Ohio Victory Gardens - Let's Grow Ohio

Victory Gardens originated during World War I, an answer to a severe food shortage at the time. People were encouraged to find any usable space, plop in some seeds and contribute homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs to the effort. The idea was wildly successful, growing an army of amateur gardeners and serving to boost morale and patriotism.
Published on
Authors
Amy Stone
Pam Bennett

Spectacular Fall Webworm Nests

Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea) has two overlapping generations per season in Ohio. The "fall" in the webworm's common name is based on large second-generation nests normally appearing late in the season. However, we are receiving reports that where localized webworm populations are high, the caterpillars are already producing some truly spectacular nests sometimes enveloping entire trees.
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Ambush Bugs: A Pollinator Peril

Sometimes, the common names of insects clearly describe what the insects do for a living. Insects that belong to the Hemipteran family Reduviidae are collectively called assassin bugs; they hunt down and kill other insects. Look closely at flowers to observe another type of assassin bug that practices an entirely different type of predatory behavior
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Is It Oak Wilt, Or Not?

Oak wilt is a very serious and often deadly disease of oaks, specifically the oaks in the red or black oak group. The actual pathogen (Bretziella fagacearum) that causes the disease has been known to be in Ohio for many decades. Some years, it is worse than others. Oak wilt is not like the emerald ash borer that spreads rapidly, almost like a tidal wave moving in one direction. Oak wilt builds in a way that it can radiate out to other like trees, but advances at a slower pace, but even then, can cause tree death in a single season, and often in a matter of weeks
Published on
Authors
Amy Stone

CFAP Federal Assistance Available for Nursery (including Greenhouse) and Specialty Crops

USDA expands CFAP program to include nursery crops, cut flowers, and additional specialty crops! The CFAP program helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic - and now includes assistance for nursery crops, cut flowers, and additional specialty crops.
Published on
Authors
Beth Scheckelhoff

Bark Beetles and Ambrosia Beetles: the Big Picture

I've received several reports over the past few weeks from landscape managers and arborists of small holes in tree trunks that are oozing sap or exuding cylindrical strands of white sawdust. These delicate, odd-looking structures are the calling card of ambrosia beetles and are sometimes called "frass toothpicks." The oozing holes are the work of bark beetles.
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs