Articles

Box Tree Moth Alert

Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are some of the most common plants found in Ohio landscapes and they remain a mainstay of our nursery industry. Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) caterpillars defoliate boxwoods and will strip bark once they run out of leaves to eat. The moth has multiple generations per year, depending on geographical locations, and sustained high populations are capable of killing boxwoods.
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Authors
Joe Boggs

Turfgrass Times, 05.28.2021

This week's OSU Turfgrass Times includes reports from Dr. Dave Gardner, Dr. Dave Shetlar (aka BugDoc) and Dr. Ed Nangle. Report highlights include a timely weed update including: oxalis, speedwell, crabgrass, and rough bluegrass. Insects on the radar are: periodical cicada, annual bluegrass weevils, bluegrass billbug, hairy chinch bug, and white grubs. 
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Authors
Amy Stone
Viburnum Leaf Beetle Activity Becoming Obvious in NW Ohio stone.91@osu.edu Mon, 05/24/2021 - 19:19
As I was out enjoying the beautiful side of horticulture this spring, I could not miss the no-so-nice evidence of the viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) (VLB) feeding on arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) in the phenology garden at the OSU Extension, Lucas County Office at the Toledo Botanical Garden.
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Authors
Amy Stone

Plant of the Week - White Fringe Tree

Each spring I am mesmerized by the white blooms of the white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) outside my office at the Toledo Botanical Garden. This large shrub, or small tree, has a spreading habit. The plant is currently in its flowering glory in NW Ohio, capturing the attention of the Garden visitors wondering what it is. The white, slightly fragrant flowers are born in panicles that hang downward with a very soft and delicant appearance to them. 
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Authors
Amy Stone

An Oak-Apple Gall Ex Expert

An overly generous conference moderator once introduced a talk I was about to give titled, “Tree Galls: A Management Conundrum,” as being presented by a “gall expert.” I looked around to see if they’d made a last-minute speaker substitution.
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Authors
Joe Boggs

Sticky Oaks

I recently came across a burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa) with leaves covered in clear, sticky honeydew. I could also feel fine droplets raining down as I stood beneath the canopy. Indeed, my camera lens collected so many tiny droplets I had to retreat to my car to clean it before taking more pictures.
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Authors
Joe Boggs