
- June 2012 (3)
- May 2012 (6)
- April 2012 (4)
- March 2012 (5)
- January 2012 (1)
- December 2011 (1)
- November 2011 (2)
- October 2011 (7)
- September 2011 (6)
- August 2011 (9)
- July 2011 (11)
- June 2011 (10)
- May 2011 (7)
- April 2011 (10)
- March 2011 (11)
- January 2011 (1)
- November 2010 (1)
- October 2010 (10)
- September 2010 (6)
- August 2010 (6)
- July 2010 (12)
- June 2010 (12)
- May 2010 (12)
- April 2010 (12)
- March 2010 (10)
- February 2010 (3)
- January 2010 (2)
- December 2009 (3)
- November 2009 (4)
- October 2009 (6)
- September 2009 (8)
- August 2009 (10)
- July 2009 (10)
- June 2009 (16)
- May 2009 (9)
- April 2009 (16)
- March 2009 (7)
- February 2009 (1)
- January 2009 (4)
- December 2008 (7)
- November 2008 (2)
- October 2008 (8)
- September 2008 (8)
- August 2008 (10)
- July 2008 (4)
- June 2008 (13)
- May 2008 (10)
- April 2008 (12)
- March 2008 (5)
- February 2008 (2)
- January 2008 (5)
- December 2007 (4)
- November 2007 (4)
- October 2007 (11)
- September 2007 (11)
- August 2007 (12)
- July 2007 (8)
- June 2007 (11)
- May 2007 (18)
- April 2007 (17)
- March 2007 (11)
- February 2007 (3)
732 Total Posts
follow our RSS feed

Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Effect of dry weather and heat on perennials and leaf scorch
Perennials are also suffering during this extended dry period. There is evidence of scorch on recently transplanted trees, shrubs, and other perennials. This is the fancy name for the condition I mentioned in lawn grasses where the plant just can't take up enough water to supply the leaves. In trees and shrubs, it causes them to suddenly have brown leaves. It is a good idea to water perennials...
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Early Dry Weather Effects on Grass and Potential for Lawn Rust
I refer to it as "buckhorn days." With the early period of combined heat and lower rainfall (unless you were under one of the passing rain clouds which dumped moisture), we are seeing conditions typical of late July or August. The main things actively growing in many lawns at this time are called weeds. One of the traditional weeds during dry periods is plantain. There are two common types of p...
Friday, June 24, 2016
Fire blight on Apples and Pears
Apple and pear trees continue to have their problems. There is a large amount of tip dieback in some varieties, and this is probably fire blight. Tip dieback has become very evident the past couple of weeks, and even where the spray programs were followed in home orchards. This would actually be the second bout for the year. Look for a shepherd's crook at the tip of the affected areas as a clue...
Friday, June 24, 2016
Earwigs - insects which look like they have pinchers
One insect of note with the wet weather earlier this year is the earwig. Earwigs tend to be in high organic areas, as they feed primarily on dead insects and plant material. However, they can, and do, eat live plant material such as marigolds, zinnias, strawberries, and others. They may be a prime suspect if you notice damage, but never see any insects during the day. Control can be obtained wi...
Friday, June 24, 2016
Potato Leafhopper
The inconspicuous potato leafhopper has been a problem for the past week as well. This is the small wedge-shaped, light green insect that seems to just fog around security and patio lights. They are also small enough to come in through screens after dark. They are not only a nuisance, but they can cause damage to a wide variety of plants. Potatoes are the first plant that comes to mind...
Friday, June 24, 2016
Blossom End Rot of Tomatoes
Blossom end rot is a non-infectious disease (caused by the weather and growing conditions) which is very common during extended dry periods. It also seems to be worse on tomatoes grown in containers. The alternating weather patterns we have experienced have set us up for problems. It begins as light tan water-soaked lesion on the blossom end of the fruit. The lesions enlarge and turn bl...
Friday, June 17, 2016
Pruning Evergreens
This is the time of year, the last half of June, to prune evergreens. This includes both needle-type and broadleaf evergreens. If you're wondering what a broadleaf evergreen is, that includes holly, rhododendron, and azalea. The logic behind pruning your evergreens at this time is to allow sufficient time for regrowth to become hardened off before winter, and to keep new growth from becoming to...
Friday, June 17, 2016
Planting Pumpkins for fall jack-o-lanterns
Many pumpkins are already on their way, with seeds being sown a month ago. While this practice is great for producing pumpkins for pumpkin pie and blossoms, it really doesn't work very well for producing the Halloween jack-o-lantern pumpkins. The Halloween pumpkins are best planted around Father's Day. This timing helps prevent the pumpkins from rotting before we get to the end of October....
Friday, June 10, 2016
Japanese Beetles Emerge
It's hard to believe, but with the current (and projected) degree days, the earliest emerging Japanese beetles will be with us in about a week. Literature cites numbers between 950 and 1050 degree days, based on a 50 degree benchmark, for emergence. Current projections are for the Springfield area to top 950 by June 9. Of course, they don't all emerge at once, but the control of early beetles w...
Friday, June 3, 2016
Get Ready For Bagworms
Bagworms are an insect that conjures up images for many people. There are bagworms, and there are other larvae that live in a bag for at least part of their life cycle. We have bagworms, Eastern Tent Caterpillar, and Fall Webworms. For the true "bagworm," the insect that constructs a small bag like an ice cream cone from the leaf material of the tree or shrub it is on, the year-in and year-out...
Friday, June 3, 2016
Leaf Spots on Hosta
The Plant Clinic is reporting seeing several hosta samples with leaf spots caused by various fungi. Anthracnose is one of the main culprits. It is related to, but different, than the anthracnose which affects sycamore and other trees. It is favored by the type of weather we have been experiencing. Irregular dead spots form, and these can tatter out with rains and wind to look like somet...