UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program

News

A winter moth caterpillar feeding on a leaf

Winter moth caterpillars appear to be in 2nd, but mostly 3rd and 4th instars. Foliage damage is decreased from previous years on most susceptible plants; however, some trees are showing more damage than others.

A questing deer tick

We are seeing a lot of ticks this spring. Those females that survived the winter did not find hosts and are waiting along the trails for a vertebrate to happen along.

The deadline to purchase a USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) multi-peril crop insurance policy (MPCI) for nursery crops is May 1, 2013.

Downy Mildew

Downy mildew of Impatiens, Plasmopara obduscens, has been reported sporadically since 2004 but it wasn’t until 2011 that widespread outbreaks were observed in landscapes in Massachusetts.

Emerald ash borer close-up

Following the discovery of EAB this past summer in Dalton, MA, Mass DCR officials have announced that a quarantine will be established in Berkshire County

Damaging storms have become somewhat of a regular occurence in the past few years. Most recently, Hurricane Sandy forecasts warned of the risk for widespread tree damage in New England.  When a severe event materializes, arborists are on the front lines for assessing and managing storm damaged trees.

A questing adult deer tick

Fall is the time that adult deer ticks appear.  Deer ticks overwinter as adults and can attach to hosts at anytime that they are not covered with snow.  Frosts or cold weather do not kill ticks.

Emerald Ash Borer close-up

The destructive beetle was detected in the western Massachusetts town of Dalton on August 31, 2012, and was confirmed by federal officials on September 6.

Impatiens downy mildew was diagnosed on Impatiens (walleriana) in landscapes in Massachusetts for the first time in 2011 and has been diagnosed again in 2012.

Winter Moth caterpillars have pupated and the feeding damage for this year is over.

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