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With a powerful hurricane coming toward the Eastern United States, and more tropical depressions in the Atlantic, now is a good time to think about weather preparedness
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Flooding across a street in Newark DelawareWith a powerful hurricane coming toward the Eastern United States, and more tropical depressions in the Atlantic, now is a good time to think about weather preparedness. Check weather updates on local news, the National Hurricane Center website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/, or https://www.udel.edu/udaily/.  Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area; hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, etc.  Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

  1. Put together a plan, know where it is
  2. Consider specific needs in your household
  3. Fill out a family emergency plan document
  4. Practice

For University of Delaware specific information such as closings: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/.
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This season, many people are shopping for a perfect cut tree or live tree to decorate their homes.
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This season, many people are shopping for a perfect cut tree or live tree to Douglas fir treesdecorate their homes. Our local Christmas tree growers face many challenges to growing a perfect tree, an expensive and time-consuming process. A Christmas tree takes 8 to 10 years to grow to a good size, and there are many hurdles along the way. Trees must be planted properly in good soil, not too shallow or not too deep. It may take up to three years for a transplanted seedling to establish a good root system.
Insect pests and plant diseases can cause problems for Christmas tree growers. Phytophthora root rot is problematic on tree farms in many states. Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism, favored by wet, saturated soils with poor drainage. Roots in saturated soil may be stressed. The best management strategies for root rot are the purchase of clean healthy seedlings and proper site selection, because the best possible control is to avoid Phytophthora root rot to start.
There are other pests and diseases that attack Christmas tree species, such as needlecast fungi that cause spotting and discoloration of needles, and needle drop. Growers must scout their trees, apply fertilizer and pest control, trim to shape, and keep up with research on tree species and new varieties. Sales of trees, following the 10 years of nurturing, all occur yearly within a 4 to 6 week period! Our Christmas tree growers are dedicated agricultural professionals who love to see smiles on the faces of people who purchase and enjoy the trees that they grow!
Find a Delaware Christmas Tree Grower near you at: http://www.delawarechristmastreegrowersassn.com/
NFG 12/5/2016

BLS has been very damaging to red oaks in Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic states since the early 1990’s
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BACTERIAL LEAF SCORCH (BLS) of hardwood trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, is caused by the bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, carried by small insects such as leaf hoppers and sharpshooters. BLS has been very damaging to red oaks in Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic states since the early 1990’s. Northern red oak and pin oaks under environmental stress are more susceptible. Symptoms include marginal discoloration or scorch of leaves in late summer or early fall, often with a yellow or dark band on the inside edge of the discolored area. Symptoms are similar to those caused by drought or root issues that interfere with flow of water and nutrients. Plants may not develop symptoms for a year or two after infection, but then thinning of branches occurs and trees die within 5 to 8 years.  Infection is confirmed with a lab test for a fee, so if confirmation is needed, please arrange to have samples tested by contacting the UDBLS Red Oak 2016 Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Please note that there is a $20 fee for BLS testing. To manage, maintain good tree vigor, and remove infected trees. A UD fact sheet has more info: http://extension.udel.edu/factsheets/bacterial-leaf-scorch/
NFG 8/30/2016