Got Nature? Blog

Posted on December 2nd, 2014 in Forestry, Gardening, How To, Plants | No Comments »

​As winter comes swiftly upon us, there are precautions we need to take to ensure our plants, both indoor and outdoor, are well taken care of. Below are a few examples of how you can prevent certain problems that occur in the cold months ahead. View all of the steps you can take at the Purdue Extension Yard and Garden Calendar page.

HOME (Indoor plants and activities)

  • Houseplants may not receive adequate light because days are short and gloomy. Move plants closer to windows, but avoid placing foliage against cold glass panes. Artificial lighting may be helpful.
  • Because growth slows or stops in winter months, most plants will require less water and little, if any, fertilizer.
  • Extend the lives of holiday plants such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus by placing them in a cool, brightly lit area that is free from warm or cold drafts.

YARD (Lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)

  • Prevent bark splitting of young and thin-barked trees, such as fruit and maple trees. Wrap trunks with tree wrap or paint them with white latex (not oil-based) paint, particularly on the south- and southwest-facing sides.
  • Provide winter protection for roses by mounding soil approximately 12 inches high to insulate the graft union after plants are dormant and temperatures are cold. Additional organic mulch such as straw compost or chopped leaves can be placed on top.

GARDEN (Flowers, vegetables and small fruits)

  • To protect newly planted or tender perennials and bulbs, mulch with straw, chopped leaves or other organic material after plants become dormant.
  • Store leftover garden chemicals where they will stay dry, unfrozen and out of the reach of children, pets and unsuspecting adults.
  • Once the plants are completely dormant and temperatures are consistently below freezing, apply winter mulch to protect strawberries and other tender perennials. In most cases, two to four inches of organic material such as straw, pine needles, hay or bark chips will provide adequate protection.

Resources
Winter Garden Calendar, The Education Store
Winter Storage of Geranium, Canna, Gladiolus, Caladium, and Begonia, The Education Store
Winterize Your Trees, The Education Store

Purdue Yard and Garden Calendar

Posted on July 3rd, 2014 in Forestry, Gardening, Plants | No Comments »

It doesn’t sound like there would be much chance of the chemical to get into the shrubs if the imidacloprid is applied close to the base of the tree. Also another thing to consider is unless you’re eating solely certified organic food, there’s a really good chance you’ve consumed very small amounts of imidacloprid at some time.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program monitored imidacloprid residues in food and published their findings in 2006. Imidacloprid was detected in a range of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. It was detected in over 80% of all bananas tested, 76% of cauliflower and 72% of spinach samples. In all cases, however, the levels detected were below the U.S. EPA’s tolerance levels. Imidacloprid was also found in 17.5% of applesauce and 0.9% raisin samples, although percentage of detections were greater in the fresh unprocessed fruit (26.6% of apples sampled and 18.1% of grapes sampled).

These findings were on direct application to the plant, which would indicate higher concentrations than that which you would find on plants nearby those that were treated. Additionally, it is advised that if homeowners want to use a product with imidacloprid as the active ingredient, then they use one specifically labeled for edible food crops. The product label will contain specific instructions on application, pre-harvest intervals and special instructions on limiting harm to pollinators.

Resources
Purdue Pesticide Programs
Office of Indiana State Chemist – Pesticide Section

​Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forestry Specialist
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University

​As foresters, woodland owners and tree and wildlife enthusiasts, we hear the word safety and immediately think about making sure our hard hat is packed, our gas tank is full, our cell phone is charged and we have a buddy to call in case of an emergency. How many of us think about diseases? Who thinks about West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)? For those of us that take our pets into the field, WNV and EEE are very real threats. West Nile Virus originated in Africa but spread quickly throughout the United States after an outbreak in New York in 1999. By 2003, 46 states had been infected, and nearly 10,000 people had fallen ill.

Although not contagious by contact with an infected person or animal, a protective layer is recommended when handling potential infected subjects. Most infected humans show no symptoms while a minority exhibit fevers, headaches, skin rashes, meningitis or encephalitis. Very few people die from WNV (< 1:1,000), but precautions should always be taken to prevent exposure. A total of 156 cases of WNV have been reported in Indiana this year with one sample being human. Other cases have been found in bordering states with 741 cases (mosquito) in Illinois, two mosquito and four human cases in Michigan, 64 mosquito cases in Ohio and zero cases of any kind in Kentucky as of August 20, 2013.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a rare viral disease that can be transmitted from host mosquitoes to a number of other animal species. Historical accounts of the disease show that in Midwestern states, EEE is most often found in southwestern Michigan; however, infected horses in Indiana have been found. EEE infects nearly all game birds, amphibians and reptiles, and last year in Michigan, an 8-week-old puppy.

Humans are not immune to EEE. Nearly 30% of people that develop the disease die, and approximately 50% of survivors have permanent neurological complications. Symptoms of infection may or may not occur and will often take between three and 10 days to be realized. EEE symptoms in humans range from fever, headache and nausea to abdominal pain, paralysis, seizures and fainting. An elderly woman in New England died on August 21, 2013, and was the first human casualty of the disease this year. A vaccine has been developed to prevent EEE in horses; however, no vaccine or treatment is available to protect humans or other animals from EEE or WNV. Elimination of standing water is our only defense against potential EEE and WNV threats.

As the summer is in full swing and more and more of us head out to the field, please do not forget to protect yourself and your pets from potential exposure to mosquitoes.

WNV map 2013.jpg EEE map.JPG

Sourced Information:
Beasley, D.W.C. et al. (2013) Resurgence of West Nile neurologic disease in the United States in 2012: What happened? What needs to be done? Antiviral Research 99:1–5.
Wendell, L.C. et al. (2013) Successful Management of Severe Neuroinvasive Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Neurocritical Care 19:111–115.
USGS Disease Maps
Van Buren County Horse Dies of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Horse Owners Urged to Vaccinate Animals, MLIVE Media Group
Weymouth Officials Urge Caution After EEE Death, The Patriot Ledger

Resources
Mosquitoes, Purdue Extension Entomology

Shaneka Lawson, Plant Physiologist
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University

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