On Fridays, the OSU Turfgrass Team records their timely Turfgrass Times. Early in the season, the group recorded these video updates every other week, but as we are into the season, expect these turfgrass updates on a weekly basis. Team regulars included Dr. Karl Danneberger; Dr. David Gardner; Dr. Ed Nangle; Joe Rimelspach; Dr. Zane Raudenbush; Dr. Pamela Sherratt; and Dr. Dave Shetlar (aka the Bug Doc); and occassional special guests.

So-called "concrete mites" are making their annual appearance in southwest Ohio. These tiny, fast-moving bright red mites scurry around on sunny surfaces such as on picnic tables, patios, sidewalks, concrete retaining walls, and on the outside walls of homes and buildings. They are called concrete mites owing to the locations where they tend to congregate.

Reports of maples dropping green leaves are on the rise in southwest Ohio. They are not being shed because of maple anthracnose which usually happens a bit later in the season.

The leaves of native elms can look a bit bedraggled at this time of the year owing to the rise of pouch-like elm sack galls and the descriptively named elm cockscomb galls. Fortunately, neither of these aphid galls produce significant injury to the overall health of their elm tree host. Unfortunately, these odd-looking plant structures can spoil the aesthetics of their deep green elm leaf platforms.

Eriophyid mite erineum patches and symptoms of beech anthracnose and are both showing up on American beech in southwest Ohio. Both produce unique symptoms but each may appear on the same leaf.

I came across a colorful agglomeration of slimy growth on a cut stem of wild grape (Vitis spp.) during a recent walk in a local park. With a little imagination, the shimmering mass took the form of a strange sea monster with a dripping nose, perhaps because of our high pollen count. Of course, I had a little fun with enhancing the effect.

 

The OSU's Ohio Woodland Stewards Program in the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) is offering online Friday's in the Forest during this pandemic.

 

Next Friday you can join OSU’s Amy Stone and Joe Boggs as we look at some native forest insects and some non-native forest insects.  Insects that create ‘tents’, insects that dance, along with insects that create galls and insects that suck sap – something for everyone.  The virtual session will be offered on Friday, June 5, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. 

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Earlier this year, Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 was found in a commercial greenhouse crop of geranium in the US shedding light on the importance of sanitation, detection, and separation for healthy plants - and healthy people.

Poppies have been the official symbol of Memorial Day since 1920. Learn more about the oriental and red poppy here!