Plant Health Care

1. Plant Health Care Category E Turf and Ornamental Pesticide Applicator Training Manual Chapter 2

2. Terms • Cultural practices—methods of controlling a plant and the environment the plant grows in: tilling, fertilizing, mowing, pruning, watering. • Resistant varieties—plant varieties that are normally resistant to pest attack. • Mechanical control—pest control by mechanical means such as mulching, tilling, weed pulling, removing bugs by hand • Biological control— pest control by introducing natural predators or parasites of the target pest e.g. ladybugs.

3. Terms • Soil test—an evaluation of certain specific soil qualities most commonly the ph (acidity/alkalinity of the soil) • Low maintenance/high maintenance— level of time and money the landscape requires. Low maintenance landscape will retain vigor and beauty with low investment e.g. daylilies and hostas.

4. Successful Pest Control Programs • Prevention • Early detection • Diagnosis • Responsible pest control action

5. Plant Health Care (PHC) • PHC includes: • Resistant varieties • Proper cultural practices • Mechanical control • Chemical control • biological control • Use of these measures has also been called Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

6. Landscape Design and PHC • Assess all your client’s needs • Utilize your knowledge of plant growth and culture to assess the design and how it will grow and be maintained • Does it meet your customer’s requirements for low or high maintenance?

7. Cultural Practices the Promote Plant Health---General Guidelines • Resistant varieties • Avoid injury when digging and handling • Avoid crowding • Well-drained soils • Avoid dense planting in shade unlesws the plants are suited to those conditions • Remove and destroy infected plants • Mulch

8. Cultural Practices that Promote Plant Health---General Guidelines • Control weeds • Use insecticides to control insects that carry plant diseases • Rotate pesticides with different modes of action

9. Pruning • Pruning the removal of branches or portions of the plant to maintain vigor, improve plant health, structure, and enhance flower/fruit development • Encourage natural form of young plants • Maintain appearance of older plants---in some case rejuvenation

10. Pruning • Pruning principles • Do not leave stubs • Do not cut into the branch collar • Wound dressing does not promote healing • Best time to prune is during the dormant season or in early spring before growth begins • If constant pruning is required the plant is probably not appropriate.

11. Turf • Perform soil test before planting • Nutrient status • pH • In MN the best time to plant a lawn is between August 15th and September 10th (2nd best time is early spring)----takes 6-12 weeks to establish • Water newly planted areas 2-3 times/day • When new lawn grows to 3-4 inches mow to 3 inches

12. Turf Considerations • Fertilizer • Avoid excess fertilizer • Use scheduled applications or slow release • No more than 1 pound actual nitrogen/1000 square feet • Low maintenance lawn will require 2 applications late August or early November. • If 3 applications are made add mid-May

13. Turf Considerations • Water • Low maintenance lawns in MN usually do not require watering---can go dormant • High maintenance lawns require regular watering---but let it dry out between waterings • More frequent watering may be needed for newly sodded/seeded of stressed lawns

14. Turf Considerations • Mowing • Determine mowing schedule based on the ratew that the lawn is growing • Mow frequently enough so that no more than 1/3 of the vertical height is cut • Low maintenance lawns are best mowed at 3 inches maintenance lawns can be mowed to 2 inches)

15. Turf Considerations • Aerification • Aerifiers removes plugs of soil from the lawn---help reverse soil compaction • Best time to aerify August 20-September 20 • Thatch • Thatch is build-up of grass stems and roots • Thatch layer is natural but should not exceed ½ thick • To avoid thatch avoid soil compaction, low pH, excess fertilizer, improper watering, keep mowing height between 2-3 inches

16. Perennials • Sandy loam is ideal • Top soil needs to be 14-18 inches deep • Test for soil nutrients (can apply 10·10·10 if deficient ) and pH • Organic matter • Require 1 inch of water per week during growing season

17. Groundcovers • Perform soil test correct deficiencies • Plant most groundcovers 18-24 inches apart but planting distance varies from 6 inches to 3-5 feet depending on the species of groundcover • Control weeds with mulches or by hand weedin g • Watch for aphids and spider mites

18. Roses • Roses prefer well-drained soil • Tender and hardy roses need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun per day • Containerized roses can be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed

19. Roses • Fertilizer • Apply well-rotted manure to rose beds in spring---other meals and manures decompose quickly • Keep manure 6 inches away from canes • Fertilize once a month until August---follow label

20. Roses • Pest Control • Control weeds by hand hoeing or shallow cultivation • Summer mulch conserves moisture and reduces need for cultivation • Mulch 2-3 inches deep • Spray or dust every 6-10 days

21. Roses • Seasonal care • ‘Tipping’ • Mid-October make trench from base of bush large enough to accommodate plant • Spray bushes with fungicide and apply rodent bait • Tie canes together • Loosen soil around the base of the plant • Gently tip the bush to the trench • Cover with soil • Cover with 3-5 inches of leaves in early November • Mark location • About April 1 begin removing the leaves and soil as it thaws

22. Roses • Spring Pruning • Shape and cut back tall canes---cut about ¼ inch above an emerging bud with 45 degree angle cut

23. Annuals • Test soil---apply 1 ½ to 2.0 pounds of 10·10 ·10 fertilizer per 100 square feet • If annual are started indoors ‘harden’ them for 7-10 days before planting • Avoid over-watering, poor light, excess fertility to avoid ‘damping off’

24. Indoor Plantscapes • Basic media mix for flowering plants • 1 part vermiculite, 2 parts sphagnum peat, and 1 part sand or perlite • Foliage plants mix • 50% organic material ½ of which should be peat • Fertilizer • Established plants every 4-6 weeks • Do not fertilize dormant plants • Watering • Do not over-water!

25. Indoor Plantscapes • Light requirements vary---flowering plants require higher light levels than foliage plants • Repotting • Repot only when the top has outgrown the size of the root ball • Pot up to the next size pot with 2 inches more diameter than the old pot • Fluoride damage • Plants in lily family susceptible e.g Dracaena • Raise pH or use superphosphate to overcome damage

26. Indoor Plantscapes • Pest problems • Discard severely infested plants • Insect pests include aphids, white flies, red spiders (spider mites), soft brown scale, and mealybugs

27. When is a Pest a Pest Problem? • Considerations • Pest population level • Geographic location • Plant variety • Plant growth stage • Cost of control • Value of the plant or commodity • Economic injury level • The population level of the insect at which the pest causes a reduction in the value of the crop greater than the cost to apply control measures • Economic threshold • Point at which pest control measures should be applied

28. Diagnosing Pest Problems • Inspect all above-ground plant parts for symptoms of disease or insects • Study to insure proper cultural methods were followed • Examine root system (white roots are usually healthier) • Examine microclimate e.g. soil type and drainage • Test soil if nutritional problems are suspected

29. Evaluating Symptoms • If injury first appears at bottom and/or internal parts look for soil problems or vascular diseases • If injury first appears at top and/or external parts look for environmental factors e.g spray, insect • Presence of an insect is not necessarily the cause • Absence of an insect or disease does not exclude them as the cause e.g. feeding damage then migration • Damage on 1 side of the plant/s/ suggests spray drift • Always check the growth rate e.g. check previous historymay indicate cultural problems