Spruce trees, particularly blue spruce (Picea pungens) and Norway spruce (Picea abies), are popular landscape trees in Kentucky. Unfortunately, these trees present problems for homeowners when they show evidence of poor vigor, dieback, or needle drop. This publication discusses the…
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Apple Production Practices and Pest Management
During the past 10 years, orchard practices in Kentucky have changed dramatically. Many of these practices contributed to conditions conducive for diseases and pests. Growers began to shift from traditional plant spacing to high density plantings, increasing tree stress and…
Posted in Fruit
Downy Mildew of Grape
Downy mildew is an important disease of commercial and backyard grapes in Kentucky. Warm, wet, humid weather conditions favor infection and disease development. When flowers, clusters, and shoots become infected by downy mildew, yield losses result. This disease may also…
Posted in Fruit
Rhizosphaera Needle Cast May Lead to Skimpy Spruce
Rhizosphaera needle cast is often to blame for brown or thin spruce in the landscape. In Kentucky, Rhizosphaera needle cast is the most common disease of spruce; it also affects some pine species. This disease causes needle drop on lower…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
To Spray or Not to Spray: Conundrum in Wheat
Many wheat producers in the state have already sprayed a fungicide to help protect against Fusarium head blight (scab). However, some fields in the state were just nearing the beginning flowering stage (Feekes growth stage 10.51) when the May 9th…
Posted in Grains
Watch for Seedling Diseases in Corn
Weather this spring has challenged corn farmers in Kentucky. Temperature swings and frequent rainfall have led to a wide range of corn growth stages, with some corn in early vegetative stages and some corn still in the bag. The cool,…
Posted in Grains
Managing Corn Earworm Begins Early
Corn earworm is typically a pest of later-season sweet corn, so why should we bother with worrying about it in May? We are a long way off from the start of harvest, which usually begins close to the 4th of…
Posted in Vegetables
Woolly Apple Aphids Flaring in Some Orchards
While I have not received reports yet of woolly apple aphid activity on apple trees, there were several commercial orchards last year with serious infestations. In some years, this can be attributed to wounds caused by periodical cicada, but it…
Posted in Fruit
Dogwood Anthracnose Spotted
Anthracnose of dogwood is a common problem in Kentucky. Symptoms on landscape and forest dogwoods often first appear during wet periods in late spring. If left unmanaged, the pathogen spreads, eventually resulting in plant death. Selection of resistant varieties and…
Posted in Forest Trees, Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Revisiting the European Hornet in Kentucky
With the concern about the Aisan giant hornet reports in Washington State, there have been dozens if not hundreds of suspected reports to county offices and our department from across Kentucky. None of these were the Asian giant hornet, instead…
Posted in Human Pests
Cultural Calendar for Commercial Blueberry Production (PPFS-FR-S-29)
Integrated pest management (IPM) includes the combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in efforts to manage diseases and pests while minimizing risks associated with pesticides. Cultural practices are an integral part of an IPM program and should be…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2020 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Ornamental Pear Damaged by Fire Blight
During March or April, pathogenic bacteria infected flowers or young shoots. Now, shepherd’s crooks (Figure 1) and spur dieback (Figure 2) are becoming more prominent. Often, damage is not noticed until later in the season when branches die completely. …
Posted in Fruit
Vegetable Diseases to Scout for: Southern Blight
Southern blight, or basal stem rot as it is sometimes called, most commonly affects tomato, pepper, cucumbers, beans, and cabbage, but has a very wide host range and can infect many crops. The disease can occur in any system where…
Posted in Vegetables
Avoid Introduction of Boxwood Blight into the Landscape
Boxwood blight can be devastating to American boxwood cultivars, which are common in the Kentucky landscape. Complete defoliation can occur within a week and plants can die within a single growing season. Use of tolerant cultivars, cultural practices, and fungicides…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
