Hort Notes Newsletters

A monthly e-newsletter from UMass Extension for landscapers, arborists, and other Green Industry professionals, including monthly tips for home gardeners.

Click on the headings below to jump to that section of the newsletter.

Announcements

Turf Field Day

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2025 UMASS TURF RESEARCH FIELD DAY!

Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Location: UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center
23 River Road, South Deerfield, MA

Come see what we're up to, get the latest on turf research and education at UMass, and support the UMass Turf Program with your participation in Field Day 2025!

• Take a guided research tour with presentations and demos
• Hear about and see projects in the field
• Talk turf with UMass faculty and staff
• Network with colleagues in a festive atmosphere
• Meet with industry exhibitors at the on-site trade show
• Enjoy a continental breakfast and a hearty BBQ lunch
• Get pesticide and professional re-certification credits

Learn more and register as an attendee or exhibitor/sponsor.

Landscape Pests and Problems Walkabout

Join us for UMass Extension's Landscape Pests and Problems Walkabout at Heritage Museum & Gardens in Sandwich, MA on June 24th.

Join Tawny Simisky, Extension Entomologist, and Russ Norton, Horticulture and Agriculture Extension Educator, for a walk through the landscape as they examine some of the most common insect and cultural problems of woody ornamentals, as well as discuss and demonstrate how to put IPM practices to work efficiently. We may even see a periodical cicada or two!

Pesticide credits: 2 pesticide contact hours for category 36 and Applicators License available.
Association credits: 2 ISA, 1 MCLP, 1 MCA and 1 MCH association credits are available.

This in-person program will be held outdoors, rain or shine. 

Learn more and register.

Pollinator Buzz Newsletter

The Pollinator Buzz! is a quarterly newsletter by UMass Extension’s pollinator program. 

Our Spring edition features:

• A Plant to Observe: Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
• Straight Species Natives vs. Native Cultivars: Is One Choice Better for Pollinators?

Find the newsletter on our website!

UMass Extension’s pollinator program focuses on wild bee and non-bee insect education and outreach for farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and beyond. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest about the program and upcoming events.

Save the Date

Invasive Insect Certification Program: September 

Hot Topic

Managing Adult Japanese Beetle and Other Scarab Pests

Scarab beetle pests, including the oriental beetle, Asiatic garden beetle, European chafer, and especially the Japanese beetle, are challenging pests for a broad range of growers and landscape managers. As larvae, they develop as distinctive white grubs hidden in the soil that feed on plant roots. As adults, they are generalist herbivores that chew on and skeletonize leaves on rose bushes, grape vines, basil, and more. Their thick cuticle acts as a suit of armor that protects them from predators and control efforts. Their ability to fly, while clumsy, allows them enough mobility to evade danger and spread to new areas. Given all these traits, it’s no wonder how these invasive pests have become so ubiquitous in the landscape. So, what’s the solution for managing their numbers?

In turf, there is potential to effectively manage scarab larvae (grubs) feeding on grass roots with chemical and biological solutions, as they are more susceptible to insecticides and parasitic organisms including bacteria (e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae or “Btg”) and entomopathogenic nematodes. Milky spore can also be used to introduce bacteria (Paenibacillus popilliae) that infect Japanese beetle grubs when ingested. However, while these methods are used to control grub damage, they don't significantly reduce adult beetle populations, as larvae are widespread and adults can fly in from outside the treated area.

Control of beetle adults is more difficult, but some options exist. The winsome fly (Isocheta aldricii) is a natural enemy of Japanese beetles which was introduced to North America in 1922 to control their numbers and is now established across much of the Northeast. Although they are not commercially available, they can be attracted by planting flowers which adult flies visit for nectar. Plants with many shallow, white-colored flowers such as cilantro, dill and sweet alyssum are best for targeting beneficial flies. Insecticides are another option, but they are costly and typically justified only when beetle numbers are high. Most effective chemicals also tend to be broad-spectrum insecticides such as pyrethroids and organophosphates, which also harm beneficial insects.

A lower-cost alternative is the use of pheromone lures to trap adult beetles. While traditional traps have faced criticism for potentially attracting more beetles than they catch, newer, more potent lures show promise. Research by UMass Extension Professor Jaime Piñero in fruit and berry orchards has shown that traps using dual lure systems with floral volatiles and sex pheromones can reduce beetle damage using a simple, low-maintenance design. These lures, along with the trap tops they used, are commercially available. Although more research is needed to evaluate their efficacy in other cropping systems, these traps may become a valuable tool for beetle management.

Additional resources:

• Japanese Beetle Fact Sheet - UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program

• Mass Trapping can Provide Season-Long, Insecticide-Free Control of Japanese beetles– Jaime Piñero

Ali Shokoohi, UMass Extension IPM Specialist

Trouble Maker of the Month

Winter Injury on Boxwood

Many evergreen trees and shrubs are susceptible to winter injury, and boxwoods are no exception. Winter injury appears as areas of bronze, tan, or brown foliage that become noticeable in winter or early spring. The damage is often seen on the south or southwest side of shrubs in exposed areas.

Intense sunlight and wind during the winter months can increase the rate of water loss from the leaves. Winter injury occurs when roots cannot take up water from frozen soil to replace the water that is lost through leaves. Drought stress in the fall makes boxwoods more susceptible to winter injury. In addition, new growth in the fall may not have had sufficient time to harden off before the temperature dropped.

Branches with dead foliage may produce new leaves if the buds have not been killed. Identify dead or dying branches in mid-spring after new foliage has been produced. If in doubt, scratch the surface of the stem with your fingernail: live stems will be green underneath. Prune out dead and dying branches.

The best way to prevent winter injury on boxwoods is through appropriate site selection, plant care, and protection from the elements.

• Avoid areas with southern or western exposure. Plant in areas that offer some protection from the sun, especially in the afternoon.
   
• Plant in areas that provide some protection from the wind or install a wind break.
   
• Plant boxwoods in spring or in late summer so there is time for root establishment before winter.
   
• Provide additional irrigation weekly (approximately 2” for new plantings, 1” for established ones) until the ground freezes. Drip irrigation is preferable.
   
• Apply mulch to retain soil moisture and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.
   
• Avoid quick-release nitrogen fertilizers in the fall. These stimulate new green growth, which is more susceptible to winter injury than mature growth.

Dr. Angie Madeiras, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab 

Q&A 

Q. I found a website that recommends that some weeds can be controlled by spraying or pouring bleach on them. Is this effective?

A. It would probably be effective, but I think there are other factors that should seriously be considered before you use this strategy. Bleach is a solution of sodium hypochlorite and water, with small amounts of sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide included for product stability and to maintain pH. Sodium chlorate is naturally present in small amounts as an intermediate molecule during the natural breakdown of bleach to saltwater. Sodium and chlorine are known to be detrimental to plants. These impacts are explained by Mandy Bayer and Geoffrey Njue in the UMass Extension fact sheet, The Impact of Salts on Plants and How to Reduce Plant Injury from Winter Salt Applications.

That said, I question the wisdom of applying bleach in the vicinity of landscape ornamentals. When I asked a Massachusetts pesticide inspector the question “If you encountered this in an impromptu inspection, how would you address this issue that you observed?” he said that he would explain that any product that is registered by the US EPA is not allowed to be used for a purpose and applied in a method that is inconsistent with the product label, and they are in violation.

Q. I manage a property that has star-of Bethlehem in the turf that is spreading rapidly. What is the best way to control this weed?

A. Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is a member of the lily plant family, Liliaceae. Visit the weed herbarium for photos and identification characteristics. Star-of Bethlehem can be difficult to control but can be managed with directed applications of glyphosate in landscape settings. Several non-chemical, burn-down herbicides will desiccate the leaves and over time will weaken the bulb of this weed.

Star-of Bethlehem is also very susceptible to the broadleaf turf herbicide sulfentrazone. Sulfentrazone is found in several 2-, 3- and 4-way broadleaf turf herbicide combinations and in combination with carfentrazone in the herbicide Dismiss NXT. Sulfentrazone alone can be found in several post-patent, generic products.

Consult with your landscape and turf product distributor about availability. Sulfentrazone can be found in several retail broadleaf herbicides for turf weed control.

Randall Prostak, UMass Extension Weed specialist

Garden Clippings: Tips of the Month

June is the month to . . . .

• Prune spring flowering shrubs. Shrubs such forsythia, viburnum, honeysuckle, and lilac are generally pruned soon after flowering. They form their flower buds in mid to late summer and flower the following spring on one year old shoots. Pruning these in early spring, late summer or fall removes the flower buds and reduces the number of flowers in the spring.
• Plant tender annuals and warm season vegetables. Tender annuals, herbs and warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers can be planted in early June after the danger of frost has passed. Before planting make sure you prepare the soil well and incorporate compost or manure by tilling it 6 to 8″ deep. Compost or manure improves the soil structure and adds some nutrients to the soil.
• Add new mulch to beds as needed. If the beds already have mulch from last year, a thin 1-inch layer top dressing with new mulch is adequate. For new beds spread 2-3 inches of mulch and be careful not to spread mulch over crowns of perennial plants. Organic mulch such as ground bark, ground wood chips or shredded leaves can provide benefits such as weed suppression, conserve soil moisture, reduce soil temperature, add organic matter, and enhance appearance.
• Thin cool season vegetable crops planted in May. Cool season crops such as spinach, beets, radish, carrots and lettuce are sowed thickly in rows and thinned later to the desired stand. Root crops such as carrots, beets, and radishes should be thinned to 2-inch spacing to allow the roots to develop properly. They can be thinned as soon as they reach a small edible size.
• Weed the garden. Weeds compete with plants for nutrients and moisture. Do not ignore the weeds until they get out of control. Managing weeds early will be more effective and will take less time and effort. Weeds can be controlled by cultural methods such as cultivating, hoeing and mulching, or by using herbicides.
• Thin excess fruits from fruit trees. After natural fruit drops of apples, pears and peaches, thin excess fruits to produce larger fruits. When you remove some of the fruits the remaining will develop to adequate size and quality. Thinning also reduces total fruit load on the branches and prevents breakage.
• Construct trellises for vining vegetables and ornamental plants. If growing vining vegetable crops such as cucumbers, pole beans, indeterminate (tall) tomatoes and vining ornamental plants such as clematis, wisteria, and trumpet vine, construct trellises that are sturdy, durable and match your style. Train young vines to get the desired growth pattern.
• Start regular scouting for insect pests and diseases. Starting to scout early for insect pests and diseases and taking appropriate control measures will help limit the damage to plants. Scouting involves observing the plants regularly, looking at all parts of the plant, including tops and undersides of leaves, and at soil line. You may need a hand lens to see some insects and signs of a disease.
• Fertilize young vegetable crops. One month after plants emerge is a good time to fertilize vegetable crops by applying a side dressing alongside the rows based on soil test results and plant needs. If plants are mulched, pull mulch away before side dressing and replace it afterward.
• Move house plants outdoors for cleaning and repotting as needed. House plants that are too big for their pots can benefit from repotting. Repotting can be an invigorating process for the plants. Select a pot that is 1 or 2 inches larger than the original pot. Trim off any rotted roots and pull apart circling roots before repotting.
• Initiate lawn watering, if there is a desire to prevent dormancy. Avoid excessive lawn watering, and allow the soil to dry slightly between irrigation events. This will enable the turf to develop a deeper root system which will make it more drought resistant in the summer. Deeply watering less often is more effective than frequent shallow watering. Water approximately 1.0 to 1.5 inches per week, as needed throughout the season.

Geoffrey Njue, UMass Extension Greenhouse Specialist 

Ticks and Alpha-gal Syndrome

It’s June.

Nymphal deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are fading away. But lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) are just getting started. As of now, they are primarily found around the Cape, Islands, and southeastern regions. However, their populations are expected to grow.

Lone star ticks are an aggressive and active species. They are associated with several pathogens, including the “allergy to red meat!”

But, is it true?

First off, the condition is real. There is a disease that can cause an allergy to red meat. But the disease is not limited to just red meat. In the scientific community, it is more accurately known as alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS. AGS describes an allergy to the alpha-gal carbohydrate (or sugar molecule). The alpha-gal carbohydrate is produced in non-primate mammals, prosimians, and New World monkeys.

Somewhere during evolution, old world monkeys, apes, and humans stopped producing alpha-gal and started producing antibodies against it. Possibly, this provided us with an adaptive advantage to fight infection. Our ability to develop alpha-gal antibodies is one of the main reasons transplants from pigs have failed in the past. Interestingly, the structure of alpha-gal molecule is very similar to antigen B of blood type B and blood type AB.

While our bodies naturally produce alpha-gal antibodies (IgG and IgM) to fight infection, it’s the production of another antibody that’s associated with AGS: the IgE antibody. Production of IgE to alpha-gal causes a sensitivity to many products, including “red meat” and many other products, such as bacon, milk, ice cream, cheese, gummy candies, and even certain types of medical products. In fact, alpha-gal was first discovered when patients had adverse reactions to the cancer drug Cetuximab, which was grown in mouse-cell lines.

Non-mammalian products or those coming from humans are fine to consume. A baby suffering from AGS could consume breast milk. A person suffering from AGS would be able to eat a turkey burger (without cheese or bacon). Unlike other food allergies, reactions are delayed for 2-6 hours after ingestion. This might have to do with the role of lipids in transporting the alpha-gal carbohydrate around the body and into cells.

What does this have to do with ticks?

Right now, AGS is correlated with tick bites. Globally, it’s associated with 13 tick species on 6 continents. In the United States, AGS is primarily associated with lone star ticks. Frequent bites or bites from many ticks are associated with the development of AGS, but the cause is unknown. It could be caused by the alpha-gal carbohydrate, which has been found in tick saliva. Ticks also produce their own molecules that are structurally very similar to the carbohydrate.

However, there are still a lot of unknowns.

The distribution of AGS does not completely mirror the distribution of ticks associated with it. The lone star tick is found in a very large geographic area. However, the largest number of cases occurs in just a very small portion of the lone star tick’s range. Surrounding states suffer comparatively few cases, despite a similar presence of lone star ticks, although cases seem to be increasing each year.

Curiously, northern Minnesota is a hotspot for AGS. Significantly, this region is outside the lone star tick’s range. Furthermore, patients with AGS from China, Japan, and South Africa have not reported the same correlation to tick bites. Some cases of AGS have also been associated with other experiences, such as frequent bee stings.

What can you do about it?

Grilling season is just getting started. As we head into the warmer summer months, keep up your protection against ticks. Landscape management is trickier for lone star tick, as it tends to be more tolerant of dry habitats. You can often find it in places where you rarely find deer ticks, such as open fields.

Instead, focus on personal protection methods:

• Wear an EPA-registered repellent
• Protect fabrics, clothing, and shoes with permethrin
• Include a daily tick check in your schedule 

Blake Dinius, Entomologist with Plymouth County Extension, reporting from the Plymouth area.

Spotlight: Balancing Periodical Cicada Protection with Management of Ticks & Mosquitoes

Periodical cicadas (Magicicada septendecim) have emerged in parts of Cape Cod and historically were present in parts of Plymouth County. These native insects are a naturally occurring part of these ecosystems, and they should be preserved and protected!

Periodical cicadas in Barnstable and Plymouth counties are part of Brood XIV, and it is relatively rare for cicadas to persist in these locations.

At the same time, land managers may be making chemical applications for tick and mosquito populations in an overlapping area. These applications can be important for protecting human health, as ticks and mosquitoes are vectors of a variety of diseases.

The risk of impacting the geographically small periodical cicada populations in Barnstable and Plymouth Counties with chemical applications made near forest edges or at the base of trees for tick or mosquito management, typically referred to as “barrier sprays”, is likely significant.

Private applicators often use long-residual products, containing active ingredients such as bifenthrin (or other synthetic pyrethroids), to manage ticks and mosquitoes. This contrasts with mosquito control project activities which focus on targeted control methods (e.g., BTi), water management, or low residual products. Bifenthrin has a long half-life, especially when present in soils. Estimates range from 122-345 days in a variety of soils.

While current research on this topic appears to be lacking, some older studies have demonstrated detrimental effects of other synthetic pyrethroid chemicals (fenvalerate, esfenvalerate, and permethrin) on adult cicadas (Hogmire et al., 1990 and Weires and Straub, 1980). Periodical cicadas are not pests or a plague, and managing them with pesticides is not suggested. (Despite the fact that certain chemical products containing bifenthrin are labelled for use against cicadas and registered in Massachusetts.), At most, cover small or newly planted trees with mesh netting to protect them from injury while female periodical cicadas are ovipositioning (laying their eggs). <1 cm mesh should be used and tied at ground level to prevent cicadas from accessing the tree. Mature trees can withstand periodical cicada egg laying, and may benefit from it.

Dr. John Cooley of UConn’s Periodical Cicada Information Pages states: “As for Cape Cod, I’d hazard a guess that the cicadas there are so pressured and threatened that every little bit of harm is a serious issue. It’s such a small area, and the conditions are so suboptimal…that it might not take much to push them over the edge.”

Take home message: Pesticide safety against non-target organisms should always be balanced with human health objectives, but don’t forget the cicadas when making vector management plans for this season. Where it is safe and feasible to reduce or skip applications, doing so could help to reduce the overall stress burden for these wonders of nature. At the same time, continue to do your daily tick checks, wear appropriate personal protective gear and exercise appropriate precautions to reduce potential tick or mosquito exposure.

Further Resources:

Ahern, R.G., S.D. Frank and M.J. Raupp. 2005. Comparison of exclusion and imidacloprid for reduction of oviposition damage to young trees by periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 2133–2136.

Hogmire, H. W., Baugher, T. A., Crim, V. L., & Walter, S. I. (1990). Effects and control of periodical cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae) oviposition injury on nonbearing apple trees. Journal of economic entomology, 83(6), 2401-2404.

Map of Brood XIV (14) from the University of Connecticut

Periodical Cicada Fact Sheet from UMass Extension

Periodical cicadas disrupt trophic dynamics through community- level shifts in avian foraging

Report Periodical Cicadas in Eastern MA on MDAR’s Project through iNaturalist

University of Connecticut’s Periodical Cicada Information Pages

Weires, R. W., & Straub, R. W. (1980). Control of the periodical cicada in Eastern New York during 1979. Journal of Economic Entomology, 73(4), 515-519.

Contributors:

Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Cooperative Extension
Russ Norton, Barnstable County Cooperative Extension
Tawny Simisky, UMass Extension

UMass Extension's InsectXaminer Episode 6: Periodical Cicadas

The sixth episode of InsectXaminer on YouTube features the native periodical cicadas (Magicicada septendecim) of Massachusetts! Brood XIV (14) is emerging in 2025 after 17 years beneath the ground!

Additional Resources

• For detailed reports on growing conditions and pest activity – Check out the Landscape Message
• For professional turf managers - Check out our Turf Management Updates
• For commercial growers of greenhouse crops and flowers - Check out the New England Greenhouse Update website
• For pollinator interests - Sign up for our newsletter, check out the Pollinator Buzz and follow us on Instagram.
• For home gardeners and garden retailers - Check out our home lawn and garden resources
• TickTalk webinars - To view recordings of past webinars in this series, go to: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education-events/ticktalk-with-tickreport-webinars

Diagnostic Services

• Landscape and Turf Problem Diagnostics - The UMass Plant Diagnostic Lab is accepting plant disease, insect pest and invasive plant/weed samples. By mail is preferred, but clients who would like to hand-deliver samples may do so by leaving them in the bin marked "Diagnostic Lab Samples" near the back door of French Hall. The lab serves commercial landscape contractors, turf managers, arborists, nurseries and other green industry professionals. It provides woody plant and turf disease analysis, woody plant and turf insect identification, turfgrass identification, weed identification, and offers a report of pest management strategies that are research based, economically sound and environmentally appropriate for the situation. Accurate diagnosis for a turf or landscape problem can often eliminate or reduce the need for pesticide use. See our website for instructions on sample submission and for a sample submission form at http://ag.umass.edu/diagnostics.
• Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing - The lab is accepting orders for Routine Soil Analysis (including optional Organic Matter, Soluble Salts, and Nitrate testing), Particle Size Analysis, Pre-Sidedress Nitrate (PSNT), Total Sorbed Metals, Total Carbon, Total Nitrogen, and Soilless Media. The lab is also accepting samples for Plant Tissue analysis, including macro and micronutrients, total carbon, and total nitrogen. Testing services are available to all. The lab provides test results and recommendations that lead to the wise and economical use of soils and soil amendments. For updates and order forms, visit the UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory web site.
• Tick Testing - The UMass Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment provides a list of potential tick identification and testing options at: https://ag.umass.edu/resources/tick-testing-resources.

A monthly e-newsletter from UMass Extension for landscapers, arborists, and other Green Industry professionals, including monthly tips for home gardeners.

Click on the headings below to jump to that section of the newsletter.