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4/21/11
Newsletter Topics |
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Blue Spruce Blues
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The following is an explanation by the Ohio State University Extension on why so many Norway and Blue Spruces are in serious trouble. I spent many hours last year warning homeowners of the importance of watering your trees, especially evergreens during last year’s months of drought. Trouble is most homeowners were under the false belief that the larger trees are forever and need no help from us. WRONG, BIG TIME. Like people, the older the more assistance trees and people need. Also included is an Extension report on plant winter damage. |
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| SPRING DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES. Several BYGLers reported that spring is bringing to the forefront a number of environmentally-related diagnostic challenges that are strongly associated with geographical locations in Ohio. Joe Boggs noted that complaints of sectional dieback on spruces and arborvitae dominated the telephone calls he received in southwest Ohio throughout most of March. He believes the dieback is associated with root damage caused by the drought conditions that were experienced in his part of the state during late-summer and throughout the fall. The rainfall deficits experienced in southwest Ohio last season were: July -1.33"; August -2.65"; Sept. -2.25"; Oct. -1.48"; and Dec. -1.51". Although the region saw +3.48" in November, most of that rainfall occurred over three days; it was not evenly spaced throughout the month allowing the moisture to re-charge the soil. Elsewhere in the state, Curtis Young reported that a number of trees and shrubs are showing winter injury symptoms such as bleaching of boxwood foliage and browning of white pine needles in northwest Ohio. Although a number of BYGLers noted that they are seeing browning on white pine associated with salt spray damage near highways, Curtis noted that he is seeing the symptoms on trees located too far from highways to be explained by the annual "over-seasoning" of white pines. Erik Draper and Randy Zondag reported that they are dealing with several entirely different environmentally related damage symptoms; see the next article for details. |
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WINTER WONDERLAND LEAVES EVERGREENS DAMAGED. As all get excited about spring, many of BYGL callers expressed concern about the evidence of winter damage to plants throughout the state. In the southern portion of Ohio, Joe Boggs, Pam Bennett and others are concerned about the impact of last year's drought on spruces (Picea spp.), pines (Pinus spp.), arborvitaes (Thuja spp.), and other conifers. In the northern portion of Ohio, there was no drought, yet there are still symptoms of winter damage. Often erroneously attributed to cold temperatures, the most common winter damage is really desiccation; conifers continue to transpire on bright sunny days during winter months. When the soils freeze and water cannot penetrate into the soil profile for roots to access, then the leaves (needles) overheat and turn brown. Yet, this still doesn't explain all of the symptoms that are out there! Many Extension offices have received calls from professionals and homeowners alike, asking for help regarding browning evergreens.
From easily-diagnosed salt damage near roads to ice and snow loads that cracked open branch bark to separating the bark from the trunk around the entire circumference of the tree, winter damage symptoms are diverse and varied. There are reports of off-color, sickly green swirls ascending up to the top of evergreens like a barber pole! Some BYGLers mentioned single branches dying in the middle of trees, while others observed a generalized spotty, browning of leaves. Still others have noted homeowners attempting to repair split or ripped apart branches using silver duct tape to "help them heal." This band-aid approach will not correct the damage caused by snow and ice loading that cracked open the branches along their length or at crouch angles on the tree. The reasons for browning evergreens appear to be as numerous and different as the strange symptoms that are evident this year. Although the quip from BugDoc (Dave Shetlar), "An evergreen that is ever-brown is ever-dead" resonates with many plant diagnosticians, there is still a great need for caution. The advice of most BYGLers in the know remains the same; specifically, wait until bud break to see if there is any new growth (candles) on the ever-brown evergreens! |
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