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Gardener News

February, 2013

Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

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GARDENERNEWS.COM

No. 118

A Major Agricultural Threat

By Sharon Durham and Dennis O'Brien Agricultural Research Service Information Staff

Stephen Ausmus/Photo

The brown marmorated stink bug is easily recognized by many because it’s invading our homes.

But the pest, shown here feeding on an apple, is also a major economic threat to fruit crops, garden vegetables, and many ornamentals. ARS scientists are fighting back by developing traps, sequencing the bug’s genome, and testing parasitic wasps as biocontrols.

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is wreaking havoc in U.S. homes, gardens, and agricultural operations, causing personal and economic woe.

Agricultural Research Service scientists are exploring various aspects of monitoring and control of this increasingly important insect pest, which is an invasive Asian species known as a sporadic pest of many tree fruit crops in China, Korea, and Japan. Along with being a household nuisance, it is a major economic threat to producers of orchard fruits such as apple, peach, and pear; garden vegetables and row crops; and many ornamental species.

Since its detection in the northeastern United States a decade ago, the BMSB has been detected in 38 states and has earned the distinction of being classified as the top invasive insect of interest by the U.S Department of Agriculture. With economic losses to the apple industry estimated at $37 million in 2010, the bug’s threat to apple growers prompted a Member of Congress to organize a public hearing in western Maryland.

There is also concern about the potential damage it could cause to vineyards in California and other states.

Tracy Leskey, with the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in (Cont. on page 7)

2 February, 2013

GARDEN CENTER DIRECTORY

Gardener News

Got Rock Salt?

We Do… & Calcium, Snow Shovels, Firewood & Propane.

Hall’s Garden Center & Florist 700 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 908.665.0331 | www.hallsgarden.com

Gardener News

February, 2013 3 Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Protection It has been a really sad couple of months since that horrible Monday evening, October 29, when superstorm Sandy slammed into the East Coast.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were either damaged or destroyed. I was affected, so I feel your pain.

It was the most ferocious storm that I have lived through to date. I sure hope that I never experience another one like it in my lifetime.

I’m sure all of you have had to make some difficult choices in the clean-up and restoration efforts.

In order to avoid any more ferocious incidents going forward with the clean-up and restoration efforts, I’m going to share with you a way to protect yourself and your family from fraudulent contractors.

According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the “Contractors’ Registration Act” (the “Act”) establishes a mandatory registration program for contractors who are in the business of selling or making home improvements in New Jersey. This Act has been in place since January 1, 2006.

So, what is considered a home improvement?

Any remodeling, altering, painting, repairing, renovating, restoring, moving, demolishing, or modernizing of a structure used as a place of residence, or of any portion of the property on which the structure is located, is considered a home improvement for the purposes of the Act. Home improvement includes the construction, installation, replacement, improvement, or repair of driveways, sidewalks, swimming pools, terraces, patios, landscaping, fences, porches, windows, doors, cabinets, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements and basement waterproofing, fire protection devices, security protection devices, central heating and air conditioning equipment, water softeners, heaters, and purifiers, solar heating or water systems, insulation installation, siding, wall-to-wall carpeting or attached or inlaid floor coverings, and other changes, repairs, or improvements made to residential property. Construction of a new residence is not considered a home improvement under the Act. Who is considered a home improvement contractor?

Any person, whether a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or any other type of business organization that is engaged in the business of selling or making home improvements is considered a home improvement contractor for the purposes of the Act. Who must register?

The Act requires any contractor, whether an individually owned business or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association, to register annually with the Division, unless specifically exempted from registration under the Act. Also effective January 1, 2006, municipalities are barred from issuing construction permits to an unregistered home improvement contractor who is required to register.

If your landscaper only mows your lawn and trims the shrubs, they don’t have to register. If they do anything else, they should be registered.

This law also applies to out-of-state contractors?

Any contractor who fails to register as required by the Contractors’ Registration Act but who continues to sell or make home improvements or who violates any other section of the law is subject to civil monetary penalties of up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $20,000 for each subsequent offense. Also, anyone who knowingly violates the Act is considered guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and faces additional fines as well as possible jail time.

Also be aware, some home improvement contractors are using the word “license” rather than “registration” when referring to their status with the Division. The Division registers home improvement contractors and does not license them. For that reason, the use of the word “license” to describe the status with the Division is deceptive and misleading to consumers. Home improvement contractors must not use the word “license” in any advertisements, business documents, invoices, contracts or correspondence. Further, home improvement contractors must not use the word “license” when displaying the 13VH registration number on commercial vehicles.

To sum it up, every registered contractor must: maintain commercial general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000.00 per occurrence; display the registration number in the place of business, in all advertisements, in all business documents including contracts and on all commercial vehicles; put home improvement contracts with a purchase price exceeding $500 in writing containing all terms and conditions of the contract including: price; a description of the work to be done; materials to be used; and the dates or time period within which the work will be begun and completed. The contract must be signed by all parties; and provide a copy of the certificate of commercial general liability insurance with the contract.

This Act was designed to protect people like you and me. So, please make sure to hire only contractor’s with a 13VH registration number.

P.S. If you need to break the ground for any reason during the clean-up and restoration efforts, please call 811 to have your underground utilities marked out. It’s also the law!

As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.

Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State.

-Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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Gladly Accepting SNAP EBT Cards

Robert Belleck Water Garden Specialist

4 February, 2013

Gardener News

In February, all of New Jersey agriculture comes together for the annual New Jersey State Agricultural Convention to discuss the pressing issues facing the industry in the coming year. It is the time to convene and talk about the past year and the experiences farmers have had, with an eye toward decisionmaking for the future.

The convention is legally mandated, and, as specified under New Jersey statute, delegates representing all sectors of the industry gather annually to elect two members to the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, elect farmermembers to the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, and set agricultural policy for the Department of Agriculture through a series of formal resolutions voted upon by the delegates.

The first annual convention was held in 1914, so the event is a time-honored tradition, not without some pageantry. At the delegates’ dinner, this year being held on Wednesday, February 6, we honor the young people in agriculture with a parade of the youth ambassadors, such as the state Dairy Princess, the Honey Queen and the 4-H ambassadors. These young

pop up. They can be fussy and tricky to grow, but the idea of eating or displaying a fruit, vegetable or flower that is unchanged through the ages is quite appealing.

It is also, however, great to make selections of hybridized varieties that have combined the best traits of several species that can provide you with the satisfaction of harvesting the biggest or the tastiest or the showiest specimen.

The point of all this is to encourage you to start early searching for the seeds that promise to provide you with hours of enjoyment. Gardening is so personal and can provide you and your family a great experience that will endure the passing of time over decades.

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Planning for Spring people are the future of our industry and we are glad to recognize them in this way.

The convention will take place February 6-7, and for the second year, we are holding our convention concurrently with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.

Last year’s event garnered a strong response, so this year is expected to be even better, with many educational and informational opportunities, as well as an impressive trade show.

During the convention, a number of subjects will be discussed, including farm profitability and agricultural labor. A presentation will be given by the Department’s new advertising agency about the 2013 Jersey Fresh campaign and we will get to meet the new president of Rutgers University, Dr. Robert L. Barchi.

In addition, the Vegetable Growers Association will have a trade show February 5-7 and a wide variety of educational sessions on topics including growing crops, food safety, and agriculture water issues.

We want to grow the convention every year and welcome and encourage other agricultural organizations to join us.

Just like farmers are thinking about next year’s crops and what they are going to plant, so, too, are home gardeners.

As we head into the last throes of winter, we sense that winter will still pack a wallop of cold and dreary weather for us all to brave. While the reading on the thermometer dips low, our backyard farmers are already basking in the anticipation of spring a few months away.

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Bob Lanza, who is officially recognized as a Great Blue Artist from New Jersey in the Blues Hall of Fame, gets some great agricultural insight from the January Gardener News just after shopping at his local Kings Food Market in Warren, New Jersey. Lanza, who is the bandleader of the Bob Lanza Blues Band, has been playing the blues in the New Jersey area for over 30 years. In 2011 Lanza and his band won the New York Blues Society’s IBC Battle of the Bands, going on to represent the New York Blues Society in Memphis, Tennessee, at the International Blue Challenge. Lanza and his band have backed-up Superharp James Cotton, Piano Legend Floyd Phillips, Nashville Native and Southern Rocker Dave Perkins, and many more.

For gardeners, it is a time to plan and ponder what they will grow in next year’s garden. Because of our exceptional climate, there are so many wonderful things we are fortunate to be able to cultivate in New Jersey.

The first of the seed catalogues have been arriving at my house and online, providing a great deal of information and expertise on the page and the screen. Thousands of selections are offered for one to make an extraordinary garden that can be sown in so many environments.

Years ago, I remember the home gardeners referring to just a couple of companies, like Burpee, Stokes and Shumway’s. But, now with the Internet, the offerings are limited only by the time you want to spend searching.

Heirloom varieties, some dating back hundreds of years,

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http://www. state.nj.us/agriculture

Gardener News

February, 2013 5

Support NJ Agriculture JERSEY GROWN

Nursery Stock JERSEY GROWN

Sunflower Birdseed

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When you’re shopping for JERSEY GROWN nursery stock, you know the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers are checked for quality, disease, are pest free, and accustomed to the Garden State’s climate and soil conditions.

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Governor Chris Christie Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher

jerseygrown.nj.gov

6 February, 2013

Gardener News

GCNJ’s Mardi Gras Madness

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey Are you ready to be WOWED at the MAC Events 11th Annual New Jersey Flower and Garden Show’s “Mardi Gras Around the World”? Just the title sets your pulse racing and visions of gardens doing a Louisiana two-step dance in your brain, filling it with vibrant rainbows of color and explosions of exciting new cultivars beckoning us to celebrate the advent of spring not far behind.

This should put Ol’ Man Winter in full retreat and melt those winter blues with new perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs tempting us with their “siren song” of subliminal messages of “plant me in your garden, you know you have to have me,” and we gladly cave in as we’re already deciding what plant has to go to make room for our new heart’s desire. The show’s dates are Thursday, February 14 at 1 p.m. through Sunday, February 17 at 6 p.m. at the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison, N.J. This year promises even more gardens to ooohh and aaahh over with all of us envisioning how we can replicate these gardens in our own landscape. I can’t wait to see what our professional landscape companies, nurseries and garden centers come up with, incorporating the exciting theme of “Mardi Gras” carnivals around the world into amazing garden exhibits. Micaela Vie Brock of MAC Events welcomes you to “sit in on seminars and demonstrations by local and regional garden experts and learn about the latest gardening trends.” She says to those of you with kids, “Don’t miss the Growing up Green area featuring daily hands-on activities” and “Make sure to visit Gourmet & Grape: A Food & Wine Extravaganza. This area will

feature a yummy selection of vendors, samples and more along with top-notch cooking demos. Plus, this area will feature talks and presentations on cooking with fresh produce, wine and cheese pairings and growing vegetables and herbs in your garden.” Think Jersey Fresh and Jersey Grown. Micaela advises us to check out the “Great Garden Marketplace loaded with 200 vendors featuring everything for your garden from bulbs and shears to garden accents and seeds. Plus, there will be a full-blown garden center featured at the show offering gardening tools, pottery, patio sets and outdoor grills.”

The Garden Club of New Jersey’s local garden club members and Master Gardeners are looking forward to competing in the Container Challenge that is a win/win for all involved. Just go on MAC Events’ website and check out prior years, and sign-up to be part of it as it’s a daily event. Remember that you really can’t lose and it’s so much fun. Bring along your buddies to cheer you on.

We’re also looking forward to the “Dueling Designers” from the GCNJ where we’ll have two competing designers with the same plant material whip up delightful designs that will be auctioned off to benefit public gardens devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Last year’s Flower Show Chairman, Terry Holman, will emcee this daily event and I think that she has me “pegged” to do a duel up against Susan O’Donnell, GCNJ Natural Disaster Chair, GCNJ Judge and GCNJ Flower Show Vice Chair. I’ll tell you right here that Susan definitely has the edge as she is a “crackerjack” designer and a no-holdsbarred competitor.

Now, last but not least, is the GCNJ Flower Show “Mardi Gras Madness,” a Standard Flower Show presented to the public under

the rules of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. And do we ever have a spectacular show planned!

Starting with a fabulous “community garden” erected by Bruce Crawford and his Rutgers students, I can tell you that if you enjoyed this past year’s creation, you’ll be knocked over by this year’s stunner.

Say “hello” to GCNJ Board members who will greet you as you come into our show.

Grab some beads, put on your party hat and “let the good times roll!” You can view our Flower Show schedule up on the GCNJ website and travel “around the world” to carnival celebrations from Brazil, New Orleans, Quebec, Venice, Nice, the French Riviera, and more.

Take in all three Divisions of our Flower Show: Design, Horticulture and Special Exhibits with Educational Exhibits, the Youth section and Photography, all in a new expanded area of the show, the Grand Ballroom. Be sure to take in our special Awards Ceremony on the last day of the show, February 17 at 4 p.m., where we will award the first grants of up to $1,000 to garden club-sponsored projects throughout the state with information on our GCNJ website under Community Gardens. Get Out There!

Join a Garden Club!

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Horticultural Chair and NGC Accredited Judge for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., GCNJ Community Garden Chair and Central Atlantic Region Community Garden Chair of National Garden Clubs, Inc. Jeannie is this year’s GCNJ Flower Show Chair and can be reached by emailing jeannieg42@earthlink.net Garden Club of New Jersey’s website is: www. gardenclubofnewjersey. com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.

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Gardener News is Now Accepting Nominations for its

2013

Person of the Year Award.

Do you know someone in the “Green Industry” whose contributions deserve recognition?

This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the green industry.

The deadline for receiving nominations for 2013 is November 1, 2013.

Gardener News annually bestows our “Person of the Year” Award in our January edition.

To download the form, please visit www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year” link on the left side.

Thank you!

Gardener News “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This proverbial phrase is meant to encourage optimism and a “can-do” attitude when faced with adversity. Given the recent weather phenomena, particularly Sandy, I thought it would be a good time to consider talking about improved garden design and some interesting plants to consider in the New Year.

Sandy literally ripped apart our landscapes and left many with vacancies and an appreciation for what once was. Enormous conifers and deciduous trees that once provided shady habitats toppled over and left many with full-sun areas. Customers have since engaged me in conversation and without exception never truly appreciated the shade, privacy and pleasure their missing “green friends” had given them and their gardens.

It is not feasible, for most, to go forward and replace the same size trees that were lost.

That said, Sandy’s wrath has given us all an ability to look at our gardens differently and go forward planting new and exciting plants. Before you visit your local independent garden center this spring, I thought it would be useful to suggest some plants that have proven themselves reliable, interesting, durable and suitable for residential landscapes. Some

February, 2013 7 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

When Life Gives You Lemons… may not roll off your tongue as easily as others you may have heard of, but believe me, all have proven themselves time and again in landscapes.

Leading off are the deciduous trees, (those trees that lose their leaves come winter).

First and foremost, as you consider replanting larger trees, be mindful of your surroundings so as not to put back too big a tree in too small an area. Shade is great for your garden, but there is no need to have your entire property swallowed up in it unless you truly desire that. Small trees (those that grow 15-30 feet) and medium trees (those growing 30-50 feet) are more than adequate for residential landscapes. Japanese maples, Fringetree, Silverbell, Redbud, Dogwood, Hawthorne, Maackia, Parrotia, Japanese Snowbell, Stewartia and Sourwood are all storybook trees. Each, in their own right, offers multiple assets

and would all be a topic of conversation when guests arrive.

Flowers, bark and outstanding fall color are all certain to happen on most, and some possess all these traits.

Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica, has been part of many a conversation in recent months. After Hurricane Sandy hit I began to take notice of all the large evergreens that fell.

Norway Spruce and Eastern White Pine were at the top of this list. As I patrolled surrounding neighborhoods and engaged other professionals in conversation about this issue, we all agreed that very few Japanese Cedars were seen down, at least around us. This stately conifer is “a tall, lofty, pyramidal or conical tree with a stout trunk” (Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs). Blue-green markings on some, I prefer the cultivar “Rein’s Dense Jade,” whose rubbery, “unusual texture and rich jade-green needles

gives this handsome form of the species a compelling look.

Tightly held foliage which turns a striking purple-bronze in the winter, gives its branches a welldefined, formal appearance”(Iseli Nursery). With 54 of these acting as a garden wall around our gardens, not one lost even a needle during Sandy. And while my conversations with colleagues has academic merit, it was still an informal study concluding that Japanese Cedars may, in fact, anchor themselves better into our landscapes in the New York metropolitan area. “Certainly a beautiful evergreen and worth considering as an alternative to pines, spruces and firs” (Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs). Did I mention it’s deer resistant too?

While so many have a kneejerk reaction to planting Leyland Cypress, Arborvitae and the aforementioned spruce and pine, Cryptomeria, in my opinion, should become a dominant, large

evergreen to plant. After all, they are doing exceedingly well on the north, south, east and west ends of our garden.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now (Chinese Proverb).

Gardening should nourish the soul, inspire us and bring out our creative sides. In closing, I would like to share a passage from a Christmas card I received several years ago from Michael Dirr. In it he wished his “best to a fellow gardener and plantsman. May the New Year bring peace, good health and improved gardening.”

My wish is the same for all those gardeners out there who go forth and tackle new, thoughtful and exciting garden projects.

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, a members of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society, a member of the NJ Plants Trade Show Advisory Board, and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

A Major Agricultural Threat (Continued from Page 1) Kearneysville, West Virginia, is the principal investigator of the research group, which includes several scientists in ARS’s Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland; Jana Lee, an ARS entomologist in Corvallis, Oregon; and Kim Hoelmer, director of the USDA-ARS European Biological Control Laboratory in Montpellier, France.

A major project led by Leskey, funded through the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative Program, is called “Biology, Ecology, and Management of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Orchard Crops, Small Fruit, Grapes, Vegetables, and Ornamentals.” While this is a mouthful, it goes to the heart of the damage that can be caused by this pest. The project is funded for 3 years with $5.7 million in federal funds and $7.3 million in matching funds. The group

includes ARS, Pennsylvania State University, Washington State University, North Carolina State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Rutgers University, Northeastern IPM Center, Oregon State University, University of Maryland, University of Delaware, and Cornell University. The project will take advantage of research that ARS scientists have conducted on BMSB since it was detected in the United States in 2001. The project’s progress can be followed on its website, stopbmsb.org.

Setting the Trap Growers need as much in-the-field information as possible to find ways to manage BMSBs. “Monitoring tools are used to assess the presence, abundance, and seasonal activity of pests and natural enemies to determine the need for and timing of insecticide applications,” says Leskey. “Specifically, our group evaluated responses of brown marmorated stink bugs

Stephen Ausmus/Photo

Adult and late-instar nymph stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys, feed on a Honey Crisp apple, a popular cultivar among consumers. using different visual stimuli, compared the effectiveness of commercially available traps from Asia with a black pyramid prototype trap, compared relative attraction

to different doses of odor attractants, and conducted a field cage experiment designed to establish how often the brown marmorated stink bugs reproduce.”

Leskey has focused on visual stimuli that can, in addition to odor stimuli, attract the BMSBs to traps that will help farmers monitor the level (Cont. on page 18)

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Gardener News What have you done for your lawn? There are estimates that in the United States, lawns cover over 25 million acres, roughly the size of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island combined!

We need a little give-andtake to be successful in life, and your lawn is no different. You cannot expect much enjoyment from your lawn if you do not put any effort or thought into it. So you ask, what has my lawn done for me?

There are a number of amazing benefits your lawn does for you. Did you know that an average 5,000-square-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for eight people every day?

This turf area absorbs carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride and perosyacetyle nitrate and releases oxygen in return. The grass and trees along the U.S. highway system release oxygen to support 22 million people!

And that’s not all, (sounds like a slick TV commercial) the average front lawn of eight homes produces about eight to nine tons of cooling effect, while the average air

February, 2013 9 Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Ask not what your lawn has done for you… conditioner only provides three to four tons of cooling capacity.

Turfgrass provides benefits above and below the soil surface. Healthy lawns trap up to 12 million pounds of dust and dirt released into the atmosphere annually in the United States. Since 90 percent of the weight of a grass plant is made up of root mass, it becomes a very efficient form of erosion control.

These grass roots, along with soil microbes, have the ability to remove silt particles, acting as a filter to capture and break down many types of pollutants, purifying the water as it enters the ground aquifers. The prevention of water run-off and erosion of soil is very beneficial to the environment.

Easy Container Fountain Kit— Contains all you will need to build a fountain in your favorite container. Four easy steps!

This is simple and ideal for a water feature in a small space0 or as a focal point in the center of any landscape bed. The Pond Boss.

of the rock-hard, bare-dirt fields I played on. No, I did not make the Olympics, however, I was captain when in college.

What about the emotional effects of healthy, green grass? Where would you rather visit grandma, at a grassy village setting with rolling green hills or a concrete jungle? Recovery rates are often quicker with patients in hospitals with a nicely landscaped view.

What if you live in the big city and can’t wait to go to the park on the weekend to stroll, have a picnic or to play ball with the dog? We like lawn areas; they give a feeling of serenity, privacy and happiness that lifts the human spirit.

Perhaps you are thinking of selling your home. If so,

Garden Shopping

By Leslie Barlow Garden Educator

Canyon Living Wall Planter—These eco-friendly vertial gardening planters are easily mounted on any vertical surface--- Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.

They will beautifully transform a surface into a beautiful, functional living wall. www.

CompoClay.com Vintage Terrariums— Cement planters with a vintage white wash finish and covered with an open top glass dome---a simple yet stylish home decor accessory suitable for faux or real plants. 10” diameter Kaemingk Associates

Athletic fields and playgrounds which are covered with natural, dense, growing grass help to prevent injuries. “Egg drop” tests have been performed over the years. One reports that when one dozen raw eggs where dropped from a height of up to 11 feet, no eggs broke on densely covered turf mowed at two inches. More than eight eggs broke on thin turf at the same height and they all broke when dropped on an all-weather track from only 18 inches. Who says turf isn’t tough but gentle at the same time? As a former soccer player, during my career I appreciated a high-quality turf for true playing conditions. When I fell down, a healthy lawn felt much better than some

Wild Bird Windchimes— Each life-sized bird is carved and painted by Balinese artists and is a unique work of art They are made from solid wood and are perfect for any wild bird lover. www.Cohassetgifts.com

a well landscaped property and lawn can add 15 percent more value to the home from a buyer’s point of view. The investment you put into beautifying your home landscape should pay dividends above your cost of installation. I noticed a few newly seeded lawns this fall in my neighborhood that really stood out. The uniformity and healthy, green growth compared to the lawn that used to be there was dramatic. I hope you have a better feeling for your lawn and what it does for you.

Remember, do not apply lawn fertilizers before the March 1 black-out date in New Jersey. Be sure to and come visit us at the New Jersey Flower show from February 14-17, Booth #424 at the New Jersey Convention Center. For more information, visit www. njflowershow.com.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so. ~Stanley Crawford

Be sure to visit your local Strawberry Jar—Natural garden center for a preview patina powder-coated finish of spring flowers and………. with coco-liner – plastic water tube included for easy Happy Valentine’s Day! watering. Great for herbs or small annuals. 15”L x 15” D x 20” H. Deer Park Til next time, Leslie Ironworks.

Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow is co-owner of Barlow Flower Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of the largest retail growers in NJ since 1983.

She has appeared on News 12 NJ and has been a guest speaker at local garden clubs. She is a Certified Staging Professional™ with a specialty in Curb Appeal.

She has been gardening for many years and is always at trade shows hunting for useful accessories for the home garden. For product information she can be reached at 732-449-9189 or lbarlowbytheshor@aol.com

10 February, 2013 February is a wonderful month for horticultural therapists to start horticultural therapy activities using the bounty that nature’s winter has to offer, with little to no cost. Hearts, roses, and fragrance, and the question of whether the groundhog will see his shadow, always make clients smile, but three of my favorite and highly successful HT activities for individuals or groups are cutting and forcing woody plant stems, making bird feeders and seed starting.

All of these provide ongoing sensory stimulation and offer a satisfying glimpse of winter’s bounty and joy in the hope of spring to come.

Stems of a number of woody plants can be forced into bloom for indoor display. Some plants are easier to force than others.

Three of the easiest are forsythia, pussy willow and flowering quince.

These plants have now gone through enough cold weather to satisfy their chilling requirement and should bloom if given the right conditions.

Gardener News Horticultural Therapy

By Laura DePrado Specialist

Horticultural Therapy Activities Using Winter’s Bounty Choose a day that is above freezing for collecting branches for blooming. In my HT programs, I have a scavenger hunt, which is so much fun for everyone and never tires. As stems are cut, place them in a bucket of water and bring them into the house and soak them in warm water for several hours to ensure that the stems and buds are fully hydrated. A bathtub works well for this. Next, place them in a container that has a warm preservative solution and place them in an environment with high humidity and plenty of light.

Make your preservative solution by dissolving packets of floral preservative in water to help prevent bacterial growth in your water and provide nutrients

for the plants. Since indoor relative humidity is typically low during the winter, spray mist using a spray bottle will prevent dehydration of flower buds and blossoms.

Normally, forsythia will take about nine days to flower, quince will require between 12 to 20, and pussy willow needs from five to 15 days.

The time required will vary depending on indoor conditions and how late in the winter the branches were collected. Most woody plants should be in flower within three weeks of collection and will remain in flower for about a week before blooms start to fade.

The second activity is making bird feeders using food, such as cereal, popcorn, seeds, nuts, crackers, dried fruit and peanut butter,

Rutgers’ Home Gardeners School to Help Green Thumbs Cultivate Lush Landscapes This March 1(: %5816:,&. 1- ʊ 7KH 5XWJHUV 1-$(6 2IILFH RI &RQWLQXLQJ 3URIHVVLRQDO Education (OCPE) is pleased to announce that its 37th Annual Home Gardeners School will be held on March 23, 2013 in New Brunswick, NJ. Featuring thirty-five workshops covering a variety of topics related to gardening and landscaping, this is a wonderful opportunity for both novice and experienced home gardeners to receive expert instruction, learn new horticulture skills, and connect with others who share their interests.

This full day event will feature speakers from the OCPE’s commercial horticulture and landscape design programs, along with Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) faculty and staff. These highly energetic and knowledgeable speakers will share their gardening wisdom and give attendees practical information that can be used to enhance existing gardening practices or implement new techniques. Students will leave with the know-how to prepare their gardens for the spring and beyond.

The thirty-five gardening workshops cover a wide range of topics, including composting, irrigation, lawn care, tree care, beekeeping, and pruning techniques. Some workshops include hands-on activities, such as building a water garden, creating a terrarium or learning the art of fresh flower arranging.

This year’s Home Gardeners School also includes sixteen brand new workshops covering topics ranging from gardening using social media to bird-friendly landscapes to shade-loving plants. Attendees can create their own schedules by selecting the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests for a truly exciting day of learning!

The Saturday program will be held in Hickman Hall on the Rutgers University Cook/ Douglass Campus. Coffee/tea and registration begin at 8:00AM and workshops will run from 9:00AM-4:00PM, with a one-hour lunch break at noon. All participants will have an opportunity to attend the keynote lunch presentation, “Where have All the Stinkbugs Gone?� featuring Dr. George Hamilton, Rutgers University Extension Specialist in Pest Management and stinkbug expert.

Registration for Home Gardeners School is available by calling 732-932-9271 or by visiting http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/HGS. Participants may purchase an optional boxed lunch or bring their own. Space is limited and admission to workshops will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so participants are encouraged to register early.

and nature’s materials of pinecones, Magnolia pods, woody plant stems and ears of corn. A variety of feeders can be created, such as suets, bird magnets, hanging from tree branches or placed directly outside of a window for viewing from a distance or up close. Bird-watching and feeding provides connection to nature and its seasonal rhythms and lifecycles, stewardship and social interaction and play for participants.

The third great winter activity used in horticultural therapy is seed starting, monitoring, and transplanting. Seed starting is a great activity that offers extended weeks of seasonalrelated lessons. This is a great time to go through seed catalogs with clients or

patients to select plants of herbs, edible and ornamental, flowers and vegetables.

Seedlings can be used as giveaways as individual plants, placed in patient rooms and at nurses’ stations, visitor sitting rooms, or planted in a space outside where a garden may exist. Just going through seed catalogs and looking at pictures and plant descriptions can stimulate the mind and memories and ideas of gardens, past, present and future. Looking at photos or talking about the thousands of varieties of seeds in any category can awaken the senses and stimulate the taste buds, too.

Editors Note: Laura DePrado, HT Practicioner, is owner of Final Touch Plantscaping, LLC, 908-872-8387, laura@ finaltouchplantscaping. com. Laura is the founder and Co Coordinator of Rotary Rutgers Enabling Enabling Garden Initiative, “Growing Lives One Seed at a Time� in central New Jersey. www.rotarynj. org and 2012 Paul Harris Fellow Award Recipient.

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Gardener News

How much does it cost?

What do I get for my money?

What’s the price?

These are all common questions that consumers ask when they are about to make a purchase. As people go through their daily routines, they are both consciously and subconsciously evaluating the prices of various items that they need to purchase.

The days of a farmer being successful by simply hauling his products to market and taking whatever the buyers decide to pay him are long gone. And if farmers are going to be successful, they must learn all about the ins and outs of the science of pricing.

As far as industries go, agriculture is probably one of the most backward that there is in terms of creativity and innovation in pricing.

Compared to many other businesses, there is just not much sizzle when it comes to marketing and pricing. Take a hamburger, for instance.

Think of the array of choices available to someone who wants to purchase a quarterpound hamburger. They can choose from a wide assortment

February, 2013 11

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

What’s the Price? of different meats. They can choose whether or not they want to cook it themselves or purchase it at a restaurant.

This then leads to the massive marketing campaigns that are associated with restaurants.

They can select whether or not they want fries and a drink with that burger. We could go on and on.

Contrast that with a gallon of milk. There is the factor of convenience of course.

There is the type, i.e. whole, skim, organic, etc… Perhaps some people will look at the “use by” date. And then there is the price. And that’s about it. There is minimal marketing, no glitz, and no nonsense. Sure there is the “Milk Moustache Campaign,” but that is an industry-wide promotional initiative. There is almost no marketing to

differentiate one brand from another. Which brings us back to price. And like most other commodities, with price, it is a race to the bottom and that is what most consumers will base their purchase decision on.

On the other end of the spectrum, let’s look at the price of an NFL ticket.

Professional football is by far the most popular sport in the United States. Today, a ticket is considered cheap if it is less than $150. And that is just for the face value of the ticket.

That does not take into account the handling fees, the parking fees, and the seat license you are required to buy in order to enable you to purchase the ticket. But the fact of the matter is, if someone asked what your ticket cost, you would probably respond with

the face value price on the ticket. And because there is such high demand for these tickets, people continue to pay exorbitant amounts for them.

But there is a big difference between NFL football and say, high school football, where the tickets are much cheaper.

As far as farm products go, the one that is the closest example to this is probably the wine industry. While the large majority of wine that is produced probably retails for less than $15 to $20 dollars a bottle, there are some wines that regularly sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars per bottle! This is because the wine producers have been able to successfully differentiate their products from one another. And this perceived difference in quality

combined with a limited supply of product, as well as customers who are willing to pay, has created a very nice market for the producers of top-quality wines.

The bottom line in all of this for farmers is that if you are growing something that consumers believe is better or fresher or different from other competing products, then they should be able to obtain a premium for those products. If, however, there is no perceived difference, then customers are more apt to shop solely on the basis of price.

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is a current member of the Tewksbury Township Committee, and a former Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

12 February, 2013 A strange way to describe pruning of landscape plants don’t you think? But that is what many people and even professionals do when they perform pruning tasks. Yes, this comes from the wants and views of some customers, but that’s where a little education can go a long way. Pruning needs to be considered a horticultural practice, meaning you should only make cuts which will improve the health and look of the plant. Too often, the hedge shears are used to sculpt plants to fit the location.

A more prudent practice would be to take a step back and determine whether the plants in question should have been used in these locations.

Many times, transplanting to a better location or simply removing the plants from the landscape will offer a chance to install a plant which will better suit that location. The use of plants with dwarf or lower growth habit may offer an opportunity for the plant to mature in a specific location and minimize the amount of pruning necessary.

When making a careful inspection of your property, Even though we are right in the middle of winter, I can promise you that spring is just around the corner. How can I say this when temperatures are in the 20s and 30s and the ground is frozen solid? I’m going to tell you right now.

If you’re serious about doing a landscape design/ build installation project this year and having it installed by a professional landscape contractor, I suggest that you start “thinking spring” as quickly as possible, especially if you want the work completed before the summer. That’s right.

Better landscape contractors are already booked up with work for March and April and looking into May and June. Between the projects that they were unable to complete last year, due to the weather, and projects that are already designed, contracted and deposited, you are already getting a late start.

While this may sound a little disappointing, there still is time (not much) for you to have your dream landscape installed before the summer. As we all know, the season is short enough without adding a landscape construction project into the mix. Why have your property all torn up this

Gardener News The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

Cut Them Every Month Whether They Need It Or Not take time to identify what problems are visible and what practices are needed to correct them. This should be done well in advance of bringing out the pruning tools. Some of your plants may not look healthy and may have an overabundance of dead wood.

If this is the case, there usually is a problem which pruning may only exacerbate. Wet feet or poor soil are a couple which would need to be addressed.

No matter how you prune these plants, they will not recover without addressing the water problems first. Many times, insect and disease problems are symptomatic of unhealthy growing conditions as well. When analyzing your landscape, a professional’s help may be needed to diagnose problems which are not obvious.

After you eliminate any problems inherent in the landscape, the pruning can begin. Look for dead wood, crossing or branches touching others, branching which is circling back to the trunk and in some plants old, woody branches which detract from the plant’s beauty. Get a mental picture of the plant before you attack with the pruners.

Most pruning is done with hand-held bypass pruners.

Any woody, larger material can be removed with either a lopper or through the use of a saw. When doing any pruning, care must be taken to work properly and safely.

Dead wood should be the first consideration. By removing these parts of the plant which are not viable, you can then prune for size and

shape. Cuts need to be made in a way which will promote a healthy appearance. These need to be just above a bud which is facing in the direction you want the new growth to follow. This is true on almost all of your ornamental plants.

Many times, plants produce an overabundance of interior branching. Cleaning out and thinning by pruning some of this material back to the trunk will allow new growth to prosper. This type of renewal pruning is especially helpful with multi-stemmed plants such as forsythia, which produce flowers on new growth quickly.

Timing of pruning is important with most plants.

Spring flowering material should be pruned when the current year’s flowers have faded. Deciduous plants

Creating Outdoor Spaces

By Jody Shilan, MLA Landscape Designer

Spring is in the air year when you could be relaxing and enjoying your back yard oasis this summer.

So let this serve as a helpful warning to all of you to get started now before it’s too late and you lose another year.

If you’re going to work with a professional landscape contractor, there is plenty of preparation work to do to find the right contractor for you and your project. So why not get started right now, in the middle of the winter, and find a company that is a good fit for you.

The first step in this process is to talk to friends, neighbors or family members who have had landscape work done so that you can get some referrals. It’s always helpful to talk to someone who has had firsthand experience with a specific landscape contractor to gain some valuable insight. If

possible, try to find somebody who had an installation that is similar to yours. In other words, don’t hire a landscape contractor who your neighbor said did a really good job planting a few shrubs when you’re looking at doing a complete backyard makeover. I’m not saying they aren’t capable of doing the work, but don’t just hire them because of one glowing review.

Another great option is to look for companies by doing a “search” on the internet. This is a great way to find out about the type of work they do, how long they’ve been in business and to see sample pictures of the work they have done. I know that whenever I want to learn more about a landscape contractor, the first thing I do is go onto their website and check out their portfolio pages to see their work. While it’s helpful

to read testimonials and read someone’s bio, the real proof is in the quality or their work, both design and construction. If their work doesn’t “wow” you, move on.

In addition to these two steps, I also think that it is important to work with companies that have professional designations, appropriate licenses or registrations and are part of state and local organizations. Now I may be a bit biased here, but I believe that you should look for landscape contractors who support their own industry by being a member of associations like the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), the New Jersey Turfgrass Association (NJTA) and the Irrigation Association of NJ (IANJ).

Speaking from experience, companies that pay for and

grown primarily for their foliage can be pruned almost any time, with care taken to avoid their growth spurts in the spring. Evergreen plants, while not needing much pruning if properly planted, can be pruned almost anytime as well. Knowing the growth habit of your plants will help reduce the amount of pruning necessary. White Pines, for instance, can have some of the new candles removed to increase density but generally don’t need a lot of pruning.

Other evergreens can be pruned more since they have lateral buds which will sprout after pruning, and hedges can be sheared in such a way as to keep them tighter and thinner at the top and tapering out at the bottom. These practices will promote better growth and create a better appearance for your landscape plants.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490 participate in their own trade associations tend to receive more education and training, are involved in community volunteer projects and typically have the credentials and insurances that clients expect.

With spring just around the corner, you need to do your homework and start making appointments with professional landscape contractors so that when spring does arrive (and it always does), you’ll be breaking ground while your neighbors will just be getting started.

Editors Note: Jody Shilan is the owner of Jody Shilan Designs in Wyckoff, where he provides landscape design and consulting services for homeowners and landscape contractors. He earned his bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Cook College, Rutgers University and his masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Currently, he is Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or jshilan@gmail.com.

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Gardener News

Gardener News I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season and that you are having a great start to the New Year.

Let’s spend some time this month looking down at the roots.

A common diagnosis I make on declining trees is girdling roots.

Unfortunately, many people have no idea what a girdling root is!

Girdling roots are usually lateral roots at or slightly below the soil line that cut into the main trunk.

These roots restrict the flow of water and nutrients and lead to tree decline.

Many different types of factors – some natural and others manmade – cause girdling roots, but the top three causes are leaving a plant in a container for too long, improper planting and compacted soil. Some trees have a genetic tendency to have the roots grow in a circular pattern.

When plants are held in containers for too long a period of time, the roots begin to circle around the container. These eventually can girdle the tree.

When planting trees and shrubs, be sure to loosen the roots from the root ball and spread them out in the planting hole before back filling. Girdling roots that are two or more years old will be woody and may have to be

February, 2013 17

Girdling Roots cut and removed from the root system. This is because they will have taken the permanent shape of the container and often will not bend enough without breaking. Although this reduces the size of the root system, it will prevent the development of girdling roots in the future.

Improper planting can also lead to girdling roots. When a planting hole is not dug wide enough or deep enough, barerooted stock is twisted into the hole in order to make it fit (not a good idea!). This undesirable practice can cause root growth to encircle the trunk and result in girdling of the main trunk. Be certain to make planting holes wider than the root area in order to prevent encircling roots from forming. Remember: Put a $10 tree in a $100 hole.

The third major cause of girdling roots is planting in

very compacted soil. Roots can circle the bottom of a compacted planting hole, not unlike those growing in an undersized container. Eventually, several of these roots can begin girdling the trunk. Other soil obstructions like foundations, curbs or large rocks can deflect roots and may contribute in some cases to the development of girdling roots.

How do we diagnose a girdling root problem? If your trees leaf out late, have small chlorotic leaves or needles, drop their leaves early, and are dying back, they should be checked for a girdling root. Some soil or mulch may need to be removed to detect a girdling root, especially if the root or trunk flare is absent.

This condition is associated with placing too much fill over the roots, a procedure not uncommon in new housing developments.

In this instance, the symptoms

as necessary. Very large girdling roots should not be cut.

Prevention is the key. This is an easy problem to try to prevent, but very difficult to correct. If you check your trees once a year for girdling roots, they should never become a major problem.

Winter is a great time to look.

Head out now and check your trees! are similar to planting-depth As always, I hope you problems.

Probably the learned something! most reliable above-ground …..’Till next month characteristic of a girdling root is a trunk indentation or flattening Editor’s Note: Robert at the base of the main trunk. graduated from SUNY College Non-girdled trees rarely show of Environmental Science this abnormal development. Not and Forestry and Syracuse all girdled trees show crown University with degrees symptoms commonly attributed in science education and to girdling roots. The big forest biology. He is an ISA problem with girdling roots is Certified Arborist and a New that trees can look very healthy Jersey Certified Tree Expert. for many years prior to the onset Robert is currently teaching of symptoms. Sort of like a AP Environmental Science, ticking time bomb.

Biology and Chemistry at How do you fix the problem? Liberty High School in PA., and A girdling root must be removed on staff at Temple University in a manner that will minimize teaching Horticulture. He injury to the trunk tissue beneath delivers many short courses the root. It is probably best to and seminars at various consult with a Certified Arborist outdoor education facilities. or Tree Expert to determine the He is available for talks and appropriate treatment, especially consultations in both NJ and if large roots are removed. Inspect PA. Robert can be reached by the tree for deadwood and prune calling (484) 560-5744.

A Winter ‘Rush’ for the Garden Come February, gardeners start to become a bit tired of winter’s peace. What seemed so welcome in November has now grown wearisome for the now color-starved gardener. Granted, there are the wonderful Witchhazels and grand conifers that provide flowers and foliage, yet the ground plain is conspicuously absent of evergreen selections – especially for those bored with Pachysandra and Vinca.

The gardener needs a new winter “rush,” and what could be better than turning to the evergreen Woodrushes to fill that void?

Interestingly, of the many easily grown garden plants that I have incorporated into designs, the Woodrushes are probably the least known and used in the Garden. Predominately native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia, this is a group of relatively low-growing, grassy foliaged plants that are members of the Juncaceae

or Rush family. Perhaps one reason for its limited garden usage is the rather challenging to pronounce botanical name of Luzula (pronounced loo-ZOOlah). Luzula is derived from the Italian vernacular of Lucciola or lightning bug, in recognition of how the hairs that typically coat the margins of the leaves hold the dew and glisten in the morning sun. Now, is that not a romantic reason for growing this group of plants?

Of the 80-odd species, there are several that are more than garden-worthy, with Luzula sylvatica serving as one of my favorites. Native to Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, this plant was initially described in 1762 by the English botanist and apothecary William Hudson (1730-1793), who named it Juncus sylvatica. It was not until 1811 that the Swiss botanist and pastor Jean François Aimé Théophile Philippe Gaudin (1766-1833), reclassified it as Luzula sylvatica. The species epithet of sylvatica is derived from the Latin Silva or Forest, honoring the habitat it typically inhabits.

In the garden, the plant is an ideal candidate for the moist or dry woodland, serving either a groundcover or an accent for where a grassy texture is of need. The half-inch-wide foliage grows to six to eight inches tall and even during the harshest of New Jersey winters, rarely does it fade from its dark olive-green coloration, a testament to its zone 4 cold hardiness. The plants slowly enlarge in diameter, reaching a weed suppressing 24 inches in diameter after 25 years and unlike many true grasses, it does not die out in the center or require division. In March, the terminally branched, lightgreen inflorescences stretch 12 to 18 inches upward and dangle above the foliage. Gradually, the inflorescences change to tan, finally collapsing into the newly emerging foliage in May and June.

Only the overly obsessive gardener would feel the need to trim off the aging inflorescences or the previous year’s foliage.

For the rest of us, the plant is truly maintenance-free, with the

possible exception of pulling out a rogue seedling, as it does seed lightly. For those seeking a bit more zest, the cultivar “Variegata” has a slender white stripe along the leaf margin, providing an interesting “up close and personal” accent to your garden.

Another garden-worthy Woodrush is the Snowy Woodrush, Luzula nivea. The species epithet is from the Latin niveum, meaning snow, and alludes to the ample number of silvery white hairs that coat the foliage. Native to grassy subarctic regions throughout Europe, the hairs serve as an adaptation to reduce windinduced water loss. L. nivea is more appropriate as a textural element in the garden, versus a ground cover, as it has a more open, tightly clumping habit rather than a weed-suppressing spreading habit. It also has more slender foliage than its cousin, reaching upwards of 12 to 20 inches tall. Also different are the inflorescences, with the stems tipped with numerous, quarter-inch snowy white globes come March. Snowy

Woodrush is more tolerant of sunny garden locations, especially if there is adequate summer soil moisture.

Although these two species of Woodrush have decidedly different appearances and uses in the garden, they both provide attractive, low-maintenance additions to the winter garden, providing that garden “rush” that we gardeners sorely need come February!

Editor’s Note: Bruce, foremost a lover of plants since birth, is director of the Rutgers Gardens, an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, an instructor for Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing and Professional Education and chairperson of the Garden State Gardens group. He is a member of the Garden Writer’s Association and the New York Hortus Club. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

18 February, 2013

A Major Agricultural Threat (Continued from Page 7)

of infestation in fields. “We used pyramidshaped traps of different colors—black, green, yellow, clear, white. In field trials in 2009 and 2010, we found significantly more stink bug adults and nymphs captured in the baited black pyramid traps than in the other traps,� says Leskey. “Further, more adults and nymphs were captured in a trap placed on the ground than in a commercially available baited trap from Japan that we hung from a tree limb.� “We also found that Stephen Ausmus/Photo in 2010 and 2011, brown Support scientist Starker Wright (left) marmorated stink bugs and entomologist Tracy Leskey inspect produced two generations in traps baited with experimental pheromone 1 year in Kearneysville, based lures. The lures are being tested for brown on presence of eggs and newly marmorated stink bug attraction. molted adults in field cage experiments,� says Leskey. “Although it has been reported that these bugs produce only one brood in eastern Pennsylvania, it appears that in more southerly locations within the Mid-Atlantic, they can produce two generations.�

Secrets of Attraction Researchers at the ARS Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory (IIBBL) in Beltsville, Maryland, are leading the pivotal pheromone research efforts and genomics studies and partnering with Leskey on field tests of potential attractants for use in commercial traps.

Scientists at IIBBL were working on the BMSB long before it became such a huge problem in the United States.

Aijun Zhang, an analytical chemist, started looking for the BMSB pheromone in 2003, along with Ashot Khrimian, a synthetic chemist, and Jeff Aldrich, an entomologist who retired in 2011. Khrimian and Aldrich published results in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and in Tetrahedron, showing that a compound identified as a Stephen Ausmus/Photo Technician Brent Short counts the pheromone of another stink number of adult males and females and bug was also a late-season other life stages of brown marmorated attractant for the BMSB. stink bugs captured in traps baited with When the BMSB emerged as a major pest in the United experimental lures.

States, Aldrich and Khrimian began helping U.S. manufacturers develop traps with the attractant. “Our work has already led to successful commercial products now on the market. But what we now have is only a late-season attractant, and because that doesn’t help growers as much as we would like, we still have work to do,� Khrimian says.

In 2010, the team of scientists at IIBBL found an “aggregation pheromone� that shows promise as the main pheromone attractant for BMSB. This pheromone is released by males when they feed, and it attracts both males and females. The scientists are trying to determine the chemicals that make up the pheromone. They are working on identifying the specific isomers (structurally related chemicals) that the stink (Cont. on page 20)

Gardener News NJDA, Vegetable Growers Plan Convention/Trade Show to Showcase Garden State Agriculture 75(1721 1- ĘŠ 7KH VHFRQG DQQXDO 1HZ -HUVH\ $JULFXOWXUDO Convention and Trade Show will take place February 5-7, 2013 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey (VGANJ) held their annual gatherings concurrently for the first time in 2012, garnering a strong response. The 2013 event is expected to be bigger and better, with many educational and informational opportunities, as well as an impressive trade show, appealing to New Jersey’s diverse agricultural industry by promoting greater participation and interaction among a wider cross-section of industry members from all sectors. “We have created an expanded forum for New Jersey’s agricultural community to learn about the issues facing the industry so the Department of Agriculture can better serve these constituents,� said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “We look forward to growing the convention each year and welcome and encourage other organizations to join us.�

Held since 1914, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture conducts a legally mandated annual convention of the state’s entire agricultural industry.

As specified under New Jersey statutes, each year delegates representing all sectors of the industry must gather to elect two members to the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, elect farmer-members to the Fish and Game Council, and set agricultural policy for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture through a series of formal resolutions voted on by the delegates.

The State Agriculture Convention will open with its regular business session on Wednesday, February 6. The meeting will include listening sessions on risk management and farm profitability.

Founded in 1955, the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey’s mission is to disseminate knowledge of the growing and marketing of vegetables through cooperation with the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension, the New Jersey and U.S. Departments of Agriculture, and all other existing organizations and committees working for or interested in the vegetable industry of the Garden State.

The VGANJ portion of the convention/trade show begins on Tuesday, February 5. The trade show will feature exhibits and displays from many from many of the industry’s suppliers and business associates. In addition, a wide variety of educational sessions on topics including growing crops, food safety, the latest ideas in agricultural practices, farm labor management and agriculture water issues. “I am excited to enter our second year of a combined convention with the Department of Agriculture,� said Joseph Marino, VGANJ President. “Last year’s event proved to be a success for both organizations. This year’s convention looks to be better yet with the addition of new vendors for our show, as well as great educational topics.�

Don’t Move Firewood in Quarantine Zone 75(1721 1- ʊ 7KH 1HZ -HUVH\ 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUH DQG 8QLWHG States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is urging residents in the previously established Asian longhorned beetle quarantine zone in Middlesex and Union Counties to be extremely careful about disposing of any woody debris caused by Hurricane Sandy or for using recently cut wood as firewood.

Residents in Carteret, Woodbridge, Rahway, Linden, Roselle, Elizabeth and Clark are being reminded to NOT move firewood outside the quarantine zone.

Those with woody debris caused by the storm should set it out for pick up by local public works crews, who are aware of the protocol for disposing of wood that may contain the beetle. Residents in other areas of the state may continue to use their downed hardwood for firewood, but are encouraged to use it locally.

Tree removal companies and utility companies working with the Asian longhorned beetle quarantine zone will be contacted by the state and federal officials and reminded to take all downed trees and other woody debris to the Linden facility for processing. “With everything people have had to contend with during the storm, they may not be thinking about the wood or woody debris in their back yard possibly harboring the Asian longhorned beetle,� New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “Let’s not allow the cleanup from this natural disaster to enable the spread of this destructive, invasive, tree-killing pest.�

Gardener News Landscaping Classes at Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education - New Brunswick, NJ Beds and Borders Seminar February 5 and 6, 2013, 9:00am – 3:30pm $430 (course code AL0213CA13) Using his energetic style, Bruce will take you through the design, installation, and maintenance processes. You’ll get the feel and impact of a mini design seminar!

Designing and Installing Retaining Walls February 11, 2013, 9:00am – 4:00pm $265 (course code AL0206CA13) Learn about the different types of walls and how to build them.

Join us for an optional day of hands-on training on March 13 in order to test your skills by building an actual wall.

Tree Planting and Installation February 18, 2013 9:00am – 3:30pm $265 (course code AL0805CA13) Learn to manage the complex details that keep your trees alive.

Outdoor demonstrations will be done, weather permitting.

Tree Pruning February 19, 2013 9:00am – 3:30pm $265 (course code AL0806CA13) Certified Tree Expert Ted Szczawinski will teach you where to prune, when to prune, the best equipment to use, and how to stay safe.

Field demonstrations will be done, weather permitting.

Sustainable Landscape Design February 25, 2013, 9:00am – 3:30pm $210 (course code AL0222CA13) Bruce Neary and guests will provide specific expertise on effective sustainable practices.

Hazardous Tree Identification February 28, 2013 (Spring Session) 9:00am – 3:30pm $265 (course code AL0803CB13) Certified Tree Experts Ted Szczawinski and Steve Chisholm will show you a step-by-step process for identifying a hazard. Come see why their simple “tree rating system� has been adopted by so many other tree professionals! *For more information, please call Joe Canzano at (732) 9329271 ext 624 or visit http://cpe.rutgers.edu/landscape

February, 2013 19

CASE FILES

From the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Garden Help Line

By Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agricultural Agent and Master Gardeners, MC Schwartz and James Keane Q. I have noticed some “charcoal like bumps� on my flowering cherry tree branches. Any idea what is causing them?

Knotted in New Providence A. From your description, it sounds like your flowering cherry tree may have a fungal disease called “Black Knot�. It is caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa, also known as Dibotryon morbosa and Plowrightia morbosa. Those dark brown / black swellings on the branches are actually galls. Galls are swellings or outgrowths of plant tissue caused by pathogens, such as fungi or insects. This time of year, when the leaves are gone, is when people often first notice the galls.

Black Knot can infect trees and shrubs in the Prunus family, including Ornamental Flowering Cherries, Flowering Almond and Purple Leaf Plums. Fruit trees such as American, European and Japanese varieties of cultivated plums and prunes are susceptible. Sweet, tart and Mahaleb cherry trees, apricots, peaches and other Prunus trees are occasionally infected.

The “black knots� you see on your tree, began to form at least a year ago. The Black Knot fungus overwinters in fruiting bodies on the galls. Each spring, the galls grow larger and become covered with a olive velvet - like growth. During wet weather, spores are released and infect new twig growth. Temperatures of 60 -80°F are ideal for infection. The spores are spread by splashing rain and wind. The new growth is most susceptible between vegetative bud break and until just after bloom. Wounds on the branches are also susceptible to infection.

At first, the new galls are small. They begin to form by a leaf axil on new growth. At first the galls are green and soft. Most home gardeners do not notice the small galls. With time, by the second summer following the initial infection, the galls become larger, darker, and rougher, giving them the “charcoal� appearance. The knots vary in size, ranging from half an inch to 12 inches long! Trees that are heavily infected may have many knots. Eventually the black knots can girdle and kill branches.

Pruning the Black Knots off the tree or shrub is the most effective way to manage this disease.

The “knots� should be pruned out during the dormant season, late fall to very early spring, before new growth begins. Make the pruning cut at least four to eight inches below the knot. Be on the lookout for small new galls and remove them as well.

Clean your pruning tool with rubbing alcohol between each pruning cut to prevent accidentally spreading spores to other parts of the tree or other susceptible plants in your landscape. Remove the gall infested branches from your property. If you have wild cherries or plums growing on your property, and it is practical to remove them, you might want to consider doing so as they serves as hosts for the fungus. If complete removal of the wild trees or shrubs is not practical, at you should least prune out any black knots that you see.

In a home orchard situation, some gardeners may choose to use a fungicide as a preventative measure. The timing to protect susceptible trees would be just prior to bloom, again during bloom and a third time just after bloom according to label directions. It is still imperative to prune out knots and practice good sanitation in the landscape to protect the fruit trees from Black Knot infection.

Editor’s Note: The Union County Master Gardener’s HELP LINE fields hundreds of citizen inquiries a year – offering assistance with their indoor as well as outdoor gardening and pest control questions. Responses to resident phone calls and on-site visits comply with current Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station recommendations. Union County residents can call (908) 654-9852 or email mastergardeners@ucnj.org for assistance. A complete listing of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) offices where you can contact a Master Gardener in your area can be found on page 26 of the Gardener News. Free RCE fact sheets are available at www.njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs.

United Fresh Seeks Rising Leaders For 19th Annual Produce Industry Leadership Program :$6+,1*721 '& ʊ 7KH DSSOLFDWLRQ SHULRG LV QRZ RSHQ IRU WKH WK DQQXDO FODVV RI WKH United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program, presented by the United Fresh Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence. The program, made possible through a generous grant from DuPont Crop Protection, is a special opportunity for United Fresh members to advance their leadership skills and knowledge.

Launched in 1995, the Produce Industry Leadership Program is the only ongoing, fully paid leadership program for the produce industry. The program is developed around the four fundamental goals of leadership development, business relationships, government and public affairs, and media and public relations.

Candidates interested in applying for the program can download information and an application at unitedfreshfoundation.org. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 11, 2013. The Leadership Program is an exclusive program for United Fresh members only. There is no cost to participate in the program and all regular expenses are covered by the program. For more information, please contact Shannon Young, United Fresh education manager, at syoung@ unitedfresh.org or 202-303-3405.

20 February, 2013

Gardener News

Our Founding Fathers came over to a new land and built a great nation on a foundation of agriculture.

George Washington thought of himself as a farmer first and then our Commander in Chief second. He was a pioneer in agriculture, recognizing the importance of crop rotation, fertilizing, and plowing the fields. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, all loved farming and gardening. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “I am entirely a farmer, soul and body,” and “ ‘Tho’ an old man, I am but a young gardener.” Abraham Lincoln was born on a farm. Many of our Founding Fathers left their offices to tend to their farms and gardens. They believed that good crops were incredibly important to the growth and survival of their new country and to break away from the old world.

They believed in an America that was and is connected because her citizens worked the soil. They wanted to be invested with patriotism and provided an identity in this way.

Jefferson believed independent farmers should

havoc in our world. All farmers, nurseries, producers of plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs give a positive position to our Mother Earth and the people and animals that live on it.

If these so-called neighbors don’t like the realities of farming, they should move back to the cities and watch what goes on in a movie or TV. It makes me wonder where these complaining neighbors think the food that they pick up from their grocery store or farmers markets come from?

It doesn’t come out of thin air.

And you know, farmers don’t ask for much, they don’t even need a thank you for their contributions to society, but they sure don’t need to have their labor-intensive work made harder by ignorant, complaining neighbors.

The Professional Grower

By Tim Hionis Greenhouse Specialist

The Importance of Agriculture to the United States of America be the foot soldiers of the nation.

Why is it that I am bringing up our Founding Fathers?

Recently, I have been going to local county agricultural development meetings. In many of these meetings, I have become deeply disturbed by the amount of complaints from neighbors about farmers.

These neighbors move near existing established farms and after they settle in for a few years start to gripe about the nearby operations. They seem to forget that without agriculture they wouldn’t have food on their tables and flowers on the porch. They seem to forget that many of the trees and shrubs that they admire at parks, sides of roads, in towns or community gardens, in fact most any landscape,

come from the nurseries that grew them. One comment that disturbed me the most was a neighbor who got up in front of the board and complained that his problem with his farmer neighbor was that he planted plants in the field under the sun, watered them for a while, and picked them up and distributed them.

To me, this is the most perfect definition of farming that I had ever heard.

One neighbor that lives next to another farm, who happened to be a retired judge, wanted to spend retirement in the country. So they bought a house next to a farm. Well, much to their dismay, they only liked the idea of it and not the realities of living next to a working farm and are now trying to use their professional litigating skills

to shut down the operation.

I felt for the farming family.

They didn’t ask for this person to move next to them and now they have to deal with the unwanted stress of going back and forth to meetings to settle this dispute. This neighbor should be ashamed of their un-American way of thinking.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Abraham Lincoln would be turning over in their graves if they heard some of the public comments going on in these meetings.

Without farming, the starvation, crimes, murders, stealing, and other sinful acts would reach biblical proportions.

Without gardening, planting of trees, plants, flowers and so on, CO2 levels and other pollutants in the air would cause serious

Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling (908) 534-7710.

A Major Agricultural Threat (Continued from Page 18)

Stephen Ausmus/Photo

ARS scientists at Beltsville, Maryland, analyze reaction products to evaluate purities of synthetic lures for brown marmorated stink bug. Left to right: chemists Shyam Shirali, Ashot Khrimian, and Filadelfo Guzman bugs may be releasing to attract other stink bugs to feeding sites. They are trying to identify the various combinations or ratios of attractant isomers that will produce an affordable and efficient lure, Khrimian says.

The mixture and components were also

evaluated in field trials this summer in Beltsville, Kearneysville, and elsewhere. Don Weber, who is overseeing the Beltsville field studies, set up traps with the different candidate formulas and twice each week counted the numbers of male, female, and nymphal

(immature) stink bugs they attracted. These pyramid traps, based on those designed by Leskey, are similar to those developed for weevils and pests of woody fruit. They have a screen funnel that allows the stink bugs entry, but inhibits exit. Lures with the experimental formulas hang alongside kill strips inside clear plastic containers.

A provisional patent application was filed, and the researchers hope to include results from the summer field trials in supplemental data that will be filed as part of the completed patent application.

Help From Genes and Natural Enemies Dawn Gundersen-Rindal, research leader of the ARS Beltsville group, has been working with scientists at Baylor College of Medicine to sequence the stink bug’s genome. The sequencing is part of an international effort, known as the “i5K Project,” to sequence the

genomes of 5,000 insects.

Because it is such a nuisance to homeowners, a threat to agriculture, and rapidly spreading in the United States, the BMSB is one of the group’s top priorities, she said.

“Sequencing the genome will tell us about the genes that give this insect its defense mechanisms and its

ability to respond to threats, such as pathogens that we might want to use against it.

It might give us clues, for instance, how it may develop resistance to insecticides,” she says.

Separate from the sequencing project, Gundersen-Rindal is looking for genes that might be unique to (Cont. on page 23)

Steve Valley, Oregon Department of Agriculture/Photo

A female parasitoid wasp, Trissolcus mitsukurii, from Asia. This species is one of several parasitoids being evaluated as potential biocontrols of brown marmorated stink bug.

Gardener News

February, 2013 21 $1.00 OFF W I T H T H I S A D

Springfest Garden Show March 14-17, 2013 Sussex County Fairgrounds www.springfestgardenshow.org

Inspiring Garden Displays Renowned Speakers Kid’s Zone & Café Marketplace 10-5 Daily Adults: $12 Seniors (65+): $9 Senior Day: Thursday Kids under 12: Free

Come see: Designer Sheds: “Living in your Garden” Guest Speakers: Margaret Roach- “Nonstop Plants: A Garden for 365 Days” Produce Pete – from “Weekend Today in New York - WNBC” Marci Martin – American Rose Society Chris Rubino – Monrovia “New Plants for the Outdoor Garden 2013” Rich Pomerantz - “Art in the Garden” Kerry Ann Mendez – Author & Book signing Alana Chernila - “From the Ground Up” & Chef Ben Del Coro – from Fossil Farms - Cooking Demo and many more!

22 February, 2013

Gardener News

NJ DEP Continues Pine Beetle Battle 75(1721 1- ĘŠ 6RXWKHUQ SLQH EHHWOH LQIHVWDWLRQ UHPDLQV D VLJQLILFDQW WKUHDW LQ 1HZ -HUVH\ HVSHFLDOO\ ZLWKLQ WKH PLOOLRQ DFUH Pinelands National Reserve, but was not as severe last year as initially feared, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. “We must remain vigilant about this serious threat to our pine forests,â€? Commissioner Martin said. “The DEP has been undertaking a multipronged approach to deal with this problem, including removing stands of impacted trees on state lands to control outbreaks before they spread and working with private property owners and municipal governments whenever possible to control outbreaks on private lands.â€?

In 2012, pine beetle infestations claimed 6,200 acres, compared to 7,000 acres last year, bringing the total number of acres affected in New Jersey to 27,000 acres since 2010. Most of the damage has occurred in southern portions of the Pinelands National Reserve, particularly in areas south of the Mullica River.

The largest outbreak occurred in 2010, when some 14,000 acres statewide were affected, largely because trees were stressed by extremely dry weather.

National forestry experts had expected a much larger outbreak in 2012 because last winter was so mild.

The DEP is continuing to work on the problem throughout the winter, removing infested stands of trees as the spread of beetles slows down with the onset of colder weather. “Now is the time to get a leg up on this and take advantage of the beetles’ reduced activity during the winter to further contain this pest,� said State Forester Lynn Fleming. “We were very fortunate last year. Our containment was effective while adequate precipitation helped pine trees produce sufficient sap to help push out beetles that try to burrow into the trees. But the beetles are still out there so we cannot become complacent on this issue.’’ Fleming said public assistance is needed to help battle this damaging insect. She noted there is still plenty of grant money available for towns and individuals to help finance their beetle control efforts.

The beetles, about the size of a grain of rice, burrow into the cambium layer just beneath the bark of pine trees to lay their eggs. The tunnels they create cut off the flow of water and nutrients to the tree, resulting in death within a few weeks of infestation.

The southern pine beetle attacks all species of pines, but prefers pitch, shortleaf, pond, and loblolly, all of which occur in southern New Jersey.

Infestations, marked by the sudden onset of yellowish needles that quickly turn brown, are usually not recognizable until stands of trees are affected. The bark of infested trees may show numerous excretions of yellowish-white sap oozing from tubes that the beetles bored into the bark.

As part of its efforts to ratchet up the war on pine beetles, the DEP has enlisted the assistance of the DEP Science Advisory Team to better understand its behavior patterns in New Jersey. The department is also working with researchers from Rutgers University, Stockton State College and Dartmouth University to better understand the best strategies for reducing the pine beetle threat in New Jersey. “Simply put, we still have a great deal to learn about this invasive insect,� Fleming said. “We are doing everything we can to contain the spread of this insect, but the truth of the matter is that the scope of its impact will likely hinge on environmental factors, weather patterns in particular, that are outside of our control.�

North of the Mullica River, infestations have been very spotty. On state-owned lands in these areas, New Jersey State Forestry Service crews have effectively managed infestations by hand-cutting small stands of affected trees. Areas targeted included parts of Bass River State Forest in Burlington County and Wharton State Forest in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties.

South of the Mullica River, where much larger areas have been impacted, the DEP has utilized contractors using mechanized equipment to remove trees from state lands. Areas targeted included the Millville Wildlife Management Area and Union Lake Wildlife Management Area in Cumberland County and Belleplain State Forest in Cape May County.

The DEP last fall received a $340,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service grant for continued work focused on state lands.

The DEP previously received $600,000 in Forest Service grant funding to combat the pine beetle.

The DEP strongly encourages local government agencies and private property owners to apply to the New Jersey State Forestry Service for grants made possible by the earlier federal grant to combat the southern pine beetle on non-state lands. They are: * The Forest Health Southern Pine Beetle Cost-Share Grant Program, which provides matching grants up to $7,500 each to private landowners who own five or more acres of land. To be eligible, landowners must have a state-approved Forest Stewardship Plan or Woodland Management Plan that includes a southern pine beetle suppression plan. The landowner must provide 25 percent of the cost of the control activity. * The Community Forestry Grant program, which provides a matching grant up to $10,000 each to assist municipalities and counties in delineating and carrying out southern pine beetle suppression activities. The recipient must have or be working on a Community Forestry Management Plan to qualify and must agree to provide an equal match in money and/or in-kind services. * The New Jersey Forest Fire Service Community Wildfire Assistance Grant, which provides 100 percent matching grants up to $10,000 each to any civic organization, homeowners association, nonprofit group or municipality for work to suppress southern pine beetle infestations on lands that may be at increased wildfire risk because of beetle damage. The fire risk must be documented in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan or a Firewise Community Plan. The recipient must provide an equal match in money and/or in-kind services.

The DEP has also prepared an informational tool kit to assist municipalities and private landowners in taking action to prevent the spread of pine beetles using grants that are now available. For financial assistance applications, maps, photos and other resources about the southern pine beetle, visit: www.southernpinebeetle.nj.gov For more information or to report possibly infested trees, contact the State Forestry Service Trenton Office at (609) 292-2531; Southern Regional Office at (609) 625-1124, Central Regional Office at (609) 726-1621, Northern Regional Office at (973) 786-5035, or your local consulting forester or a certified tree expert.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Continues His Service in the Obama Administration :$6+,1*721 ' & ĘŠ $JULFXOWXUH 6HFUHWDU\ 7RP 9LOVDFN PDGH WKH IROORZLQJ VWDWHPHQW RQ -DQXDU\ UHJDUGLQJ WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW WKDW he will continue his service in the Obama Administration. “President Obama and I share a deep appreciation for rural America and its unlimited potential in the years ahead to feed a growing world population, revolutionize America’s energy, further protect our natural resources and create more jobs here at home. We will continue to urge Congress to pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that will help us continue USDA’s wide range of efforts to support this work. As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America.â€?

Gardener News

February, 2013 23 Drainage Ditches Can Help Clean Up Field Runoff

FREE TREES FOR ARBOR DAY

For the 15th consecutive year, the New Jersey Tree Foundation is offering free two-year-old trees (1’ – 2’ tall) to celebrate Arbor Day 2013 in New Jersey.

A variety of evergreen and deciduous trees will be available. Schools, local governments, tree groups, non-profit organizations, scout groups, and any volunteer organization may apply for the free trees. All planting must occur on public lands, be done by volunteers and maintained for two years.

The following trees are available this spring: White pine, Bald Cypress, Redbud, Northern red oak, Green ash, Buttonbush.

Learn more at www.njtreefoundation.org

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By Ann Perry USDA ARS Informational Staff Vegetated drainage ditches can help capture pesticide and nutrient loads in field runoff, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists report. These ditches— as common in the country as the fields they drain—give farmers a low-cost alternative for managing agricultural pollutants and protecting natural resources.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) ecologist Matt Moore at the agency’s National Sedimentation Laboratory in Oxford, Miss., and his colleagues conducted the research. ARS is USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency.

Until recently, the primary function of many edge-of-field ditches was to provide a passage for channeling excess water from crop fields. Many farmers controlled ditch vegetation with trimming or dredging to eliminate plant barriers that could impede the flow of runoff.

But in one of Moore’s first studies, he evaluated the transport and capture of the herbicide atrazine and the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin for 28 days in a 160-

foot section of a vegetated agricultural drainage ditch in Mississippi. One hour after he started a simulated runoff event, 61 percent of the atrazine and 87 percent of the lambda-cyhalothrin had transferred from the water to the ditch vegetation. At the end of the ditch, runoff pesticide concentrations had decreased to levels that were generally non-toxic to downstream aquatic fauna.

Moore also conducted work in California and determined that vegetated drainage ditches helped mitigate pesticide runoff from tomato and alfalfa fields.

As a result, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state office in California included vegetated agricultural drainage in their Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This meant farmers who installed the ditches could be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the cost.

Moore’s research also contributed to the decision by NRCS managers in Mississippi to include vegetated agricultural drainage ditches in the state’s EQIP. Editor’s Note: Ann Perry works for the Agricultural Research Service, USDA. She can be reached at (301) 504-1628 or by emailing ann.perry@ars.usda.gov

Crop Production Down in 2012, USDA Reports :$6+,1*721 ' & ʊ 'HVSLWH JHWWLQJ RII WR D YHU\ IDYRUDEOH VWDUW U.S. growers spent the summer of 2012 battling historic drought conditions in much of the Midwest. As a result, corn and soybean production, both key U.S. crops, is significantly down in 2012, according to the Crop Production 2012 Annual Summary released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

U.S. corn growers produced 10.8 billion bushels, 13 percent below the 2011 crop.

Soybean production for 2012 totaled 3.01 billion bushels, down 3 percent from 2011 crop.

For 2012, all cotton production is up 9 percent from the previous year, at 17.0 million 480-pound bales.

Sorghum grain production in 2012 saw a major upturn and is estimated at 247 million bushels, up 15 percent from 2011.

Production of other crops declined as well. As an example, U.S. production of all dry hay is estimated at 120 million tons, this is the lowest level since 1964.

The full Crop Production 2012 Summary is available at www.nass.usda.gov.

A Major Agricultural Threat (Continued from Page 20) the stink bug or make it vulnerable to specific treatments. “We hope we can find critical genes and use them against the stink bug by developing molecular biopesticides that address some weakness unique to its genetic makeup,� she says.

Another approach to reducing the population of BMSBs is classical biological control—using its natural enemies to help keep its populations in check.

Hoelmer continues work he began at the Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit in Newark, Delaware, to find parasitoid insects that may lend a hand.

Brian T. Cutting/Photo

An adult parasitoid insect emerging from an egg of a stink bug. After a parasitoid female wasp lays an egg into a stink bug egg, the parasitoid offspring (one per egg) develops inside the egg, eating it from the inside out.

Surveys conducted in the United States found that native stink bug parasitoids are not capable of controlling BMSBs, so it is important that more effective biological control agents from Asia be identified, tested, and eventually imported to the United States. Hoelmer has collected some of these parasitoids during foreign exploration in collaboration with the USDA-ARS SinoAmerican Biological Control Laboratory, in Beijing, China, and is now testing them in quarantine culture in Newark to determine their specificity for the BMSB.

Each of these research disciplines is needed to control BMSB populations in the United States, which will help farmers and homeowners alike.

The project is an example of how USDA and ARS have the organization, infrastructure, and expertise to move quickly toward solving an emergent problem for agriculture.

Editor’s Note: To reach scientists mentioned in this article, contact Sharon Durham, USDAARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 207055129; (301) 504-1611.

24 February, 2013

Gardener News

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Gardener News It was Tuesday, 30 degrees and sunny, with little to no wind, a very nice winter day. I was shoveling the top half of my driveway and my neighbor Mike was using his step ladder to take the Christmas lights off the house, which he had previously tack-hammered in place. I was watching Mike time after time break the, “belt buckle rule,, and asked him if he needed some help. No, he was almost done, thanks anyway, was his reply. I watched him while shoveling and yup, a few minutes later after getting tired no doubt, there he went, ass over tea kettle, right into a snow packed shrub, taking the ladder with him.

According to OSHA’s website, falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. I asked our local OSHA guy if he had any safety tips for me and yes he did. He finished up our serious chat with, “The next injury that can be avoided may be your own,” I absolutely love great food! Who could deny that?

When you cook just the right thing at just the right time and it turns out perfectly, what could be better? The satisfaction you have after serving and eating that meal is awesome.

February is a month for love, and there are many ways to celebrate with food. Now that many people have altered their diets after the New Year, this is the first step off that road and many people will indulge a little.

Some of the published food trends of 2013 include sustainability, locally grown and raised, vegetables as center of the plate, seasonality stretching, heirloom and heritage products, and brunch to name a few. I would also include healthy snacking, grains, “Meatless Mondays,” beets, cleansing drinks, and kale and greens. All will continue to be popular trends.

Markets and restaurants will follow suit, and merchandise and market their products and menus accordingly.

There really is something to be had for everyone in these trends, but the underlying

February, 2013 25 The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

“What a Way to Start the New Year II” and winked. Following are his tips for avoiding accidents and injuries: 1.) Always inspect the ladder prior to use to ensure it is in good condition. Do not use the ladder if it has cracked, broken or missing rungs or side rails, or has loose components. Either repair it or destroy it and throw it in the trash 2.)

If there is any chance of coming into contact with live electrical wires, do not use steel or aluminum ladders as they easily conduct electricity. Instead, use a dry wooden or fiberglass ladder. 3.) All ladders are weight-rated. Do not exceed the weight capacity rating as this will only weaken the ladder and possibly cause it to collapse. 4.) Always be cognizant of other activity

in the area. Other workers, children playing, a spouse working in the garden, etc. can and do create real safety hazards. Be aware at all times that you are off the ground. 5.) Ensure that the steps of the ladder are free of any debris, materials, tools, grease or other substances that could cause you to slip or lose your footing. Likewise, ensure your footwear is free of any slippery substances.

8.)

Ensure that the ladder is not on uneven, unstable or soft ground as this can cause it to tip. 9.) Prior to ascending a ladder, be sure that it is fully open with the spreader arms fully extended and locked in place. Otherwise, it can tip and fall sideways.

10.) When ascending or descending a ladder and

when working on it, always face the ladder. If you must turn sideways to perform work, as in drilling into a wall, use extreme caution as this can potentially be very dangerous with the worker pushing himself and the ladder sideways and tipping the ladder or losing balance and falling.

11.) Use both hands when ascending or descending a ladder. Always have three points of contact with the ladder for proper balance.

12.) When ascending or descending ladders, caution needs to be exercised in carrying tools, equipment, material or anything heavy.

Always carry items in a tool belt, in your pockets or handed up to you by a co-worker. 13.) This is the “tip” that applied to

Passionate About Produce

By Paul Kneeland The King of Produce

Tasty and healthy food trends theme for all of it is that everything on the lists is good for you, healthy and fights obesity. It is not said straight out, but if you look at all the items on the lists, it is very clear. One list had popcorn on it used as a snack and also a topping in salads and for meats. Popcorn is a favorite among a few weight loss programs.

Sustainability is rarely defined in magazines and the word is thrown out there pretty liberally. Everyone is on-board, because that is the right thing to do – sounds great right? Well, it is good in every sense it is meant when it comes to food. Sustainability refers to a continuation of something. For example, you see seafood sustainability in most markets, it refers to continuation of the species but

also to the continuation of good practices – use of proper nets, equipment, storage facilities, etc. We must have sustainable practices in every part of the food industry to ensure there is good food for our future generations.

Vegetables as the center of the plate is an interesting new entry into the food trends and one that I am very fond of personally. It has also been called “vegetables as a meal” in some lists. There are many vegetables that act as a protein: soy beans, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, peas, artichokes, kale, celery and carrots are rich in protein. I think this also ties into “Meatless Mondays,” a small trend designed to give your body a break from meats and fats associated with meats. This could be used in

conjunction with cleansing drinks – drinks designed to clean out your body of harmful toxins.

So it looks like many of the food trends are connected to health in some way. It is not only the love of food but the need to sustain a culture that can change its habits of bad eating into good eating. The more people we get on-board for this mindset, the better we can shape the future of food consumption to a better, more healthy lifestyle. Yes, some of the food trends need some work on the flavor spectrum, but overall most are very yummy.

Passion for food is something that can be learned.

It is not the born-leader type stuff. Watching food channels on television, going to markets that inspire your desire to make

Mike; when working from a ladder, do not over-reach as this can cause you to lose your balance and fall.

Apply the “belt-buckle rule”; keep the belt buckle inside the side rails of the ladder. If, by reaching to the side, your belt buckle extends past either side rail, you need to climb down and move the ladder.

After three days of being very uncomfortable and having a deep purple bruise the size of a basketball on his left thigh, Mike went to the hospital, got x-rays and was told he has a serious contusion but no broken bones….and very lucky that was all. Constantly going up and down, and moving the ladder in two-foot-deep snow is a pain, but a broken leg or worse is no picnic either. Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association.

He can be reached at perkinsphoto7@aol.com new things, frequenting great food places and restaurants, and being around people who feel the same way about food will keep you motivated.

Seeking out the newest food trends, sharing them with your friends and family will turn you into a “foodie.”

Being a home cook myself, I love to experiment with different flavors and textures with foods I have known and new foods yet to be learned.

I love doing tastings – a little bit of a few things. I am far from being a home chef, but I love every minute of cooking.

Make February your month to inspire some great food!

Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, 1st Vice President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a newly elected board member of the Produce Marketing Association.

He holds degrees in Business Management from Boston College as well as Northeastern University.

He can be reached at pkneeland@kingssm.com.

26 February, 2013

Gardener News $1,000.00 Scholarship The Firman E. Bear Chapter offers a $1000.00 scholarship to full-time students in good standing at any New Jersey accredited college, or a resident of New Jersey attending any accredited out-of-state college; Students must also have successfully completed, or will complete by the award date, at least two semesters of study; and be an undergraduate enrolled in a curriculum related to natural resources including but not limited to: agriculture, agronomy, conservation, ecology, environmental science, fisheries, forestry, geography, journalism, plant science, soil science, and/or wildlife. Other areas related to conservation may also qualify.

The application must be postmarked by April 19, 2013.

The award will be announced by May 31, 2013.

Scholarship will be awarded in memory of Edward R. Hall and Robert R. Hanna.

Learn more at www.njswcs.org

THINK SPRING

Gardener News

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Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Jeannie Geremia Sharon Durham

Union Co. Master Gardeners Dennis O’Brien Ann Perry

Gardener News is published monthly by

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Full Moon, February 25, 2013

TIP OF THE MONTH

To keep cut flowers around as long as possible, there are several good methods. Start off with a clean vase. Freshly cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add one-quarter teaspoon bleach per quart of vase water. Another popular recipe calls for three drops bleach and one teaspoon sugar in one quart of water.

This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria. You can also put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Change out the water regularly. Before putting cut flowers into a container, recut the flower stems at an angle under lukewarm water. Then fill the vase with lukewarm water. Floral preservative solutions can either double or triple the shelf life of your cut flowers.

Gardener News

February, 2013 27

®

PL AN

Yesterday & TODAY Yesterday we automatically applied applications all over our lawn - whether it was needed or not! I guess most of us wondered what we were actually doing?

TODAY with my Jonathan Green New American Lawn Plan - make this the year that you take a complete and responsible approach to your lawn care.

DID YOU KNOW? Crabgrass does not grow in the shade!

- so why are we applying crabgrass control in the shade?

Grubs are rarely found in shady areas of the lawn.

- so why are we applying grub control in the shade?

Grasses high in endophytes reduce the need for applications of chemicals to control surface feeding insects.

- so why are we not using more of these grasses?

You can kill all the weeds, insects and fungus and still have a lousy looking lawn.

- so why are we not using genetically superior grass seed - such as is found in my Black Beauty mixtures?

You need a healthy, biologically active soil in order to grow a great looking lawn or anything.

- so why are we doing next to nothing about the health of the lawn soil?

Let’s start over - pick up a copy of my New American Lawn guide and read what’s possible.

The times, they are a’ changing…

Seedsman Duxbury Farms

MyNewAmericanLawn.com

VISIT US AT THE NJ FLOWER SHOW BOOTH #424 Come hear Todd Pretz, Gardener News writer, speak Saturday, February 16th at 12 pm.

28 February, 2013

Gardener News