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Disease and Insect Identification Workshop                         $15
July 19, 4-6 pm                                                                        Credits:  (2 Pest., 2 ISA,1 CNP)
Townsend Hall, 531 S College Avenue, Newark, DE, Room 012 Townsend Hall

Learn what signs and symptoms the Extension Specialists use to identify pests and diseases! Tips and techniques will be shared. Fresh and preserved specimens will be available to look at using hand lenses and microscopes.  Instructors:  Nancy Gregory, Brian Kunkel, Carrie Murphy, Jen Rushton

Call 302-831-2531 to sign up
NFG 7/14/2017

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Running bamboo (Phyllostachys sp.) is an invasive plant, often planted to provide a privacy screen or on property lines. Bamboo may be planted too close to a property line and invade by runners (rhizomes) and underground stems. Running bamboo will spread three to five feet per year, sometimes further. Clumping bamboo species do not have runners. Effective July 1, 2017, residents who plant bamboo in the ground must obtain a waiver from the City of Newark. Any bamboo planted after July 1 must be at least 20 feet from any property line, while residents with existing bamboo must continue to maintain it in its current location. There was a similar ordinance in Dover, DE in 2012.
See the recent article for more info: http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_60736ae6-7e8e-5b06-94cd-710521066725.html
NFG 7/1/2017

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Pest and Beneficial Insect Walks, $15  Wednesday, June 14, 4-6 pm, Sussex County Extension Office, 16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown OR Wednesday, June 21, 4-6 pm, University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, 531 S College Avenue, Newark.  Meet at the entrance to Fischer Greenhouse.  Learn to identify insect and disease pests, as well as beneficial insects in the landscape at either the Sussex County Extension Office or the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens.  Instructors: Nancy Gregory, Brian Kunkel, Carrie Murphy, and Tracy Wootten 2 pest., 2 ISA, and 1 CNP credits
Disease and Insect Identification Workshop, $15  Wednesday, July 19, 4-6 pm, Townsend Hall, 531 South College Avenue, Newark, Room 012 Townsend Hall.  Learn what signs and symptoms the Extension Specialists use to identify pests and diseases! Tips and techniques will be shared. Fresh and preserved specimens will be available to look at using hand lenses and microscopes.  Instructors:  Nancy Gregory and Brian Kunkel 2 pest., 2 ISA, and 1 CNP credits

New Castle County Short Courses
Please check workshop description for meeting location. Register with Carrie Murphy (302) 831-2506 or cjmurphy@udel.edu for the following short courses.
Pest and Beneficial Insect Walk-June 21-$15
Disease and Insect ID-July 19-$15

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Chinese broccoli, Brassica oleraceae var alboglabra was diagnosed in the UD Plant Diagnostic Clinic  this week with clubroot, a disease caused by an oomycete fungus- like pathogen. Plasmodiophora can be found persisting in the soil and may be moved along with transplants. I have never seen this disease in the field. It affects all Brassica species, and the resting spores can remain in soil for 10 years or more. The swellings are the result of hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The plasmodia are in the plant cells in the swellings. Swimming zoospores can result in spread in wet soils. It is not a USDA regulated pathogen, but can be very problematic in agricultural soils where cabbage, broccoli, or kale is grown.
5/25/17 NFG

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Red imported fire ants have been successfully kept out of Delaware by inspection and eradication efforts of Delaware Department of Agriculture. A recent detection was made in palm trees shipped in from Florida. http://news.delaware.gov/2017/05/22/care-is-urged-after-red-imported-fire-ants-found-in-palm-tree-shipment/.  Plants shipped across state lines should be inspected and come from reputable suppliers.
05/21/17 NFG

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Ash rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia sparganioides, is a disease which affects white and green ash in Delaware. Symptoms on ash appear in mid-May as small yellow to yellow-orange spots on upper leaf surfaces. About ten days later bright orange-yellow clusters of aecia (fungal spore producing structures) became apparent on leaf under surfaces. Leaves often become distorted and petioles may develop wart-like swellings which also bear clusters of aecia. Leaves with infected petioles wilt and die and severely affected trees appear scorched in June. Defoliation of heavily infected trees occurs, but in most cases, infected trees may push a flush of new growth. Repeatedly infected trees may be predisposed to winter damage and to secondary infection by wood decay organisms. 
The alternate host for ash rust is marsh and cord grass which is found in coastal areas. If the disease only occurs sporadically, chemical control is not needed, especially if the infected tree is otherwise healthy. It is very difficult to predict if the disease is going to occur and preventative fungicide applications would need to be applied at bud break. Spraying after infection has occurred will not result in control.
NFG 5/17/2017

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A 2017 listing of FUNGICIDES AND BACTERICIDES Available for Home Use is posted on the UD Cooperative Extension website: Fungicides Bactericides Available for Home Use-2017    This listing includes commonly found products at local garden center and “big box” stores” and is not meant to be a recommendation. Always read the label, use labeled products, and apply according to the label.
NFG April 18, 2017

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Allium leaf miner also called onion leaf miner has been detected and confirmed in Lancaster County PA recently. This is a new pest in the U.S.  which affects all onions, chives, shallots, garlic, but the most sensitive is leeks. This pest can also affect ornamental Allium species, and weeds. Adult female flies puncture leaves on the edges and lay eggs. Larvae move through leaves to the sheath and bulbs where they pupate, and overwinter as brown pupae. Punctures and leaf mines are wounds through which bacteria and fungi can invade.  See the Penn State and Cornell pest alert for more information and references: PestAlert-Allium Leaf Miner
NFG April 17, 2017

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BRADFORD PEAR trees are blooming now in Mid-Atlantic landscapes. Also called callery pear, with some cultivars such as Cleveland Select, the flowering pear trees are native to China. Weak in branch structure, these V-shaped trees usually split or lose branches after 15 to 20 years of growth. Thought to be sterile and not produce fruit (just flowers) callery pears do cross pollinate with other pear trees in the landscape, and some do produce fruit. The fruit are small and inedible, but are eaten and carried by birds, ultimately seeding in areas such as roadside ditches and easements.  Roadsides are populated with these invasive, volunteer flowering pears, more numerous over time, and some have thorns.  Many other small flowering trees are much more suitable for planting. Consider native trees, such as fringe tree, serviceberry, or redbud.  Callery pear, Bradford pear, or any of the selections from those, are not good options for purchase or planting.  See the Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas and the associated web site of the National Park Service:  https://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/pyca.htm
April 6, 2017 NFG