UConn Home amp Garden Education Center

Knowledge to Grow On wwwladybuguconnedu

Like us on Facebook

September is for Yellow Shoulders Saddleback Caterpillars amp Seeding Lawns Hello Fellow Gardeners You are receiving this email because you have provided us with your email address either when subscribing

to our quarterly newsletter having your soil analyzed or testing the horticultural prowess and investigative abilities of our incredibly

well-versed staff at the UConn Home amp Garden Education Center Or we just might have thought you would enjoy this e-newsletter

If you do not wish to receive our monthly email updates on gardening tips pest problems events and other information please email

us at ladybuguconnedu and ask to be removed from this list

Pest PatrolCurrent ConcernsTopics of Interest

Green Shoulders on lsquoSoldackirsquo by dmp Saddleback Caterpillars by Wayne drsquoEntremont Scratch surface before seeding by dmp

Green Shoulders Seen on Tomatoes

Complaints are coming into the Center about green or yellow shoulders on tomatoes This is a physiological

disorder although there is still some debate as to a specific cause It seems that maybe several factors are at play

The first is high temperatures in the 90rsquos which we have been experiencing Another may be the particular

tomato variety or cultivar Some are more prone to this condition than others Nutrition may also play a role

especially the amount of potassium in the soil and its relative abundance to the amounts of calcium and

magnesium httpsuconnladybugwordpresscom20120830what-causes-the

Saddleback Caterpillars not the Touchy Feely Sort Last weekrsquos UConn Extension VegetableIPM Pest Message and Reports from the Farm by UConn Extension

Educator Jude Boucher contained a most curious caterpillar photo by Wayne drsquoEntremont This particular

lepidoptera species is definitely one to photograph and not to touch The caterpillar has urticating spines at both

ends filled with venom The spines are hollow and imbed deeply into tissue releasing their venom which may

cause painful swelling nausea migraines asthma conditions and even hemorrhaging and anaphylactic shock

Although this species feeds on a wide array of host plants most of us thankfully do not encounter the larvae

Wayne has testified that encounters can be painful as has Rob Durgy CAES who came across some at the

research farm in Griswold Though probably these will not emerge as widespread pests in Connecticut always

look before you pick httpentnemdeptufleducreaturesurbanmedicalsaddleback_caterpillarhtm

Lawn Looking a Little Ragged This hot dry summer has caused many lawns to deteriorate Typically cool season grasses go dormant during

these times but prolonged dry periods can also cause some grass to thin or even die out Take advantage of the

cooler September days to reseed any bare or thin areas Keep in mind that moisture is needed for grass seed to

germinate and also for stressed lawns to recover Plan on either seeding before rain is predicted or make sure

adequate irrigation can be supplied after putting down the seed For more tips on lawn renovation check out

httpwwwladybuguconneduFactSheetslawn-renovation-and-repairphp

What Should You Do About Those Clusters of Gypsy Moth Eggs on Trees According to UConn Extension Educator Tom Worthley when asked about whether or not horticultural oil

could be used to smother the eggs in those beige cases ldquohellip horticultural oil in limited amounts will not harm

the tree However for egg masses that are within reach it might be just as effective to simply scrape them off

At this time of year there is a tiny wasp that is feeding on the eggs I like to allow them the opportunity to do

their job and after the first frost do something about the eggs that remainrdquo

Photo by dmp

Neonicotinoid Pesticide Update According to a new Washington State University study neonics pose less of a hazard than previously thought in

real world settings httpsnewswsuedu20160815study-neonicotinoid-pesticides-pose-low-risk-honey-bees

Our Plant Sample Submission App Now Available for Android Devices The Plant Sample Submission App developed in cooperation with Purdue and other universities is supported

by the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab The download is free and is available for iPhones iPads (at app store) and

now Android devices at httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=comin3samplesubmission If UConn is the

selected lab in the app submissions including information amp images go directly to the UConn diagnosticianrsquos

email You will receive a response within 1-2 business days

Topics that the Center is getting calls or emails on include tomato hornworms nutsedge bagworms waspsrsquo

nests crabgrass tobacco budworms on petunias chipmunks eating vegetables and squash bugs If you have

specific questions gardening queries or pest problems check out our website wwwladybuguconnedu or call

the UConn Home amp Garden Education Center (877) 486-6271 (toll-free in CT) Your County Cooperative

Extension Centers are also listed on the website

Ten Tips for the September Gardener 1 Mid to late September is a great time to plant accent plants such as mums sedums and asters that will provide

autumn colors in the landscape

2 Now is the time to de-thatch and aerate lawns to promote root growth

3 Rake up leaves twigs and fruit from crabapple trees to control apple scab disease Bagged debris should be

placed in the garbage not composted

4 Watch for frost warnings and cover tender plants

5 Get a jump on next yearrsquos lawn and gardens by having a soil test done through the UConn Soil Nutrient

Analysis Laboratory wwwsoiltestuconnedu

6 Plant trees and shrubs in early fall to allow time for the root establishment before the ground freezes

Continue watering until a hard frost

7 Continue to turn and moisten compost piles to speed decomposition

8 Harvest onions once tops have fallen over and necks have started to dry down and shrink just above the bulb

9 Sow a winter cover crop of rye or oats in the garden to keep topsoil in place over winter Till under in spring

10 Donrsquot forget to mark your calendar for the Cornucopia Fest at UConn Storrs on Sunday October 2 from

11 am to 4 pm Get answers to your gardening questions and bring frac12 cup of soil for a free pH test

Why Re-use ndash DEEP Commissioner Kleersquos Blog Post httpwwwnercorgnews-and-updatesblognerc-blog20160906why-reuse

Events ProgramsSave the Dates UConn 2016 Master Composter Program Almost 25 of household waste can be recycled through composting The purpose of the Master Composter

program is to educate and train residents about the basics of small scale composting and in exchange for the

training volunteers will pass on their knowledge to others through outreach activities such as talks

demonstrations tabling at events providing promotional activities working with schools or community gardens

etc Master Composter classes will be held at Auer Farm in Bloomfield There will be 4 week night lectures

Worm Day and 2 Saturday field trips with only one being mandatory The cost of the program is $100 The

Master Composter brochure with registration information is available at wwwladybuguconnedu or

wwwsoiltestuconnedu or call (860) 486-4274 for more information

2016 Cornucopia Join us Sunday October 2nd at the UConn Storrs campus for Cornucopia a free festival showcasing the

College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources Find out about the programs opportunities and research-

based information the College has to offer Be sure to bring frac12 cup of soil for a free pH test Horticulturists will

be on hand to answer your garden and pest questions Learn about the UConn Master Composter program

and much much more httpwwwcornucopiauconnedu

Save the Date Invasive Plant Symposium October 11 2016 The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) will present a symposium on Tuesday October 11 2016 at the Student Union University of Connecticut in Storrs CT The symposium will take place

from 800 am ndash 430 pm The symposium theme is Invasive Plants in Our Changing World Learn from the

Past Prepare for the Future People with all levels of interest and experience are invited to attend

This 8th biennial conference features national regional and local experts as well as citizen volunteers sharing

practical solutions for invasive plant management and actions needed to promote native species and improve

wildlife habitat The symposium is open to the public and will include introductory information about invasive

plants

Nationally-recognized Keynote speaker Jil Swearingen co-author of Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural

Areas will present ldquoWersquore Moving on Up Invasive Plants Heading Northrdquo Karl Wagener Executive Director

of the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality will speak on ldquoConnecticutrsquos Future Rooted in

Choicerdquo William Hyatt Vice Chair of the Connecticut Invasive Plants Council will provide a legislative

update Charlotte Pyle recently retired from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will deliver

closing remarks

Concurrent afternoon sessions will include

bull What Are Other States Doing Panel discussion with New England invasive plant experts

bull Native Plants for our Pollinators ndash Creating a balanced and healthy pollinator environment

bull Management of Key Invasives Success Stories and Progress Reports

bull Biological Control No Animal Too Small ndash Learn about these valuable invasive plant management tools

bull Aquatic Invasive Plants ndash Updates on Hydrilla and other new aquatic invasive plant threats

bull Plants to Watch Out For ndash What are the new invasives that threaten our borders

Research and management posters an invasive plant identification area and other educational exhibits will be

featured throughout the day

The symposium agenda and online registration are available at wwwcipwguconnedu Early registration

is $50 (on or before 91216) regular registration is $60 (AFTER 91216 or for walk-ins) Students $25

Registration includes parking and lunch In addition Pesticide Recertification and other Continuing Education

Credits will be available Attendees are advised to register early as the last symposium had record

attendance and sold out with 500 attendees Visit the CIPWG website at wwwcipwguconnedu to register

For additional information contact Donna Ellis at 860-486-6448 donnaellisuconnedu

Fermentation Workshop Offered by UConn Extension ndash September 17 2016 Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of food preservation All over the world it is used for the creation and

the preservation of food including beer wine sauerkraut kimchi sour pickles grains yogurt etc

UConn Extension is offering a fermentation workshop where participants will learn the principles of

fermentation and how it is used to create sauerkraut and kimchi This is a hands on workshop so participation

numbers will be limited

The program will be held Saturday September 17th at the New Haven County Extension Center 305 Skiff

Street North Haven CT 06473 from 930 am to 100 pm

The course fee is $2000 Pre-registration is required due to limited space please register early Registration

deadline is Monday September 12

For more information contact Diane Hirsch (dianehirschuconnedu 203-407-3163) Program and

registration information is posted on the UConn Extension food safety web site at

httpwwwfoodsafetyuconnedu

2016 Massachusetts Gardening Symposium Saturday October 1st Themed Inspirations for Next

Years Garden this day-long educational (and fun) event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Master Gardener

Association and features four award-winning speakers on landscape design and plant selection The event

location (Westford MA) is only a short 90-minute drive from Hartford

Registration closes on September 23rd Additional information is available at

wwwmassmastergardenersorgsymposium

Garden Master Classes (open to all fee httpmastergardeneruconnedu)

Fall Groundcovers Tuesday Sept 27 2016 10 am to noon Middlesex County Extension Center

Deadline for registration Sept 13th Instructor Kathy Connolly

Plants and Their Chemical Environment Saturday Oct 8 2016 from 10 am to noon Litchfield

County Extension Center Deadline for registration Sept 23th Instructor Dr Robert Rafka

Introduction to Horticultural Therapy Saturday Oct 8 2016 10 am to noon Middlesex County

Extension Center Deadline for registration Sept 13th Instructor Deirdra Wallin HTR

Controlled Burns amp Pitch Pine Restoration Thursday Oct 6 2016 from 2 to 4 pm Middlesex County

Extension Center Deadline for registration Sept 22nd Instructor Emory Gluck

Wild Edibles in Our Landscapes Wednesday Oct 12 2016 630 ndash 830 Tolland County Extension

Center Deadline for registration Sept 28th Instructor Judith Dreyer

Emerald Ash Borer Update Monday Oct 17 2016 from 10 am to noon New Haven County Extension

Center Deadline for registration Oct 3rd Instructor Dr Claire Rutledge CAES

Native Seed Collection for Conservation amp Restoration Saturday Oct 15 2016 130 to 430

Keirnan Hall Greenwich Audubon Deadline for registration Sept 30th Instructor Clara Holmes

Meditation Gardens Wednesday Oct 19 2016 from 10 am to noon Middlesex County Extension Center

Deadline for registration Oct 5th Instructors Jean Golicz amp Christine Galla

Growing Roses Organically Thursday Oct 20 2016 from 1 to 3 pm Fairfield County Extension Center

Deadline for registration Oct 6th Instructor Lorraine Ballato

Latin for Gardeners Thursday Oct 20 2016 from 10 am to noon New London County Extension Center

Deadline for registration Oct 6th Instructor Jude Hsiang

Soil ndash Itrsquos Not Just Dirt Wednesday Oct 19 2016 from 630 to 830 pm Tolland County Extension

Center Deadline for registration Oct 5th Instructor Margery Winters

Fourth Annual Yale Food Systems Symposium Feeding a growing world ndash Perspectives in 2016

Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

September 30 2016

Half a century out from the Green Revolution our food system is as technologically advanced as ever Yet our

innovations have presented long-term sustainability challenges while both global hunger and obesity persist

We are now faced with the question of where to go from herendashwith the knowledge and technology we have

obtained and challenges before us what approaches do we take to feed the world in a manner that is sustainable

for both the population and the planet Stakeholders across the food system as well as scholars hold divergent

perspectives on where to focus solutions A productionist view may point to the need to produce more food

through even more advanced technology and seed engineering while others may take a distributionist view that

stresses social justice rather than yields while still others may seek methods to reduce food waste Some may

focus on the nutritional quality of what we are growing while others emphasize the need to shift diets to those

less impactful on the environment These and other perspectives vary in the populations they target including

farmworkers consumers corporations or governments This conference seeks to stimulate conversation among

practitioners scholars and community members to understand these diverse perspectives and consider

collaborative solutions in moving forward as our world population grows diet-related diseases increase and

natural resources are depleted

The 2016 Yale Food Systems Symposium (YFSS) will bring diverse scholars and practitioners to work together

in action-oriented sessions that address the complex ecological and socio-economic dynamics of feeding the

world including food production consumption climate change and

urbanization httpsyalefoodsymposiumorg

UConn Blooms UConn Blooms is open for the Fall Semester to take care of your plant and flower needs Our greenhouse is full

of tropical house plants for your office home or dorm Our knowledgeable staff will help you choose the right

plant for your particular location with regards to light and watering Plants require a certain amount of sunlight

for photosynthesis to occur and we have low light medium light and full light plants We also have a fine

assortment of succulents and cactus for sunny windowsills These easy care plants thrive on neglect so just add

sunlight and a little water And if its fragrance you want our rosemary plants will give you plenty of that

Now that Labor Day has arrived its time to think about fall planting Our greenhouse is full of beautiful large

mum plants for either indoor color or outdoor planting Bronze yellow white purple and orange mums will be

available in September and October at UConn Blooms Loaded with buds for long term blooming these mums

were grown on campus You can dress up your office or home with these autumnal hues The large mum plants

are $699 each with quantity discounts available

UConn Blooms is the University of Connecticuts on campus source for fresh flowers and plants Our mission is

to provide the UConn community a place to purchase the highest quality floriculture products while at the same

time providing our students with an opportunity to work in a retail environment learning floral design plant

maintenance and small business techniques

Stop by our store located in the Floriculture Building on Rt 195 to see what we have to offer Order online at

uconnbloomsuconnedu or by phone at (860) 486 ndash 6000 UConn Blooms operates in two locations inside

the UConn Co-op and its main storefront in the Floriculture Building

Check out our fall mums

KNOWLEDGE TO GROW ON

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In Major First Americans Will Drink More Water Than Soda In 2016 But Are We

Healthier by Kate Ryan

Unsafe levels of toxic chemicals found in drinking water for six million

Americans

CLIMATE CORNER

httpwwwgrowingproducecomvegetablesmove-over-el-nino-la-nina-to-affect-

fall-weather

Historically robust natural ecosystems could collapse due to climate change

human activity

Global warmings next surprise Saltier beaches

Study Says Early Springs More Frequent In Next 30 Years

WHO KNEW

1967 solar storm nearly took US to brink of war

Humble moss helped create our oxygen-rich atmosphere

Locals Fight Black Swallow-Wort to Help Monarchs

Toward clothes that fix their own rips

UConn PLANT DIAGNOSTIC LAB WEBSITE wwwplantlabuconnedu UConn SOIL NUTRIENT ANALYSIS LAB WEBSITE wwwsoiltestuconnedu

UConn EXTENSION WEBSITE wwwextensionuconnedu

UConn FOOD SAFETY WEBSITE wwwfoodsafetyuconnedu

UConn SUSTAINABLE LIVING WEBSITE wwwsustainablelivinguconnedu

CT 10 Campaign Take the pledge

Pledge to spend 10 of your food dollars locally at httpwwwbuyctgrowncomct-10-percent Locally grown

food sustains CTrsquos farming community but more importantly locally grown and raised food will also increase

food security in our Northeast region and support local economies

Pledge to go 10 Local

The Live Local App invites consumers to discover and experience Connecticutrsquos local food and agriculture

Take the pledge to spend ten percent of your food and gardening dollars on locally grown products

With the Live Local App you can

Find out the seasonrsquos top ten

Get the lowdown on food and farm events

Share pictures of in season goodies

Take the 10 pledge

Instantly log your spending

Heliopsis lsquoSummer Sunrsquo

Photo and Text from httpwwwmissouribotanicalgardenorgPlantFinderPlantFinderDetailsaspxkempercode=h970

Heliopsis helianthoides commonly called ox eye is an upright clump-forming nearly glabrous

sunflower-like short-lived perennial that is native to eastern and central North America It

typically grows to 3-4 tall and features daisy-like flowers (2-3rdquo diameter) with yellow-orange

rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones Flowers bloom throughout summer atop stiff

stems clad with ovate toothed leaves (to 6 long)

Plants in the genus Heliopsis are both similar in appearance to and closely related to those in the

genus Helianthus the true sunflower Heliopsis is sometimes commonly called false sunflower

Genus name is from Greek helios meaing sun and opsis meaning resembling

Var scabra differs from species plants by having hairy and rough-textured (scabrous) leaves and

stems with the leaves being thicker Upper leaves may be entire with basal leaves toothed

Cultivars of var scabra are more commonly grown in gardens that the species itself

Sommersonne is a compact clump-forming upright cultivar which typically grows 2-3 tall

Features single to double daisy-like flowers (2-3 diameter) with golden yellow rays and deep

orange-yellow center disks atop stiff stems that seldom need staking Noted for its lengthy

summer to early fall bloom period Coarse serrate ovate to lanceolate deep green foliage Good

fresh cut flower

We Need Your Support

If you do enjoy our efforts to keep you informed about horticultural and College-related items

please consider showing your support by liking us on Facebook httpswwwfacebookcompagesUConn-Home-Garden-Center136211899745967 checking out our

weekly blog wwwuconnladybugwordpresscom or subscribing to our printed 20-page quarterly

newsletter for $12year (new price starting March 1st) or sign up for free email version Find the

subscription form at httpwwwladybuguconnedunewsletterindexhtml

September 2016 DMP