"Ant swarms" are most commonly associated with ants mating and the subsequent establishment of new colonies. However, non-native pavement ants may also swarm for a more nefarious purpose: to conduct full-blown, no-holds-barred ant wars.

Over the past few weeks a Master Gardener Volunteer and three ANR professionals have been bitten by ticks. In two cases the ticks were attached but for the other two no tick was ever found. Ticks will bite a host to feed on blood and can remain attached for several days, feeding until they are full. They can detach naturally after feeding or can be removed by various means. It is important to seeks medical care following a tick bite or suspected tick bite to be tested for diseases like Lyme.

If you see damage on your tomatoes but can't find the hornworms grab your black light flashlight and head to the garden!

Dr. Steven M. Still was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather and was a consummate educator, advisor, and mentor to both his graduate and undergraduate students alike. His teaching responsibilities while at Ohio State included both woody and herbaceous plant materials where he was known for showing more than 100 slides in a 50-minute lecture, his humorous plant anecdotes, and long lab walks no matter what the weather and we loved it. The stories he shared, the passion he had, and the information he presented shaped the way many of us view the world of...

Important timely turfgrass update from the OSU Turf Team.

The characteristic damage produced by Oak Slug Sawflies is evident on their namesake hosts in southwest Ohio. Some of the damage occurred earlier in the season, while other damage is occurring right now.

Do you fight weeds in your gardens? You’re not alone! Every year weeds pop up in our gardens and it can be hard to keep them under control. There are several pre and post emergent herbicide options on the market, but that’s not what I’m covering today. I’m going to look at some common garden weeds and the number of seeds one plant produces. When we start to think about the number of seeds that weeds produce, we soon realize why they are such a problem to control.

...

Buttonbush is highly tolerant of poorly drained soils and is commonly found in Ohio, thriving in wetlands and at the edge of ponds. However, it does not do well at the dry end of the soil moisture spectrum. It may also be attacked by sawflies and leafminers.

In a recent cemetery walk, I noticed a Japanese Maple that appeared to be two different plants. In actuality, there are two varieties in one. The reality is it was 2 different varieties of Japanese Maple. The question… Where is the Graft Union?

Sunflower Headclipping Weevil females are beheading members of the aster family with purple coneflowers being a primary target. Free of their heads, the coneflower stems look like soda straws.