Atlantic white cedars, Chamaecyparis thyoides, were used in a three-part study at Auburn University. The issues being examined were cyclic irrigation, the control of roots in container grown plants by using copper container treatments, and an evaluation of irrigation on copper effectiveness.

As the use of water becomes more regulated in container nurseries, the efficiency of irrigation systems takes on a new and urgent dimension. Typical water losses with overhead irrigation can be 75-90%. With cyclic irrigation there are a series of irrigation events throughout the day. Recent research findings indicate a savings with cyclic irrigation of as much as 38% compared with traditional irrigation methods. The Atlantic white cedars irrigated in a cyclic manner had a larger growth index and caliper than those watered once daily. Cyclic irrigation was applied 3 or 6 times a day with no differences recorded.

The second part of the study addressed the problem that root bound plants have when they are transplanted. Applying copper to the inner surface of the containers reduces surface root development. When the roots touch the container walls they are chemically pruned. Spin-Outä(copper hydroxide) and Root Rightä (copper chloride) are the two available copper treated containers. Plants treated with copper had a lower root rating (less root-bound) than those plants grown in the copper-free containers. Plants grown in Spin-outä containers had a lower root rating than those plants grown in the Root Right containers. Plants grown in the copper treated containers had a larger caliper than plants grown in copper-free containers. Both Root Rightä and Spin Outäwere effective in preventing plants from becoming root-bound. The third part of the study indicated that irrigation did not impact on the effectiveness of the copper treated containers.

(Research paper by Robert C. Trawick, Ken M. Tilt, Harry G. Ponder and Gary J. Keever, Auburn University).

Proteoteras aesculana Riley, a shoot boring caterpillar, is a damaging pest of red maples in Tennessee and Alabama nurseries. The object of this research was to test the efficacy of two new insecticides with the industry standard, Talstar T & O 10WP. The test site was a block of seedling rep maple at the Bob Young Nursery in Warren County, Tennessee. Trees averaged 3.85 feet in height during their second growing season.

On May 5, 1998 foliar sprays of the following insecticides were applied: Talstar T & O 10%WP (0.96 oz/10 gal.), Conserve SC Turf and Ornamental 11.6% suspension concentrate (6 fl oz/100 gal.) and Confirm 2 F (8 oz./acre) plus Latron CS-7 surfactant (8 oz./acre). Talstar T & O and Conserve SC are both labeled for use on ornamentals. Confirm 2F is currently labeled for use on walnuts. Sprays were applied at a 25 gal./acre rate using a CO₂ compression sprayer operating at 40 psi, equipped with two TXVS-18 hollow cone nozzles. Trees were inspected on May 21 for shoot borer damage.

In previous studies, the percentage of trees in the untreated control with at least one shoot borer damaged shoot was 53% and 53.6%. The percent of the untreated control trees with damage in the present study was 39.7%. Only Talstar T & O was significantly different from the untreated control.

Controlling P. asesculana early in the season using a properly timed application of Talstar T & O will result in increased production of high quality red maple trees.

(from SNA Research Conference, vol. 43, 1998 - by F.A. Hale, C. Mannion, and M. Halcomb).

Achillea 'Colorado', 'Fireland', 'Martina', 'Terra Cotta'

Algeratina altissima 'Chocolate'

Arachniodes simplicior 'Variegata'

Asarum Aster divaricatus A. 'Purple Dome', 'Raydon's Favorite', 'Wood's Pink'

Baptisia alba B. australis, B. 'Purple Smoke' B. tinctoria Campanula persifolia 'Chettle Charm'

Dendranthema 'Apricot Single'

Dianthus 'Baby Blanket', 'Bath's Pink', 'Firewitch', 'Mountain Mist' Echinacea pallida E. paradxa E. purpurea 'Kim's Knee High', 'White Swan'

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilofee' E. × parralchium 'Frohnleiten'

Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink'

Heuchera 'Canyon Pink', 'Raspberry Regal', 'Winter Red' (for flowers) H. 'Amethyst Mist', 'Can-Can', 'Whirlwind' (for foliage) H. villosa 'Autumn Bride', 'Purpurea' (for foliage)

Iris ensata 'Rikki Rikki'

Kniphofia 'Shining Sceptor'

Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'

Phlox divaricata 'Clouds of Perfume' P. nivalis 'Eco Flirtie Eyes' P. paniculata 'David', 'Robert Poore' P. 'Spring Delight'

Polemonium 'Brize d'Anjou'

Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Mawson's Variety' P. 'David Ward', 'Little Blue' P. saccharata 'Highdown' Ranunculus 'Susan's Song'

Saxifraga 'Athens Leather'

Tiarella 'Dunvegan', 'Ink Blot', 'Snowflake', 'Tiger Stripe'

Tricyrtis Verbascum 'Letitia'

(from HortIdeas on line, June 1999)

Students in the Herbaceous Plant Class at Auburn University (spring session 1999) developed plans that addressed plant use, color, form, texture, design and scale. Principles of design were combined with an understanding of the habits of plants and their physical requirements. The horticulture students designed and planted window boxes and other container displays. This was a cooperative effort by the Horticulture Department at the University, The Alabama Extension System and generous sponsors: Buffalo Company, Inc., Euracast Caffco International; Fafard, Inc.; Village Arbors; Blooming Colors and American Designer Pottery. Auburn University faculty and staff involved in the project were Dee Smith, Beth Clendenen, Ken Tilt, Dave Williams, Raymond Kessler and Bernice Fischman.

Designs were judged in the Funchess courtyard by Master Gardeners, students, faculty and staff. Below are photographs of the top scoring containers, in random order, as well as lists of the plants in each planting for the benefit of domestic gardeners, commercial growers, and nursery owners.

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'-Ornamental sweet potato Salvia splendens - Purple salvia Acer palmatum - Japanese maple

Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' - Asparagus fern Origanum vulgare - Golden oregano Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' - Creeping jenny Erigeron karvinskianus - Daisy fleabane

Vinca major 'Variegata' - Periwinkle Begonia semperflorens cultorum - Waxed begonia Dracaena marginata 'Tricolor' - Dragon tree

Ipomoea batatas 'Margarite' - Ornamental sweet potato Coleus x hybridus - Coleus Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' - Red fountain grass

Ipomoea batatas 'Margarite' - Ornamental sweet potato Dracaena marginata 'Tricolor' - Dragon tree Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' - Ornamental sweet potato

Dolichos lablab - Hyacinth bean vine Cuphea hyssopifolia - Mexican heather Hedera helix - Variegated English ivy Chlorophytum cosmosum - Green airplane plant Vinca major 'Variegata' - Periwinkle

Origanum vulgare - Golden oregano Coleus x hybridus - Coleus Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' - Creeping jenny Acer palmatum - Japanese maple

Coleus x hybridus - Coleus Dracaena marginata - Dragon tree Thymus vulgare - Thyme

Nephrolepis bostoniensis - Boston fern Caladium x hortulanum - Fancy leaf caladium Hedera helix - Variegated English ivy

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' - Ornamental sweet potato Coleus x hybridus - Coleus Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' - Asparagus fern Rhoea spathacea - Moses in a boat

Hedera helix - Variegated English ivy Begonia semperflorens cultorum - Waxed begonia Rhoea spathacea - Moses in a boat

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' - Ornamental sweet potato Coleus x hybridus - Coleus Salvia splendens - Red salvia Tagetes patula - French marigold

Pelargonium x hortorum 'Rose coral' - Geranium Lobularia maritima - Sweet allysum Senecio cineraria - Dusty miller Salvia leucantha - Mexican sage

Hedera helix - Variegated English ivy Impatiens wallerana - Impatiens Asparagus densiflorus - Asparagus fern

(from NMPRO, June 1999).

Researchers were trying to determine the optimal controlled-release fertilizer regimes and application techniques for PIP production and to evaluate plant growth. Red Sunset Red Maple and Krauter Vesuvius Plum were potted in 15-gallon containers with 100% pine bark media. Three controlled-release fertilizers, Nutricote 18-6-8 (270 day), Osmocote High N 22-4-7 (12-14 month), and Woodace 19-6-12 (10-12 month) were incorporated, dibbled, or top-dressed in the pine bark media. All plants received the same amount of nitrogen.

Height growth of Red Sunset Red Maple was affected by the fertilizer. Plants grown with Nutricote 18-6-8 and Osmocote High N 22-4-7 had more shoot growth than plants grown in Woodace 19-6-12. Incorporation of the controlled-release fertilizer, regardless of the brand, produced the most height growth compared to plants with dibble or top-dressed fertilizer treatments.

Height growth of Krauter Vesuvius Plums was greater in plants grown with Nutricote 18-6-8 or Osmocote High N 22-4-7 than with Woodace 19-6-12. How the fertilizers were applied affected plant height. Dibbling and incorporating resulted in greater height growth. On the other hand, caliper growth was not affected by the brand of fertilizer. Caliper growth was the greatest in plants grown in media with incorporated controlled-release fertilizer. Dibbling and top-dressing yielded inferior results.

It appears that top-dressed fertilizer treatments are less successful as the fertilizer is exposed to less moisture. When the fertilizers were incorporated into the media the moisture levels remained higher for longer.

Researchers concluded that the optimal application technique for producing large containerized PIP plants is the incorporation or dibbling of the controlled-release fertilizer, dolomitic lime and minor elements into the media. The nitrate-N levels didn't exceed the US-EPA drinking water standards of 10 ppm regardless of the fertilizer brand or the application technique.

(from The Response of Controlled-Release Fertilizers in Pot-In-Pot Production by Donna C. Fare, US National Arboretum, and Mark Halcomb, University of Tennessee, TNLA News).

(from David Morgan's Weekly NMPRO e-mail, dated June 15, 1999).

(from HortIdeas online, June 1999).

(from HortIdeas online, June 1999).

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. (central time) on July 15, 1999 to the:
USDA Rural Development State Office (attn: Multi-Family Housing)
4121 Carmichael Road, Suite 601
Montgomery, AL 36106-3683
For more information contact the USDA Rural Development office in Montgomery at 334-279-3455 or check their web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

(USDA Rural Development News Release)

October 2
Registration
Pre-conference tour at Flowerwood in Loxley followed by an international reception/dinner (at Flowerwood)

October 3
Pre-conference tour at Shore Acres Nursery, Flowerwood Meadows, Baywood, Rocky Creek, Twin Oaks, and Magnolia, dinner (at Magnolia).

October 4
Plant Hunting for the 21st Century
Plant Breeding Efforts in Stokesia, Cercis and Buddleia at North Carolina State University
Promising New Color
Selecting and Marketing 'New' Plants
Growing Clematis by Cuttings
Tour of Overlook Nursery, van der Giessen Nursery, Kinney Nursery, Martin's Nursery, dinner/auction (at Martin's)

October 5
Let's Think Out of the Pot
How to Computerize Production Scheduling
Shipping and Packaging of Propagated Material
A Tour of Your National Arboretum and its Latest Cultivar Releases
Camellia Propagation in Australia
Operational Use of Rooted Cuttings for Southern Pines: Current Status and Future Prospects
Effects of Timing and IBA Concentrations on Rooting of Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Cutting-Grown Quercus: The Future
Tour of T&T Nursery, Blackwell Nursery, Tom Dodd Nursery, Dodd & Dodd Nursery

October 6
Propagation of Ornamental Grasses
Micropropagation of Farfugium japonicum 'Kitam'
The Dogwood Improvement Program at the University of Tennessee
Top 10 Plants from Europe
Growing Plants in a Cinder Block
Tidewater in 2000

For registration and other information write or call:
Dr. David L. Morgan, Secretary/Treasurer
IPPS Southern Region
P.O. Box 1868
Fort Worth, TX 76101
817-882-4148
fax 817-882-4121

(from Mark Halcomb, published in the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. News, June 1999).

We are recommending that they be sprayed every 2 weeks and at least 6 hours prior to a rain. We are also recommending that you spray prior to a rain, rather than after the rain. Here's why. Powdery mildew produces thousands of spores per square inch on a dogwood leaf. Spores are spread by the impact of the raindrop. Protection is needed during this period of spread and infection.

We observed up to a 50 percent increase in caliper and height where these fungicides were sprayed every 2 weeks, May 28 - August 19, in 1998. The fungicides also prevented leaf scorch that was observed on the unsprayed control plants. Banner, Bayleton and Sythane are very effective, but should not be sprayed over and over or at high rates as stunting and resistance can result. Rotate. Their price per container may seem high; but they are concentrated. Compare cost per spray tank.

A good quality spreader should be added to the tank; but a sticker is not required for the systemics. The fungicides above are also effective on Dogwood Anthracnose (Discula) and Spot Anthracnose, except Rubigan. Banner1.1E has been replaced with Banner MAXX. Banner MAXX and Rubigan AS is mixed 8 fluid ounces per 100 gallons; 0.5 teaspoon (or 2.4 cc or ml) per gallon; or 1.5 teaspoons per 3 gallons. Sythane 40WP is mixed 4 ounces per 100 gallons. It comes in water soluble packets and should not be opened for backpacks or hand sprayers.

Others are listed for your convenience: Banner 1.1E and Bayleton 25WP is mixed 2-4 fluid ounces per 100 gallons. Bayleton 25WP is mixed 1/8 teaspoon per gallon. Daconil 2787 WDG (Water Dispersible Granule) is mixed 1 1/4 pounds per 100 gallons or 2 teaspoons per gallon. Daconil 2787 4.17 F (Flowable) is mixed 32 fluid ounces per 100 gallons or 2 teaspoons per gallon.

Cleary's 3336F is mixed 10-20 fl oz per 100 gallons or 3/4 to 1 1/4 teaspoon per gallon. Zyban 75WP is mixed 1 1/2 pounds per 100 gallons or 2.5 teaspoons per gallon. Use the lower rates as preventative and the higher rate after the disease is found. Spray every 7 days when the disease is severe. The Daconil label recommends no surfactant.

Scales are required that will weigh only a few ounces accurately for the dry formulations. Excellent coverage of the foliage is required. It is also recommended that container dogwoods not be watered overhead to avoid Dogwood Anthracnose and lessen the severity of Powdery Mildew. A drip system using a spray stake in each pot would keep the foliage dry. Watering overhead at 5 a.m. would be the best time of day until the conversion to drip can be made."

(By Alan Windham, Mark Windham & Mark Halcomb, UT Extension & Experiment Station - published in the June 1999 issue of Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. Newsletter).

The new cultivar has long, white, non-overlapping bracts, upright growth habit and many blooms. Bracts average 2.8 inches. Foliage is quite large, dark green in color (turns red in the fall) with abundant bright red berries. More information can be obtained from Mark Windham at 423-974-7135.

(from Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring': A White Flowering Dogwood Resistant to Dogwood Anthracnose by M.T. Windham, W.T. Witte, and R.N. Trigiano, published in TNLA News).

May was predominately dry with a few welcomed rain events during the later half of the month. Diseases in May included Exobasidium gall and anthracnose of camellia; Pythium root rot of Leyland cypress; powdery mildew of Gerbera daisy; Phytophthora root rot of holly; impatiens necrotic spot virus on impatiens; Pythium crown and root decay of schip laurel; anthracnose of lemon; black mildew and algal leaf spot of southern magnolia; anthracnose of maple; Phytophthora aerial blight on periwinkle; and Phytophthora stem/leaf blight of petunia.

Exobasidium gall of azalea and camellia appears as green (gradually becoming white) fleshy swellings of flowers, leaves, and young shoots. Control requires removal of galls before they become white. The white coating on the gall is a surface layer of spores. Once the galls become white, they should still be removed, but chances are good that recent infections will cause some galls to develop next spring. If hand removal of galls is not practical, azaleas may be sprayed with protective treatments of Bayleton or Strike. These products are not labelled on camellia.

Anthracnose on maple appears usually in mid-late spring. Leaves become spotted and decayed in blotch, spots and marginal leaf areas. If the leaves show spots and a marginal leaf burn that extends around the whole leaf, it is likely that root stress is also involved. Anthracnose spots/blotches will often develop and expand along a leaf vein or along a leaf edge. Disease control involves sanitation. If trees are small, protective fungicide sprays may be helpful.

With Phytophthora stem and leaf blight of periwinkle and petunia, a brown blight and rot develops on leaves and stems. When cankers encircle the stem, dieback quickly results. Disease confirmations are made microscopically, by culture or by ELISA.

Impatiens necrotic spot virus on impatiens appears as stunted new growth and often black, rounded leaf spots are present. The leaf spots may be confused with fungal or bacterial spots. ELISA testing is the quickest and most reliable way to detect the presence of this virus. Infected plants should be removed. Near-by healthy plants should be treated with an insecticide to control thrips.

Algal leaf spot and black mildew on southern magnolia has been common this spring. Algal leaf spot is green or green-red, raised, with slightly raised ruffled edges. As the algal spots age, they often become parasitized by a lichen called Strigulla which causes the spots to become white. See the Alabama Pest Management Handbook for protective chemical controls. All fallen leaves should be removed. Black mildew is a black fuzzy-looking mold which develops on lower leaf surfaces only. Black mildew typically does not cause real damage to the leaves.

*County locations for nursery/greenhouse problems are not reported.

July 8-11, 1999:
International Herb Association Annual Conference, "Herbs Around the World"
http://www.herb-pros.com
Phone 717-697-1500; fax 717-697-2125

July 22-27, 1999:
American Nursery & Landscape Association Annual Convention.
Philadelphia, PA. Contact ANLA at 202-789-2900; http://www.anla.org

July 24-27, 1999:
Pennsylvania Allied Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) & ANLA Convention.
Philadelphia, PA. ANLA 202-789-2900; PANTS: 717-238-1673; Fax 717-238-1675.

July 28-31, 1999:
96th American Society for Horticultural Science.
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN. Contact ASHA: 703-836-4606, Fax: 703-836-2024; e-mail: ashs@ashs.org