Researchers look into the helpful properties of fine fescue turgrasses By Alec Kowalewski, Emily Braithwaite and Ruying Wang Fine fescue is a group of different cool-season turfgrasses in the Festuca genus with narrow or fine leaves (Image 1). These grasses are generally known for excellent shade and cold tolerance, as well as persistence when maintained […]
Setting up for spray success
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Growers of variable crops can reduce chemical waste and ensure coverage by systematically adapting their approach By Brian Hill and Lloyd Nackley We can’t all mount lasers on our air-blast sprayers,” a Willamette Valley grower said recently in a conversation with researchers. It’s true that some growers actually can mount lasers. Lasers are now a […]
Native plants, bees, and microbes
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The OSU Garden Ecology Lab studies the health of garden environments The Garden Ecology Lab at Oregon State University (OSU) studies the plants, insects, animals, people, decisions, and management practices that either improve or degrade a garden’s ability to promote environmental and human health. An underlying premise of our work is that gardens are important […]
Nixing nostoc
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Researchers ‘go to the mats’ to test various control products By Marcelo L Moretti and David King Nostoc are cyanobacteria colonies that can grow where abundant moisture is available. These bacteria form continuous colonies that resemble mats covering gravel, plastic, concrete, or flat surfaces. Nostoc grow during the spring and summer and create a slippery […]
Knowing your cedar pests
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Grower awareness of problems can protect both grower and customer It’s important to be aware of issues in the landscape and forest, as they can become problems in the nursery or for your customers. Cedar trees have a number of pest and problems to be aware of, from abiotic disorders to insects and diseases. Some […]
Silicon: the non-essential beneficial nutrient for plant defense?
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Rhododendrons and azaleas are the backbone of many ornamental landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, since 2016, a beautiful little insect has been plaguing the genus Rhododendron, causing aesthetic and physiological damage, which may lead to plant death if left unchecked (Figure 1). Preliminary studies suggest that cultivars vary in their tolerance to azalea lace […]
Managing epidemics
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Whether dealing with plant pathogens or COVID-19, common principles apply The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it, threatening human health, causing disruption to our society, and resulting in economic challenges. While impacts of plant pests and diseases may pale in importance compared to COVID-19, they still cause large-scale ecological and economic damage […]
Pollinator plant trials
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Researchers test the value of Willamette Valley natives and nativars Interest in native plant gardening is at an all-time high. For example, native plants were ranked as the top landscape garden trend for 2017–2018 by the American Society of Landscape Architects, and for 2018–2019 by Garden Media Group’s Garden Trends Report. The demand is such […]
Protecting lawns against European chafer
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These control strategies can help mitigate damage to turfgrass The European chafer (Amphimallon majale) is a beetle that feeds on turfgrass roots causing substantial damage. In more recent years, this invasive insect has been confirmed in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Populations have been observed as early as 2015 in Portland, Oregon and Seattle […]
Pest management tools for minor crops
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How IR-4 and OSU are working for you With a 2018 farm gate value just shy of $1 billion, it is no secret that the ornamental plant industries in Oregon (nursery and greenhouse) are important and viable enterprises that contribute greatly to the state’s economy. Controlling insect, disease, and weed pests is an important part […]