August 2008
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Take our pest management survey
The University of Maryland Pesticide Education and Assessment Program is looking for Maryland residents interested in sharing their opinions on pest management. Please take part in our brief survey. Your responses will help us develop and target outreach materials to better educate Marylanders about this important topic.
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Fire blight takes its toll
Many home gardeners have been contacting HGIC about pear and apple trees showing wilt and dieback of shoots, twigs, and small branches. It’s been a tremendous spring in Maryland for the culprit- the devastating bacterial disease known as fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). This pathogen can kill flowers, fruits, branches, and whole trees. A wide range of plants are vulnerable including apple (including crabapple), pear (including European, Asian, and ornamental pear like the Bradford pear), serviceberry, cotoneaster, mountain ash, pyracantha, hawthorn, and quince.
Infections start during the bloom period and are promoted by favorable weather conditions (average daily temperature around 60 degrees F. and long period of leaf wetting from dew, fog, or rain). Infected shoots typically form a “shepherd’s crook” with leaves turning brown rapidly and remaining on the plant. The dieback is fairly rapid and noticeable.
Now that we are in a period of drier weather it is a good time to prune out infected shoots and branches and continue to prune out blighted shoots as they appear. Make the pruning cut at least 5 inches below the infection symptoms. Pruners, saws, and loppers should be dipped in alcohol or a 10% bleach solution between cuts to disinfect the cutting edges.
"Ugly Stub” Pruning Method
Leave an “ugly stub” when pruning your tree or shrub. That is, do not prune a shoot or branch at the point where it attaches to the next limb, branch, or trunk. Leave a stub, instead. The cut ends of the ugly stubs will be colonized with the fire blight bacterium. During cold winter weather (temperature below 40 degrees F.) the ugly stubs are pruned out at the branch collar- the raised ridge where the stub attaches to the tree. This method, developed by the late Dr. Paul Steiner, plant pathologist with the University of Maryland, will help reduce the amount of inoculum available to infect the trees next spring and will help prevent the bacterium from getting into the main branches, trunk, and root system.
Prevention
The key to managing fire blight is selecting resistant cultivars, pruning out infected plant parts, and spraying with liquid copper in spring, just as a little bit of green tissue shows at the ends of buds. If you spray too early it washes off prior to critical infection period. If you wait too long you may burn plant tissues with the copper.
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Building a green future in Maryland - Visit the Green Building website!
The concept design for the proposed building is to combine an office building and a living research laboratory for exploring green technologies. This center will bring the results of research in sustainable practices to Maryland’s residents, students, and businesses through tours, seminars, and conferences. Through outreach education, which is the hallmark of Extension, Marylanders will learn how to implement energy saving practices in order to save money and reduce the degradation and destruction of natural resources. Research & demonstration gardens will feature sustainable landscaping, ornamental gardening, and organic food production.
This project will capitalize on the University of Maryland’s reputation as a national leader in research. The goal is to be a leader in green building function and technology by pursuing advanced concepts like energy neutral design and handling all waste on-site. This facility will be the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified building on a University Land Grant research farm. View our power point presentation for more information.
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Emerald ash borer
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic beetle from Asia. It feeds on and kills ash trees, which are important riparian and landscape trees in Maryland. Emerald ash borer is currently infesting part of southern Prince George’s county. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is in the process of removing ash trees in the eradication zone to stop the spread of this beetle. To help prevent further movement of this pest do not transport hardwood firewood out of the county or from the southern half of the county into the northern part of the county. Also, ash trees cannot be planted or moved out of the county. Currently all of Prince George’s county is under a quarantine for this pest. Details of the quarantine order can be found on the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Emerald Ash Borer Page. For photos, links and latest news, visit HGIC’s Emerald Ash Borer web page
If you suspect that you have an infested ash, you can use the electronic form to report it to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
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