Category: Lawn & Garden

Rose Pests and Diseases in Florida (ENH1108/EP371)

Figure 11. Symptoms of botrytis blightRoses are one of the most popular flowering shrubs in Florida and the United States. Valued for their beautiful and often fragrant blooms, roses have been cultivated in gardens for centuries as vines. Roses can grow and flower 9 months of the year in North Florida and year-round in the rest of Florida. Roses have become especially popular in recent years with the introduction of Knock Out® and other shrub roses. Unfortunately, increased use and misuse of roses have resulted in more reports of pest problems. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Gary W. Knox, Mathews Paret, and Russell F. Mizell, III, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep371

Azaleas at a Glance (ENH37/MG019)

Figure 1. 'George L. Taber' – A Southern Indica azaleaSpectacular flowers and shade tolerance are among the reasons for the azalea’s popularity as a landscape plant in North and Central Florida. They enhance the home landscape as foundation or mass plantings and as background or foreground plants, depending on their size. They are also sometimes pruned into single-trunked standards that serve as specimen plants. Generally, their open, relaxed growth habit is more suited to informal landscape designs. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Sydney Park Brown, Dewayne L. Ingram, and James T. Midcap, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg019

European Pepper Moth or Southern European Marsh Pyralid Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae) (EENY508/IN910)

Figure 1. Adult European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller), showing two identification features: yellowish-white transverse lines (red arrows) and pronounced "finger" (yellow arrow) that points towards the back edge of the wing.Researchers are monitoring this notable greenhouse pest in northern Europe and Canada for the cut flower, vegetable and aquatic plant industries. Its native range is southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands, Syria and Algeria, but it has expanded its range to include other parts of Africa and the Middle East, northwest India, Europe, Canada and the United States. Recent survey detected adults in pheremone traps in 20 of the 26 Florida counties surveyed. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Stephanie D. Stocks and Amanda Hodges, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in910

A Wireworm Conoderus rudis (Brown) (EENY507/IN909)

Figure 2. Adult without eyespots and adult elytron with eyespotWireworms are the larvae of click beetles. These larvae are smooth, slender and round in cross-section. Wireworms are important pests of various crops and occur in all seasons at variable densities. Feeding damage is restricted to the seeds, seedlings and underground parts of the plants. Unlike foliage feeders, they are very difficult to detect due to their soil-dwelling habitat. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Dakshina R. Seal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in909

Florida Wax Scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock (EENY510/IN913)

Figure 2. Adults and early instar nymphs of the Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis
 Comstock.The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental and landscape plants, like holly.This 4-page fact sheet was written by Shweta Sharma and Eileen Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in913

NEW at the Bookstore: Propagation of Fruit Plants in Florida (SP171)

cover of SP171 Propagating Fruit Plants in FloridaGrafting, budding, layering, cuttings: they’re easier than you think! This field-tested, practical guide takes dooryard growers step-by-step through the most useful and successful ways to propagate tropical and subtropical fruit plants in Florida. This new edition of a long-time favorite is completely revised and includes over 50 full-color photos. Price: $6.00
http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-169-propagating-fruit-plants-in-florida.aspx

Blueberry Gardener’s Guide (CIR1192/MG359)

Figure 7. ‘Farthing’ blueberry.Home gardeners: Use this guide to successfully grow blueberries in Florida. This 8-page fact sheet was written by J.G. Williamson, P.M. Lyrene, and J.W. Olmstead, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg359

Miner Bee, Chimney Bee Anthophora abrupta Say (EENY512/IN912)

Figure 1. Nesting area of the miner bee, Anthophora abrupta Say, with at least
three females visible.These gregarious, yet solitary, ground-nesting bees are “…conspicuous as they noisily swing their ponderous bodies to and fro on the wing, arrive home and scramble into their burrows or come tumbling out headlong and dash off into the sunny fields, with all the exuberance of boys just out of school.” This 5-page fact sheet was written by Jason R. Graham, Jamie Ellis, Glenn Hall, and Catherine Zettel Nalen, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in912

The Bumble Bees of Florida, Bombus spp. (EENY050/IN207)

Figure 2. A bumble bee, Bombus sp., with full pollen basket.Bumble bees are easily recognized by the corbicula (pollen basket) on the hind tibiae in the females. They are beneficial insects that pollinate many native and ornamental plants. They can sting severely, so problem nests near human dwellings should be removed by experienced pest control operators. This 5-page fact sheet includes a key to the bumble bees in Florida. Written by Lionel A. Stange, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in207

Florida Woods Cockroach Eurycotis floridana (Walker) (EENY514/IN915)

Figure 1. Lateral-dorsal view of an adult Florida woods cockroach, Eurycotis floridana (Walker).This “peridomestic” organism can be found in structures near the home, such as storage areas, greenhouses, or shelter boxes for other structures such as water pumps. It is one of the species commonly referred to as palmetto bugs, and is also called a “stinkroach” or “skunk cockroach” due to its aromatic defensive secretions. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Christopher S. Bibbs and Rebecca W. Baldwin, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in915

Wildflowers Susceptible to Deer Damage in North Florida (WEC315/UW360)

Figure 2. Most deer browsing of wildflowers occurred at night.One sure way to prevent deer damage to your landscape is to choose plants that deer do not like to eat. Unfortunately deer foraging preferences vary geographically and studies conducted with captive deer aren’t always accurate. So UF/IFAS wildlife researchers investigated the foraging preference of wild white-tailed deer at two sites in Gadsden County with high deer densities for two years. Of 11 wildlfowers tested, four were very susceptible to browsing: fringeleaf tickseed, Florida tickseed, coastalplain tickseed, and orange coneflower. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Holly K. Ober, Lucas W. DeGroote, James H. Aldrich, Jefferey G. Norcini, and Gary W. Knox , and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw360

Weed Management in Pear (HS94/WG021)

green pearWeeds compete with pear trees for light, nutrients, and water. Weed interference can be minimized with proper cultural practices and herbicides. General maintenance, such as controlling weeds in adjacent areas, preventing weeds from producing seeds, and cleaning mowing equipment of weed seed, will prevent weeds from becoming a serious problem. This 6-page fact sheet includes recommendations for herbicides labeled for pear in Florida. Written by Peter J. Dittmar and Jeffrey G. Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg021

Management of Orchid Pests with Silwet® L-77 and Horticultural Oils (PP287)

Figure 1. Some of the orchids used in the phytotoxicity study: A) Dendrobium, B) Phalaenopsis, C) Paphiopedilum, and D) Cattleya. No evidence of phytotoxicity was observed on the foliage, roots, flowers, or buds of any of the plants.IFAS researchers evaluated the ability of the surfactant Silwet® L-77 to improve the efficacy of horticultural oils in controlling boisduval scale and mite infestations in orchids. This 3-page fact sheet reports the results and provides homeowners with directions for its use. Written by R. A. Cating, M. A. Hoy, and A. J. Palmateer, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp287

Assessing the Survival of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle and Laurel Wilt Pathogen in Wood Chips (FOR289/FR351)

Figure 2. 1 m3 mulch bin with mesh bags on the surface containing woodchips from the infested redbay trees.What is the best way for homeowners to dispose of dead redbay trees to avoid spreading laurel wilt? This 4-page fact sheet summarizes a UF/IFAS study providing evidence that a simple technique — chipping the dead trees — can help contain the disease within a small area and that there is a low probability of long-distance movement of LW via wood chips. Written by Don Spence, Jason Smith, Albert Mayfield III, Jiri Huler, Randy Ploetz and Lukasz Stelinski, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr351

Dieffenbachia Diseases: Identification and Control in Commercial Greenhouse Operations (PP286)

Figure 1. Dieffenbachia in commercial productionDieffenbachia is among the top 10 most popular plants produced by commercial foliage growers in Florida. This 4-page fact sheet provides guidelines to identify and treat diseases that may be encountered during the commercial production of Dieffenbachia. Written by David Norman and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp286

Eastern Black Swallowtail: Papilio polyxenes asterius (Stoll) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) (EENY504/IN906)

Adult female eastern black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes asterius (Stoll), with wings closedAlthough it is admired for its beauty, the eastern black swallowtail is one of the very few butterflies that may occasionally be considered a pest. Learn more in this 8-page fact sheet written by Donald Hall and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in906

Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae) (EENY506/IN908)

Newly emerged summer form adult of the question mark, Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius).This common, medium-sized butterfly of wooded areas and suburbs resembles a dead leaf when its wings are folded. Learn more in this 6-page fact sheet written by Donald Hall and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in908

‘Jon Jon’ Magnolia: A Late-Flowering Deciduous Magnolia for Northern Florida (ENH1192 /EP453)

Figure 2. 'Jon Jon' magnolia flowers.This large-flowered, hybrid, deciduous magnolia flowers profusely in late spring, about two weeks after most saucer magnolias, but before foliage emerges. This allows ‘Jon Jon’ to miss spring freezes that often damage saucer and other spring-flowering magnolias. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Gary W. Knox and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep453

Emerald Ash Borer: A Potential Future Threat to Ash Trees in Florida (FOR284/FR346)

An adult emerald ash borer.Do not move firewood into or around the state! This invasive exotic beetle kills ash trees and is likely to reach Florida in the years to come — or faster if it gets transported by humans. Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet was written by Don Spence and Jason Smith, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr346