Purdue Ag Roundup
Purdue Ag Roundup
But other damage may not be quite as apparent. The high winds are drying plants out, according to B. Rosie Lerner, consumer horticulture specialist with the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.
"Leaves and, in some cases, petals of flowers on shrubs, trees and other garden plants will appear burned, particularly around the edges," she said. "The symptoms are very similar to leaf scorch caused by extended drought and heat. In all of these cases, even if the soil has plenty of moisture, the leaves are losing water faster than they can take it up."
Lerner said even leaves that are still in the bud can be affected, although the tighter the bud, the more protected the inner tissue will be. The good news, according to the horticulturist, is that plants should be able to outgrow this type of damage.
"It's usually not very practical to try and prevent damage during these short-term bouts of cold and wind," she said. "Constructing a screen would help block particularly fierce winds, but unless you've already prepared the screen, there's not usually time to get much accomplished before the damage is done.
"When low temperatures threaten, covering plants can help provide several degrees
worth of protection. The best bet is to make a tent over the plantings by supporting
blankets or similar material with stakes. That way the plants don't have to bear
the weight of the cover."
"Branches that were damaged, but not broken off completely, may continue to dry out and die back over time," Lerner said. "It's best to prune out affected branches by cutting back to a side bud or branch. Small, low-growing branches are relatively easy to remove from a tree, especially if you have appropriate tools. For larger limbs, or those that are too far out of reach, you might want to consider hiring an arborist."
Jagged edges left where branches broke off should be pruned with a clean cut to allow proper healing. Lerner noted that this doesn't require immediate attention, but it should be done before spring growth starts.
"People often ask if they need to apply pruning paint or wound dressing after pruning," Lerner said. "There's some controversy regarding these products, but generally they haven't been shown to be helpful and may, in fact, interfere with the plant's natural ability to seal off wounds with callous tissue."
In most wind storms, she said, the trees hit hardest are weak-wooded species such
as silver maples, Siberian elms and willows. Also, in many cases, topping causes
trees to regrow numerous weak branches that are often the first to break during storms.
CONTACT: Lerner, (765) 494-1311; e-mail, brl@hort.purdue.edu
"Nobody want the birds, but very often nobody wants to kill the birds, either," said Loven, who is stationed at Purdue University. "When that's the case, the only option left is to try to modify the birds' habitat, both inside and outside."
According to Loven, starlings are a legitimate concern and a major pest. "They are dangerous to equipment and property," she said. "In some large buildings their droppings can cause people to slip and fall. In industrial buildings where they gather, people don't want to use the catwalks, don't want to use the handrails, because of the droppings. I can't say that I blame them."
Limestone buildings, which are common in Indiana, are particularly vulnerable to damage from starlings. "Bird droppings are acidic and break down the stone," Loven said. "This is especially a problem in historic buildings."
Besides the mess they leave behind, the birds are also a concern because they carry the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, which can range from a mild infection to a severe disease. Breathing or ingesting the fungus can cause infections in the lungs, liver, spleen and central nervous system.
The best method of dealing with the starlings is through habitat modification. Not only can people modify the interiors of buildings to alleviate the problem -- by eliminating ledges and cubbyholes -- but they also can modify the exterior habitat.
"In a building where starlings are a problem, you need to look at the landscaping," Loven said. "Cluster of trees, especially conifers and pines, are very attractive for these birds. These provide protection and warmth for birds, which isn't what you want." By using a more diversified landscaping plan, with better spacing of the trees and careful selection of tree species, the birds will be discouraged from roosting near or in your buildings.
CONTACT: Loven, (765) 494-6229
The awards recognize Purdue Agriculture graduates who have made significant contributions to their professions or to society and who continue to be active professionally.
One recipient lives in Indiana, and two others are Hoosier natives:
Joseph D. Coffey of Midlothian, Va., vice president of economics and planning at Southern States Cooperative Inc. He is a native of Martinsville . Previously, he served on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley, and he was head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a member and chairman of the Council for Agricultural Research, Education, and Teaching (CARET). He earned a bachelor's degree in 1960.
Other recipients of the 1997 Purdue Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Award are:
CONTACT: Laurie Lambert Swift, (765) 494-3150; e-mail, lls@admin.agad.purdue.edu
The award honors faculty and staff who create successful interdisciplinary educational and research programs that support the mission of Purdue Agriculture.
The Wine Grape Program brings together experts in grape production, grape processing, and marketing of Indiana's wine and grape industries. They work with Indiana grape growers and wine makers, and they've established a nationally recognized wine competition at the Indiana State Fair.
Thanks to the team's efforts, 10 new Indiana wineries have opened since 1990, bringing the total to 19.
"And we're not done growing," said Theresa Browning, communications director for the Indiana Wine Grape Council. "Indiana may boast 25 or 30 wineries by the year 2000."
As winery numbers have grown, so have wine sales. For the sixth straight year, sales of Indiana wine rose in 1996. Last year they jumped 20 percent to more than 100,000 gallons. That's more than double the number of gallons sold in 1990, the year cooperative marketing began.
Members of the team are Browning, horticulture professor Bruce Bordelon, analytical technologist Ellen Harkness, food science professor Richard Vine, and Cheri Wagner, who is director of marketing for the Indiana Wine Grape Council.
At the award ceremony, each team member gets a plaque, and their names are engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Agricultural Administration Building. The group also receives additional funding for the wine grape program.
CONTACT: Browning, (765) 481-0222; e-mail, tmb@eddie.cioe.com
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415;E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
