Tennessee Greentimes - Fall 2012

VOL. 13/NO. 3

Fall 2012

Catch On to

Edible Landscapes the Joy of

Strategies for Managing Wild Garlic in the Landscape

Plus, Highlights from the

TN Green Industry Field Day

Table of Contents

IN THE GARDEN Catch On to the Joy of Edible Landscapes

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VOL. 13/NO. 3

Fall 2012

Weed in the Spotlight Strategies for Managing Wild Garlic

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OTHER FEATURES INDUSTRY NEWS New IPM Guidebook Available for Southeastern Deciduous Tree Nursery Production...........................................................................20

DEPARTMENTS From the President, Michael Kassees................................................................................6 TNLA New Members........................................................................................................21 Calendar of Events............................................................................................................22 Index of Advertisers..........................................................................................................22

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Green Gathering Highlights from the TN Green Industry Field Day, June 19

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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Green Times, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright Š2012 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. Tennessee Green Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Green Times allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs.

Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

From the President Michael Kassees

Two Very Important TNLA Projects

coming this Fall The

TNLA Would like to

Thank

the following companies for being

officers and staff of the TNLA have had a very active summer. You would be proud to know that your organization advertised our nurserymen and landscapers at both the Texas Nursery Landscape Expo in Houston, Texas and the Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon. The TNLA gave out lots of membership directories and buyers’ guides as well as promoting our industry to these regions of the country. It looks like there will be no let up in activities this fall. I would like to discuss two very important projects the TNLA will be active in the coming months.

First, we are proud to announce that we have been asked to aid in the Governor’s Mansion Revitalization Project. The Governor’s mansion is a show place where businessmen and dignitaries from all over the world come to meet with our state government in ventures that promote Tennessee products and services. Members of the TNLA will have an opportunity to either donate or bid on plant material or landscaping services. Please call your TNLA office or visit our website to receive the bid proposal. This would be a great promotional for your business and our industry.

Second, I would like to talk about the excitement abuzz around our up coming Tennessee Green Industry Expo in Nashville on January 3rd and 4th of 2013. All of our feedback about the move to Nashville has been ecstatic.

However, in order to be a successful show we will need your help. Please tell all those in the industry about this exciting opportunity to network with our vendors as well as take part in the stellar education program. With the atmosphere that Nashville has to offer, I don’t believe it will be a hard sell.

Good luck to all, have a great fall and we will see you in Nashville.

Membership Sponsors Gold Membership Sponsors Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. BWI of Memphis Envirotexx, LLC Randall Walker Farms Swafford Nursery, Inc. Tennessee 811

Silver Membership Sponsors Allen Landscape Management, LLC Common Grounds Landscape Management, Inc.

Michael Kassees 2012 TNLA President

Stowers Cat Triple SSS Farm Warren County Nursery

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The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Donna Fare Dr. Nick Gawel Mr. Mark Halcomb Dr. Frank Hale Mr. Gray Haun Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Michael Kassees Forest Nursery Co., Inc. 1st Vice President Bill Seaton TruGreen LandCare 2nd Vice President Matt Dawson Natural Creations, LLC 3rd Vice President Tony Graham Oak Brook Farms Secretary-Treasurer Randall Walker Randall Walker Farms Associate Director Mary (Strong) Pennington Landscape Support Services Ex-Officio John Watson, CLP Common Grounds Landscape Mgmt.

Executive Director Louree Walker Administrative Assistant Pam Stern

In the Garden

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Catch On to the Joy of

Edible Landscapes

By Beth Willis, UT Gardens Trials Coordinator, and Holly Jones, UT Kitchen Garden Manager

E

dible landscaping is enjoying renewed popularity with home gardeners. Whether the entire yard is transformed into a bountiful harvest or just one tomato plant takes a place of pride on the patio, many enthusiasts are enjoying the benefits of growing their own food. In fact, many companies have responded to increased consumer demand for edible plants by marketing both tidier and dwarf cultivars of many old favorites. These new selections have enabled even gardeners with small yards and balcony plots to enjoy homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Once we realize that edible plants can effectively co-exist with ornamentals in high-visibility areas, the design possibilities become limitless. Annual beds are a perfect place to include herbs and vegetables. Both sweet and hot peppers are good medium-sized, pestresistant plants with neutral foliage and interesting fruits whose colors range from purple to yellow to red.

For instance, try pairing ‘Carmen’ sweet pepper with ‘Profusion Orange’ zinnias for a radiant splash of summer color. The dwarf eggplant ‘Hansel’ produces prolifically on plants that stay under 2' tall. The cream and pink tones of ‘Silver Sabre’ sage are extremely ornamental, and it grows in tidy, low mounds. Add ‘Toscana’ strawberry to a container or hanging basket, and enjoy its large ornamental blooms as well as the 2 lbs. of fruit it can provide each year. ‘Super Bush’ is a determinate tomato with thick, sturdy stems and an abundant yield of 5 oz. red tomatoes.

Blueberries are versatile shrubs for perennial plantings. With sizes ranging from low-growing, groundcover types to 12' tall, hedge-worthy plants, the vivid fall color, red winter stems and charming spring blooms of cultivars like ‘Climax’ have a lot to offer. If space is an issue, try ‘Top Hat’. This self-pollinating variety grows only 16" to 24" tall, while still producing a 2 to 5 lb. yield. One management strategy for blueberries is to create an acidic section of the garden using a yearly application of elemental sulfur. Once achieved, plantings in acidic soils Photo 1. ‘Hansel’ eggplant.

can include flowering shrubs like Leucothoe, Pieris, azalea and rhododendron, as well as fellow Vacciniums like cranberry (no bog required) and lingonberry.

Columnar apple varieties, such as ‘Scarlet (or ‘Golden) Sentinel’ and ‘North Pole’ are decidedly compact trees.

Growing only 8' to 10' tall at most, these selections have virtually no lateral branching and can easily be grown in containers. While the diameter of the plant remains upright and limited, trees produce delicious apples that are tightly spaced along their single stem. As with other apples, cross-pollination is required.

Shady spots Edibles can also be grown in shadier gardens. Many heat-sensitive plants like currants, gooseberries and honeyberries actually require some shade for survival in hot summer climates. ‘Hinnonmaki Red’ gooseberry produces large, sweet, reddish-purple fruit with a tart skin on attractive, disease-resistant compact shrubs.

‘Rovada’ currant is one of the most popular varieties due to its fruit quality and disease resistance.

Honeyberry grows as a 4' to 5' tall by 4' wide shrub and is in the honeysuckle family. It has been grown for centuries in eastern Siberia and Japan for its blueberrylike fruit. Unlike gooseberry and currant, honeyberry does require cross-pollination between two separate varieties. It has not been reported to be an aggressive spreader, and it is a cold-hardy, easy-to-grow edible plant that flourishes even in full shade.

Resources for gardeners For more information about incorporating edibles into the landscape, look for Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening, which is a popular how-to for his innovative technique of efficient, intensive plantings. The Edible Front Yard, by Ivette Soler, is another book that details how to create an ornamental and bountiful year-round garden. Edible Landscaping, by Rosalind Creasy, provides inspiring photographs along with an “Encyclopedia of tennessee greentimes

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In the Garden

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2.

3.

4.

5.

Edibles.” For those interested in the philosophies and trends that have contributed to the current “edible gardening” movement, take a look at Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn by Fritz Haeg.

Finally, enthusiasts are encouraged to reserve a seat and attend this year’s UT Gardens Fall Symposium on “Incredible Edibles” in Knoxville. Join speakers Mel Bartholomew, Paul Baxter, Victoria Boudman, Tracie Hellwinckle, John Tullock, Annette Wszelaki, and the UT Gardens staff on Friday, Sept. 28 (Farm-to-table dinner 6-9 p.m.) and Saturday, Sept. 29 (Symposium 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by an edible plant sale) to learn more about edible and square foot gardening. See the Symposium agenda and register online at www. utgardens.tennessee.edu.C Editor’s Note: All photos courtesy of Beth Willis, University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences.

Photo 2. ‘Climax’ blueberry and ‘Profusion Orange’ zinnia and spearmint.

Photo 3. ‘Silver Sabre’ sage.

Photo 4. ‘Toscana’ strawberry.

Photo 5. ‘Super Bush’ tomato.

Weed in the Spotlight

By Greg Breeden, Weed Science Extension Assistant, and James T. Brosnan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee

A

lthough similar in appearance to wild onion (Allium canadense), wild garlic (A. vineale) is far more prevalent in Tennessee than wild onion.

Wild garlic is an odiferous, perennial weed found in nursery fields and turfgrass areas across Tennessee. Infestations, which often manifest in clumps comprised of several individual plants (Photo 1), are most evident during fall, winter and early spring. This is because wild garlic is a cool-season perennial weed that produces shoots from bulbs in the fall that grow throughout the winter. In summer, the plant senesces, and bulbs remain dormant during the warm weather.

Know thy enemy… Wild garlic ID and its life cycle in Tennessee Wild garlic leaves are slender, hollow and cylindrical and have a waxy surface appearance that helps shed water… and herbicidal solutions. Foliage of wild garlic produces a

2.

Photo 1. Wild garlic (Allium vineale) clump.

Photo 2. Wild garlic 1. (Allium vineale) bulbs.

distinct odor when crushed. Wild garlic is similar in appearance to wild onion, but the leaves of wild onion are flat and not hollow. In fact, leaf shape is the easiest way to distinguish between the two species.

Wild garlic also appears similar to Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum); however, the leaves of Starof-Bethlehem have a distinct white mid-rib, and large 1½" to 2" diameter flowers are borne in clusters on stems that do not produce an odor when crushed.

Wild garlic produces underground bulbs (Photo 2) and flowers that produce bulblets rather than seeds. Aerial bulblets form in the spring, and then stems senesce during summer and bulblets drop to the ground, where they can survive for several years after becoming incorporated into the soil.

Yep, I’ve got wild garlic… Now what?

Management and control options While regular mowing will not control wild garlic, mowing can reduce plant vigor and hamper bulb production.

Optimum control can be achieved by repeating either fall/ winter or early spring herbicide applications across multiple seasons. Fall herbicide applications can be timed to kill regrowth of wild garlic that has occurred following the first hard frost. Early-spring applications can also be effective.

Although there are no effective preemergence herbicides that control wild garlic in turfgrass, several postemergence control options are available. Even so, postemergence control is challenging and often requires repeat applications of postemergence herbicides.

For best results, use products containing 2,4-D alone or in combination with dicamba (Table 1). In managed turf, imazaquin and metsulfuron can also be used to effectively control wild garlic. In production fields and borders of

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Weed in the spotlight

Table 1. Postemergence herbicides for wild garlic (Allium vineale) control in turfgrass.

Postemergence Herbicides (Active Ingredient)

Trade Name

Rate (Product/Acre)

2,4-D

2,4-D Amine 4L

3 qts.

Apply to well-established turf; do not apply to newly overseeded warm-season turfgrass.

dicamba

Banvel 4S, Vanquish 4S

0.5 – 1 pt.

Apply to well-established turf; do not apply to newly overseeded warm-season turfgrass.

2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba

Trimec Classic, Three-Way

Various products available; refer to label

Use rates differ between warm- and cool-season turf; can cause injury to warm-season turfgrass transitioning in and out of dormancy.

carfentrazone, 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba

SpeedZone

3 – 5 pts.

Carfentrazone addition improves efficacy in cold weather compared to other phenoxy combinations.

carfentrazone, MCPA, MCPP, dicamba

PowerZone

3 – 6 pts.

Carfentrazone addition improves efficacy in cold weather compared to other phenoxy combinations.

chlorosulfuron

Corsair 75WDG

2.76 – 5.3 ozs.

Use restricted to professional applicators; can be used on Kentucky bluegrass; DO NOT USE ON TALL FESCUE; do not apply to overseeded bermudagrass; apply prior to the initiation of greenup; non-ionic surfactants improve efficacy.

imazaquin

Image 70DG

8.6 – 11.4 ozs.

Do not use on cool-season turfgrasses; don't apply to over-seeded bermudagrass; non-ionic surfactants improve efficacy.

metsulfuron

Blade, Manor

0.33 – 1.0 oz.

Can be used on Kentucky bluegrass at lower rates; do not apply to overseeded bermudagrass; non-ionic surfactants improve efficacy.

sulfosulfuron

Certainty

1.25 – 2 ozs.

For use on warm-season turfgrass only; do not apply to over-seeded bermudagrass; non-ionic surfactants improve efficacy.

trifloxysulfuron

Monument

0.35 – 0.53 ozs.

Do not use on cool-season turfgrasses; do not apply to overseeded bermudagrass; non-ionic surfactants improve efficacy.

Comments

Phenoxy Herbicides

Combination Herbicides

ALS Herbicides

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commercial nurseries, glufosinateammonium provides some control, while glyphosate will yield (at best) only fair control of wild garlic.

Landscapers and nursery growers are cautioned that several of the herbicides listed for wild garlic control in turf will effectively control many broadleaf weed species and can injure and kill many ornamental plants. Remember to always read the product label before applying an herbicide, and follow use directions carefully.

After any herbicide application, if sufficient re-growth of wild garlic occurs, a second application will aid in long-term control. Regardless, mowing should be delayed for 10 to 14 days after a postemergence herbicide application to allow the herbicide time to work.

For more information on turfgrass weed control, visit The University of Tennessee’s turfgrass weed science website at http://tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org. C

Recent Event

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TN Green Industry Field Day, June 19, 2012

By Louree Walker, TNLA Executive Director

The

Tennessee Green Industry Field Day was held on June 19 in the beautiful University of Tennessee Gardens in Knoxville. Experts from the University toured the gardens with the attendees and discussed the following: “No-Spray Landscape Roses and Rose Rosette” by Dr. Mark Windham, “AwardWinning, Pest-Resistant Annuals and Perennials” by Beth Willis, “Low-Maintenance Landscape Plants” by Dr. Sue Hamilton and “Low Water-Use Plants for Tennessee Landscapes” by James Newburn. During lunch, Dan Hutchison (TDA Pesticide Inspector) gave an update on pesticide-regulatory news.

After lunch, everyone was grateful to gather inside air-conditioned classrooms to learn about “Management of Weeds Along Roadsides and Right of Ways”

by Dr. Matt Cutulle and an “Update on Current UT Nursery Production and Landscape Research” by Dr. Amy Fulcher and Dr. Bill Klingeman. Approximately 150 attendees toured the gardens and also visited with exhibitors who displayed their products.

The weather was wonderful, hot and dry, but water-cooled air tanks under the tents helped cool the air and allow attendees to relax for lunch and breaks.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and is looking forward to the 2013 event.

REcent Event

Program Sponsor Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Thank You to Our Lunch Sponsors!

Forest Nursery Co., Inc. John Deere Landscapes

2012 Field Day Exhibitors Airtech Tools Cherokee Manufacturing, LLC Classic Groundcovers, Inc. Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies Hayes Nursery Enterprises John Deere Landscapes Landscape Support Services Mayo Garden Center Nature’s Best Organics of TN Randall Walker Farms Riverbend Nurseries Samara Farms C 18

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Industry News

New IPM Guidebook Available for Southeastern DeciduousTree Nursery Production

By Rosemary Hallberg, Communication Specialist, Southern Region IPM Center

S

outheastern nursery growers now have a new best friend when fighting pests and diseases. A recently released book, is now available in iBook format for the iPad (and limited hard copy), thanks to the Southern Nursery IPM Working Group.

IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production is a compilation of information about integrated pest management (IPM) for the major tree genera in nursery crop production in the Southeast. The 320-page iBook covers sustainable management for insects, mites, diseases and weeds for the top-selling deciduous trees, as well as propagation and production information, genus by genus.

The book demonstrates how each aspect of production can impact pest problems and management. Each chapter is centered on one crop, so answers to pest problems with “birch” or “dogwood” are easy to find.

The iBook includes movies illustrating techniques like grafting, hand-digging and more, as well as a custom glossary for terms specific to nursery production and pest management. While this resource is invaluable to nursery growers, other green-industry professionals — including landscapers, arborists, garden center owners, students and educators will also find it useful.

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IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production was written by southeastern university Extension specialists (from Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Florida and Kentucky) in nursery production, plant pathology, entomology and weed science, with partial support by the Southern Region IPM Center in Raleigh, NC. To download the book to iTunes, search for IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production. To view or download the iBook chapter by chapter, go to

http://wiki.bugwood.org/SNIPM. The iBook is formatted specifically for the iPad, but it can be downloaded as a PDF for viewing on any device. For the iPad, the device must be held landscape orientation rather than portrait. You can also view the book online from a computer or print it by chapter at the web address above. To request the book in hard copy, contact one of the authors or editors (Amy Fulcher at afulcher@ utk.edu or Sarah White at swhite4@ clemson.edu) for one of the limited print editions. C

Welcome New Members

Welcome,

TNLA New

Members ACTIVE MEMBERS Nature’s Best Nursery Landscape and Garden (reinstated) Jerry Trageser 7362 Nolensville Road Nolensville, TN 37135

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS BoShanCee Nursery, Inc. (reinstated) W.T. O’Meara 214 County Lake Road New Market, AL 35761 GreenForest Nursery, Inc. Dan Batson 1478 Old Highway 26 Perkinston, MS 39577 Marty Grunder, Inc. Nancy Ericson 1900 Old Byers Road Miamisburg, OH 45342

Calendar of Events

September 26

Griffin TN Grower Expo Knoxville Expo Center Knoxville, TN Contact: 866-307-8142

October 14–17

IPPS Southern Region Annual Meeting Auburn, AL Contact: 803-743-4284 Email: scplant@bellsouth.net ipps-srna.org

October 24–26

Green Industry & Equipment Expo Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY

January 3–4

TN Green Industry Expo Nashville Convention Center Nashville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Email: pam@TNLA.com www.tngie.com

January 7–9

47th Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show (TN Turfgrass Assn.)

Marriott Cool Springs Franklin, TN

January 9–11

Mid-American Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD Contact: 800-431-0066 www.mants.com

January 14–16

CENTS (Ohio Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Greater Columbus Conv. Ctr. Columbus, OH Contact: 614-899-1195 www.centshow.org

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Index of Advertisers

January 14–18

NCAN “Green & Growin’ Show” (NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC Contact: 919-816-9119 www.ncnla.com

January 16–18

Boshancee Nursery, Inc....................... 17 www.boshanceensy.com

Braun Horticulture................................ 15 www.braungroup.com

Motz & Son Nursery............................. 21 OHP, Inc................................................ 22 www.ohp.com

D & D Agri............................................. 21

Senninger Irrigation, Inc......................... 7 www.senninger.com

Dayton Bag & Burlap Co..................... Inside Front Cover www.daybag.com

Surface Nursery Inc.............................. 15 www.surfacenursery.com

Evins Mill Nursery................................. 15 www.evinsmillnursey.com

Swafford Nursery Inc.............. Back Cover www.swaffordnursery.com

Mid-American Horticultural Trade Show Navy Pier Chicago, IL Contact: 800-300-6103 www.midam.org

Ewing Irrigation.................................... 11 www.Ewing1.com

Tennessee 811 / Tennessee One Call.............................. 17 www.tennessee811.com

Heather Farms Nursery Inc.................. 11 www.heatherfarmsnursery.com

Thompson Machinery / Stowers Machinery............................... 12

Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits.................................. 3 www.hortica-insurance.com

TitanFescue.com.................................. 22 www.smithseed.com

January 23–25

John Deere Landscapes....................... 21 www.johndeerelandscapes.com

Georgia Green Industry Assn.

WINTERgreen 2012 Gwinnett Center Duluth, GA Email: info@ggia.org www.ggia.org

January 24–25 KNLA Trade Show (KY Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Louisville, KY Contact: 502-695-0106 Email: knla@gmail.com

February 6–8

South Carolina Horticulture Industry Trade Show & Seminars (SC Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Myrtle Beach Convention Center Myrtle Beach, SC Contact: 803-743-4284 www.scnla.org

February 18–19

TNLA Winter Education & Exhibits Music Road Convention Center Pigeon Forge, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

Fall 2012

Vis Seed Company................................ 18 www.visseed.com

Low Falls Wholsale Nursery................... 7 www.lowfallsnursery.com

Walker Nursery Co. & Walker Gardens...................................... 5 www.walkernurseryco.com

Mid Tenn Turf....................................... 18 www.midtennturf.com

Wellmaster Carts......... Inside Back Cover www.wellmaster.ca

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