Search Results: weed

Black root rot (BRR), caused by the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola,has a host range of several hundred plants. In the landscape, the most common hosts include pansies (Fig. 1), and vinca, along with calibrachoa and petunia. In perennial hosts, it often infects lavender, phlox, milkweed and butterfly-weed (Asclepius spp.). Even woody[Read More…]

While fungi are responsible for many of our foliar disease problems, different fungal pathogens present as problems throughout the country, depending upon the host plant grown and the environmental conditions. This is a brief overview of several common types of fungal leaf diseases occur in Indiana and throughout North America[Read More…]

Leaf blotch, also called red spot and measles, is a common disease of peony caused by the fungus Graphiopsis chlorocephala (=Cladosporium paenoiae).  The disease has multiple names because there are multiple symptoms. Lesion on leaves and stems can vary from tiny red spots (“measles”) to larger brown or purple blotches[Read More…]

As the 2020 gardening year draws to a close, now is the time to ensure a successful gardening season next year, for you or your customers!  Sanitation is a cornerstone of integrated pest management and is essential for good plant health management. Throughout the year, we have been plagued with[Read More…]

Hollyhock (Alcea spp.), an anchor plant for the back of the cottage garden, bloom mid-summer with numerous flowers on tall spikes, providing beauty for us, and food for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. The most common varieties are biennial, taking two years to complete their lifecycle, although some persist as short-lived[Read More…]

Many are familiar with Rhizosphaera needlecast of spruce. If you aren’t, please see these two articles by Janna Beckerman and  Megan Haas for more information about the disease and it’s management on spruce. The common name for the disease, needlecast, describes the ultimate fate of the needles: they are cast[Read More…]

Gray mold (causal agent = Botrytis cinerea) is one of the most common diseases affecting bedding plants.  Host commonly include (but are not limited to): begonia, carnation, chrysanthemum, cyclamen, geranium, impatiens, marigold, million bells, petunia, vinca and zinnia.  Fortunately, gray mold is one of the easiest diseases to manage.  By[Read More…]