Last week felt like I should have been working in the garden, flying a kite, or wade fishing for crappie. Other than the two weeks of “seasonal” cold weather we experienced, it has been one of the mildest winters on record. Doves are already cooing, frogs are croaking, and turtles are sunning themselves on logs in ponds and creeks. I have noticed daffodils and jonquils emerging from their short winter nap, ready to show off to the world blazing white and yellow petals. In fact, trees are on the verge of bud break with some species already leafing out. Keep in mind, we are still in the middle of January. A day of reckoning is soon to come.
Recently, I was blowing leaves from the back patio and the grass, trying to keep from going stir crazy. As I passed the azalea beds, I glanced to see if there were any flowers present. Thankfully, they’re still in dormancy, but for how long, who knows? However, I did notice a “bronzing” effect on many of the green leaves. You heard me correctly, “green” leaves. I flipped a few of the leaves over knowing full well what was going on. As I expected, numerous clear-winged insects were having a party on the shrubs that will be in full bloom before we know it. This insect, Stephanitis pyriodes, is a common pest of azaleas and can damage the foliage by sucking nutrients from the plant. If not addressed, severe bleaching of the foliage can occur with significant leaf drop and, in some cases, death of the shrub.
Adult lace bugs are about 1/8 inch long with distinctive, lace-like wings. Eggs are laid in the leaf tissue, covered in a dark excrement resembling that of “dark spots.” The immatures, known as nymphs, resemble the adults and will also feed on the underside of the leaves causing damage too. Management of these pests may consist of several treatments including maintaining plant health, water sprays, and in warranted instances, the use of systemic insecticides. Mother Nature is offering hints that spring may not be far away. Since I was in “bug” mode, I took notice of other issues that were showing themselves from a short winter nap.
It’s time to begin pruning crepe myrtles to promote confirmation and new growth. This can be a monumental task, but if left alone, these trees can become unruly and blooming may be compromised. Many of the trees I looked at are completely black from the sooty mold caused by the insect known as crepe myrtle bark scale. Introduced from Asia, this detrimental pest was first detected in Texas in 2004. This insect spread rapidly through the southern states, including Mississippi.
Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale infestations appear as white, waxy crustations on stems, twigs, and trunks, but rarely on foliage. They prefer to settle on pruning wounds and in the axillary branches on the trees. This scale insect will feed under loose bark which makes control by predators and pesticides difficult. Copious amounts of honeydew, the sugary waste from the insect’s excrement, also leads to additional problems. As a result of the honeydew, the tree can become covered with black sooty mold, a fungus which grows on this substance. Trees can become damaged to the point where they stop producing foliage, blooms, and even death of the tree can occur if the problem is not addressed.
Management includes monitoring the trees for this insect’s presence, as well as aphids, while also maintaining healthy trees through mulching, fertilizing, and watering. Proper pruning helps promote new growth, but this alone will not take care of infestations. In some cases, systemic insecticides must be used for complete control. Again, Mother Nature is offering hints that spring is not far away.
Insects aren’t the only pests showing up in our neighborhoods. Have you noticed the yellow circles in St. Augustine, and centipede lawns? With the warm days and cool nights, conditions are lining up for potentially major problems regarding plant disease. Have you ever heard of the “the disease triangle?” Defined as a susceptible host, a causal agent, and a favorable environment, the stage is set for fungi and bacteria to wreak havoc on plant cultivars earlier than normal. Numerous species of fungi can attack our lawns leading to not only unsightly “rings,” but lawn decline and in severe cases, death of the turfgrass. Symptoms are already showing up, so “scout” your lawns for issues.
Examples of lawn diseases include Dollar Spot, Brown Patch, Fairy Rings, rust, and others. Prevention and control protocols of these diseases vary greatly but may include irrigation frequency. Too much water at the wrong time can be a significant cause of promoting disease severity. Fertility applications can promote disease occurrence at times. Too much or too little at the incorrect timing can “feed” fungi and bacteria which can increase the incidence of infection. Sanitation can help prevent disease spread by cleaning lawn equipment such as mowers and weed eaters. Equipment can spread fungal reproductive structures to other healthy lawns in the same manner infected people can spread germs to other individuals. Even weeds can be spread by equipment from one lawn to the next leading additional problems. Mother Nature may once again remind us that spring could be near with her telltale signs of lawn disease.
Speaking of weeds, I haven’t even touched on this issue. Warm weather may allow dormant weed seeds to germinate and emerge sooner than normal. I’ve already noticed spots of poa annua, henbit, dandelion, and clover popping up. Weeds are the gift that keeps on giving. Like insects and disease, you can never eradicate them, just manage and control them. Again, spring may be closer than you think.
If you don’t like the weather in Mississippi, just wait a few minutes, and it will change. I can only imagine the mallards that will be here in the middle of February when we receive epic snowfall. Will frost cover our blooming dogwoods and azaleas at Easter? Frost may be pale in comparison to waking up to an April snow. It has occurred before. Perhaps with me writing about an early spring, Mother Nature will show me who is in charge and send a few more Arctic blasts to us. Maybe there’s “method to my madness” in hope that my warm weather words will be replaced by Ole Man Winter for a few more days. I’m not quite ready to come out of the swamp. You know, it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature. Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
jeff.north@northag.net
