Nicole Ward Gauthier photo
Figure 1: Lower portions of the plant may decline or die-back as a result of Phytophthora root rot. Note excess water puddling. (Photo: Nicole Ward Gauthier)
Figure 2: Phytophthora root rot results in root reduction. (Photo: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org)
Spring rains can create growing conditions that are devastating to most landscape plants. Wet soils are favored by a group of pathogens called water molds, or oomycetes, which cause a range of root and stem diseases.
Water molds are found in most soils, but plant stress and high pathogen numbers can lead to severe disease. One common water mold is Phytophthora. This pathogen is common in Kentucky and has recently been diagnosed causing root rot on numerous plants, such as blueberry, arborvitae, and Colorado blue spruce.
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When forsythia show those bright yellow blooms, that indicates to get busy applying pre-emergence weed control (crabgrass preventer) to lawns.
Beth Wilson
Pulaski County Extension Agent for Horticulture
It s turf season! Lawnmowers will soon be cranked up in Pulaski County. Mowing is something that shouldn t be taken lightly as it can really affect disease management and weed control. In addition, there are some other jobs to be done in the spring.
Spring is NOT the time for fertilizing your tall fescue lawn. To repeat, spring is NOT the time to fertilize your tall fescue lawn. Applying nitrogen fertilizer causes grass to grow so much that you have to mow more often, it many times fertilizes weeds that are already out there, and it predisposes tall fescue to brown patch disease.
When Kentucky is slammed with winter weather, you might lose power for a period. Once the power returns, you may question whether your food is still safe to eat.