Commercial Horticulture Newsletter- Available now!

The November-Decemeber Edition of Commercial Horticulture News is now availaible.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Regional Greenhouse Growers Workshop

Cooperative Extension will be holding a regional Greenhouse Growers Workshop on January 31, 2008 from 8:30 am – 5:00pm at the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research & Extension Center. Pre-registration is required! Registration is $25 and due by January 23rd. Pesticide credits have been applied for. Lunch and breaks will be sponsored and on site. Topics will include Grants for Energy Conservation, Managing Fertility and Watering. Pour-through Sampling, Substrates, Managing Slow Release Fertilizers, New Plants and more!!!

For more information please contact:

Cliff Ruth – Henderson/Transylvania Counties, 828-697-4891
Tim Mathews – Haywood County, 828-456-3575
Amanda Stone – Buncombe County, 828-255-5522

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Drought Assistance from SBA

Steve Troxler alerts nurseries about Small Business loans for drought losses.
RALEIGH Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds nurseries that they may be eligible for low-interest drought assistance loans offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The loans are available for all qualifying small businesses affected by the drought.

Loans are now available for eligible nurseries because of three recent federal disaster declarations, Troxler said. Most North Carolina counties are included in the program, and I encourage nurserymen to contact the Small Business Administration if they are interested in this program.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to $1.5 million. Loans are available at 4 percent interest rates. Loan amounts and terms are determined by the SBA. Agricultural producers are not eligible for loans under this disaster declaration.

To find out more about the program, contact the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov. The deadline for applying for this loan program is May 12.

CONTACT: Kathy Cooke, government relations specialist
U.S. Small Business Administration
(404) 347-9771

Soil Testing

Check this short video out about soil testing: Soil Testing. We're testing it to see if participants can use this technology for short educational venues.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pesticide Certification Training Program in Spanish

Many of the employees in the Green Industry are Latino and often are called upon to apply pesticides or work in areas that are sprayed with pesticides. We are in the planning stages of developing a training program in Spanish to help these individuals increase their knowledge of issue related to pesticide use.

Program Description:

The Pesticide Certification Training Program in Spanish is designed to help Hispanic agricultural workers to enhance pesticide knowledge by exposing participants to a very interactive teaching environment. The teaching methodology and training material used will benefit individuals with different educational backgrounds and pesticide application experience.

Program Goals:

1. To reduce pesticide exposure in workers and applicators.

2. To protect natural resources and reduce environmental contamination.

3. To help with pesticide regulation compliance requirements by increasing pesticide license certification and reducing violations and fines imposed by state agency pesticide regulators.

4. To contribute with the economic well being of Hispanic pesticide applicators by helping them to qualify for better job opportunities that require pesticide certification.

Training Programs Proposed:

General standard, private applicator, limited commercial certification landscape maintenance, and ornamental turf.


Please contact either Amanda Stone or Cliff Ruth using our e-mail addresses or fax numbers with the approximate number of participants that you would be interested in sending to this class.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Commercial Hort News- October Issue Now Available!

The October issue of Commercial Hort News is now available! Please use the following link to access the newsletter.

http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=site

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Check out Tarheelgardening.com

Green Industry Professionals across North Carolina have an exciting new promotional tool. Tarheelgardening.com is a website designed to inform consumers about the many benefits of plants and planting North Carolina grown trees, shrubs, flowers, perennials, annuals and turfgrass. Consumers will be able to find information about local retail nurseries, garden centers, landscapers, irrigation contractors, landscape architects and other Green Industry Professionals. Consumers will also be able to access information about types of plants, growing information, help with plants, North Carolina’s Green Industry, and much more. This website will be promoted to the general public through print, radio and possibly TV advertising, as well as through other media.

Tarheelgardening.com is a cooperative effort between the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Marketing. Business Listings on Tarheelgardening.com are free to all qualified North Carolina Green Industry Professionals.

If you are interested in having your company listed in this site, please contact:
Shirley Nicholson
Division of Marketing
(919)733-7887
Shirley.nicholson@ncmail.net

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Tips Now Online

The October version of Green Tips is now available online. Check out this month's newsletter for important events that may be coming up.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Crowfields Condominium Looking for Grounds Crew Member!

Asheville retirement community is seeking an experienced grounds crew member. Forty hours a week guaranteed year round. Pay and benefits are based on experience. Please call 828-274-1128 and leave a message.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

FOREST LANDOWNER’S WORKSHOP

The North Carolina Tree Farm Program announces a field forestry workshop at the Mountain Horticulture Center in Fletcher, NC, on Thursday, November 8, 2007 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The morning session will feature speakers on the advantages of active forest management and tax strategies, including forest health and wildlife habitat enhancements. Tree Farmers Dwight Batts from Wilson County and Dr. Bob Cooper from Forsyth County will discuss the advantages of Tree Farm Certification to family forest owners.

The afternoon session will feature a field tour of a nearby family forest in Henderson County owned by Tree Farmer Alan Bly. Consulting Forester Monty Wooten of Asheville, NC will assist Mr. Bly in discussing forest management practices in use on his property. Transportation to the Tree Farm will be provided by the NC Division of Forest Resources and a complimentary lunch will be served at the horticulture center prior to departure. The workshop is provided free of charge courtesy of the North Carolina Tree Farm Program and local supporters.

Call Amanda Stone at the NC Cooperative Extension Service office in Buncombe County at 828-255-5522 or contact by email at Amanda_Stone@ncsu.edu to register for the workshop.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

2008 FREE Beginners' Beekeeping School

Buncombe County Beekeepers Chapter Announces

2008 Beginners’ Beekeeping School Registration.
The Buncombe County Chapter of the North Carolina Beekeepers Association is accepting reservations for their 2008 Beginning Beekeepers’ School which is scheduled for February 2, 3, 9 and 10, 2008 at the Folk Art Center. The school is free and open to the public, but preregistration is required to ensure students a seat in the 270-capacity classroom and a copy of printed materials. The preferred registration site is online at: wncbees.org; people without internet access should call the Buncombe County Extension offices at 828-255-5522.
2005 Chapter of the Year, Buncombe Beekeepers will again procure sponsorships to enable the awarding of a minimum of 10 scholarship hives to first time beekeepers who attend all sessions, have the highest test scores and meet other requirements.
The school will include six main lecture periods with presentations and demonstrations by local and regional beekeeping experts.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Irrigation Issues to Consider

As the drought continues over most of NC, as an industry we must look at conserving water even more strigently than we have in the past. Some of you have indicated that your water sources have become limited and this is a concern that I share with you.

Some Best Management Practices that you may want to consider are:
Replace overhead irrigation with drip tape or other low input emmitters.

Place all irrigation on timed intervals that allow the containers, or root-zone
area to get wet but only to the point of run-off and stop.

Develop storage areas to capture and recycle run-off

Begin reducing irrigation frequency as we enter fall so forcing plants to
begin to shut-down and go into their winter dormancy.

Organize plants according to their priority needs and values.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Job Opening at Givens Estates in Asheville!!

Natural Resources Crew Member: The Givens Estates has a full time position available for a Natural Resources Crew Member. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: the proper pruning, installation, and upkeep of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plant material; assisting in the management of on-site stream restoration efforts; installation and management of native meadows; invasive exotic plant control; construction and maintenance of campus hiking trails; safe operation and maintenance of chainsaws; identification of plants and plant pests. The successful candidate will also possess an exemplary work ethic, an eagerness to learn, and be willing to work in extreme weather conditions. Candidates possessing a high school diploma and a minimum of 6 months field experience will be given preference. Experience working with volunteer crews and having a NC pesticide applicators license, a plus.

Pay will be commensurate with experience, and a comprehensive benefit package will be provided. For consideration, please send a cover letter briefly highlighting your relevant experience in the above areas, along with a resume and/or a Givens Estates application: and mail to, Human Resources Director, Givens Estates 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville NC 28803; by fax to 828-771-2206; or by email to, astaton@givensestates.org , or download an application online at www.givensestates.org . The position will be open until filled.
Thanks, Andy
Andy Tait, Natural Resources Supervisor
Givens Estates
2360 Sweeten Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28803
cell (828)-713-1875
atait@givensestates.org


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

No Match Social Security Number

Several Green Industry Professionals employ immigrants as part of their staff. The following attached letter is a fairly long description of issues dealing with hiring someone with documents that contain a Social Security number that proves not to be matched with the Social Security Administration.

(This letter was shared by Debbie Hamrick with Farm Bureau and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of this blog author nore anyone connected to the NC Cooperative Extension. Also the information provided must not be used as a substitution for legal advice! Contact your lawyer if you have legal concerns.)

Farm Bureau Letter Re-No Match SS#
For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Nursery Position Open

Looking for a plant adventure? Green Outdoors Landscaping is looking for a full or part-time employee to assist in their nursery division. Some knowledge of plants and experience will be helpful. A valid drivers license is needed. Call Pauline Thrash at
645-5298 for more information or e-mail your resume' to Pauline at pauline267@aol.com.
Green Outdoors Landscaping is located at 91 Weaverville Hwy. Asheville, NC 28804.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Tips Newsletter Now Available

The September version of GreenTips is now on line at the following link:

GreenTips
For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Invasive Plant Workshop Asheville 9/19/07

You are invited to participate in an invasive plant workshop to be held at Blue Ridge Parkway headquarters conference room Wednesday September 19, 2007, 8:30-4:30. This training will provide a review of safety precautions, reading herbicide labels, plant identification, herbicide modes of action as well as some new information to keep you current. Pesticide Continuing Education Credits will be available for those who need them. Lunch will be provided and there is no fee for this workshop.

Headquarters is located at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Hwy 74 - head north on the parkway for 0.5 mile and headquarters will be on your right at mile marker 384.5. The class is limited to 40 participants. Please respond to Nancy_Fraley@nps.gov to register, 828-296-0850 x100.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

TIMS On-Line Decision Aide Offers Lawn Owners Irrigation Help During Drought!

Water conservation is everyone’s business, especially as the drought in NC worsens.

Through a cooperative effort between the Department of Crop Science and the State Climate Office of North Carolina at NC State University an internet based decision-aide entitled the Turf Irrigation Management System (TIMS) has been developed and is now available to the citizens of North Carolina. This simple to use system can be utilized by anyone from the dedicated turf professional to the homeowner to help make irrigation management decisions.

First, it guides you through your account set-up by asking a few simple questions about the type of grass, soil and irrigation system you have. After set-up, it calculates the amount of irrigation you need and keeps track of when and how much water you actually use. Once you have entered your address, climate information is read from the closest weather station which is part of the NC Climate Retrieval and Observations Network Of the Southeast (CRONOS) and the irrigation needed by your turf is calculated based on recent weather conditions including precipitation and evaporation.

This system will help you practice better water conservation for your lawn, landscape or other turfgrass areas in this critical time for water resources.

It is free to the public in NC and can be accessed at the following URL:
TIMS
The State Climate Office of North Carolina is a public-service center and extension of the UNC system housed at NC State University and the primary source for climate data and expertise in North Carolina. The mission of the State Climate Office is to provide climate related services to the state, local and federal agencies, businesses and citizens of North Carolina.



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

September Edition of Commercial Hort News- NOW AVAILABLE!!

Need-to-know information for the wonderful Green Industry in WNC!
http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=site

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

2007 Nursery Short Course and Field Day

There will be a Nursery Short Course and Field Day on September 20th at the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center in Fletcher. All green industry professionals should schedule time to attend. The registration form is attached below.

2007 Nursery Short Course

Pesticide Credits are available at this short course!

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Weed Control During the Drought

Having trouble managing weeds? This is just a reminder as to why that may be:

Why is it??? Crabgrass grows fine but my shrubs and lawn are drying up!

In a drought like this it seems that the only things that are growing -- are the weeds. But, now is not the time to apply herbicides to kill weeds. Herbicides don't work very well on wilting weeds. Post-emergence herbicides work better if applied about 2 days after rain -- BUT, that is not all. If it goes dry after that single rain event you may need to irrigate the weeds about 2 days after treatment to get them to die to the best of their ability.

Bottom line, post-emergence herbicides work better on actively growing weeds. If you do have to treat drought stricken weeds with herbicides, be prepared for a re-treatment after we get some rain because the weeds will likely come back.


from- Dr. Joseph C. Neal
Professor and Extension Specialist -- Weed Science
--------------------------------------------------
Two notes- Irrigated crops may have actively growing weeds that are sensitive to the herbicides and respond accordingly. Container nurseries may also want to consider an application of pre-emergent herbicides to control winter annuals.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Tips August Newsletter Online

The August edition of Green Tips is now posted on-line at GreenTips


Keep posted for new information as it comes available.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Cultural Control to Prevent Tree Pests

Healthy trees are often capable of combating mild insect attacks. In fact, many of the telephone calls we receive are about insects that normally only attack dead and dying trees and are not the cause of the tree's problem. What can you do for a tree to keep it healthy? Here is a short list.

1. Make sure the tree receives the appropriate amount of sunlight for the species.
2. In my opinion, trees (especially established trees) need zero or little added fertilizer. Extra nitrogen can cause overgrowth or might encourage certain insects.
3. Perform a soil test to see if soil conditions are appropriate for the tree.
4. Minimize turf around the root zone. Use mulch if possible, but NOT against the bark. Apply mulch three inches deep at the most. Turf and tree roots are in direct competition for water. Regular lawn fertilization is not beneficial to the tree.
5. In order to reduce soil compaction, avoid parking vehicles, having playgrounds or conducting other heavy traffic activities beneath a tree.
6. Don't change the oil from the old 1960 Ford Galaxy (that you've been restoring to look like the police car from The Andy Griffith Show) under the tree.
7. Quickly prune out any newly damaged limbs. Tree injuries can attract insects within hours.
8. Drought conditions may not have a noticeable impact on established trees the first year. Repeated dry conditions may result in a problem two or three seasons later. If possible, practical and affordable, watering a specimen tree might be justifiable. Ask about the best way to do this if you are unsure.
9. Keep that mower and weed trimmer away from the bark.

From Dr. Steve Bambara, NCSU Entomologist


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Landscape Pests of Concern in August

* Yellow jacket populations are nearing their peak, with a
higher likelihood of negative encounters.
* Bagworms will be large and stripping Leyland cypress trees and junipers, remove by hand as there are no effective chemicals now.
* Fall webworms will be very noticeable in pecan, sourwood, wild cherry and hickory trees.
* Be on the lookout for fall armyworms in turf, especially newly-sodded lawns.
* Cicada killer wasps may be more noticeable.
* Spider mite injury is now very evident.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Certified Turfgrass Professional Short Course

The Certified Turfgrass Professional Short Course is coming up soon. Be sure to follow this link to the registration site and more information about the class:
CTP Short Course

New Mite to Look For

For those of you growing or using Wax Myrtle, be on the lookout for a new mite. This news just in from Dr. Stephen B. Bambara, NCSU- Extension Entomologist

New Mite on Wax Myrtle,
A sample of wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) arrived in the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at North Carolina State University this week. Dave Stephan identified an eriophyid mite (Calepitrimerus ceriferaphagus) in the sample that we have not previously seen in North Carolina. It has been reported on wax myrtle in Florida for several years. These microscopic mites cause blistering and puckering of the leaves and an almost mosaic appearance that might be more virus-like. It is presumed that any of the standard miticides would be effective while mites are active.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

July-August Commercial Hort News- Now available!

The July- August Edition of the Commercial Hort News is now available on line!
Visit the website and Click on "Commercial Hort News"
http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=site
For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Slug-like Sawfly Larvae

Caliroa is a genus of sawfly slug caterpillars that usually feed as a skeletonizer on the lower surface of the leaf. The pear slug belongs to this group. There was a regional outbreak of these slug caterpillars on oak last year. The females have a saw-like ovipositor with which they pierce leaves to lay their eggs inside. Sawfly slug caterpillars are slimy and usually smallish caterpillars (about 0.5 inch in length). When there are large numbers, sawfly slug caterpillars may cause large portions of their host trees to “brown out.” Sawfly slug caterpillars overwinter in the soil in a small cavity that is lined with the secretions of the larva. The larvae pupate the following year and the new adults emerge to mate and lay eggs. The adult of this caterpillar is an insect that more closely resembles a fly than a wasp. If there are enough of these insects present to cause alarm, Sevin insecticide should give more than adequate control. If it is a small shrub, you could wipe them off.
From Dr. Stephen Bambara.

For more information call your local Cooperative Extension Agent.

Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007

This in from FSA: The Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007 has been signed into law. However, read through this act closely and you will find that nursery growers will not be eligible for assistance. However, growers with multiple commodities may have eligible crops. They have included a requirement that growers had to have
insurance or NAP coverage in order to be eligible for assistance. Also the act is very specific in that producers must have lost 35% or greater of their crop to be eligible. It is currently, unclear as to how or when the actual program sign-up will occur. Growers with concerns about this act should address those concerns to their elected officials as neither FSA nor Cooperative Extension Agents have any control over the final outcomes of legislation such as this. Read the act at this site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=landing

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Landscape Design Workshop Reminder

Just a friendly reminder regarding the upcoming landscape design workshop, it this is something you wish to attend please follow the link below and register to attend. Space is limited so don't hesitate. If you are landscaping and interested in improving your design skills you will find this class to be a very rewarding experience!!!
Landscape Design Workshop


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Springtails

Springtails (collembola) are among the smallest insects in the home landscape. They are flea-like and barely visible. Springtails possess a forked structure folded under the body that when flicked, allows it to catapult around quite well. Springtails may differ in size, shape and color. They are slightly smaller than a flea and do not bite. Springtails prefer moist environments and feed on decaying plant material, fungi, etc. and are most often seen in mulch. Sometimes they may annoy people if they occur by the millions in a yard and show up on the foundation, the driveway or in the swimming pool. If they are very prolific, they may be found indoors on floors. If found in houseplant pots, change the bark mulch and reduce the watering frequency.
Control is not very effective. If desired, they can be hosed off of hard outdoor surfaces with or without a little soap added. Infestations are short lived and rarely justify the expense of control. Determined homeowners may use one of the available lawn products containing a pyrethroid insecticide such as permethrin, bifenthrin or cypermethrin. Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 123 contains more information on springtails.


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Industry Newsletters Now Available

The July edition of Green Tips Newsletter is now available. Please follow this link:
Green Tips
Please respond to the Needs Assessment Tool attached to the newsletter.

The July edition of Commercial Hort News is also now available. Please follow this link: Commercial Hort News

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Improving Your Landscape Design Skills

Dates: July 27, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and July
28, 2007 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Fletcher, NC.

This intensive, dynamic, day and a half workshop for landscape designers combines professionally-guided instruction with immediate hands-on practice. Landscape design instructors from NC State University will provide materials, lecture, and demonstration to the participants. Participants will refine their techniques though drawing exercises, discussion and field critiques. Last year's participants said "they were completely unaware of a formal landscape design process" and that it "helped them tremendously to understand and practice the concepts that unite a site with the buildings and the plant material." "The instruction and practice gave them a foundation of design skills to strengthen their existing plant knowledge." After two days, most thought it too short to cover all the material effectively. As per the post workshop evaluations, the format and content was modified slightly to create a more cohesive theme over the two days. As always, the content is targeted toward the level of professional skill of those attending. This is possible because of the low number attending (40) and the high number of instructors and teacher's assistants providing one on one feedback during the two-day workshop. This is a unique chance to improve both your landscape design and professional skills.

Here is a link to the program on the MHCR&EC website.
Improving Your Landscape Design Skills





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Another Boring Insect?- Iris Borers

Iris borer damage begins in the foliage and may be evident now. Most of the time, the damage is to rhizomes discovered when people dig them to transplant during the summer. The moths emerge in late summer to mate and lay eggs on the oldest, roughest, dead and bleached iris leaves or on plants nearby. The eggs hatch the following spring. The tiny caterpillars first feed on the new foliage and sometimes cause the margins of the leaves to be ragged. The holes caused by the young caterpillars bleed causing deposits of sap on the leaves. The caterpillars then mine in the leaves for a time before working downward toward the rhizomes. The caterpillars are about half grown by the time they reach the rhizome. There they feed on the edge or on the underside of the rhizome, sometimes boring inside. Often a single caterpillar may completely the insides of a rhizome before moving to another. The mature caterpillars are pale yellow/pink to pink in color with brown heads.

To control the iris borer, it is important to remove all old iris leaves and other plant rubbish from the beds in early spring before new growth emerges. If the borers are discovered later in thehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif spring, it may be possible to crush the caterpillars with the thumb and finger inside the leaf. By holding the injured leaf so that the sun shines on the far side, the silhouette of the small caterpillar should be easily visible through the leaf. John Weidhaas at Virginia Tech University has determined that Sevin and malathion give good control of the iris borer when these pesticides are applied early while the caterpillars are feeding on the outside of the leaves. (It may be late for this, now.) For more information and treatment suggestions, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 46 at Iris Borer

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest to Monitor: Flower Thrips-

The eastern flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici, feeds mainly on flowers and fortunately is not known to vector any virus. Because of their tiny size, flower thrips are carried over large areas by wind systems. Flower thrips are found throughout North Carolina with peak migration early to mid June. They have been found on dozens of hosts. Control of flower thrips is difficult because of constant migration from weeds, grass, flowers and trees. They are also known to make a mild, but noticeable "nip" to the skin.

The first step in management is to eliminate as many weeds in the area as possible, or keep them mowed so they do not flower. To protect flowers, homeowners might use products such as neem or Mavrik. Pyrethrin insecticides might be used before blossoms open to protect pollinators. The commercial industry should rotate chemicals to reduce concern of resistance. They might use products such as Conserve, Pedestal, Azatin (or Ornazin) and BotaniGard. Monitoring for thrips with yellow sticky cards can also help detect populations as they are increasing, allowing controls to be started before substantial plant damage. Note from Dr. Stephen Bambara

For more information on flower thrips, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 21 at Thrips


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Tarheel Gardening

A new website is coming our way that will help consumers make choices in locating plants. Green Industry Professionals across North Carolina will soon have an exciting new promotional tool. Tarheel Gardening is a website designed to inform consumers about the many benefits of plants and planting North Carolina grown trees, shrubs, flowers, annuals, perennials, and turfgrass. Consumers will be able to find information about local retail nurseries, garden centers, landscapers, irrigation contractors, landscape architects, and other Green Industry Professionals.
The following link will take you to more information: Tarheel Gardening

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Point of Sale Materials Available

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as part of an ongoing efforts to assist you in promoting North Carolina ornamental plants to consumers, has produced a series of promotional materials for use by North Carolina Garden Centers and retail nurseries These items include pot stakes, 5” x 7” price cards, and 18’ x 24’ full color coroplast signs. All these materials promote North Carolina Grown plant material using the “Got to be NC” and “Our Best Grown Just for You” themes. These items are free, in limited quantities, to any North Carolina retail nursery or garden center. For more information contact John Snipes, 919-733-7887, , Bill Glenn, 828-253-1691,, or John Aydlett, 252-331-4773 ..

In the Division of Marketing, we will be developing other means as well to highlight the quality and diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, turfgrass, and Christmas trees that are grown in this state. We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding how we can best serve you and help expand your business.




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Slugging it Out

Slugs can be a problem in greenhouses and some gardens. Adult slugs are soft, slimy, slender animals more closely related to clams and octopi than insects. Slugs have stalked eyes and two small feelers. Some species grow to three or more inches long. They use rasping mouthparts to scrape away vegetable material. This may leave ragged shaped holes in leaves of tender plants. Slugs are active at night and during cloudy, warm weather. During bright warm days, slugs usually hide under boards, stones, debris or tunnel into the soil.

Slug populations can be reduced by keeping raw composting materials away from the garden, "trapping" and destroying slugs under rocks or boards, or destroying them at night. Be careful not to over mulch where the mulch never dries. There are a few chemicals listed for slug treatment, but read the label carefully to determine if they are suitable in your garden or around pets. A saucer of beer is often suggested as a trap, but most experts feel that beer is better used as intended.

For more information on slugs and snails, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 22 at
Slugs
From Dr. Steven Bambara

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Ticks on the Prowl

It's summer... it's hot..... it's North Carolina. That means ticks are
abundant in many areas and there is an equally abundant concern
about tick-borne illnesses. In North Carolina, we had more the 466
confirmed cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and at least 14
confirmed cases of Lyme Disease (these statistics include Jan-Oct
of 2006).

What we also know is that there are no magic fixes to tick problems
but there are measures (both chemical and non-chemical) that people can use to reduce tick infestations around their property and to protect themselves and their family. Check the following article to view more information: Ticks on the Prowl





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Drought Conditions May Warrant Another Crop Disaster Declaration

Farmers including Nursery, Sod, and Flower producers, are asked to begin assessing crop damage due to the prolonged drought conditions. Please begin reporting these losses or any association crop damage to your local Farm Service Agency. In Henderson and Transylvania Counties NC, your contact is Kelly Springs. He can be reached at 693-1406. In Buncombe County the contact is Christopher West. His number is 828-254-0916.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Special Announcement from NCSU College of Agriculture and LIfe Sciences

Many folk in the agricultural community have expressed concern over legislation that would transfer research stations from NCDA& CS to NC State University. The following attached letter from Dean Johnny Wynne describes the position of the University and the College:

Information Regarding Research Stations

This information is provided only to help readers formulate their own opinions regarding this issue.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Biodiesel Education Workshop- Asheville, June 22

NC Urban Forest Council is sponsoring a “Biodiesel Education Workshop” that will cover:
1. Brief history of the diesel engine and how the inventor, Diesel, had envisioned communities able to supply their own fuel. 2. Evolution of the biofuels movement throughout the last century to today. 3. Biodiesel basics. 4. Environmental benefits and engine benefits.

We have applied for ISA CEU’s for this workshop.

DATE: June 22, 2007 from 9am- 12noon.
PLACE: City of Asheville Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St., Asheville.
COST: Free for members/ $5 for non-members

To register online go to www.ncufc.org or send a check to:
NCUFC, PO Box 25852, Winston-Salem, NC 27114-5852. Call 336-774-0215 with questions.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

June Edition of Commercial Hort News Now Available On-line

News for the Green Industry in western North Carolina. To view this newsletter go to:
http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=site then click on 'Commercial Hort News'


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Green Tips Newsletter Now Available

The monthly Green Tips Newsletter is now on online. You may reach it by going to this link:
http://henderson.ces.ncsu.edu/content/GreenTips
or by the GreenTips Link to the right.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Weather Update

Gov. Mike Easley has expanded water conservation directives to state agencies in 17 counties in Western North Carolina, including Henderson County, that are in an extreme or severe drought. Transylvania County was already in the directive.

Easley directed all state agencies stop non-essential water use and asked businesses and residents across the state to voluntarily cut back their use by about 10 percent.

Easley also repeated the importance of state and local governments continuing to conserve water because drought conditions are worsening.

"I have expanded my direction to state agencies to an additional five of the hardest-hit counties to stop using water for anything that is not related to public health and safety, as water supplies become limited in those counties," Easley said. "We are just starting the summer recreational season when demand for water increases for everything from home gardening to neighborhood pools. It is critical that all North Carolinians limit all non-essential uses of water and observe any water restrictions that are ordered by local authorities."

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News_FullStory.asp?id=3919

Please use any measures you can to recycle or save water.  While some relief appears to be in site, most extended forecasts do not show major rain events.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Ambrosia Beetles Still Active?

The Catawba County Extension Center sent pictures of ambrosia beetles taken last week and earlier on fig and ornamental persimmon. Perhaps the unusual spring temperature fluctuations affected beetle activity. Preventive bark sprays are the only treatment against these beetles that mostly attack small diameter trees of certain groups with smooth bark. Many trees grow out and survive. For additional information, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 111 (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note111/note111.html) and Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 122 (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note122/note122.html).


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Early Bagworm Treatment

If you had problems with bagworms last season, now is the time to inspect for the tiny bags and treat, if necessary. They should be large enough to see by now without having done damage. Practice your observational skills. Early treatment avoids defoliation and is more effective against early instar caterpillars. This is especially true if you use Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) products. If you only have a few bagworms, handpicking them always works well. For more information on bagworms, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 81 on the web at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/ort081e/ort081e.htm.



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Severe Drought Conditions Prevail

Most of Western NC is being impacted by drought conditions. It has become so dry that the governor has issued a request that 12 western counties stop non-essential water use. See attached:

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News_FullStory.asp?id=3919

Landscapers should reduce mowing and pruning operations during this time to conserve on water as well as cutting off all irrigation systems on established turf, trees, and shrubs.  Encourage to use of drip systems in areas with color or newly planted ornamentals to reduce the use of water where possible.

Nurseries and Greenhouse operations may need to consider utilizing shade in some areas to minimize water loss.  Watering should be done earlier in the day to avoid evaporation loss.  Any and all measures that can be taken to conserve water should be considered.  Establish a triage system that priortizes water use to those plants that are most vulnerable to the drought conditions.

Continue to monitor the situation on your own site as you may be getting passing showers that others in the surrounding area are not.

We will try to keep you updated as the situation continues to develop.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Crapemyrtle Aphids Starting

We are beginning to see the build-up of crapemyrtle aphid on crape myrtles on the North Carolina State University campus. Aphid populations can explode within a week. If you have crape myrtles that consistently have a problem and have severe sooty mold, watch for these pests. Problems will become more noticeable throughout the summer. For more information on crapemyrtle aphids, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 31, which is available on the web at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note31/note31.html.
From Dr. Stephen Bambara (NCSU Department of Entomology)


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Ornamental Pest News Updates

Lesser Canna Leafroller Time

From: Stephen B. Bambara, Extension Entomologist
If your canna plantings have been heavily attacked by the lesser canna leafroller in the past, it may soon be time to treat. It would be later in western counties. As leaf whorls begin to open, attack by the leafroller becomes more likely.

Early larvae may appear, like leaf miners. This pest is more prominently recognized in the fall as the second generation damage becomes more noticeable and that's when county Extension agents are more likely to receive telephone calls regarding this pest.

Lesser canna leafrollers are small caterpillars related to European corn borers, pickleworms, coneworms and sod webworms. Lesser canna leafrollers overwinter as larvae in the leaves and stems of canna and the moths emerge to mate and lay eggs after the new growth emerges in the spring. When the larvae hatch, they feed within the new, rolled leaves. Older larvae can actually tie the edges of older leaves together and roll the leaf! One mistake canna growers make is to leave the old dead growth on the canna bed as mulch. Canna seems to be the only host plant for this pest. If the plants are isolated from other cannas, it may be possible to drastically reduce the lesser canna leafrollers by carefully removing all dead leaves and stems in the fall after the frost has killed it back.

It is possible to eliminate this pest by spraying Orthene several times at 10-day intervals. Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) insecticides are also effective for this pest. Landscapers are encouraged to spray the dilute pesticide mixture directly down into the rolled leaves so that the pesticide can soak into the shelter around the caterpillars. They are especially encouraged to gather and destroy all of the dead tops this winter after frost. For more information on lesser canna leafrollers, see Extension Publication AG-136 available on the following web site: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG136/cater12.html.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.