Invasive Grass of Concern

Cogongrass

The folk at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services asked us to spread the word about this noxious weed. The weed scientists at NCDA&CS are very concerned about Cogongrass entering our mountain ecosystem.

http://www.ncagr.gov/PLANTINDUSTRY/Plant/weed/Cogongrass.htm

If you suspect that you have found an infestation please contact the NCDA Weed Specialist Bridget Lassiter at (919) 707-3749.

This is an interesting grass as one form was sold as an ornamental grass back in the early '90s under the name Japanese Bloodgrass  Imperata cylindrica " Red Baron".   Some of you may have been misinformed as I was,  and used it in landscapes or sold it in your garden centers, with the impression that it was a sterile form of the species.  I seem to recall that it did not appear to overwinter very well here in the mountains- but then some of those winters were colder than we have experienced lately.   Unfortunately,  in some climatic conditions it becomes a noxious weed.  

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

NC Landscape Contractor License Exam Training

 NC Landscape Contractor Licensing Exam Training and CEU Classes

Are you looking to become a licensed NC Landscape Contractor?  If so we are holding a 2 day school with 4 separate half day classes to prepare you to take the exam.  If you plan to take the exam on the 3rd Friday of November (11/17)  you will need all of your applications materials in and the Surety Bond approved prior to October 17th to take the exam at this location in November.  These documents must be in 30 days prior to taking the exam regardless of where you choose to take the exams.

For more information and registration visit:

Review Course

Need NC Landscape Contractor CEUs?

These classes were also pre-approved for Continuing Education Credits for existing licensed landscape contractors.  The first three are opportunities to get 3 hours each for Technical Credit (L) and the last of the series will get you 3 hours of Business credit.  You do not need to take all 4 classes to get the credits but you must attend the entire 3.5 hours in each specific class.  As indicated the classes are $30.00 each or the entire course is $100.00

Please note: The fees above are for the training only and do not cover the costs associated with the application and exam fees for those taking the exams.  You must contact the NC Landscape Contractor's Licensing Board to file the application and pay those fees!   https://nclclb.com/licensing-2/   We are two separate organizations!! 

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

Commercial Pesticide School

Commercial Pesticide School

Announcing: The NC State University and NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. will be offering the annual fall Commercial Pesticide School and Exam 

Date: October 11-12, 2017
Location: MILLS RIVER, NC -
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center

455 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759

  

Commercial Pesticide Schools are held to assist green industry professionals with obtaining their Commercial Pesticide License by offering pre-exam classes. All attendees should have already obtained their study materials and be familiar with the information before attending. Exams will be given on the second day of the school.

To obtain a Commercial Pesticide License in North Carolina, pesticide applicators must study for and take an exam in the Pesticide Applicator Core category as well an exam in their chosen specific applicator category.

Our Pesticide School offers Pesticide Applicator Core training on the first day and specific sub-category training on the second day in these categories:

-Ornamentals and Turf
-Right of Way
-Private

- *special this one time - Aquatics*

Classes start at 8:30 a.m. and are over by 4:00 p.m on the 11th and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 on the 12th 

Exception-  The Aquatics class will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on the 11th after the Core Class

All pesticide exams are given on the second day at 1:00 p.m. 

***special note -  We are holding the seldom offered pre-exam study class for the Aquatic Pesticide Applicator exam. This will be offered after 4:00 p.m on day one of the training October 11th. If you need to take the Core Exam you should already be in the Core training that takes place that day from 8:30-4:00.  Contact Andrea Crozier at pesticide-edu@ncsu.edu. to  request an additional seat in the Aquatics Class.

**Fees for Pesticide Schools are different from NCDA&CS Pesticide exam fees. Exam fees should be paid at the pesticide school or exam location. 

**Go here to register for school:

https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashnetg/selfserve/BrowseCatalog.aspx?CNAME=SCHOOLS+++++ 

To learn more about pesticide licensing visit:

http://www.ncagr.gov/SPCAP/pesticides/exam.htm

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

7th Annual Horticulture Industry Symposium

Horticulture Industry Symposium 2017

Hard to believe that is is August already and the precise middle of summer.  The registration and information is already up for this year's Horticulture Industry Symposium.  Please consider attending this year.  We have a lot of different speakers and interesting content.  The program continues to grow.  For more information visit these sites from The NC Arboretum:  2017 IPM Symposium

Agenda or Program for IPM Symposium

Registration Form

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

Fire Ants Expanding their Territory

Fire Ants are Expanding their Territory 

Fire Ants are expanding their territory in NC and additional counties or portions of counties are now under quarantine.  Essentially, for the green industry this means that certain products (nursery crops, pine needles, hay, straw, etc) can't be move out of those counties without being properly treated.  For more information read the link attached above. 

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

Cicadas are Impacting Trees in WNC

Cicadas are Impacting Trees in WNC

If you or your clients are noticing dead twigs on forest or landscape trees, chances are that it is the result of Periodical Cicadas.  The female gender of these insects cuts slits in the twigs of various species of trees and lays her eggs.  The result is the death of these twigs which turn brown and ultimately fall off of the tree.  As this has already occurred there's little that you can do to prevent of control the problem, however pruning out the damaged twigs and destroying them may reduce the population for future outbreaks.  Check out the attached article on Periodical Cicadas:

Periodical Cicada





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

Post Drought Stress Symptoms

Post Drought Stress Symptoms

Although we are getting what appears to be adequate rainfall now, we are still seeing symptoms of drought stress or "post drought stress".    These symptoms may vary from wilting and slow growth to smaller than normal leaves and entire canopy death.   While some of these symptoms may have occurred last summer and into the fall there seems to be a continued showing of cracked trunks and branches with die back occurring on trees and shrubs now even though we are getting good rainfall.

Most of these problems relate back to a failure to water the plants adequately through an entire establishment period.  Trees, particularly those that are field grown and sold balled and burlapped are particularly susceptible due to the amount of root loss that they encountered when harvested.  Typically, a tree takes one year per caliper inch to get re-established so a 2 inch caliper tree will take 2 years of careful monitoring and extra care to see that the root ball doesn't dry out to reduce the potential for drought stress.  Some plants, such as Leyland Cypress and many flood plain species are drought sensitive and may require extra care to keep them from drying out.   Here are a couple of samples from a Sweetgum tree that was planted just before the drought of 2016 and is showing drought stress this spring:

   Note the cracking in the main trunk!↘

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

Job Opening

Job Opening
The following is a job opening that some of you might find of interest:

Trademark Homescapes Inc., a successful landscaping company providing landscaping, custom wood working, gardening and water features is seeking an experienced landscape crew member to fill a full time position. Pay is dependent upon experience.
Qualifications include: (must possess at least 3 of the listed qualifications) Nursery Background
Skilled Carpentry Experience
Masonry and Hardscape Experience
Track Hoe/Skid Steer Experience
Certified Plant Professional – CPP
Plant and Irrigation Installation Experience Associate/Bachelor Degree in Horticulture or similar Must have a valid North Carolina Driver’s License. Accepting Resumes through June 1st
Send resumes to: trademarkhomescapes@yahoo.com 

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