Gardener News September 2020

TAKE ONE

Gardener News

September 2020

Proudly Serving the Agricultural, Gardening, Landscaping & Nursery Communities GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 209

Stop the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion in N.J.

(More Information on Page 9)

2 September 2020

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September 2020 3

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

This is Really Bugging Me

We have been invaded by pests from overseas for years.

The biggest threat right now is the Spotted Lanternfly.

The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is native to China and was first detected in Pennsylvania in September 2014. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was slow to react due to budget problems.

Now the invasive bug is spreading throughout the entire Northeast.

Spotted Lanternfly causes damage to plants in two different ways. The nymphs and adults feed on plants using their piercing mouthparts to suck fluids from the stems or leaves. This has been shown to cause stunted growth, localized damage, reduced yields, and, in extreme cases, even death of the plant.

Additionally, as the spotted lanternfly feeds, it excretes a sugary substance called honeydew. This honeydew, in addition to being attractive to ants, wasps, and other insects, is readily colonized by sooty mold, which can cause parts of the plants to become blackened, reducing photosynthesis and affecting the quality of the plants.

The next bug that was first identified in the United States near Allentown, Pa., is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys), a bug in the family Pentatomidae, also native to China.

The brown marmorated stink bug is a significant nuisance for homeowners and can be devastating for farmers. Since its accidental introduction to the United States from Asia in 1996, Rutgers NJAES Pest Management Teams have been tracking, studying, and formulating management plans to combat this pest.

In the United States, the brown marmorated stink bug has emerged as a major pest of tree fruits and vegetables, causing millions of dollars-worth of crop damage and control costs each year.

Since its discovery in North America, the brown marmorated stink bug has spread rapidly throughout the eastern and mid-western United States, as well as establishing on the West Coast.

Next we have the European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi L.), which is the most serious pest of cherries. Damage associated with this pest is caused by larval feeding in the fruit pulp, which can result in losses of up to 100 percent if left uncontrolled. This pest may be introduced to new areas through the transport of infested fresh cherries, soil, or fruit from host plants grown in areas where this pest is found.

In 2016, Canada confirmed this pest on wild honeysuckle at several sites in Ontario. In 2017, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) found European cherry fruit fly on traps hung in wild honeysuckle plants and sweet cherry trees along the Niagara River in New York. This was the first U.S. detection of European cherry fruit fly.

If European cherry fruit fly becomes established in New York and spreads to other parts of the country, it could threaten commercial cherry production along the Pacific Coast (California, Oregon and Washington), and in the Northeast (Maryland, New York and

Pennsylvania), and in several Western and Central States (Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico and Utah), and affect U.S. cherry production.

This really ticks me off. The invasive population of Asian Longhorned Ticks in the United States likely began with three or more self-cloning females from northeastern Asia, according to a Rutgers-led study.

In 2017, Rutgers Center for Vector Biology and other researchers detected an infestation of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), which is native to East Asia, in New Jersey. It was the first time established populations of this species had been detected in the United States. Subsequent investigations found the tick to be widespread in the eastern U.S. Rutgers researchers discovered it has been present in New Jersey since at least 2013.

Although this species transmits serious illnesses to people and animals in other countries, experts don’t know whether the tick populations in the United States will make people sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), social wasp species are native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia and are one-and-a-half to two inches long (world’s largest hornet). The Asian giant hornet creates nests in the ground, taking advantage of existing structures such as hollow trees or rodent tunnels. They aggressively attack honeybees and a small group of them can destroy an entire colony, and as such are a serious concern for beehives and native pollinators.

These hornets can be confused with other species in the same genus, so positive identification is needed to confirm their presence.

The hornet is also a potential human health concern as their venom is very toxic and they will attack humans if threatened. This pest was first reported in the Vancouver Island area of Canada in August 2019 and has since been detected in the far northwest corner of Washington State. Stay tuned for more information on this pest. I hope it stays on the West Coast.

We are also dealing with the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), or ALB, which is an invasive insect that feeds on a wide variety of trees in the United States, eventually killing them. The beetle is native to China and the Korean Peninsula and is in the wood-boring beetle family Cerambycidae.

And the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis or EAB) is a destructive wood-boring pest of ash trees.

Native to Asia, it likely arrived in the United States hidden in wood packing materials. The first U.S. identification of Emerald Ash Borer was in southeastern Michigan in 2002.

EAB is the primary cause of our nation’s extensive ash decline. Since its discovery, EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees and has cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators, and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

We need to do a much better job of protecting our borders from destructive, invasive pests. It is essential to agriculture, economic prosperity and peace of mind.

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, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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4 September 2020 When it comes to fruits and vegetables in America during the 20th century, most Americans stuck to buying the mainstays of the produce world.

Bananas, tomatoes, celery, apples, etc. account for significantly more tonnage than more exotic international offerings combined.

Only in the past few years have consumers significantly branched out and enthusiastically bought beyond the staid, venerable basics.

But what do people actually know about traditional and exotic choices that are now close to ubiquitous?

The story of people from throughout the world immigrating to the United States, once described as a “melting pot,” has moved more toward a multi-cultural existence.

As other cultures arrive on our shores, they spread new customs and flavors for everyone to enjoy, all while still being iconic features in their residential and business communities.

Every culture has done this in America, but authenticity was often sacrificed in the process of creating a brand label of “our American culture.” Fortunately, not now. Every new opportunity for an unknown fruit or vegetable that hits our terminal markets is now looked at as something to be celebrated and

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Produce Diversity

explored, to be added without being subsumed.

We want to learn about it and enjoy it for what international zing it can bring to our plates and palettes.

Fusion Fare is a real, exciting phenomenon.

Many of our state’s growers have in recent years begun cultivating crops they previously had little knowledge of. Items like cranberry beans, wheatberry, bitter bean, and baby bok choy have found their way from their native lands in Africa, South America and Asia to the farms of the Garden State.

Some others that have found interest among our growers and “foodies” include: Yellow Romano Beans: A popular bean in Italy and only recently found in the United States at roadside stands, farmers markets, and specialty shops. It is a string-less

bean, easy to open when still young.

Also known as Italian Flat Beans, they can be braised, sautéed, boiled, grilled, or deep fried. They can be used raw in salads, in crudites, or in antipasti.

Vernyi Pear Apples: Small, slightly flattened fruits, averaging five to seven centimeters in diameter and four to six centimeters in length, they have a round to conical shape, connected to thin and fibrous, dark brown stems. The skin is thick, smooth, and yellowgreen, sometimes covered entirely in a dark red blush, and there are prominent spots, known as lenticels, scattered across the surface. Vernyi Pear apples are aromatic with a balanced, sweet, and sour flavor. (specialtyproduce.com).

Dragon Carrots: Vibrant purple skin with bright orange flesh and unusual yellow core. Adored

by carrot aficionados for its yellow core and spicy-yet-sweet flavor.

Roots are full-sized at seven inches long, thrive in heavy soils and are very hardy. (highmowingseeds. com) Wild Ramps: Ramps, ramsons, or wild leeks, are one of the earliest wild edibles to emerge, and, for some, they’re the holy grail of wild edibles.

Historically, ramps were regarded as a spring tonic in the Appalachians.

Early settlers relied on their restorative qualities after long, hungry winters. (wildedible.com).

The list of produce that American consumers don’t seek out could go on for pages. In their home locales throughout the world, these fruits and vegetables would be seen as “local fare” but to us, they are quite rare and bring an exotic, international element to our plates.

Plants, of course, do not know cultures, they just react to growing conditions and climate. Each brings a part of the culture from whence they emanate to us. So, when you hit the on-farm market or community farmers market, ask the farmer or farmers there if they’re growing anything new or different on their farms this year, and be ready to suggest something they might want to think about growing next year.

It may not have local origins, but the point is to get a local farmer to grow it here.

Fuse the flavor. Celebrate the diversity of culture.

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

USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP Application Deadline Extended to Sept. 11, and Producers Who Have Approved Applications to Receive Final Payments

USDAannounces additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.

USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP: • Specialty Crops - aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/ malanga, and yuca/cassava.

• Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock - liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were

previously eligible.

• Aquaculture - catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.

• Nursery Crops and Flowers - nursery crops and cut flowers.

Other changes to CFAP include: • Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.

• Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.

Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

Producers Who Have Applied: To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the

payment limit, when their applications are approved.

Applying for CFAP: Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call 877508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call.

On farmers.gov/cfap, producers can: • Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box.

• Complete the application form using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator.

This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.

• If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.

All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

GardenerNews.com SupportSupport NJ Agriculture Support NJ Agriculture NJ Agriculture

September 2020 5

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6 September 2020

R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E

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Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-224-8040 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

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GardenerNews.com

From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Brian Schilling Director

“Earth Day Every Day” Begins Fall Online Sessions Back in April, as people across the state were adapting to living with COVID-19 and managing the new normal of social distancing, virtual learning for schools, and supply shortages, Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) faculty and staff were creating online content to provide learning experiences while people were in lockdown at home.

April, 22, 2020, also marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, so RCE launched its “Earth Day at Home” weekly webinar series so that the event did not go by uncelebrated. The series team was made up of RCE Agriculture & Natural Resources County Agents Michele Bakacs, for Middlesex and Union Counties, Sal Mangiafico, for Cumberland and Salem Counties, Amy Rowe, for Essex and Passaic Counties, and Steve Yergeau, for Atlantic and Ocean Counties.

The team members planned, hosted, and answered questions about the webinars. The series focused on steps that everyone could take at home to protect the environment. The webinars covered actions that make our home landscapes more sustainable from environmentally friendly lawn care, to composting, to reducing plastic waste.

These actions, more than ever, start at home.

The 11-week series covered a different topic each session and participants were left with a list of small actions that, together, would reduce negative impacts on the environment.

The series was a success, reaching more than 2,400 people representing all 21 counties in the state, as well as participants from 30 other states and several from outside the U.S. (there was no option in the survey to specify a country outside the U.S.).

On average, more than 220 people attended each session of the series. Nine percent of the webinar participants had not previously attended a Rutgers Cooperative Extension program, so the webinar series reached a modest number of new clientele. The sessions were done in real time, allowing viewers to interact with the speaker and Rutgers moderators via the chat box of the webinar interface.

Eighty-five percent of webinar attendees viewed all the way until the completion of the lecture and 76 percent of participants that stayed and answered the survey at the end of each session indicated that they plan on implementing some of the actions that they learned about during the webinar. The sessions also were recorded and posted on a website to ensure that the webinars

would be accessible to all, regardless of scheduling issues. All of the webinars from the spring series can be watched here: envirostewards.rutgers.edu/ EarthDayatHome2020.html.

Some of the sustainable actions discussed during the spring sessions would be ideal to implement now. Assess gardens and landscaped areas for invasive exotic plants and replace them with plants that are native to New Jersey that will benefit pollinators and the local ecology. Have garden or lawn soil tested now to prepare for fall planting or renovation and aerate turf in the fall to reduce compaction. The Rutgers Soil Testing lab is open and accepting samples (njaes.rutgers.edu/ soil-testing-lab). Extend the life of the produce coming out of your summer garden by canning, pickling, or processing it in order to reduce food waste. Be sure to compost kitchen scraps and lawn clippings so that your garden will have a nice soil amendment ready to go by next year’s growing season. These small actions can have a big impact on making your neighborhood more sustainable.

The spring series was a success because RCE adapted to uncertain times with bringing content online. Distance learning is not ideal for all situations, but there were some silver linings.

RCE was able to provide content statewide rather than sticking to county boundaries. Webinars were open to anyone, no matter what their state or country of residence. Finally, the sessions were provided free of charge during a time when many were newly unemployed.

With September quickly approaching, RCE would like to announce the resumption of this sustainable action webinar series with a new name: “Earth Day Every Day.” The series will occur on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. for one hour starting on September 14 and will feature timely subjects for the fall and winter.

More information will be forthcoming, but here are a few of the session topics: how to save native plant and vegetable seeds, how to winterize your home for energy efficiency, and sustainable turf care for the fall. There also will be two special sessions on wildlife: defensive driving to avoid wildlife collisions and demystifying Halloween’s iconic animals (bats, ravens, snakes, etc.).

Thank you to all of those who participated in the spring series and to those that gave us feedback on how to make the sessions better. We are hoping that you’ll join us for the fall series. Be sure to check the website soon for the schedule and registration details: envirostewards.rutgers. edu/EarthDayatHome2020.html.

Editor’s Note: This month’s contribution was written by Amy Rowe, Ph.D., Environmental and Resource Management Agent for Essex and Passaic Counties.

GardenerNews.com

R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E

September 2020 7

Nasturtiums – Great for the Garden and Table Why do some plants have flowers that simply beg for further investigation, while others we can grow for years, perhaps even eat, and never really appreciate their beauty?

I have grown Nasturtiums, botanically know as Tropaeolum majus, since youth and have even enjoyed snacking on the orange, red or yellow flowers.

However, I never took the time to understand the complexity of the flower, nor appreciated its culinary benefits.

Nasturtiums are the only member of the family Tropaeolaceae, with approximately 80 species native to Central and South America. The plant was first introduced by the Spanish physician and botanist Nicolás Bautista Monardes (14931588). However, it was not until 1753 that the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) first published the genus name as well as this species name.

As the Director of the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE), I have the privilege of leading one of the most innovative and diverse educational program portfolios in the world.

This Lifelong Learning column is dedicated to amplifying educational programs and courses available throughout the year.

Please visit the website at the bottom to obtain the full list of classes available. We R Here When You Need Us. September Trivia Question: What were the first golf balls made out of?

Spotlight Program: This month’s spotlight highlights one of most popular programs at the Office of Continuing Professional Education.

For nearly 60 years, the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School exemplifies one of golf’s most prestigious educational initiatives at OCPE and Rutgers University.

The Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School is a world-class learning center that has trained thousands of successful greenskeepers in the art and science of golf course management. To ensure that every student receives a wellrounded education, the #RUTurf team of instructors includes both distinguished faculty and acclaimed industry professionals.

Designed to strengthen everyday management skills and enhance

The genus was inspired by the circular foliage of Nasturtiums, which resembles a warrior’s shield, with the leaf petiole attached near the center of the leaf. This likeness prompted Linnaeus to recall how the Roman army erected a pole called a Tropaeum following triumph in battle, upon which the armor, shields and weapons of the defeated enemy were hung.

The species epithet means larger, a reference to the foliage which can reach five inches in diameter. The common name references the likeness of the spicy taste of the leaves and flower to that of Watercress, which coincidently has the botanical name of Nasturtium officinale.

Flower color is most often red and orange, although yellow, cream and bicolor are available.

The flowers appear from June to frost, with individual flowers remaining attractive for five to seven days. Although the flower colors are rich and saturated, I suspect that most people – myself included – have never

studied the flower and reveled in its intricate complexity.

The flowers consist of five petals with the lips of the upper two rolling back slightly, while the lower three extend down and slightly outwards. Behind and somewhat supportive of each petal is a leafy bract called a sepal that initially formed the outer protective covering of the flower bud.

The uppermost sepal is modified with a one to oneand-a-half inch-long spur that projects out the rear of the flower and serves as the nectary or vessel that holds the nectar.

Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid that serves to attract pollinators.

The nectar of Nasturtium is exceptionally sweet, with high concentrations of sucrose.

Although most pollinators will enjoy dining on the pollen, transferring some to the stigma with their sloppy dining habits, only visitors with a long tongue or proboscis will be able to reach down the spur for the nectar. With Nasturtiums’ exceptionally sweet nectar as a lure, they are a favorite flower

for hummingbirds to visit.

Although I never studied the flower at length, I was always intrigued by the bold color of the flowers and enjoyed eating them as well! They initially have a sweet taste from the nectar that is followed by a peppery finish from the beneficial mustard oil; in recent studies, Mustard Oil has shown anti-diabetic properties. The flowers are also very high in vitamin C and iron.

Interestingly, the rest of the plant can be eaten as well, with the leaves used fresh or lightly sautéed. The plant also has high amounts of Lutein, a carotenoid that helps with the processes of photosynthesis that has been known to naturally accumulate in the retina of the eye. It has also been shown to slow agerelated macular degeneration.

Grow the plants in full sun and in a soil that does not dry excessively. The plants are trailing and work well next to the edge of containers or window boxes, where they are free to drape over the sides.

For the many years that

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education

By Kenneth M. Karamichael Director

Lifelong Learning

industry relationships, our programs consist of classroom lectures, handson field training, and real-world experience via a paid internship. This two-year program, along with our three-week preparatory program, attracts turfgrass management professionals from across the state, nation, and world.

Career Advancement: Nearly 5,000 graduates, from all 50 states and over 20 countries, have completed the program since 1962.

Turfgrass is a multi-million-dollar industry with many career options, such as becoming an equipment manager, spray technician, irrigation specialist, assistant superintendent, or superintendent. Our alumni lead the industry and work at top golf courses and sports field around the world. This includes Scarlet Knights at Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Yankee Stadium, and many other famous facilities.

Learn From The Best: To give

students well-rounded and practical education, we have gathered the best turf instructors from both the academic community and turf industry. Students learn from distinguished Rutgers professors, who conduct research on topics such as breeding improved turfgrass species that are pest resistant, stress tolerant, and drought resistant.

Students also receive personalized attention from established superintendents, expert plant diagnostic specialists, industryleading irrigation contractors, and prominent turf consultants. Dedicated to lifelong learning, our instructors work tirelessly to make sure students have a complete understanding of the information they need to succeed.

Students leave Rutgers able to make effective decisions to prevent and solve issues on their current and future golf courses. Whether you are brand new to the industry or want to expand your knowledge and grow

your career, The Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School is here to help!

Course Schedules: 2-Year Program (Fall Session: October 7, 2020 – December 18, 2020). (Winter Session: January 6, 2021 – March 19, 2021). (Three-week Preparatory Program: January 11– 29th, 2021).

Note: The Fall Session and 3-Week Preparatory program will be offered online. Currently, the delivery format of the Winter Session is pending CDC, state, and university guidance for in-person training. Prior golf course experience and an application process is required for the two-year program. No formal experience is necessary to attend the three-week preparatory program.

Visit golfturf.rutgers.edu to learn more about these critical professional development opportunities, as well as undergraduate/graduate program options in turfgrass management.

Apply today - and maybe you can

I have walked by this plant or eaten the flowers, I never once studied the complexity of the flower nor knew the many health virtues this plant can provide. Grow Nasturtiums where the flowers can be appreciated in detail and make it a habit to add them to meals.

Nasturtiums are one ornamental that is great for the Garden as well as for the Table!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Rutgers State Program Leader for Home and Public Horticulture, a part time lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, regularly participates in the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education Program, and Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at crawford@njaes. rutgers.edu. add this widely respected credential to your resume to grow your career. The strength and diversity of our alumni network is amazing!

Trivia Answer: Wood, specifically beech, by carpenters from the 14th Century. Each made by hand, and not as mechanically (perfectly) round as you see in today’s game. These balls were used up until the 17th Century, when the (then modern) goose feather ball was introduced. These feather-stuffed leather covered balls had superior flight characteristics, making the wooden ball obsolete.

Today’s golf balls are much more complex, scientifically tested for quality and consistency, and are uniquely marketed as any other piece of sporting equipment.

Visit WWW.GOLFTURF. RUTGERS.EDU to learn more about the many programs available at OCPE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

Learning Never Ends for the New Jersey Turfgrass Professional!

Editor’s Note: Kenneth M. Karamichael, Ed.M., is the Director of the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education within Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Ken can be reached at kenneth@ rutgers.edu.

8 September 2020

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GardenerNews.com New Jersey’s fishing and aquaculture industries are complex supply chains that impact people in a wide range of businesses.

Consider the Atlantic menhaden.

If you don’t fish, you may not know much about this silveryblue herring with dark spots on the sides that also is known as “bunker.” But they are vital to New Jersey’s fisheries and aquaculture industries, with many uses that find their way onto Garden State farms and department store cosmetics’ counters.

That’s why the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), on which I serve as New Jersey’s legislative appointee, has been working to develop benchmarks for menhaden populations as part of the commission’s efforts to manage the populations of other important fish such as striped bass, weakfish, bluefish, and flounder that feed on menhaden.

This small, oily fish is the heart of the food chain that New Jersey’s commercial and recreational fishing industries rely upon to generate $8 billion in annual sales - fifth in the nation - and 52,000 jobs. But menhaden have many uses.

September 2020 9 Agriculture and Natural Resources

By Eric Houghtaling New Jersey Assemblyman

Supporting Our Local Fisheries in These Hard Times

In addition to being used for bait by recreational fishermen and commercial crabbers, Menhaden are harvested and ground up for use on farms as fertilizers and animal feed. Loaded with omega3 fatty acids, menhaden also are used in human and animal supplements and cosmetics.

Our state’s approximately 30 diverse aquaculture farms, with total estimated sales of $5.8 million, depend heavily on fish meal made from menhaden to improve their feed and produce growth in the shellfish, game fish and other species they raise.

The Garden State’s commercial and recreational fishing industries are facing tough times in this economic downturn.

Demand is down from the fish packing houses of Port Norris to the bunker boats at the Belford Seafood Co-Op, The men and women who earn their living on

the water are struggling.

That’s why I have asked our state’s representatives in Congress and the US Senate to approve an additional $1.25 billion in federal aid and to re-evaluate how they allocate aid under the CARES Act to our nation’s marine, commercial, recreational, aquaculture and seafood processing industries.

The rollout of federal aid has been complex for a number of reasons, in large part because the need for financial relief is far greater than the amount of aid that Congress appropriated.

Federal aid allocations should be proportional to actual losses in each state and should account for commercial and recreational seasonality. The aid should be weighted based on the extent of each fishery’s economic impact and aid to the recreational fishing sector should include marinas,

bait and tackle shops.

The men and women who make their living from the water in New Jersey have proven their resilience time and again.

They have survived hurricanes, pollution, overfishing and overregulation.

New Jersey’s oystermen survived the parasitic diseases that decimated their South Jersey beds in 1957 and again in the 1990s. They banded together to self-regulate and worked closely with the Rutgers University Shellfish Research Laboratory on Port Norris to cultivate a healthier, more resilient fishery that has been producing the best harvests in decades.

At the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, we are working to manage the populations of important fisheries along the Atlantic Ocean coast to keep them flourishing for years

to come. But in the near term, the commercial and recreational fishing industries in New Jersey need federal financial assistance to make sure the economic downturn does not turn into an event as devastating as the fish die-offs of the past.

These hard-working folks in one of the state’s oldest industries need our support as consumers as well. This is the peak time of year for local fisheries such flounder and striped bass, clams and local lobster.

I urge everyone to make Jersey Seafood for dinner once or twice a week. Throw some clams on the grill and sauté some blue claw crabs or fresh caught flounder.

You’ll be rewarded with a delicious meal and the satisfaction that you are helping to keep a complex seafood supply chain – and our economy – healthy.

Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling is Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in the New Jersey State Assembly.

He can be reached at 732-6953371 or AsmHoughtaling@ njleg.org, or by mail at 802 W Park Ave, Ste 302, Ocean Township 07712.

New Jersey Department of Agriculture Announces Instructions for Residents About Spotted Lanternfly New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher announced information and instructions for residents who encounter the Spotted Lanternfly as the Department continues to receive numerous calls about this exotic invasive insect. The Department is partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) to curb the on-going spread of the Spotted Lanternfly.

“We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug,” Secretary Fisher said.

“We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed, and we also encourage residents to destroy the Spotted Lanternfly if possible when they see it. It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading.”

While the Spotted Lanternfly is no threat to humans or animals, it is known to feed on 70 different types of plants and trees. It is native to China and South Korea, but arrived in the U.S. in Berks County, Pa., on a shipment in 2014. The species has been advancing ever since, causing Pennsylvania to have 26 counties currently under quarantine. The New Jersey counties under quarantine are Warren, Hunterdon,

Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset. The Spotted Lanternfly is a plant hopper and can only fly short distances.

However, it is an excellent hitchhiker and has been known to ride on any kind of transportation.

The Department asks that anyone who travels in a quarantined county do a quick inspection of their vehicle for the Spotted Lanternfly before leaving.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS have several crews throughout the state that are working to treat areas where infestations have been reported. Those crews may seek permission to come on to a property where large infestations exist. They will have proper identification and follow proper safety protocols. The crews will need to check only the specific areas outdoors where the Spotted Lanternfly has been found. Treatments will only occur on the Tree of Heaven, which the Spotted Lanternfly prefers and is believed to need to reproduce.

Since surveys and treatments for the Spotted Lanternfly in New Jersey began in 2018, there have been more than 200,000 Trees of Heaven treated on almost 19,000 acres.

“NJDA and USDA crews have worked to control the spread of this invasive pest,” NJDA Plant Industry Division Director Joe Zoltowski said. “Its ability to travel easily on any mode of transportation has allowed it to spread. We are asking residents to do their part by eliminating this bug whenever possible.”

If a resident has an infestation and would like to treat their own property, a list of options can be found at https://bit.ly/3eIuTEi. Using items such as sticky traps are not recommended as they may harm other wildlife.

While the Spotted Lanternfly is currently in its full adult stage, it will begin laying egg masses in early to mid-September. The gray looking egg masses can be scraped off, double bagged and then thrown away. The egg masses can also be placed into alcohol, bleach or hand sanitizer to kill them. An instructional video on how to destroy the egg masses is available at https://bit.ly/3fMIw52.

Residents outside of the quarantine counties can report the exact address of sightings of the Spotted Lanternfly by emailing Slfplantindustry@ag.nj.gov or by calling 609-4066943.

10 September 2020 We all have been affected by the pandemic this year. Whether it has been working from home, wearing masks in stores, dining outside only, changing vacation plans, there isn’t a part of our lives that it hasn’t touched.

The same goes for running an association. Each aspect of what we provide our members has changed.

But not everything has been bad, just a challenge.

Our key pillars as a landscape and horticultural trade association are Safety, Community, Advocacy, Professionalism and Education.

Therefore, we must keep our members abreast of what happens as it relates to their businesses.

Our e-blasts are usually aimed towards members, but we have many contacts and in the midst of what would affect the entire industry, we opened up to our entire contact list. Keeping the industry in line with rules and regulations and helping them remain safe was our number-one priority. We sent regular updates to all our contacts on the latest developments, including executive orders and helping them keep the doors open and staff employed.

NJLCA staff worked from home from March 16 through June 16. Working from home is nice

GardenerNews.com The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Executive Director

Remaining “Associated” While Apart

occasionally, but came with its own set of challenges when doing it for several months. Staff kept in contact with each other via Facetime. We were able to catch up on projects that were on the back burner, but one of the greatest outcomes was that we had time to call each and every member to see how they were doing, catch up and help them with anything they needed.

We reconnected with our members, commiserated together and thanked our lucky stars that we were all hanging in there. We are happy to have returned to the office, although those first few days were admittedly strange and uncomfortable. Of course, we are still practicing social distancing and wearing masks when we need to.

Board Meetings were another challenge. Each month, the NJLCA Officers and Directors

meet to discuss happenings in the association, issues throughout the industry and to decide what actions they want to take.

The first few months, Board Meetings were via Zoom calls.

Although it worked, the Board felt that it was not the same as meeting in person. In May, we held our first “in-person” Board Meeting since February. We conducted the meeting outside in our parking lot, with each chair separated by six feet. All Board Members wore masks and those that were not comfortable attending were still able to call in via Zoom. Oh, the fun we had with technology trying to work in a parking lot with no electric and a weak internet signal.

But we did it!

June was even more fun (sarcasm) when a tractor trailer in the next parking lot decided to

sit and idle right next to us. We relocated to the other side of the parking lot just in time to have a freight train go by for five minutes.

We had to laugh, though, and got through the meeting despite all the obstacles.

As you also know by now, NJLCA hosts monthly membership meetings at various locations throughout the state. This is our way of really being able to connect and network amongst our membership and is a fun and educational night for all.

The pandemic posed a challenge to that practice as well.

We organized several online meetings, with networking time, an educational component and even did a toast with attendees at the end of the meeting. We have also held several pesticide-training classes and organics webinars during this

time. But nothing beats an in-person meeting and we look forward to being able to meet again soon.

Online learning is not the same, virtual calls are not without their glitches and following CDC guidelines is no picnic. But we have learned an unbelievably valuable lesson in the past several months. It is possible to keep going and retain a community even when we can’t see each other in person.

Wishing you all health and happiness. Get ready to clean up those leaves!

Editor’s note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association.

She was presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview for her assistance in leading the 9-11 Memorial Park project and the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Federation of Employers and Workers of America. She is currently the State Licensee Chair on the National Association of Landscape Professionals International Certification Council.

No Kidding: Plant A Goldenrod?

By Hubert Ling If you are like many gardeners, who must pull up dozens of tough goldenrod each year, you might accuse me of losing my mind to suggest voluntarily planting goldenrod in any garden.

Well, if you avoid superaggressive species such as Solidago canadensis or S. gramnifolia, goldenrod makes a spectacular color show in fall. With the right species in the right location, goldenrod is actually a well-mannered, valuable, bright spot in any garden. In fact, gardeners in Europe have for years chosen American goldenrods to add vivid color to their formal displays.

If you have shady locations in your yard, try zig-zag goldenrod, S. flexicaulis. The genus name comes from the Latin “solidare,” which means make whole (as in restore one’s health) and the species name

from the Latin “flex,” for bent and “caulis,” meaning stem. It is easy to identify this plant because of the zig-zag stems, the presence of four- to fiveinch-long leaves, often three inches wide, and the spreading apical cluster of golden flowers and smaller clusters at several zigs and zags near the top of the plant.

Goldenrod has had a long history of use as a medicinal plant. This aromatic plant has been used for a variety of human ailments from arthritis to wound healing and everything between.

Historically, the Cherokee used it for dysentery and the Chippewa used it for boils, colds, fevers, sore throats, and ulcers. However, little scientific evidence has accumulated to show that goldenrod is either effective or safe and I strongly suggest you not experiment on yourself using this relatively unproven plant for self-medication.

Zig-zag goldenrod is small for a goldenrod, only about one-and-a-half to three feet

tall. It is usually unbranched and is relatively slow growing.

However its moment of glory comes in September when it bursts in golden splendor. This display is rather unexpected but very welcome, especially in full shade. Zig-zag goldenrod is a composite plant, which has the larger fertile, pistillate-only, ray flowers to the outside and the fertile bisexual disc flowers in the middle.

In late fall, these golden flower sprays are replaced with puffs of winged seeds, which are the primary way to propagate this plant. The plant may also spread by underground rhizomes, but this process is very spotty and slow, especially in the shade. The plant tolerates shade, black walnut, wet, clay, limestone, and dry soils. It grows best in rich, moist soils, with some dappled sunlight.

Zig-zag goldenrod is reliable, long lived, and easy to grow. It has no major disease problems, although it may occasionally show a little rust or powdery mildew. In my shady

yard, it self-sows and doubles its population about every four years. This is in stark contrast to S. canadensis which for me, in the sun, more than doubles every year.

Goldenrods have wrongly been connected with hay fever. Although many types of goldenrod bloom conspicuously starting in September, the start of hay fever season, goldenrods are insect pollenated and thus do nor release pollen into the air. The real culprit, as most gardeners know, is ragweed, which produces inconspicuous yellow-green flowers which are wind pollinated and are the main cause of hay fever.

High magnification electron microscope pictures of ragweed pollen show globular grains with really sinister looking spikes.

The critters love goldenrods.

These plants are recommended by the Xerces Society as being among the most valuable plants for pollinators in the Northeast and Middle-Atlantic regions.

Zig-zag goldenrod has an

extended bloom time, which extends from September well into October; it is surprisingly cold tolerant; at a time when most plants shut down this goldenrod is still going strong.

Zig-zag goldenrod nectar and pollen are collected by an assemblage of native bees, honeybees, butterflies, and wasps. In addition, the foliage supports a number of leafeating insects which includes several moth caterpillars.

Although the seeds are small, they serve as food for a number of gamebirds, songbirds, and mice.

Zig-zag goldenrod and the similar blue-stem goldenrod are great low-maintenance plants for shade and wildlife gardens. Surprise your friends by growing well-behaved goldenrods.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is President of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net.

GardenerNews.com

September 2020 11

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September 2020 13

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14 September 2020 It’s September, and my yard is a disaster. Having abandoned my domicile for a couple of weeks to soak up the sun and surf at the Jersey shore, I have returned to a brown, crunchy mess that hardly resembles a lawn. If it weren’t for the crab grass, plantains, chickweed and dandelions, my property would be completely devoid of anything remotely resembling a shade of green.

The flowers in my garden look pitiful and practically cry out to me for a drink of water, and it looks like a bunch of squatters have moved in and crowded out the thirsty little blossoms.

I suspect somehow these weeds sense when I am on vacation. It is like leaving the house in the care of a gang of teenagers.

What could possibly go wrong?

Surveying the mess and trying to remain optimistic, I wonder if any of these weeds have a purpose other than annoying homeowners.

Surprisingly, having a few weeds around is not that bad and provides benefits to the environment.

Beneficial weeds can play several roles in the garden or yard, including fertilizing the soil, increasing moisture, repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, or serving as a food source.

Every year, for the holidays, I come up with a custom-made Ginkgo-themed gift and share it with friends and colleagues in the industry. A gift that has so much meaning, passion and thought behind it, I often say, “It’s only the worthy.”

What I mean by that is, it’s only for those who truly understand me and have a deep appreciation for plants and life. Dexterous gifts that usually have those who receive it saying, “Bob, you can’t outdo this year’s gift!” That, of course, is what drives me to push the envelope even further.

This year’s gift, which took four prototypes to get correct, had me having in-depth conversations with an artist in Maine. As we were going through the possibilities, he explained to me, in some detail, the limitations of metal and heat, a hint for those receiving my gift this year.

Nicholas, my metal worker/ artist said, “We’re really getting into the weeds now.” There have been a few interpretations of this expression, but my takeaway was that we were dealing with small, but important details in metal working.

Couple this with the important, minute details of a Ginkgo leaf and you can begin to understand why

GardenerNews.com NJ Agricultural Society

By Al Murray Executive Director

Lawns Gone Wild

Sometimes, the presence of weeds indicates the need to enrich your soil, especially in the vegetable garden, because each time you harvest vegetables, you remove nutrients.

Roots add organic matter to the soil. They provide channels for rain and air to penetrate. Decaying roots also create tunnels for worms and other beneficial soil microbes.

They are especially helpful in no-till gardens.

Dandelions, long the bane of gardeners, are actually a major crop grown in New Jersey. Their leaves are used in salads and dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and serve as an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate, and small amounts of other B vitamins.

What’s more, dandelion greens provide a substantial amount of several minerals, including

iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Their yellow flowers have been used for teas and make an excellent wine. In the garden, dandelions benefit nearby plants through their powerful tap root. It breaks up hard soil, going deep into the ground, bringing up nutrients other plants cannot reach.

Generations of kids have amused themselves by picking the stem of a broadleaf plantain and flicking the head at a sibling or friend. Native to most of Europe, this weed was brought over by the early colonists who used it as a poultice to be applied to wounds, stings, and sores as well as to reduce pain, heal, and prevent infection. Broadleaf plantain is edible and high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. This weed is usually found in compacted soils, and along pathways and, like the dandelion, its long tap root helps

loosen the soil.

One weed that is greatly beneficial to a healthy lawn or garden is clover. Almost like an EMT, clover shows up to provide first aid when the soil is in trouble.

Dry fields and lawns that cover compacted, clay soil, or lawns that routinely have their grass clippings carted away, thus becoming nitrogen-deficient, typically attract clover.

Once established, clover transfers airborne nitrogen into the soil to help restore this vital nutrient to the lawn or garden. Clover also attracts and provides shelter for a host of beneficial insects and helps sustain pollinators looking for nectar from their little white flowers. Clover also provides ground cover and retains water in the soil. The only place clover does not help would be near tomatoes.

Tomatoes thrive in a slightly

Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

“Getting into The Weeds”

“we were so far into the weeds” we needed a sickle to get ourselves out.

This past summer, I visited nearly all of our growers, handpicking nursery stock for Spring 2021. Following my conversation with Nicholas in Maine and while visiting one of our unique tree growers, I thought about his words looking at various blocks of cherry, crabapple, dogwood, ginkgo, magnolia, oak and redbud.

The question I asked myself, standing in the thick of all these gorgeous tree types and their respective cultivars, was how many people truly understand and appreciate the subtleties of not only a genus and species, but also each individual cultivar?

Now before you panic with botanical nomenclature, let me make things easier. Over the years,

many people I speak with initially struggle with the words, genus, species and cultivar. My analogy, to make things easier and quickly understand and appreciate the vernacular, is comparing trees to that of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (aka BMW).

Imagine, for a moment, BMW as the company and understand that they have manufactured planes, cars and motorcycles over the years. Now consider each model of plane, car and motorcycle the company has produced. Consider BMW as the genus, planes, cars and motorcycles as the species, and each model of plane, car and motorcycle as a cultivar and you’re nearly there.

After all, how many of us can appreciate the difference between a 525i and 530i BMW? Is the added horsepower and “beefier” engine

worth the extra cost? Don’t they both look the same? The answer, I believe, is for the discerning customer who appreciates the details.

Again, standing in those gorgeous blocks of cherry, crabapple, dogwood, ginkgo, magnolia, oak and redbud, I asked myself… how many will appreciate the subtleties of these cultivars, offered today in the marketplace, and will they equate value towards them? When you shop at your local independent garden center, are size and price the deciding factors?

Will traits like genetics, quality and professional advice have enough intrinsic value?

Looking at various blocks of dogwood, you can easily see how some are larger than others. Going further, some may have variegated leaves, be more disease resistant,

nitrogen-deficient environment.

Chickweed is another weed that indicates low soil fertility and shows up in disturbed soil, such as garden beds and highly tilled areas, and its presence will help accumulate potassium and phosphorus.

With vacation behind me, I start the arduous process of bringing order back to my lawn and garden.

As I grab a fistful of chickweed, I think of a quote attributed to that great American agricultural scientist George Washington Carver: “A weed is a flower growing in the wrong place.”

Editor’s Note: Al Murray is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Established in 1781, the Society is New Jersey's oldest organization whose purpose is to advocate, educate and promote on behalf of New Jersey's agricultural industry. Mr. Murray previously spent his entire career at the NJ Department of Agriculture, serving as the Assistant Secretary. He can be reached at njagriculturalsociety@ gmail.com flower at different times or have ascending or weeping branches, making them better candidates for smaller spaces.

Standing in open fields, looking at huge blocks of different cultivars, the details become magnified very quickly. The subtlety of flower color, the texture, size or patina of a leaf, the overall habit of a tree (spreading vs. fastigiate), even the bark and fruit a tree type produces becomes quite distinguishable.

And this is just deciduous trees I’m talking about. Imagine the diversity that exists within annuals, perennials and conifers. As I said, “We’re really getting into the weeds” now. But isn’t that what makes life so interesting?

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, Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers.

He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

GardenerNews.com As flowering plants come and go in the garden and perennial border, I find that ornamental grasses with summer interest assist in providing ornamental interest throughout the summer and into the fall.

Both annuals and perennial grasses come in many sizes, forms and colors. Many of them are native to the prairies and meadows of the United States and are therefore very heat and drought tolerant.

I asked our horticulturists at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to share their favorites.

Todd Greenberg, our Project Manager at The Navy Yard, uses Calamagrostis acutiflora “Karl Foerster.” While this has been around for decades, I too, continue to consider this one of my very favorites.

According to Todd, “This tough tall ornamental grass really stands out in mid-summer with rockets of golden blooms.” I consider “Karl Foerster” a “see-through plant” in that there is a mound of foliage at the base, but the wiry seed and flower heads are so thin it allows you to see flowering plants behind it. This Calamagrostis reaches five feet tall.

For the northern sea oats, Chasmanthium latifolium Greenberg remarks, “One cannot deny the texture and tenacity of Chasmanthium in the landscape.”

I know that this can cause potential problems because it can seed

September 2020 15 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Public Horticulture

Ornamental Grasses for Summer

prolifically in the garden. It is grown for its pendant clusters of oat-like seed heads.

Reaching two to three feet tall, it can grow in a wide range of conditions including sun and shade. In the fall, the seed heads turn an attractive tawny color.

A wonderful selection of the Midwest prairie native, little blue stem, Schizachyrium scoparium is “Standing Ovation.” This mediumstature ornamental grass reaches three to four feet tall. This North Creek Nurseries introduction has more upright foliage. The summer foliage is blue-green, but it turns brilliant shades of orange and burgundy in the fall. Sprays of flowers sit atop the foliage in the summer and turn to fluffy, silvery seed heads in the fall.

Leah Blanton is the Project Manager for sites such as the Delaware River Water Front sites, including Spruce Street Harbor Park, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s headquarters, and recently designed the new plantings at the

soon-to-open Pop Up Garden in Manayunk.

One of our mutually favorite grasses is sideoats gramma, Bouteloua curtipendula. The blueish-green foliage only reaches two feet tall. In mid-summer, thin stems arch over the foliage and show off dangling flowers with orange anthers and small purple flowers. It is a great grass to weave amongst flowering perennials like coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea.

A great grass to use in lieu of a groundcover like Liriope spicata is Seseleria autumnalis.

This clumping grass, according to Leah, is “tough as nails.” It forms low, tight mounds of lime-green foliage that can be semi-evergreen throughout the winter. Silvery seed heads in late summer dry to brown and persist through winter.

Most people don’t think of grasses for their fragrance, however, the prairie drop seed, Sporobolus heterolepis, which has clumping foliage and delicate sprays of summer flowers to three

feet tall, has flowers that range in descriptions from “cilantro” to “buttered pop corn” to the fresh smell that comes after a thunderstorm.

Panicum virgatum, switch grass has many fantastic cultivars.

Tight clumps of erect foliage grow to about five feet to six feet tall.

Leah’s favorites are “Northwind,” which has orange fall color and frothy seed heads in the summer and into the fall and “Shenandoah,” which has a more open habit, redtinged foliage and is shorter than “Northwind.”

Glenn Ashton is the head gardener at Meadowbrook Farm, which is a public garden in Abington Township north of Philadelphia operated by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

For unequaled color throughout the summer, Glenn loves the annual Pennisetum purpureum “Vertigo,” which has “great, dark, bold, purple foliage that reaches four feet tall.”

For dry or xeric conditions, he likes to use the dwarf Festuca

glauca, which has tufted mounds of steely blue foliage. The key for successfully growing this grass is good drainage.

There are many, many more great ornamental grasses, but these selections offer great diversity and versatility.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Public Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture.

Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show Shifting from In-Person Show to Alternate Platform for 2021 Due to Pandemic Due to COVID-19 concerns, ongoing restrictions on large indoor gatherings, and unforeseen unavailability at the Baltimore Convention Center, The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) announces that the 2021 show, initially scheduled for January 6-8, is unable to take place as an in-person event. MANTS organizers are, instead, working to provide an online platform where exhibitors and attendees can conduct business.

Organizers had been optimistic about the possibility of continuing the 50-year tradition of MANTS in January 2021 but recently confirmed that the Baltimore Convention Center is not available for the scheduled dates due to its ongoing role as a State of Maryland field hospital. The Baltimore Convention Center has served as a 250-bed COVID-19 field hospital since April and will continue to serve in that capacity through the end of December. When factoring in additional time required to break down the field hospital and sanitize, it is impractical to assume proper access to the building even if the state should change its restrictions on large-scale indoor gatherings.

“The health and safety of our exhibitors and attendees is our primary focus,” said MANTS Executive Vice President Vanessa Finney. “We’ve exhausted all other alternative dates for an in-person show, and while we are disappointed that we can’t meet in person, we are committed to keeping commerce within our industry alive and healthy. MANTS’

continued support of our show sponsors, the State Nursery and Landscape Associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia is critical despite the pandemic.”

The Horticulture Industry has remained strong with interest in home gardening especially on the rise across the country due to quarantine. With many industry shows canceled in 2020 due to coronavirus, MANTS stands uniquely positioned to ensure exhibitors and buyers remain connected even though they cannot meet face-to -face.

“MANTS has meant business for the green industry for 50 years, and we plan to continue this tradition into 2021,” added Finney. “We have long said that MANTS means business, and that has traditionally meant in-person and face-to-face, but over the next few weeks, we are working on an alternate way to keep that business relationship between exhibitor and buyer healthy and available through 2021.”

In 2020, MANTS welcomed over 12,000 total registrants (including exhibitors) to do business, network, and learn about the latest green industry trends generating an economic impact of $5.6 million for Baltimore. In addition to the increased registration in 2020, business thrived at the premier green industry marketplace, with more than 88% of MANTS attendees designated as the representatives in their companies that make or influence final purchasing decisions.

“The first week of January in Baltimore has always been celebrated by welcoming the attendees and exhibitors of the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS), a dedicated partner with the Baltimore Convention Center since 1980,” said Peggy Daidakis, Executive Director of the Baltimore Convention Center. “It has been a privilege to see MANTS expand over the years and we appreciate the impact the event has had on the City of Baltimore and our entire region. We look forward to MANTS returning.”

“Visit Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) have been longtime partners with the show meeting in Baltimore for 40 consecutive years,” said Al Hutchinson, President & CEO of Visit Baltimore.

“Although the 2021 show is being reimagined due to the pandemic, we look forward to welcoming MANTS back to Baltimore in-person when the time is right and continuing our great partnership.”

Additional details on MANTS 2021 plans will be shared in the weeks to come.

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS)The MidAtlantic Nursery Trade Show, MANTS, is known as the Masterpiece of Trade Shows™ and is sponsored by the State Nursery and Landscape Associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. MANTS is the place where horticulture industry leaders gather every January because MANTS means business.

16 September 2020 This summer was the first time in many years that I saw an abundance of Japanese Beetles and Northern Masked Chafer beetles (tan colored) in my yard.

I found about 10 dead Chafers on my front doorstep when I came home from a vacation in late June and wondered where they came from since I had not treated my yard with any insecticide.

In late July, when I came home from a few days away, I saw a lot of Japanese Beetles on my roses, crepe myrtles, hyacinths, etc. and again, wondered where did these all come from? I did spray my shrubs and roses with a product labeled to control Japanese Beetles and had a successful kill. Let’s see if I get many grubs this fall.

We generally try to follow a lawn-care program each year to prevent crabgrass and feed the lawn, control broadleaf weeds and insects. But many times, Mother Nature disrupts any sort of definitive application timing regime, including grub treatments.

Grubs burrow deep into the soil when cold weather comes along in early winter. They then start to rise to the soil surface Now that it is September, it should be payoff time around the farm and garden here in New Jersey.

Months of planning, planting, hard work, prayer, weeding and watching the weather should all culminate with a bountiful harvest of top-quality fruits and vegetables, right? As it turns out, we have not been the only ones who have been anticipating a successful crop.

Many of our four legged and winged friends have been licking their chops in anticipation as well. Of course, these animals do not have the same tastes that we do and might choose to harvest our crops at almost any time after they have been planted. But nothing is so discouraging as to grow a crop for an entire season, and then have it wiped out the night before it was ready to be harvested.

Here in the Garden State, we have a host of different wildlife species that love to feed on the fruits and vegetable we produce. Of course, the numberone pest on the “Growers’ Most Wanted List” would have to be the white-tailed deer.

It’s hard to imagine that deer

GardenerNews.com Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Got bugs, maybe some grubs?

in late spring based on weather patterns. This past winter was a very mild winter, so we did not experience as much “winter kill” of grubs. The varying weather patterns included wet, dry, hot and cold over and over again.

There didn’t seem to really be any rhyme or reason for the weather we had this season.

Usually grubs pupate and change to Japanese Beetles in June, lay their eggs and then new grub populations start to show up in August. This year, I predict that we may have a severe grub infestation in September and October due to the weather.

Cultural controls for grubs include a healthy growing lawn based on a sound lawn-care program. Proper watering and raising your mowing height to reduce turfgrass stress can help

to reduce grub damage to your lawn.

It is important that you monitor your lawn for signs of stress. Brown lawn spots can be caused by excessive heat, drought, insects or fungus.

Identify what caused your “brown” lawn so you can take the proper steps to fix the problem.

Some homeowners put down a preventative application for grubs in late spring or early summer. If grubs are present at the soil surface, you can rake or peel back the dead lawn area and see the familiar curled white grub.

Animals or birds digging in your lawn are an indication they are looking for insects to eat.

A healthy growing lawn can tolerate up to 10-plus grubs

per square foot. If I had that many grubs, I would prefer to control them since I do not want them to kill all of my grass this year or next. Google “lawn grubs” on the Internet for better identification. Be sure to use a control product labeled for use on grubs to be effective.

There is a good chance that your lawn took a beating this summer and certain areas will need to be re-seeded. Remember, preparation for seeding will produce the best long-term results. Re-seeding your lawn can be quite expensive and back breaking if you rake the areas you are seeding manually, or you can save your back and rent machinery to help.

Get rid of any dead grass and debris and loosen the ground to allow new seedlings roots

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Wildlife Damage

were a rarity here in New Jersey back in the early-1900s. Now, it has gotten to the point where densities of 100-150 deer per square mile are not uncommon.

Try growing something in the midst of a population like that.

It just will not happen. Unless measures are taken to physically keep the deer away from the crop, failure is almost certain.

Sure, there are some crops, such as wheat and field corn, which can “outgrow” the deer if they are planted in a large enough area. But by and large, if left unchecked, deer will impact just about any crop grown here in New Jersey.

But there are other hungry friends here besides the deer.

Racoons can be quite a problem as well. Ask anyone who has ever grown sweet corn. As bad

as deer can be, racoons can be just as bad when it comes to growing this tasty vegetable.

Racoons love to eat sweet corn.

They also have a knack for getting to it a day or two before it is ready to be harvested.

In a larger field of say 10 or more acres, the damage might be tolerable. But in smaller plantings, or in backyard gardens, racoons can decimate a patch of sweet corn in short order. And they can make a real mess while doing so.

Groundhogs are another mammal that can do a lot of damage. They love to feed on just about anything that is green and grows close to the ground. Lettuce, beans and cole crops like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are particular favorites of the groundhog.

They do not have a wide range, so most of their damage will be inflicted in close proximity to their holes. But if they are allowed to take up residence in a hedgerow near any of these crops, look out. They are voracious eaters that will clean the crop off level with the ground!

One pest that seems to bother backyard gardeners quite a bit are squirrels. I do not believe that they are a huge problem for commercial growers, but for someone who plants a few plants of this and that in a residential area with a lot of trees, squirrels can be a real problem. They are not a huge problem with our fruit trees, but for people with one or two trees, they can cause a significant amount of damage.

Another often overlooked

to grow deep. Renting a slice seeding machine can make this job easier and provide better seeding results.

Did you test your soil pH? Now is the time to do so and add any soil-amending products.

Use quality grass seed with proper end-use names for the areas you are seeding whether sunny, shady, traffic areas, etc.

Lastly, be sure to use a “seed starter” fertilizer with a high middle number containing Phosphorus at the time of seeding. If you are going to apply grass seed, do it in September once the hot, dry weather is behind us. Make use of the whole fall growing season to grow a healthy lawn; don’t delay seeding into October or November if possible.

I hope you are all well and that your lawn looks great this fall!

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 pest are birds. Ask anyone with cherry trees, blueberries, grapes or raspberries and they will vouch for their appetite. In fact, many of these crops must be netted so that the birds do not decimate the crop entirely.

And birds do not just limit themselves to these small berry type crops. They will also feed on all types of tree fruit, as well as pumpkins, squash and sweet corn to name a few others.

So, as it gets close to harvest time for our fruits and vegetables, keep your guard up!

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. 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.

GardenerNews.com In 1950s Brooklyn, August was the month of the Rose of Sharon. All my friends and I hated it.

In the common alley that ran behind our houses, Roses of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) grew in abundance. This garish, scentless, attracter of yellow jackets, also posed hazards to our safety. Its fallen blooms congealed into a mucilaginous goop, which made our bikes skid when performing the allimportant “wheelie.” Boy, did we hate that plant.

Fast forward 20 years. My first trip to the Caribbean entranced me and the tropical hibiscus, Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, was among its charms. A tropical cousin of Hibiscus syriacus, I longed to plant one back home, but alas, tropical hibiscus will not grow in zones above 4.

Sometime around 1980, I made the acquaintance of the hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos, and I knew I’d found the hibiscus for me. A tough, floriferous perennial and butterfly and hummingbird magnet with deer resistance and a late summer bloom are some of the reasons. The hardy hibiscus is the result of hybridizing the North American native wildflower/shrub commonly known as Swamp Mallow.

Many gardeners feel the hibiscus adds a tropical touch and if you like that feeling, go for it. I emphasize

September 2020 17 The Garden Historian

By Lesley Parness Garden Educator

A Hibiscus Love Story

the mallow associations found in a Cottage Garden. As container plants, hardy hibiscus provides instant decor for deck or doorstep.

Standard forms can be grafted to look like little trees and add structure to the garden. The gigantic flowers and comparatively large scale of many of the hardy hibiscus make them top choices for hedges, mass plantings in large-scale landscapes, or as part of a perennial border.

Even though the flowers of most hardy hibiscus last one day and have no scent, these striking blooms ranging in size from two inches to a foot or more in diameter definitely qualify this plant for the “specimen” category, too.

Hardy hibiscus are easy to grow.

They thrive in full sun with moist, friable, fertile soil, but are adaptable and can tolerate some shade, and dry conditions once established.

Well-drained soil is a must. The crown of the plant should rest just

at or slightly above the soil surface.

Some peat moss at planting will add welcome acidity.

A monthly fertilizing keeps them vigorous. They will die back to the ground in winter and they leaf out very late in spring - so be patient.

Mulching with salt hay in the fall helps. To encourage branching and more flower stalks, prune in early summer when growth begins.

My absolute favorite, “Crème Brulee,” was bred by the Fleming brothers of Lincoln, Neb. Over three decades, they bred many wonderful cultivars. Read about them at www. flemingsflowers.com/page/livinggnomes.

“Crème Brulee” features a creamy yellow 10-inch flower with a solid yellow stamen and a purple throat matching its rich burgundy leaves. It’s a three- to four-foot-tall knockout! And here are some more recommended hardy hibiscus.

“Robert Fleming,” named

for one of the breeder brothers, produces enormous, velvety-red ruffled flowers on extremely cold hardy plants and reaches three feet in height and width.

“Luna Rose” lights up the mid-late summer garden with its beautiful six- to eight-inch raspberryrose flowers and matte, dark green leaves. Perfect for containers with its sturdy, compact form reaching 24 to 36 inches tall, and 20 to 24 inches wide. Also, of this size is “Luna White,” with eight-inch glowing white flowers and bright red throats.

“Blue River” has pristine, pearly white flowers the size of dinner plates. The plant can reach eight feet in height and with its blue-green foliage is a stunner - in night gardens the blooms seem incandescent.

“Kopper King” is named for its decorative, copper-colored, finely cut foliage that provides a dramatic contrast to its 12-inch pink blooms.

It grows three to four feet tall and

two to three feet wide.

Finally, “Sweet Caroline” blooms well into fall with gorgeous, bright pink blooms that feature dark veins. This is a big girl reaching a six-foot height and four-foot width.

You could be enjoying a hardy hibiscus right now. So, find a place for one in next year’s garden and start your own “Love Story.”

Editor’s Note: Lesley Parness has taught horticulture and environmental education around the world for the past four decades. Retired from her post as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, her focus now is garden history and botanic literature. She is a past President and Founding Member of the Garden State Gardens Consortium, and a member of the Herb Society of America and The Council on Horticultural and Botanic Libraries. Lesley lectures throughout the tri-state area. She can be reached at www.lesleyparness.com, where a complete listing of her presentations and workshops may be found.

This column will appear in the paper every other month.

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18 September 2020

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RUTGERS, NJAES/RCE NEWS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY Announcing New Landscape Architecture Department Chair: Richard Alomar

Living Labs In Action: Experimental Gardening on Cook Campus

Message from SEBS Interim Executive Dean Laura Lawson: Dear SEBS and NJAES community, It is my privilege to announce that environmental planning and design and Richard Alomar will serve as Chair of the other concerns facing urban communities.

Department of Landscape Architecture.

With his professional background and Richard Alomar has an undergraduate scholarly interests, it is no surprise that he degree in Agronomy from the University of is a much sought-after advisor and serves Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and an MLA from on multiple graduate thesis committees.

Louisiana State University. Before joining Richard Alomar also serves as the the department in 2012, Richard Alomar Director of the Office of Urban Extension was an Associate at Stantec Planning and Engagement. In this role, he works with and Landscape Architecture and Senior faculty and staff from SEBS and NJAES to Associate at di Domenico + Partners. He raise awareness and advance research and is internationally recognized as a leader in outreach serving urban communities. the development of ‘sketch crawls’ and the I also want to thank Dr. Wolfram Hoefer practice of sketching as a method of seeing for his leadership as chair of the department and analyzing the everyday world. for the last three years. In his time as As a licensed landscape architect with chair, Wolfram Hoefer successfully led many years of professional experience, two accreditation renewals. He has helped Richard Alomar has contributed and make the new visualization lab a reality on significantly shaped how the department the second floor of Blake Hall. He has also teaches its construction courses and been very active in the Chairs Council and community-based studios. His professional served on the steering committee for the and academic work focus on public projects SEBS strategic planning process. Thank that address food security, individual and you, Wolfram, for your contributions. community health, resource stewardship, Welcome, congratulations, and thank urban agriculture and food chains, you, Richard!

By Darrian Beam (SEBS ’21), Green Team Steward, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) One of my favorite past-times at chemical input can harm the surrounding school is taking a walk around Rutgers ecosystems. The tarp on the other hand, Cook campus. When I’m stressed about isolates the damage to its target. exams and assignments, it’s a real treat Using Leaves as Mulch to stroll through the greenery here and let Another experiment involves using my thoughts wander. Although we do not fallen leaves as mulch. You may have seen have access to campus now, we can still large piles of leaves in the IFNH meadow learn about what projects are going on. or border gardens. The allocation and While class was still in-person, you may implementation of the leaves for mulching have noticed some abnormalities in the is the result of a collaboration between gardens on Cook—sky high piles of leaves campus Facilities and the student Green and spray painted tarps on the ground. Team.

Although they may look a little odd, This tactic has multiple benefits. This these “sore thumbs” are actually puzzle approach requires no chemical input. pieces to the SEBS Living Labs initiative. We are using nature to nurture itself.

Through Living Labs, the campus grounds, The leaves break down and contribute to buildings and operations become portals to nutrient cycling among the native plants on engaged learning. campus. Additionally, the organic material Living Labs projects exist on all in the leaves holds onto moisture—in drier Rutgers campuses, but are especially lively weather this can be helpful in preventing and visible on Cook. Here, students and dry soil and potential loss of plants. From professors have been able to experiment an economic standpoint, using naturally with material inputs and methods for occurring materials eliminates the need growing and maintaining a collection of to purchase mulch from outside sources sustainable gardens. Here we’ll explore as well as the need to pay a company to some of our unconventional approaches to remove the leaves from campus (while also landscaping as well as the lessons learned reducing the carbon costs associated with from our experiences. travel). This saves Facilities money, which Garden Installation at the Cook Office ultimately saves New Jersey taxpayers and Building Rutgers students money.

One of the most empowering things Student Input we can do for students is provide realThe practice of sustainable landscaping world experience. SEBS Department of on campus allows our community to realize Landscape Architecture professors Holly new potential in the ways we interact Nelson and Christina Kaunzinger did just with the natural world. A lot of these this with their Planting Design class last efforts are to show our community that Spring. Students were split into groups and living in harmony with our environment asked to devise a Provisioning Garden for the is doable! A highlight of the Living Labs space outside of the Cook Office Building. and Green Team efforts is the ability Building residents from the Departments to share what we discover. That being of Human Ecology and Agricultural, Food, said, formerly mentioned student, Jess and Resource Economics voted on their MacPhee, expressed that she would like favorite designs: Jessica MacPhee (SEBS to see more participation from the student ’20) and Nina Petracca’s (SEBS ’20, SGS body as a whole, stating, “this is something ’21) design was selected for installation. we need to tackle, green team/gardening The design beautifully intertwines the offers a socially diverse opportunity. We aspects of environmentalism, creativity and should be collaborating with other clubs deep thinking which underlay the SEBS to address issues like food insecurity/soil community (see https://sebsnjaesnews. preservation.” rutgers.edu/2019/09/provisioning-gardenAs the Living Labs evolve, this should is-the-newest-living-laboratory-on-the- spark conversation and involvement from cook-campus/ ). students on all campuses. We should be Like all good projects, this one faced thinking about how culture, perspective challenges. A big question for the class was and diversity play into our relationships how to handle the spread of weeds. The with each other and the land we share. answer lay in the black and technicolor spray painted tarp which was placed over Editor’s Note: Green Team members the site for a full growing season. What are stewards of the “Living Labs,” the some may have guessed was prep for a teaching landscapes of the Cook/Douglass construction site, was actually a mechanism campuses. In collaboration with classes, for weed control. The tarp kills weeds volunteers and the Rutgers Grounds and their seed bank via solarization. The crew, the Green Team designs, installs, conventional approach to weed control is maintains, monitors and champions to apply an herbicide, but runoff from the sustainable landscapes.

Horticultural Therapy Program at Rutgers Wins Three-Year $150,000 USDA NIFA Award Gary Altman and Nrupali Patel, teaching instructors in the Department of Plant Biology, are co-PIs on a $150,000 award by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants program.

Nrupali Patel, program administrator and academic advisor, Rutgers Horticultural Therapy Program.

The three-year program, “Horticultural Therapist Vocational Education in Green Industry Skills Training for Individuals with Developmental Disorders,” will focus on the development of a green industry vocational skills training protocol for horticultural therapist professionals and is aligned with the New Jersey state-federal vocational rehabilitation system. The award period is from May 2020-August 2023.

Altman serves as the associate program director while Patel serves as the program administrator and academic advisor for the Horticultural Therapy Program at Rutgers, one of a few accredited, university-based programs in the U.S. The first curricula in Horticultural therapy, described as use of plants and plant-based activity for the purpose of human healing and rehabilitation, was developed at Rutgers by registered horticultural therapist Joel Flagler, agricultural and natural resources

agent of Bergen County.

The USDA-NIFA funded program will be offered in collaboration with the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence, the Rutgers Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and New Road School of Somerset, NJ. Among the goals of the program are to clarify the role of the horticultural therapist in the field of vocational rehabilitation and provide specific training to horticultural therapy students pertaining to vocational rehabilitation. This is expected to increase range of skills and improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and increase the diversity of employed professionals in the green industry.

Altman, a graduate of the Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program in 2015, holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and clinical mental health counseling from Rutgers and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rowan University. Patel holds a doctoral degree in plant pathology from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in plant science from University of Tennessee, and bachelor’s degrees in biotechnology and microbiology and biochemistry from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.

GardenerNews.com

September 2020 19

Protect Pollinator License Plates!

By Jeannie Geremia Contributing Writer

The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. is continuing its proud history of educating the public on the need to grow our endangered Pollinator population, as our bees, birds, butterflies, and bats are still experiencing a precipitous decline worldwide.

We helped to get the Gold Finch to become the Official NewJersey State Bird in 1935, followed by the Honeybee becoming the New Jersey Official State Insect in 1974, and we initiated a successful campaign in 2013 to have the Black Swallowtail Butterfly designated as New Jersey’s Official State Butterfly (Senate Bill S939 became law January, 2016).

This push for a State Butterfly was the cornerstone of our efforts to stem the troubling decline of our pollinators as we read article upon article of alarm knowing that pollinators provide 35 percent of the food we eat.

Our GCNJ Butterflies & BeeGAP (Gardeners Adding Pollinators) continued its efforts to reverse this trajectory by creating the GCNJ Pollinator Center signage in 2016, a series of six signs showcasing birds, bees and butterflies, and the plants needed for their survival.

We took part in our parent organization, National Garden Clubs, Inc’s campaign as part of the National Pollinator Garden Network that oversaw the successful Million Pollinator Garden Challenge meeting its mark of over one million registered gardens with 8 million participants in over 5 million acres of pollinator habitat in 2018.

Fast forward to today, and we are immersed in a global pandemic the likes of which we haven’t experienced in our lifetimes. We fear the worst is yet to come as our life has been altered as we shelter in place. Our economy is facing dire predictions as businesses and schools and life as we’ve known it has been upended.

Why now, would we advocate for a pollinator license plate, you may well ask?

The answer is simple, as we have been shown in a stark and vivid reality that man is not master of the universe. We are guests on this planet we share with flora and fauna, and we have to learn to live and support our wildlife and protect our environment.

What could be more positive at this critical time in our world’s history than to take every opportunity to educate the public on the intrinsic value of our pollinators? By introducing a Protect Pollinators license plate, we are prompting the public to learn more

about pollinators, especially in a time where more people are experiencing gardening and nature all around them. We want them to be good neighbors and not use lethal sprays and toxic chemicals that not only rid them of unwanted weeds and insects, but kill the good guys, too.

We wish to thank Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Senator Linda R. Greenstein for sponsoring Senate Bill S92, authorizing issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates. “Upon proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue Protect Pollinators license plates,” the bill reads.

In addition, “the license plate shall display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem representing one or more animal pollinators native to New Jersey. Monies deposited in the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and to the ‘Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program’ after amounts necessary to reimburse the commission for costs associated with the program.”

The Bill S92 passed the N,J, Senate Environment and Energy Committee unanimously on July 29, 2020 and it’s with deep gratitude to Senator Bob Smith, Chairman, for posting this bill for a vote, and for the Yes votes of all five members: Senator Bob Smith, Senator Linda R. Greenstein, Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, Senator Richard J. Cody and Senator Kristin M. Corrado.

Please reach out to Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney to post it for a vote in the entire Senate and reach out to your District State Senators to become sponsors and for their Yes vote. Please also reach out to your Assemblymen and Assemblywomen and ask them to become sponsors and introduce the Protect Pollinators license plate sister bill in the Assembly and to vote Yes when it is introduced in the Assembly.

Please go to our new website: www. gardenclubofnewjersey.org and view our Environment Chair, Beverly Kazickas’s, guide on advocating for the environment as our lives depend on it.

Thank you to Tom Castronovo, Editor/ Publisher of Gardener News, for giving The Garden Club of New Jersey Inc’s new website front-page exposure, and to giving pollinators center stage in USDA fact sheets in the August issue of Gardener News. Tom, you are an outstanding advocate for the environment.

A shout-out to our angel, Edward Danberry, who left this world better for us and future generations.

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is The Garden Club of New Jersey President, and a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Master Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club, and The Raritan Township Historic Committee.

Jeannie’s email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com

Asian Giant Hornet Complete Genome Released by the Agricultural Research Service

By Kim Kaplan, USDA/ARS The first complete genome of the Asian giant hornet has been released by a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. ARS has made the genome available to the research community in AgDataCommons and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, even before publishing the results in a scientific journal to make the data freely accessible as quickly as possible.

The goal is to produce the genome and make it available quickly after an invasive insect is detected so researchers will have this information immediately to help coordinate an effective response.

Asian giant hornets are the largest wasps in the world, ranging from 1.5 to 2 inches long. Their native range extends from northern India to East Asia. Now, they have been found in western Washington State as well as Vancouver Island and Langley, Canada.

Asian giant hornets concern beekeepers because they can attack honey bee colonies during the late summer and early fall.

The team of ARS entomologists and DNA sequence experts began the task in May in collaboration with the biotechnology company Pacific Biosciences. They were able to rapidly produce the entire genome sequence from the thorax of a single insect frozen from the colony found in the town of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island in September 2019.

Pacific Biosciences’new technology platform Sequel II with HiFi or “High-Fidelity” fragments permitted more genetic information to be extracted more accurately from the single specimen, allowing the team to finish the genome in just two months. This is much faster than a genome is usually completed and from much less source material, demonstrating that genome sequencing can now be part of real-time response to invasive species.

Computational biologist Anna Childers, with the ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, who coordinates the Asian giant hornet genome team, explained it is important to establish the sequence of the current colony in North America. This will help determine if any new finds come from the original source or to potentially signal a separate introduction from their Asian homeland.

Genomic data also are being gathered from populations of Asian giant hornets across its native range so differences in various sub-species can be mapped. Scientists can use the data to try and determine the origin of Asian giant hornets in North America.

“Having this reference genome will help provide a broader biological picture of the Asian giant hornet. It also will help build an understanding of the dynamics of any Asian giant hornet populations in this country and how they may adapt as well as possibly provide information to sharpen the development of controls to prevent them from becoming established,” Childers said.

This work is part of the Ag100Pest Initiative, an ARS program to produce reference quality genome assemblies for the top 100 arthropod agricultural pests, including foreign pest species that are potential invasive threats to U.S. agriculture.

More rapid development of reference genomes in response to the appearance of potentially harmful invasive pests is a paradigm shift for invasive species management.

With advances that have been made in DNA sequencing and data preparation as part of the Ag100Pest Initiative, a faster response to new pest detections such as the Asian giant hornet has become possible, removing limits that existed before due to sample size, DNA quality, and complexity.

Editor’s Note: The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

20 September 2020

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September 2020 21

NORTHEAST DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEWS NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

New York State Issues Guidelines to Promote Creation of Pollinator Habitats on Commercial Properties

Seeds from China Update with Instructions for People Who Planted Those Seeds

The New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced new actions to benefit and protect New York’s pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. AGM issued new guidelines to help businesses create pollinator-friendly habitats on commercial properties or utility project sites. In addition, DEC recently installed a new solar array at the Region 4 Stamford sub-office that includes a pollinator garden planted beneath the panels and installed two large bee colonies at its Long Island office as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a more sustainable workplace. The State commemorated these steps during National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, with a proclamation issued by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, affirming New York’s commitment to promoting the health and recovery of pollinators.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “During National Pollinator Week, we honor the critical impact that pollinators have on New York agriculture. Pollinators make it possible for our farmers to grow a diverse array of foods and feed our communities. The new guidelines released today will help businesses to better safeguard pollinator health and ensure the continued strength of our agricultural industry.”

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Pollinators are vital to the health of our environment and New York’s agricultural economy. New sustainable initiatives like pollinator gardens and beehives installed at DEC’s regional offices are building on our commitment to maintain and promote healthy pollinator populations across the state by creating optimal habitats where pollinators can thrive. These innovative and creative projects are examples of how New York State agencies and our partners are making a difference in protecting pollinators and we encourage communities across the state to join our efforts.”

We have been receiving reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. Sometimes the seeds are sent in packages stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.

Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country: • DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging don’t open the sealed package.

• Take a photo of the package and seeds and send the photos to the USDA SITC at SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov Report it to the USDA! Maintain the seeds and packaging and send to the USDA Office located at: USDA APHIS PPQ Attention: Gregory Soto 1500 Lower Road, Linden, NJ 07036 Please write down your name, address, phone number and email address on a piece of paper and insert it in your package.

If you have already planted or discarded seeds please send us an email to Gregory.t.soto@usda.gov Destruction options for seeds/plants sowed in ground: • Remove the plants including the

surrounding soil, including 3 inches of soil around the seeds/plants.

• Where seed germination has not occurred, remove the soil presumed to contain the planted seeds.

• Place plant and soil material inside a plastic bag. Use the thickest plastic bag you have available. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible.

Seal the bag.

• Place inside a second plastic bag.

Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible. Seal second bag.

• Dispose of the double-bagged plant material/soil into trash, do not compost.

• Refrain from planting new plants in the affected area for 12 months and remove any plants that grow in the area.

If individuals are aware of the potential smuggling of prohibited exotic fruits, vegetables, or meat products into or through the USA, they can help APHIS by contacting the confidential Anti-smuggling Hotline number at 800-877-3835 or by sending an Email to SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov.

USDA will make every attempt to protect the confidentiality of any information sources during an investigation within the extent of the law.

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Lake Carmi Clean Water Progress Report Released - Agriculture Efforts Paying Off The State of Vermont committed to track clean water efforts in the Lake Carmi watershed and report on investments and results annually as part of the Lake Carmi Crisis Response Plan. The Lake Carmi Clean Water Progress Report details clean water projects and investments from State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2016 to 2019.

State and federal watershed investments reduced an estimated 251 kilograms (kg) of phosphorus loading in SFY 2019, which is estimated to be approximately 41% of the phosphorus reduction required to meet the Lake Carmi Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load.

Nearly all of the quantifiable phosphorus reductions in the Lake Carmi watershed have been associated with the agricultural sector In addition to contributions by the Town of Franklin, private landowners, farmers, and other partners, the state has invested over $1.4 million dollars in clean water projects within Lake Carmi and its watershed from state fiscal SFY 2016 to SFY 2019. 28% of all funding from SFY 2016 to 2019 has been invested in reducing pollution from the Lake Carmi watershed, which includes the implementation of agricultural, wastewater, and road pollution reduction projects. 72% of investments have

supported the design and implementation of an in-lake aeration system to mitigate internal phosphorus loading from bottom sediments.

Agricultural clean water efforts in Lake Carmi include the following: • 153 acres of agricultural lands have been treated by state-funded equipment and conservation practices • 11 acres of barnyard and production area were determined to be compliant with Required Agricultural Practices by AAFM inspectors in the Lake Carmi watershed • Multiple barnyard and production area management practices, including waste transfer and facility closure, were also installed to contain agricultural waste within production areas • Based on data gathered by UVM Extension and the results of state and federal financial assistance programs, 75% of the annual cropland within Lake Carmi was cover cropped in 2018 • UVM Extension has acquired and developed a system in collaboration with Lake Carmi farmers for Grassland Shallow Slot Manure Injection, a piece of equipment available for farms to use in the

Lake Carmi watershed with funding through the Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program The phosphorus load reductions estimated to date were the result of many collaborative efforts and the strong engagement of Lake Carmi stakeholders and farmers, and continued community engagement in clean water efforts is necessary to achieve Lake Carmi’s clean water goals. This commitment can be found in the Lake Carmi community. Critical investments and new practices from farmers are improving the environment around this Franklin County lake. Take a tour with this brief video here.

The complete Lake Carmi Clean Water Progress Report is available online. Continued state efforts to restore Lake Carmi including resources and reports, monitoring data, and watershed planning resources are also available on the ANR DEC website. You can learn more about cyanobacteria in Vermont and explore the Cyanobacteria Tracking Map on the Vermont Department of Health Website. Educational resources including animations and videos to learn why phosphorus is a problem and what efforts are occurring is available on the Lake Champlain Basin Program website.

22 September 2020

GardenerNews.com

Finding Marks First Case of Emerald Ash Borer in Adirondack Park The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Warren County. While not unexpected given the EAB’s spread, this marks the first confirmed case of EAB within the Adirondack Park. The affected trees were identified by Department of Transportation personnel at the Warren County Canoe Launch on the Schroon River in the town of Chester. A sample has been sent to Cornell University Insect Diagnostic Lab for further review.

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September 2020 Columnists Brian Schilling Al Murray Peter Melick Lesley Parness

Bob LaHoff Douglas H. Fisher Eric J. Houghtaling Kenneth M. Karamichael

September 2020 Contributing Writers

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Full Moon September 2, 2020 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH Fall means there will be shorter days ahead and colder weather, which will result in less sunlight and drier air indoors. These changes, although small, can have an impact on indoor plants.

Succulents earned their name by their ability to store water in thick, fleshy leaves and stems. Honoring their name is the key to keeping these plants happy and healthy through winter.

In general, succulents that have bright colors (such as reds, purples and oranges) don’t do well indoors. They require some direct sun and more light than is generally available indoors.

• Light: Bring any succulents that you moved outdoors during summer into your home now. Keep your succulents in your brightest spot – most will tolerate indirect light, though all would prefer 3-4 hours of good sun.

• Temperature: Though some succulents are cold hardy, most prefer that temperatures don’t drop below 50-55 degrees.

• Water: Succulents like to have their roots soaked with water but then dry out quickly. Then, watered again after the soil has been dry for a few days. Lightly spraying succulents with water can help them survive for a period of time, but if you really want to thrive, they need to follow the “soak and dry” method.

• Food: Fertilize your succulents one last time before bringing them inside. They won’t need another feeding until spring – in fact, doing so can promote rot.

If you have space, group them close together. Plants release water into the air, which increases humidity directly around them, which will benefit surrounding plants.

Look for containers with drainage holes.

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