Black root rot can affect a wide range of ornamentals in home and commercial landscapes, nurseries, and greenhouses. Black root rot is commonly observed on Japanese and blue hollies, inkberry, pansy, petunia, and vinca. Black Root Rot Facts Symptoms are…

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the…

Spring rains can create growing conditions that are devastating to most landscape plants.  Wet soils are favored by a group of pathogens called water molds, or oomycetes, which cause a range of root and stem diseases. Water molds are found in…

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter in Kentucky on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases…

This long spring is ideal for aphids. Colonies of the small sap-feeders (Figure 1) can be found on many landscape plants now. Impacts of aphids vary widely. Some species manage to remove sap without any obvious effect on plants. However,…

“Wet feet” is the common term for a condition that affects plant species intolerant of wet growing conditions. This problem occurs when soils become saturated with water, which ultimately causes roots to suffocate. Once root damage occurs, plants decline and…

The two-spotted spider mite is the most common and destructive mite on deciduous ornamentals. It feeds on many varieties of trees, shrubs, flowers, weeds, fruits, and garden crops. Immature stages and adults are yellow to green with two dark spots…

Japanese beetle numbers appear to be up in many areas, and landscapes with plants these insects prefer could be under siege for the next 2 to 3 weeks. Turf and ornamental insecticides containing pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, etc.) can…