Fall armyworms have been spotted in the Wichita area, including the John C. Pair Horticultural Center. Armyworms are foliar feeding caterpillars that can sever turfgrass tillers at the ground level. Recovery is often good after the damage occurs, but be aware that if no attempt at control is used, turf quality will be low for a period of time. Dr. Raymond Cloyd provides details about fall armyworms and their biology and control HERE!
By Dr. Cheryl Boyer
It’s that time of the year when it’s both very hot and, likely, very dry. While it’s important to water landscape ornamentals all year long, now is a critical time to make sure plants have all the resources they need.
We have several publications about best practices for watering:
Newly planted trees (within their first year) should be watered at least weekly but check the soil to make sure it’s draining well. Slow-release watering methods like micro-pore bags and 5-gallon buckets with small (1/8-inch) drainage holes are a good way to apply irrigation to trees and some shrubs. However, remember to remove the bags when they are empty to ensure good airflow around plant stems and reduce pests and diseases. Removing turfgrass and other ornamental plants to at least the tree dripline (or beyond) will help trees access more water and grow more quickly—make sure to mulch the turfgrass-free zone to help retain applied water.
Established trees will benefit from a thorough soaking (to a depth of 12 inches out to and beyond the drip line) every 3 to 4 weeks. Established shrubs need water every 2 to 3 weeks during this drought- and heat-prone time of year. Plants growing in raised beds and berms may need to be watered every 1 to 2 weeks. Soaker hoses work well for watering established trees and shrubs.
You may want to consider taking advantage of a light rainfall (if you get one in July and August) by watering immediately afterward to help moisture move deeper into the root zone.
Any way you slice it, watering is a good thing. There are many other factors to consider for successful planting, but right now watering is top of the list. Keep it up—plants are thirsty just like you!
By Dr. Cheryl Boyer
Winter is usually the best time for training. However, if you are onboarding new employees, you might want to check out these K-State Research and Extension publications on safety in the horticultural services industries. They’re available in both English and Spanish.
Would you like to see more publications in Spanish? If so, which ones? Click through the bookstore offerings (https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/) to see what is most valuable to you, and let us know.
By Brooke Garcia
The temperatures are reaching summer high’s this week, and it is more important than ever to be monitoring and increasing watering schedules. Adjusting irrigation settings to accomodate for extreme temperatures will be vital for the health and survival of new plantings, as well as established plantings.
Featured in the Horticulture e-Newsletter, Ward Upham discussed the importance of watering for trees and shurbs. The article is featured in the link here.
Here are some other timely blog posts about watering as well:
Fine fescues include multiple species: creeping red fescue; slender creeping red fescue; Chewings fescue; sheep fescue; and hard fescue. In our state, they have traditionally been used in seed mixtures targeted at shady sites. In general, fine fescues perform fairly well in shade. Decline of fine fescues has been observed in Kansas during midsummer under wet conditions.
The 2020 NTEP Fine Fescue trial was planted in September at the Olathe Horticulture Research Center in full sun. It is a low-maintenance trial: no irrigation has been applied (other than during establishment) and the area only received starter fertilizer at the time of establishment. Many of these species and cultivars look very good in mid-July 2021. We will continue to evaluate their performance over the coming years. It’s quite possible that some of the fine fescues could provide an acceptable quality lawn with relatively low input.
Dr. Ross Braun is a former K-Stater (M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in turf at K-State) is now a lead research scholar at Purdue University, and is working diligently with these species. The Purdue research team is working with that at the Univ. of Minnesota on fine fescues (low-input turf). To learn more about fine fescues, development of new cultivars, and management, check out the article and video below by Ross and explore the web site on which these are posted.
https://lowinputturf.umn.edu/news/what-are-fine-fescues
https://lowinputturf.umn.edu/news/what-are-fine-fescues
By Brooke Garcia
Visit the KSRE Bookstore to view the updated publication on Industrial Weed Control, which has a focus on right-of-way and industrial areas. This publication will describe how to manage weeds in the following areas:
“Excess vegetation can obstruct road visibility, create fire hazards, impair drainage, and reduce the useful life of structures. Reliability and public safety across rights-of-way and industrial areas require controlling unwanted vegetation.” ~ Frannie Miller & Sarah Lancaster
Get the PDF copy of the publication here: Industrial Weed Control
By Raymond Cloyd
This article is featured in the Kansas State University Extension Entomology Newsletter.
Japanese beetle, Popilla japonica, adults are one of the most destructive insect pests of horticultural plants in landscapes and gardens. Japanese beetle adults are present throughout Kansas feeding on many plants including: roses, Rosa spp., littleleaf linden, Tilia cordata, oak, Quercus spp., Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, apple, Malus spp., and grape, Vitis vinifera. The plant protection strategies implemented to manage Japanese beetle adult populations are limited, and have been for many years. The primary strategy has been spraying contact insecticides to kill adults, which will reduce plant damage.
Read more here: July 9, 2021 No 14
By Brooke Garcia
Have you ever wondered how to reduce the chances of being bitten by mosquitos? The K-State Extension Entomology Newsletter has a great post within their June 24th, 2021 No. 12 issues about “How to Avoid Being “Bitten” by Mosquitoes.”
Photo by: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org
The recent post features:
Read more on the Entomology Newsletter here.
By Brooke Garcia
It was Pollinator Week June 21-27, 2021! How did you take part during Pollinator Week? Perhaps you had an encounter with a buzzy friend in the garden or planted some native perennials that attract pollinators in the landscape.
Celebrating pollinators does not need to be confined to one week only. You can do this in so many unique ways in your personal garden or landscapes you manage or oversee.
Photo taken in David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, KS by Brooke Garcia.
Here are some creative ideas to help attract and celebrate pollinators in our favorite landscapes:
Here are some more ideas featured in the Extension Entomology Newsletter.
These are just a few ways to help support pollinators all year around! Have any pollinator topics you’d like us to feature? Email us at gardenhour@ksu.edu.
By Brooke Garcia
The 2021 K-State Turf and Ornamentals Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, August 5th at the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
Address: 1700 Barnes Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
Date: August 5th, 2021
Time: There will be no formal welcoming session this year. Tours will leave from the registration area about every 15 minutes beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running until 10 a.m.
How to Register:
Parking:
Learn more here: http://www.kansasturfgrassfoundation.com/uploads/8/9/7/3/8973595/2021turffielddayprogram.pdf
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