FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA GREEN INDUSTRY Serving Clay, Duval, and Nassau County

December 2014/ January 2015 Issue 35, Page 1

http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu

Turf Disease Alert 1

Fall Programs 2-3

Smilax 4-5

PMU 5

Bark Beetles 6-7

Contact Us 8

Inside this issue: DISEASE ALERT: Mosaic Disease of St. Augustinegrass By Erin Harlow Mosaic disease of St. Auguistnegrass is caused by the Sugarcane Mosaic Virus. In the 1960’s it affected sugarcane crops in South Florida. It has now made a reappearance in St. Augustine turf, most notably ‘Floratam’. Symptoms are appearing in Palm Beach and Pinellas Counties in November 2014, but everyone should be on the lookout. Symptoms appear as yellow streaks on the leaf blades which then become necrotic and die. Large areas are dying and it seems to be the worst in the fall and then lawns seem to recover in the spring. Fungicides do not stop the spread of the disease. At this time, St. Augustine seems to be the only turf affected, but it can infect bermudagrass, seashore paspalum, bahiagrass, and ornamental fountaingrasses. The virus is spread mechanically: lawn mowers, string trimmers and other equipment. Sanitation and disinfection is the key to stopping transmission. It can also be spread through sod. This is a serious disease that is not treatable at this time. Every effort should be taken to identify it and remove it from the landscape.

Think You Have Seen It? The University of Florida Plant Diagnostic Clinic has a form specifically for this disease. The samples will be processed for $20.00 per sample. If it is not the virus then you will have the option of processing for other diseases for the normal $40 price. The forms can be downloaded at http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/PDC_Submission_form_StAugustineMosaicDiseaseForm_fillable.pdf. with instructions at http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/PDC_Submission_instructions_StAugustineMosaicDisease.pdf You can also post a picture of your sample on the UF Plant Diagnostic Center facebook page. For more information check out Dr. Harmon’s publication on the disease at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp313.

UF/IFAS, Phil Harmon

UF/IFAS, Phil Harmon

December 3, 2014 January 7, 2015 February 4, 2015 Wednesday (Duval)

Pesticide Testing 9:15 am Please pre-register by either calling 904-255-7450 or if you are taking a restricted-use or limited pesticide test then you can register to take the test via a computer at our office. You have to sign-up for a voucher and test date at https://pesticideexam.ifas.ufl.edu/.

December 9, 2014 Tuesday (Clay) January 30, 2015 Friday (Duval)

Best Management Practices for the Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries (GI-BMPs) 8:30 am – 3:30 pm $25.00 4 CEUS: 2 CORE & 2 L&O, 2 LCLM, 2 LL&O, 2 O&T or 2 Pvt, 4 LA CEUs, Technician Training hours also available. To register, download the brochure, or for more information about the workshop, please visit: http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/GI-BMPs.shtml. This is the pre-requisite class for the Urban Fertilizer License. Everyone who works with fertilizers for-hire is required to have this license by Jan 1, 2014, even if you are licensed in another category including pest control operators. You will complete your GI-BMP test the day of the class, if you pass, you can then apply to get your Limited Urban Fertilizer License through the State of Florida.

December 17 & 18, 2014 Wednesday and Thursday (Duval)

2-Day Professional Landscape Training 8:30 am - 4:30 pm $75.00 FNGLA CEUs available Register at http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/Professional_Landscape_Series.shtml

January 9, 2015 Friday (Duval) Pablo Creek Library

Branching Out Professional Landscape Training: Diseases on Ornamentals 10:30 am - 11:30 am FREE Located at the Pablo Creek Library, 3295 Beach Blvd, 32246 Identification and treatment options will be discussed in this advanced workshop for the professional. FL and FNGLA CEUs have been applied for: 1 L&O, 1 LCLM, 1 LL&O, 1 O&T, 1 Pvt, 1 FNGLA

January 19-23, 2015 Monday-Friday (Kissimmee)

Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA) Expo View the schedule and register at http://www.flpma.org/2015-fpma-pest-and-lawn-care-expo/ Conference will be at Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South, Kissimmee CEUs for Fumigation, Termite, Lawn and Ornamental, CORE, and General Household

WINTERWORKSHOPS2014‐2015 

Turf Disease Updates: Erin Harlow will be presenting a 2-hour turf disease update on new and emerging diseases, plus what we might see this year on January 15, 2015 at Ewing Irrigation and on January 16, 2015 at the Certified Pest Control Operator Workshop at the Extension Office. Please call these organizations directly to get more information or register. Ewing 904-370-1100/ CPCO 954-724-8806

January 14, 2015 Wednesday (Duval)

Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Workshop 8:15 am - 3:00 pm - Full Day; 8:15 am – 12:00 pm - Half Day $30.00 for either full or half day 6 CEUs Total: 3 CORE & 3 LCLM, 3 LL&O, or 3 L&O Lunch included, textbooks not included Optional LCLM or LL&O Exam at 3:00 pm You must have all required paperwork to take the exam. To register, download the brochure, or for more information about the exam or books, please visit: http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/LCLM2012.shtml. This class is designed for people who do not have their license yet. If you are re-certifying your LCLM or LL&O you should consider attending a different class that offers those CEUs. There are many to choose from throughout the year.

February 18, 2015 Wednesday (Duval)

Florida Turfgrass Association Regional Seminar More information at http://www.ftga.org/ or call 800-882-6721 to register. GCSAA and FL Pesticide CEUs available

March 12, 2015 Friday (Duval)

Advanced Landscape Workshop: Palms and New Landscape Pests 8:30 am - 12:10 pm $15.00 CEUS have been applied for: 4 L&O, 4 LCLM, 4 LLO, 4 O&T, 4 ROW, 4 Pvt, 4 FNGLA

All classes require pre-registration Unless stated will be held at the

Duval County Extension Office, 1010 N McDuff Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32254 To register visit us at http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu and click Commercial Horticulture/Calendar

or call 904-255-7450

7 Educa onal Seminars with CEUs  

Speakers include: Dr. Gary Knox, UF Ornamental Specialist Dr. Kevin Kenworthy, UF Turf Breeder 

Dr. Andrew Koeser, UF Hor culture Specialist Dr. Steven Arthurs, UF IPM Specialist 

Dr. Ma hew Smith, UF Pathology Specialist Erin Harlow, UF Extension Agent 

Terra Freeman, UF Extension Agent Karen Stauderman, UF Extension Agent 

December 2014/ January 2015 Page 4

Wait a Minute! By Amy Morie The vine variously known as sarsaparilla, smilax, greenbrier, bamboo vine, hogbriar or simply “wait-a-minute” vine is one that isn’t easily forgotten. Once it’s sunk its claws in and taken hold of your clothes (or worse, your skin!) you will be sure to remember its painful grasp. It’s a stubborn plant to remove, but not just because of the thorns. Growing aggressively, smilax is a perennial vine with growth that starts out tender then turns woody with age. Smilax has large rhizome root masses with many root nodes that stores enough energy to regrow many times unless all parts of the root are removed. Worse yet, this prickly plant has a sneaky habit of growing under the protective cover of tree roots, paving, building foundations and other hard-to-excavate sites.

Smilax is actually a pretty interesting plant – if it’s not in your client’s yard, that is! There are nine different native species of smilax common in Florida and three more with limited ranges: one that’s listed as threatened in south Florida, and two annual forms found only in a small range in the panhandle. There’s even a variety without thorns. Native Americans and pioneers ate the tender tips of new growth from smilax species and some folks still refer to the plant as “Florida Asparagus,” since the texture and taste are somewhat similar. Another food use of the plant was the root. These were dried then used to make the root beer known from westerns as Sarsaparilla.

Smilax is used by wildlife as well as humans. Thickets of vines create shelter and plants can provide food. Typically berries are eaten, though berries do not develop at all sites. Smilax plants produce seed dioeciously, requiring pollination between male and female plants to develop seed from both flowers. Since the plant can form colonies by spreading vegetatively, stands can exist that are all male or all female. Where both occur together, the berries produced are a winter food of birds and other wildlife. This aids in the spreading of new plants. The thorns and roots generally are the distinguishing characteristic. Leaves will vary in shape between species and even on the same plant for some species. Clients whose properties adjoin woodlands are especially susceptible to having this plant taking hold. Smilax typically starts in beds and borders, where its vining habit may go unnoticed until the plant is substantiality developed. Like all out of place plants, it is best dealt with when small. For established plants, repeated cutting of new stem growth will weaken the root but require repeated hand labor – not to mention contact with the painful barbs. Digging the root is not always feasible. When clearing new beds, areas will benefit from initial root removal. Carefully hand dig when possible – pulling or tilling will break the root system at the joints leaving viable nodes behind. Plan on secondary treatments for emerging vines that will pop up from any pieces of the rhizome left behind.

Come check out what else is going on at the Extension Office! 

HTTP://DUVAL.IFAS.UFL.EDU

Continued on page 5

December 2014/ January 2015 Page 5

  December 17‐19, 2014 ‐ Master’s of Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Management  January 21‐23, 2015 ‐ Founda ons of Termite Management 101  February 11‐13, 2015 ‐ Founda ons of General Pest Management 101   March 12‐13, 2015 ‐ WDO Inspec ons and Form 13645  

Classes are held at the Mid‐Florida Research Center in Apopka.   CEUs available. 

 Register at h ps://pmu.ifas.ufl.edu/ 

Cost ranges from $220.00 ‐ 375.00 per class 

Non-selective herbicides (glyphosate, triclopyr) work best, but be cautious to protect desirable plants that the vine may grow over or near. If possible try to carefully remove as much of the vine as you can without cutting and place on a tarp to treat, being especially careful to avoid drift. Wait 48 hours before cutting back the stem. Difficult to remove vines can be cut – immediately paint herbicide onto cut stems. Check every month for new sprouts until they no longer emerge, treating with a spray or wipe. It may take time to deplete the root mass, so don’t wait a minute to start tackling thorny smilax in the landscape. “Key to Nine Common Smilax Species of

Florida.” https://www.google.com/#safe=off&q=ifas+smilax “Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) and Sassafras (Sassafras spp.)” https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv130 “Controlling Weedy Vines in the Landscape” http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/News_Columns/2011/060211g-Controlling-Weedy-Vines-Landscape.pdf “Earleaf Greenbrier: Smilax auriculata” http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/423 Images: Lynn Proenza, University of Florida

Smilax continued from page 4

December 2014/ January 2015 Page 6

Dealing with Bark Beetle Infestations By Larry Figart The past year has been a banner year for bark beetle infestations in pine trees. The typical scenario is that a pine tree gets struck by lightning and then a few weeks later several neighboring pine trees are dead or dying. The culprit is usually one of a group of beetles collectively called bark beetles. In the natural environment these bark beetles perform the function of taking out the stressed and weakened trees opening up room for more regeneration. In the urban environment these beetles cause headaches by infesting groups of pines in the landscape. The best treatment for pine bark beetles is a stand of healthy well spaced pine trees. Maintaining proper pH, minimal irrigation, and limited root disturbance are some of the preventative practices that keep pine trees healthy. However, we have absolutely no control over afternoon thunderstorms raining lightning down on the landscape. The symptoms of a bark beetle infestation are pitch tubes (pictured) and needles browning out on the entire tree. Many times we don’t notice the problem until several trees are already dead.

Identifying the Beetle The key to figuring out the proper steps for control depend on accurate identification of the bark beetles causing the problem. There are five native species of bark beetles that are problems in NE Florida (pictured). They are the southern pine beetle, three species of Ips engraver beetles, and the black turpentine beetle. The easiest way to tell the beetles apart is to use a mallet and chisel to pull off patches of bark exposing the galleries made by the beetles. It is important to do this on as fresh of a tree as possible. If the tree has been dead a while, other insects such as ambrosia beetles, flatheaded borers and termites colonize the tree “polluting the crime scene” so to speak.

Pitch Tube 

Southern Pine Beetle Gallery 

 

Continued on page 7

December 2014/ January 2015 Page 7

The southern pine beetle galleries are described as “S” shaped. To most folks they look like spaghetti randomly carved into the wood of the tree. Ips bark beetle galleries are described as “H or J” shaped. I just remember that they are more vertical than the others. Black Turpentine Beetle galleries are usually near the bottom of the tree and described as “large-vertical or fan-shaped” galleries.

Treatment The recommended action for bark beetles are tailored toward the type of beetle. If Southern Pine Beetles are found, quick decisive action that removes all affected trees as well as a 50 ft. buffer is recommended. A small spot in the summer can grow very fast. Frequent monitoring is recommended. If Ips or Black Turpentine Beetles are found it is

better to let the spot run its course if possible. This reduces the production of pine odors that may attract more beetles. If the delayed removal is not possible because of hazard tree concerns then care should be taken not to damage or injure healthy trees. Unfortunately, there is no chemical control once a tree is infested. Research is being conducted in the use of pheromones to control active beetle spots. For more information on Pine Bark Beetles go to: www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/Forest-Health/Forest-Insects/Pine-Bark-Beetles. Photo Credits: Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service, Bugwood.org William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org

Ips Beetle Gallery 

Five Florida Bark 

Black Turpentine 

Bark Beetles continued from page 6

Duval County Extension 1010 N. McDuff Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32254 (904) 255-7450 Fax: (904) 387-8902 Website: http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Jacksonville, Fl Permit No. 1482

Duval County 1010 N. McDuff Avenue Jacksonville FL 32254 (904) 255-7450 Phone (904) 387-8902 Fax http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu Erin Harlow - Commercial Horticulture/Urban IPM erine@coj.net Larry Figart - Urban and Community Forestry lfigart@coj.net

Rebecca Jordi - Co. Extension Director Nassau County 543350 US Highway 1 Callahan, FL 32011-6486 (904) 530-6353 or 1-855-212-1244 http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/ rljordi@ufl.edu Amy Morie - Horticulture Clay County 2463 SR 16 West Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 (904) 284-6355 http://clay.ifas.ufl.edu/ amorie@ufl.edu

Local EXTENSION Offices

For individuals requiring special accommodations, please contact our office (904/255-7450) within a minimum of 5 working days of the

program. For persons with hearing or speech impairments, when contacting our office, please use the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8771 (TDD). Your comments and input are necessary for this to be a useful tool for all of us.

Extension Programs are open to all regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability,

religion, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.

This newsletter is jointly sponsored by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS, Nick Place, Dean; City of Jacksonville, Alvin Brown, Mayor; and the Duval County Cooperative Extension Service, Mike Sweat, Director.