Got Nature? Blog

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a major pest of concern across most of the United States. Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper native to China that was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. SLF feeds on over 70+ plant species including fruit, ornamental and woody trees with tree-of-heaven as its preferred host. Spotted lanternfly is a hitchhiker and can easily be moved long distances through human assisted movement.

Know the Primary Host: Tree -of-Heaven

Tree of heaven (TOH) is the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly (SLF).  The ability to identify TOH will be critical to monitoring the spread of this invasive pest as the 4th-stage nymphs and adult spotted lantern-flies show a strong preference for TOH.

Report a Sighting
If you suspect you’ve seen a spotted lanternfly, please take the following steps:

• Take a picture and note your location.
• If you can, collect a sample of the insect by catching it and placing it in a freezer. You can use any container available as long as it has a tight seal (like a water bottle) so that the spotted lanternfly can’t escape.
• Report your sighting through one of the following channels:
  Email: DEPP@dnr.in.gov
  Online: eddmaps.org or ReportINvasive
  Phone: 1-866-663-9684

Help Stop the Spread
Everyone can play a role in slowing the spread of spotted lanternfly:

• Inspect vehicles, trailers and outdoor equipment for spotted lanternfly eggs, nymphs, and adults before driving or moving to a new location.
• Avoid moving firewood, as it can transport SLF and other invasive pests.
• Stay informed by subscribing to trusted resources like the up to date with the latest newsletters: Purdue Landscape Report and Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Entomology & Plant Pathology Weekly Review E-newsletter.
• Follow updates and management tips on social media by connecting with ReportINvasive on Facebook (@reportINvasive) and Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which shared information acrossa Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@INdnrinvasive).

Spread Awareness
Share your spotted lanternfly knowledge with others! Share about SLF with neighbors, colleagues and your communit to help protect Indiana’s natural and agricultural resources.

Resources:
Spotted Lanternfly, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Entomology
Spotted Lanternfly is on the Move!, Purde Landscape Report
Spotted Lanternfly Egg Hatch is Here, Purdue Landscape Report
Spotted Lanternfly Found in Indiana, Purdue Landscape Report
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Woodland Management Moment: Invasive Species Control Process, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Report Invasive

Diana Evans, Extension and Web Communication Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Purdue Extension – Entomology

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Purdue University Landscape Report: Early fall is the time to begin preparing trees for the winter and get them off to a good start in the following spring. Preventative maintenance and some good cultural practices in autumn boost trees’ health and vigor during the winter and creates an encouraging growing environment in the spring. Here are 5 good tips for trees:

1. Scout for pruning issues.
   It’s advantageous to schedule pruning tasks after leaves have fallen. It’s much easier to see the branch structure of trees and deciduous shrubs in order to perform good selective cuts. Look for those non-beneficial plant parts and remove them. These include any dead, broken and crossing branches which can be removed. Also, search out and remove those epicormics sprouts in the canopy and basal sprouts emerging from around the trunk and root collar.  Refer to this pruning publication for more information.
   

   Newly-established trees benefit from fertilizer

2. Feeding for the future.
   Typically, tree roots have produce more root growth during the fall. Root systems are important as storage organs or banks to reserve energy for later. These stores of starch will become active energy on demand in the spring when shoot growth, leafing and flowering occur. Fertilization during this time will maintain soil nutrient levels and increase root production, promoting new growth in the spring. Newly, established trees and those younger trees are especially responsive to supplemental feeding. However, not all trees need or require fertilization. Refer to this publication on fertilization for more information.
   

   Mulch provides a blanket of protection

3. Complete cultural practices.
   It’s always beneficial to the tree to replenish mulch to give root systems an extra layer of protection against temperature extremes. This helps maintain the moisture levels in the soil during those drier winter months as well. Maintaining 2-3 inches of composted mulch over the root zone of the tree and landscape provides great protection. Also, it may be a good time to consider providing protective wraps on thin-barked or newly planted trees, if needed. Also, now is a good time for inspecting those existing wraps to be sure they are effective and not too tight around the trunk or harboring hidden pest issues.
   

   Good moisture levels going into the winter is critical for tree health

4. Water needed, still.
   The dry, cool air and low precipitation that can sometimes occur during fall and early winter can take a toll on trees. Provide supplemental irrigation with deep watering to prevent root damage and a good spring start. It is advisable to water only when temperatures will be above 40^o Water around mid-day so there is time to soak in before the freezing night temperatures. Applying approximately 5 gallons water per inch of tree diameter will be adequate for times when there is little to no rainfall going into winter.
5. Take inventory.
   This is a good time to assess your site for vacancies. Check your property for potential planting locations to install new trees next spring. Research during the winter allows plenty of time for good decision-making which includes proper species selection and suitable locations. Refer to the tree selection publication for more information.

There are many resources available to learn about proper tree care. If you are uncertain on how to maintain your trees or prefer professional services, it is important to reach out to an ISA Certified Arborist to help with the tree, within your landscape, especially the larger, mature trees. A Certified Arborist can proactively identify, analyze and evaluate your tree needs to maintain this important asset, your trees.

Resources:
Why do leaves change color and why do leaves fall off in autumn?, Got Nature? Blog
Why Leaves Change Color, The Education Store, Purdue Extension
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
An Introduction to Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Why Leaves Change Color, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area
It’s Fall, but why are the leaves still green? article and video, WLFI.com

Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forest Specialist
Forestry and Natural Resources

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Purdue Landscape Report: Spring is finally here! Everywhere you look, one can find some spring color around. Some of the first plants to peek out of the ground are spring-flowering bulbs like crocus, daffodil and tulip.  But there are some beautiful spring time shrubs that are Indiana native plants you can add to your yard to be the first in the neighborhood with spring interest. Below, you’ll find a top 10 list of spring-flowering shrubs (in order of flower appearance).

Witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) Perhaps even earlier-flowering than Forsythia, is ‘Arnold Promise’ witch-hazel. This shrub can flower starting in late winter (unless we have unusually cold winter weather like polar vortices) and keep going all the way into spring. Bright flowers are yellow with red tinges, though there are red-flowering cultivars available. Witch-hazel can be grown as a shrub or a small tree and offers some yellow/orange/red fall color. It’s native!

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) Forsythia is the traditional first-flowering plant in the spring. Hardy plants, their bright yellow blooms can catch your eye anywhere. There are new cultivars out.

Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) In mid spring, you’ll find these shrubs covered with flowers. There are several cultivars and you may see white-flowering plants (‘Jet Trails’), red-flowering plants (‘Texas Scarlet’) or even large, double, fluffy, peach-pink flowers (‘Cameo’). After the show, this plant tends to fade into the background, but it’s a great native addition.

Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) Korean spice viburnum blooms in late April with blooms that are pink/red while they are still in buds, opening to white flowers that are each a half inch wide. The flowers are presented on dense 2-3 inch groupings called cymes (semi-snowball) and very pleasantly fragrant. And luck of all luck, they have nice, clean leaves in the summer and great fall color. Can’t beat that in a multi-season shrub.

Flowering Almond (Prunus glandulosa) Here’s a small plant that grows well in full sun and its lovely. Flowering almond, particularly the cultivar ‘Rosea Plena’ has tons of pink flowers (double—lots of petals). Some cultivars have white flowers, and all present in mid to late spring.

Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) A multi-season-interest plant, serviceberry offers white flowers on 2-3 inch long inflorescences in April, which leads to sweet, juicy black fruit in the summer. Some plants can also have decent fall color (yellow with hints of orange and red). Serviceberry grows by suckering so it’s perhaps not a great choice for a small yard.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). The beautiful purple flowers (many, many colors are available, but purple is most common) are wonderfully fragrant in most of spring. They may only bloom for 2 weeks, but man those 2 weeks are worth having a lilac in your garden! Takes me straight back to my childhood.

 Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) An adaptable species, this plant is known for long-lasting black fruit in the fall and wine-red fall color. Spring flowers are white, presented in groups of 9-20 resulting in 1 to 1.5 inch groupings covering the plant in May. This species can spread and colonize large areas, which makes for a striking mass effect in the spring. Small plant (under 5 feet) thrives in part shade to full sun.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) Fans of mock orange are serious about their use in the landscape. These plants can take care of themselves and they’ll reward you every May/June with white, fragrant flowers that are 1 to 1.5 inches wide.

Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens) Granted, this is a great shrub for harsh sites (poor soils, drought, alkaline soil, cold, wind), but it’s unusual and doesn’t take much care. Leaves are pea-green and emerge with the yellow flowers in May. Later in the summer the fruit of the flowers, a narrow pod, makes a popping sound when it opens.

Remember, plants with more than one season of interest are like hitting the landscape jackpot. So, if you’ve chosen one of these plants because you love the flowers in the spring, just be aware that it may need to fade into the background for the rest of the year. Having said that, plants that usher in the new season are anticipated, loved and enjoyed. Make sure you’ve got some of these in your neighborhood for a dose of early spring joy.

This was adapted from Horticulture Newsletter – Cheryl Boyer – Kansas Extension. All plants listed in this article are native species of Indiana.

Read the original article posted in the Purdue Landscape Report April 2025 Newsletter: Top 10 Spring Flowering Shrubs.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Spring Tree Preparations, Purdue Extension Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Celebrate Pollinator Week with Flowers of June Tour, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tracking the Bloom, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana’s Native Orchids, Indiana Forestry & Woodlands Association (IFWOA) Webinar
Wildflowers and Ferns of Indiana Forests: A Field Guide, Google Books
ID That Tree Spring Bloom Edition: Bladdernut, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Alternative Options for Invasive Landscape Plants (pdf), Purdue Extension – Purdue Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Landscape Uses of Native Plants, Indiana Native Plant Society
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Planting Part 1: Choosing a Tree video, Purdue Extension
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Recommended Indiana-native Plants for Attracting Pollinators (pdf), Purdue Extension – Entomology
Gardening for Pollinators, Purdue Garden Articles
Subscribe Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Amanda Bailey, Extension Educator – Ag and Natural Resources
Purdue Extension – Warrick County

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Instead of raking and bagging leaves this fall, consider allowing them to stay and naturally decay. Fallen leaves, plant stems, flower heads, twigs, and logs provide crucial winter habitat for Indiana’s wildlife.

The warmth and cover of leaves provide shelter for Eastern box turtles, salamanders and frogs, as well as insulation for butterflies and moths. Leaf piles can even benefit landscaping, as they can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add nutrients to the soil as they decay. Leaves don’t have to be left exactly where they fall—you can rake them into flower beds and around tree bases.

For more information about creating habitat for wildlife in your backyard, visit the DNR website and the Wildlife Habitat Fact Sheet.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources:
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings – The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Plantings, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Project Overview & Drone Setup, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Ordering Seedlings from the State Forest Nursery System, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR)
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife – The Education Store
ID That Tree – YouTube Playlist
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking, The Education Store
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Playlists include wildlife, Nature of Teaching, Moments in the Wild and much more.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Fish & Wildlife

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Purdue Landscape Report: In the last newsletter, an article on triclopyr brought up much discussion on the Roundup brands now containing multiple active ingredients other than glyphosate. Professionals in the industry may encounter a client with herbicide damage symptoms that mimic growth-regulator injury instead of typical glyphosate damage symptoms. While the client may have used Roundup, they didn’t necessarily use glyphosate. Going forward, it’s important to keep in mind that Roundup no longer means glyphosate in the consumer market.

Roundup has been one of the most used herbicides for many different weed control applications. Roundup, with the active ingredient glyphosate, was first registered with the EPA in 1974. When Roundup went off patent in 2000, glyphosate started being sold under many different names. According to the National Pesticide Information Center there are currently over 750 products containing glyphosate. Formulations may differ with salt carriers, adjuvants, concentrations, and mixed with other herbicides.
Recently, Bayer announced glyphosate would be phased out of consumer Roundup products. In its place, consumer Roundup products include other active ingredients. This can lead to confusion in the consumer market. It’s important to note that professional-use Roundup (turf and ornamental, agronomic crops, etc.) still contains glyphosate.

Within the consumer Roundup product line, there are many different formulations designed for specific purposes, which include Roundup Weed and Grass Killer, Roundup for Lawns, Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer, Roundup Dual Action Weed and Grass Killer, Roundup Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer, among others. Each of these products contains distinct active ingredients that target different types of weeds.

Roundup Weed and Grass Killer: Glyphosate as the Active Ingredient
The original Roundup herbicide contains glyphosate as its primary active ingredient. Glyphosate is a systemic, non-selective herbicide, meaning it is absorbed by the plant and translocated throughout the vascular system, ultimately leading to the plant’s death. Glyphosate works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is a key component of the shikimic acid pathway—a pathway critical for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants.

Active Ingredient:

1. Glyphosate: The ‘traditional’ version of Roundup that controls many different weeds. Can take 10-14 days to kill weeds.
2. Pelargonic Acid: A contact herbicide that quickly breaks down cell walls. This is added to provide a quick burndown of the weed.

Roundup Dual Action Weed and Grass Killer Plus 4 Month Preventer: Multiple modes of action
Round Dual Action is a formulation that includes four very different herbicides that is intended for use in areas with limited vegetation (i.e. sidewalks, driveways, mulched beds). In addition to postemergence herbicides, this product includes two preemergence active ingredients.

Active Ingredients:

1. Triclopyr: Systemic herbicide that mimics auxins. Very effective herbicide for woody plants, which is used frequently in invasive species treatments.
2. Fluazifop: Grass-specific herbicide (graminicide) that controls several annual and perennial grasses.
3. Diquat: Contact herbicide that exhibit symptoms rapidly. Good for annual weeds.
4. Imazapic: Pre- and Postemergence control of several grasses and broadleaf weeds.

Roundup for Lawns: A Combination of Selective Herbicides
Roundup for Lawns is a specialized formulation designed for residential use, particularly for controlling broadleaf weeds in lawns. Unlike traditional Roundup, which contains glyphosate, Roundup for Lawns contains a combination of selective herbicides, including MCPA, quinclorac, dicamba, and sulfentrazone. These ingredients are chosen for their ability to target broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds without harming most turfgrass species. This product is similar to the traditional ‘three-way’ herbicides that are commonly used in turf.

Active Ingredients:

1. MCPA: MCPA is a selective herbicide that mimics the action of natural plant hormones known as auxins. When absorbed by broadleaf weeds, it causes uncontrolled growth, leading to the plant’s death.
2. Quinclorac: Quinclorac is effective against grassy weeds, primarily used for crabgrass control in turf. It can be similar to auxin herbicides, causing epinasty, curling, and a change of color.
3. Dicamba: Similar to MCPA, dicamba disrupts the growth of broadleaf weeds by mimicking natural plant hormones.
4. Sulfentrazone: Pre- and postemergence activity in turf. Very effective on nutsedge.

Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer
Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer is a product designed to control grassy weeds and several broadleaf weeds in cool-season turf. In addition to crabgrass, other grassy weeds and some broadleaves can be controlled.

Active Ingredients:

1. Topramezone: Very effective herbicide for several annual and perennial grassy weeds and some common broadleaf weeds.

Roundup Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer: Triclopyr for Tough Woody Plants
Roundup Brush Killer is formulated to tackle tough, woody plants, such as brush, brambles, and small trees. The active ingredient in this product is triclopyr, a selective herbicide that targets broadleaf plants with less damage to grasses. This product can be effective on invasive woody plants.

Active Ingredients:

• Triclopyr: Systemic herbicide that mimics auxins. Very effective herbicide for woody plants, which is used frequently in invasive species treatments.
• Glyphosate: The ‘traditional’ version of Roundup that controls many different weeds. Can take 10-14 days to kill weeds.

Conclusion
All of the consumer Roundup products contain unique active ingredients tailored to specific weed control needs. There can be understandable confusion around these products due to the historical uses of glyphosate. The Green Industry needs to be aware of the confusion around these products to better inform their clients. Understanding the active ingredients and mechanisms of action of these herbicides is crucial for their effective and safe use in various settings.

View the original article here: When Roundup Isn’t Roundup: Clearing up the confusion between products

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Beyond Roundup: Alternatives to consider adding to your weed management plan, Purdue Landscape Report
Diagnosing Herbicide Injury on Garden and Landscape Plants, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Herbicide Injury, Purdue Plant Doctor
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Against Invasives, Garlic Mustard, Autumn Olive)
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Common Buckthorn, Japanese Barberry)
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
The GLEDN Phone App – Great Lakes Early Detection Network
EDDMaps – Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System
Episode 11 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
What Are Invasive Species and Why Should I Care?, Purdue Extension-FNR Got Nature? Blog
Emerald Ash Borer Information Network, Purdue University and Partners
Aquatic Invasive Species, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store
Subscribe Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Kyle Daniel, Commercial Landscape and Nursery Crops Extension Specialist
Purdue Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

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Join alumna Megan Benage, a regional ecologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Bee Redfield, a postgraduate research assistant, as they explore the world of pollinators. They cover the who’s, the what’s and how’s of pollination as well as how you can help bring pollinators to your yard and help the pollinator population in general. They also share about ongoing research and cool projects related to pollinators.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources
Protecting Pollinators: Biology and Control of Varroa Mites in Bee Hives, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
The Complex Life of the Honey Bee: Environmental, Biological, and Chemical Challenges to Colony Health, The Education Store
Pollinator Protection, Website, Purdue Extension
Gardening for Pollinators, Purdue Graden Articles

Megan Benage, Regional Ecologist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Bee Redfield, Postgraduate Research Assistant
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

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Join Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) as they celebrate the state’s natural beauty by sharing photos and stories from Carroll Ritter’s book of “Magnificent Trees of Indiana.” They discuss the changes that have occurred over the last two centuries in Indiana’s forests, including the landscape geology and physiography.

Check out the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Association YouTube Channel for videos including: What is IFWOA?; A New Carbon Program for Hardwood Landowners Webinar, Indiana’s Native Orchids, Magnificent Trees of Indiana, Be Tick Aware and much more.

The Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) was founded in 1977 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and sustainable management of woodlands in Indiana. IFWOA advocates for scientific best practices for management to achieve objectives of clean water, wildlife habitat, soil protection, native species diversity, timber production, recreation, carbon sequestration and many others.

IFWOA is an affiliate of the National Woodland Owners Association. IFWOA is a partner, collaborator or is represented on leading National and State organizations. These memberships or collaborations are selected to advance Indiana Woodland owner’s interests. IFWOA monitors and influences legislation and economic trends impacting Indiana woodlands and landowners for our members. Membership in IFWOA provides a valuable network linkage to information and resources at the leading edge of science, industry and politics impacting Indiana woodlands.

Resources:
Magnificent Trees of Indiana, Purdue University Press
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Planting Hardwood Seedlings – The Education Store
Ordering Seedlings from the State Forest Nursery System, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-FNR
Importance of Hardwood Tree Planting – The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Forest Improvement Handbook – The Education Store
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife – The Education Store
ID That Tree – YouTube Playlist
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Forest Birds , Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Woodlands for Birds , Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Sustaining Our Oak-Hickory Forests , Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Liz Jackson, Engagement Lead
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Association

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In this webinar, hosted by Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA), presenter LeAnne Barta of Indiana Lyme Connect shares strategies for preventing tick bites and discuss the ticks found in Indiana, their life stages, and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

Check out the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Association YouTube Channel for videos including: What is IFWOA?; A New Carbon Program for Hardwood Landowners Webinar, Indiana’s Native Orchids, Magnificent Trees of Indiana, Observing Seasonal Changes in Nature and much more.

The Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) was founded in 1977 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and sustainable management of woodlands in Indiana. IFWOA advocates for scientific best practices for management to achieve objectives of clean water, wildlife habitat, soil protection, native species diversity, timber production, recreation, carbon sequestration and many others.

IFWOA is an affiliate of the National Woodland Owners Association. IFWOA is a partner, collaborator or is represented on leading National and State organizations. These memberships or collaborations are selected to advance Indiana Woodland owner’s interests. IFWOA monitors and influences legislation and economic trends impacting Indiana woodlands and landowners for our members. Membership in IFWOA provides a valuable network linkage to information and resources at the leading edge of science, industry and politics impacting Indiana woodlands.

Resources:
Find an Indiana Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube playlist
Woodland Management Moment , Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist

Liz Jackson, Engagement Lead
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Association

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Newsroom: During large rainstorms, many Illinois residents brace themselves for flooding in their basements, streets and neighborhoods. A new online tool, Illinois Groundwork, provides communities and stormwater professionals with resources on green stormwater infrastructure, which provides a way for rain to be absorbed into soil where it lands.

Green stormwater infrastructure offers a way to enhance traditional or “grey” infrastructure using a rain garden or permeable pavement but this approach doesn’t always work as well as it might. Improving access to, and use of, data, research and other resources can help increase the effectiveness of green infrastructure in addressing stormwater management challenges.

“The University of Illinois not only has relevant research and data across many departments, but also real-world examples of successful green infrastructure, along with other extension and education tools, such as the Red Oak Rain Garden,” said C. Eliana Brown, University of Illinois Extension stormwater specialist. “This new tool brings these resources together, providing a robust platform to access green infrastructure knowledge.”

For full article and videos please visit Illinois Groundwork provides a rich supply of green infrastructure resources – IISG

About IISG: These are trying times for the environment. Climate change and other concerns such as population growth, aquatic invasive species, contaminated waters, and loss of natural habitat, the southern Lake Michigan region faces many challenges. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), with its unique mandate to bring the latest science to those who can best use the information, serves a critical role in empowering people to solve problems in sustainable ways. The program is funded through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Illinois and Purdue University, but IISG also works in partnerships with key organizations, institutions, and agencies in the region to reach more audiences and multiply opportunities for success. IISG brings together scientists, educators, policy makers, community decision makers, outreach specialists, business leaders, and the general public to work towards a healthy environment and economy.

Resources
Center For Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL), Website
Ask An Expert: Hot and Cold, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
Informing the Development of the Great Lakes Region Decision Support System, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Urban Best Management & Low Impact Development Practices, The Education Store
Improving Water Quality Around Your Farm, The Education Store
New website: Eat Midwest Fish, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Scientists bring the Great Lakes to students learning from home, Got Nature? Blog
Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians Activity 2: Water Quality Sneak Peak, Purdue Nature of Teaching

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)

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Purdue Landscape Report: Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that attacks a diversity of woody ornamental plants. The bacteria cause flower blights, cankers, shoot blights, and diebacks.

Symptoms
Symptoms often begin as expanding leaf spots. On lilac and viburnum, small spots expand to irregularly shaped brown lesions with yellow halos (Fig. 1). For most other hosts (cherry, pear, basswood, dogwood, hydrangea, high bush-cranberry, mountain-ash), infected leaves turn reddish brown or black and usually remain on the branch after they die (Fig. 2). As the bacteria spread into woody tissue, dark, sunken sections of the stem (cankers) expand, working their way back toward the trunk from infected leaves and flowers. Leaves attached to a cankered branch will wilt while the tip of the affected branch curls and droops like a shepherd’s crook (Fig. 3). Cloudy droplets of sticky fluid (ooze) may accumulate on leaf tips, leaf surfaces, stems, and even infected fruit.

Image of infected flowers result in blossom blast.
Figure 2. Infected flowers result in blossom blast. The continued growth of the bacteria can result in cankering and blight. Photo by George Sundin.

Life Cycle
The bacteria overwinter and persist in cankers, along with asymptomatic bud and twig tissue. In presence of water and warming temperatures, bacteria multiply and may ooze from infected tissue. Wind-driven rain, insect, or mechanical pruning spread Pseudomonas. Bacteria enter the plant through flowers or injury.

Management
All bacterial pathogens, including Pseudomonas, invade flowers or wounded tissue. To prevent or minimize the risk of infection:

• Use disease-free plants and budwood.
• Prune in the late winter/early spring.
• When pruning, do not mix pruning to shape woody ornamentals with pruning to manage disease.
• When pruning to remove infected shoots, be sure to disinfect shears between plants.
• Minimize overhead irrigation when possible to minimize splashing and pathogen spread.
• Avoid over-fertilization practices that drive excess succulent growth.
  

  Figure 3. Bacterial blight is a common scourge to common lilac. Using resistant varieties is the best way to protect against the disease. Photo by Janna Beckerman.

• Avoid late season fertilization practices that prevent plants from achieving timely dormancy and promote freeze damage and/or winter injury (Fig. 4).
• Choose zone appropriate plants to avoid freeze damage and/or winter injury.
• Choose disease resistant plants, when available. The following lilac varieties were found to be resistant over a four-year trial: Donald Wyman, Royalty, Superba, Miss Kim, Edmund Boisier, Victor Lemoine, Dwarf Korean, Mme. Antoine Buchner Isabella, Sensation, Anna Amhof, Krasavitska Moskvy, Michael Buchner, and Alphonse Lavallée.

Foliar sprays of some copper-based bactericides (e.g., Camelot, Kocide, and Nu-Cop) were found to reduce disease incidence in trials on lilac (Vey and Palmer, 2018). Avoid using copper under cool, humid conditions to reduce the risk of phytotoxicity and damaging plants. Copper resistant populations of Pseudomonas syringae have been reported in other crops (vegetables, stone fruit). Products containing acibenzolar have provided inconsistent control in multiple trials but is labeled for use. Use of quaternary-ammonium disinfestants (KleenGrow) have been found to reduce bacterial populations and disease incidence and should be considered as part of any rotation with copper products. Due to the diversity of copper products, be sure to test for phytotoxicity issues prior to large scale treatment of crops.

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Resources:
The Purdue Landscape Report
Purdue Landscape Report Facebook Page
Find an Arborist website, Trees are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Phytophthora Diseases in Ornamentals, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Root Rot in Landscape Plants, The Education Store
Symptoms and Signs for Plant Problem Diagnosis, The Education Store
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Tree Pruning Essentials, Publication & Video, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Tree Risk Management – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Equipment Damage to Trees, Got Nature? Blog
Tree wounds and healing, Got Nature? Blog
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube playlist
Southwest Damage, Scalding, or Frost Cracking – Landscape Report
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Janna Beckerman, Professor of Plant Pathology
Purdue Department of Botany

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