TNLA Green March/April 2019

TNLA

Green

Pests and disease and black spots, oh my!

Mar/Apr 2019

When educating customers and clients about pest and disease, green industry professionals recognize it goes both ways

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE A

TNLA Green March/April 2019

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TNLA Green March/April 2019

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12 Cover Story:

TNLA

Green

Listen and Learn

When educating customers and clients about pest and disease, green industry professionals recognize it goes both ways.

Mar/Apr 2019

CONTENTS 16 Containing a Destructive Pest: Emerald ash borer is on the move in North Texas.

02 President’s Letter:

22 Green Vision:

04 News:

24 Notes from SFA Gardens:

TNLA is gaining momentum in 2019.

The latest legislative and industry updates from TNLA.

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26 Bugs & Fuzz:

10 Green Industry Trends for Spring:

32 TNLA Talks:

Pest and disease prevention is up to us.

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Taking a balanced approach to pest management.

08 Commentary:

Experts predict the hottest plants this season.

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Check out Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems resources.

20 Q&A:

Practical business advice and ideas you can use now.

The battle against fungicide resistance continues.

Adrian Muehlstein, TMCNP, is helping to recruit the next generation of green industry professionals.

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PRESIDENT’S Letter

TNLA

Green

The official publication of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association March/April | Vol. 22 No. 2

Directors

Chairman of the Board ... Joshua Bracken, TMCNP, Dallas Chairman-Elect ... Jay Williams, League City Immediate Past Chairman ... Bill Carson, Austin President/CEO ... Amy Graham, Austin

Board of Directors

DEAR TNLA MEMBERS, In the January-February issue of TNLA Green, I encouraged you all to set productivity goals for the new year. With your objectives in place, you’ve likely been gathering momentum to take you into the busy spring business cycle. And did I mention the legislature is in session?

What does it mean to you to gather momentum?

Does it mean checking off the items on your to-do list, tracking your progress? Does it mean putting plans in place to crush the springtime rush? Does it mean harnessing your energy so you have as much patience and drive as possible?

TNLA is gathering momentum, as well, to help you do business better. Don’t miss TNLA’s newest podcast, The Green Report, providing updates on news and politics affecting the Texas green industry. Be sure to catch up with TNLA’s social media platforms as we share posts on growing your business on Member Benefit Mondays. And take advantage of our educational webinar series featuring a new business topic each month.

TNLA will continue to watch the trends and report them to you as we hear them — as momentum gathers for all of us. Hang on tight. The ride will be fabulous.

Amy Grah a m Amy Graham TNLA President and CEO

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TNLA Green March/April 2019

Region I Kevin Grossberndt, Big Foot Region II ... Jim Curtice, TCLP, Houston Region III ... Herman Ray Vess, TMCNP, Edgewood Region IV ... Craig Duttarer, TCLP, Carrollton Region V ... Jackie Smith, Santo Region VI ... Steven Akers, Slaton Region VII ... Gerry Bower, Weslaco Region VIII ... Brad Seever, Austin Supplier Director ... Tim Little, Dallas Grower Director ... Kevin Norris, Coppell Landscape Director ... Scotty Rigsby, TCLP, Midlothian Retail Director ... Kristi Long, TCNP, Kerrville Director At-Large ... Adrian Muehlstein, TMCNP, Carrollton Director At-Large .... Rachelle Kemp, TCLP, TMCNP, Waco Director At-Large ... Dan Green, TCLP, San Antonio Director At-Large ... Bobby Eichholz, ASLA, San Antonio

TNLA Staff

President/CEO ... Amy Graham Director of Finance ... Cheryl Staritz Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs… Ryan Skrobarczyk Director, EXPO Exhibits and Membership... Amy Prenger, CEM Director, TNLA & EXPO Marketing/Communications... Sarah Riggins, CEM Director, Industry Education and Certifications…

James Theiss, TCLP, TCWSP, Certified Arborist Business Development/Sales Executive... Mike Yelverton, TCNP & TCWSP Office Operations Assistant... Nancy E. Sollohub Region Support… Sara Fern Sales Specialist… Jake Kirby Administrative Assistant, Strategic Initiatives… Debra Allen Administrative Assistant, TNLA and EXPO Marketing/Communications…

Ashley Pettibone Administrative Assistant, EXPO...Trevor Peevey

Magazine Staff

October Custom Publishing Editor ... Crystal Zuzek Creative Director ... Torquil Dewar Art Director ... Shelley Lai Production ... Monica Valenzuela, Zach Scouras Ad Sales ... Jake Kirby TNLA Green magazine is a member service of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, and is published bi-monthly. Advertising information is available from TNLA, 7730 South IH 35, Austin, Texas 78745, online at www.tnlaonline.org, or by calling (800) 880-0343. TNLA office hours are weekdays, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM CST. Copyright 2018 Texas Nursery Landsape & Association

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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TNLA representatives and green industry allies meet with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (third from left).

TNLA

Green

UPDATE

TNLA representatives and green indus try allies meet with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletch er.

TNLA Urges Congress for H-2B Cap Relief IN EARLY JANUARY, WASHINGTON, D.C., was at a standstill, the

government mired in a shutdown. With a potential budget deal in sight and the looming drastic shortfall in available H-2B visas for 2019, TNLA Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Ryan Skrobarczyk and Chair-elect Jay Williams, along with a group of TNLA employers headed to our nation’s capital.

The goal of the visit was to meet with members of the Texas congressional delegation and urge officials to include H-2B cap relief in their negotiations. On Jan. 1, 2019, the Department of Labor’s iCERT program crashed with the overwhelming rush and sheer number of certifications requested from employers. This helped illustrate the need for cap relief in 2019 and gave the group an additional point with which they could push congressional officials.

The group met in person with a handful of Texas senators and representatives and countless staff members who directly handle

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the H-2B issue for their respective offices. While enormously productive on engaging members of the new House Democratic majority, it remained unclear if cap relief would become a large enough priority for congressional leadership to provide relief when they fund the government.

A positive note: Thirty senators and 90 representatives nationwide signed on to a bipartisan letter to House and Senate negotiators stating the need for immediate cap relief.

To find out how you can join in the push for cap relief and H-2B reform, visit www.votervoice.net/TNLA/Home.

TNLA Endorses FIS Global for Merchant Credit Services IF YOU’RE IN NEED OF SPEEDY, NEXT-DAY processing for credit and debit cards, you’re in luck. TNLA recently endorsed FIS Global as a credit card merchant service for members. To access the FIS Global merchant resource center and to learn more about its in-store, mobile, and online payments, as well as the company’s security and business solutions, visit fismerchantsolutions. com.

In business for 50 years, FIS Global is the No. 1 financial technology company in the world. The federal government, 40 state governments, 90 percent of the world’s largest banks, and numerous merchants of all sizes rely on FIS Global for security and business solutions.

As a TNLA member, you’ll benefit from FIS Global’s AAA+ rated customer service department and a secure credit and debit processing environment for you and your customers. In addition, FIS Global has more solutions and emerging solutions to meet your customers’ needs and to help your business operate more efficiently. And FIS Global offers the best value for your hard-earned money with the lowest costs in the industry.

Debra Kline, FIS Payments regional direct sales executive, says that when FIS Global started expanding its direct-to-merchant solutions, the company focused on businesses that interested employees and aligned with their passions.

“I chose TNLA and its members because I’m passionate about nature’s beauty and gardening. I also wanted to work with great people,” she says.

“I’m extremely humbled to have been selected as TNLA’s Preferred Merchant Solutions Provider, and I look forward to providing merchant solutions that will benefit its members.”

For a savings analysis and more info about FIS Global’s merchant solutions, call (469) 660-6244 or email debra.kline@fisglobal.com.

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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TNLA Green

UPDATE TNLA Adds Child-Friendly Label to Best of Texas Plant Database TNLA’S BEST OF TEXAS LANDSCAPE GUIDE is a staple for

industry knowledge on plants that perform best in Texas’ dynamic climates. Now that the plant database is online (bestoftexas.tnlaonline.org), TNLA has expanded this resource to include helpful identification icons that highlight specific characteristics of each plant in the database. The newest icon is the child-friendly icon.

TNLA serves on the leadership team of the statewide initiative Outdoor Learning Environments of Texas (OLE! Texas), a program to combat childhood obesity started by the Texas Department of State Health Services. For more

TNLA Green March/April 2019 Advertiser Index Creekside Nursery........................................................................................................................29 Granite Trucking.......................................................................................................................... 23 Haifa................................................................................................................. outside back cover Horizon Irrigation........................................................................................................................03 Hotchkiss Insurance.....................................................................................................................21 Living Earth................................................................................................................................. 09 OHP..................................................................................................................... inside back cover Prima Pack, Inc.............................................................................................................................05 Riverside Plastic, Inc.......................................................................................... inside front cover Spring Meadow Nursery............................................................................................................ 09 Texas Mutual................................................................................................................................07 Tranzon Auction......................................................................................................................... 06 Vital Earth.....................................................................................................................................31

information visit www.dshs.texas.gov/Obesity/OLE. TNLA serves on OLE! Texas’ design team, communication team, and heads the plant team, which counts the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and The University of Texas Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center as members.

When developing the child-friendly plant list all plant team members worked together. The group sent a survey to plant and nature facilities across the U.S. that feature child gardens on their grounds. The survey allowed the team to gather information about the characteristics of childfriendly plants. The results were interesting.

The surveyed facilities reported these plant characteristics:

• Plants children could interact with and play on or in; • Nonpoisonous; • Edible plants and veggies; • Sensory elements such as scent and unique feel; • Plants that either had movement or brought in insects that provided movement; • Plants or parts of plants that could be used as building materials; • Low-maintenance plants; • Durable plants children could play in or around; • Seasonal foliage or flower variation; and • Easy to identify.

These 10 elements were then applied to all Best of Texas plants, generating a list of about 50 childfriendly plants.

This list can easily be searched in the online database by selecting the child friendly sort button on the search page. Green industry professionals can use this information to transform gardens and landscapes into areas that invoke imagination in children and can play a part in reconnecting youth to the outdoors we so dearly love.

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TNLA Partners with McFarlin Stanford for Weekly Business Education Program TNLA HAS PARTNERED with green industry consulting firm McFarlin Stanford (mcfarlinstanford. com) to develop a professional business education program for members featuring weekly updates, webinars, and other events and resources.

“We are excited to have access to expert advice and time-tested business practices that are specific and relevant to our membership,” said TNLA President Amy Graham.

“The goal of this partnership is to bring consistency to our business focus at TNLA. With McFarlin Stanford, we can build on content all year long for our members.”

To access weekly tips on best business practices, follow @LandscapeTexas on Twitter, and visit TNLA’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages. You can meet McFarlin Stanford representatives at the Nursery/Landscape EXPO in San Antonio this August.

“While McFarlin Stanford has a worldwide clientele, we are particularly interested in making sure the green industry is alive and growing successfully right here in our own backyard,” said McFarlin Stanford Principal James Cali. “We couldn’t be happier than we are in partnering with TNLA and its amazing membership across the state.”

For more info, visit www.tnlaonline. org/webinars.

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COMMENTARY

Pest and Disease Prevention Is Up to Us SINCE 1850 OUR FAMILY has been growing citrus in Louisiana in some capacity. After we almost lost Saxon Becnel & Sons to Hurricane Katrina, we opened our Orange, Texas, location. For the most part our core focus has always been growing citrus, but with the introduction of many of the pests and diseases in our citrus industry we’ve had to expand into other fruit crops, such as avocado, olive, persimmon, fig, loquat, and cherry.

As a family company that’s been around for six generations, we’re no stranger to the increasing pressures of pest and disease management and prevention. We’re constantly changing and adjusting our protocols for the times. We realize it’s up to us to protect our nursery and the citrus industry.

Our employees are constantly sanitizing their equipment, clothing, hands, and anything else that may come into contact with the trees. Best practices include sanitizing in between the different varieties and sections within the nursery and conducting visual inspections on top of the state and federal inspections to make sure no tree is being overlooked in the interim.

In addition, our facility undergoes a biweekly spraying of Zerotol to rid the structures and plants of any pathogens that may exist. Before our products

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TNLA Green March/April 2019

By Ricky Becnel & Ricky Becnel Jr.

reach the marketplace, we also treat our citrus on time of shipment with systemics that rid the trees of detrimental insects, staying in full compliance with shipping standards.

We follow not only the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) protocols for citrus nurseries, but we have always strived to think outside the box and exceed those protocols. It is a constant work in progress to move the green industry forward.

To that end, the USDA has approved our nursery as an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDAAPHIS-PPQ) facility. That means our facility has an insect-proof screen on all sides of the greenhouse along with running plastic poly on top for the roof.

We also use a double door entry system with positive air pressure upon entry into each structure. Having USDAAPHIS-PPQ-approved structures is the first step in being able to grow certified citrus nursey stock. (Learn more at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/ planthealth.)

We go to all this effort because we’re passionate about growing citrus. We have always been extremely proud to be located in Texas and look forward

to continuing our family traditions and practices. After so many generations of being able to grow citrus crop it would be extremely sad to lose that ability as a result of something we could have controlled. We urge everyone to focus on keeping the Texas green industry as healthy and viable as possible for future generations to enjoy.

We urge everyone to focus on keeping the Texas green industry as healthy and viable as possible for future generations to enjoy.

To ensure pest and disease prevention is at the forefront of the green industry, educate yourself on the different pests and diseases so you can begin to prevent them. When you understand how each pest and disease is different and the ways each one can enter your facility, you can prepare and have a protocol in place that can prevent that introduction in the first place. (Browse TNLA’s pest and disease management webinars, www. tnlaonline.org/webinars.html.)

RICKY BECNEL and RICKY BECNEL JR. are the owners of Saxon Becnel & Sons.

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Green Industry Trends for Spring As the days get longer and temperatures rise, customers will soon be searching for ways to start or spruce up their gardens.

From houseplants to rainwater harvesting, TNLA Green talked to a horticulturist, a grower, and an academic to get the scoop on green industry trends this spring.

By SUSAN JOHNSTON TAYLOR

Leslie F. Halleck, CPH, owner of Halleck Horticultural in Dallas Foliage houseplants and succulents are hot right now, says Halleck. “People have gotten seriously houseplant crazy,” she says. “The more plants they can cram into their space, the better!”

She sees this return to nature as a reaction to current financial and political stress and a way for younger consumers who don’t own homes to bring nature indoors and express their need to nurture. “You’ll see this playing out in architectural and landscaping trends as well,” she adds. “Vertical living walls are still gaining in popularity, and interior living courtyards and plant installations are making a comeback.”

Among the most popular indoor plants are Monstera plants, unusual cacti, and small succulents such as Lithops spp. and Haworthia spp. “But you should be looking to different varieties of peperomia gaining in popularity, as well

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as many types of ferns,” she adds. “I see the bird’s nest fern making a comeback.”

Growing food indoors is also in vogue. “Microgreens, salad greens, and herbs are in big demand from the indoor gardener, but more indoor hobbyists want to try their hand at more intensive crops, such as tomatoes and citrus,” Halleck says. Other popular edibles include herbs for cocktails and tea plants (such as Camellia sinensis) for homemade tea.

“I also think growing dwarf citrus indoors is gaining momentum,” Halleck adds. “With grow lamp technology advancing, there are better options for attractive grow lamps that can be used to maintain one, or a few, flowering/fruiting citrus plants indoors.”

However, since many indoor gardeners don’t have the light necessary to successfully cultivate indoor plants, Halleck says the industry needs to do more education and outreach to help consumers understand grow lighting and navigate their options.

Lauren Kirchner, director of sales and marketing at Spring Creek Growers, Inc. in Waller Coral is the Pantone color of the year for 2019, so Kirchner predicts flowers in that hue (coral geraniums, Apricot Vinca, coral Salvia splendens, coral petunias, and Gerbera daisies) will prove popular. “There’s even great options in perennials like Salvia greggi hybrids and roses, as well,” she adds.

Cobalt blue is perennially popular because it’s a more unexpected shade for flowers. “Blue flowers in general are more rare than other shades in the rainbow, especially in annual flowers, so when a blue flower looks good, it truly makes a bold statement,” Kirchner says.

Delphinium Guardian Blue is one of Spring Creek Growers’ signature items since it can be used for landscaping or as a cut flower. Texas bluebonnets also fit that color profile.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of unique petunia and calibrachoa flowers,” she adds. “Those are really great in spring baskets or a DIY container.”

In addition to coral and blue flowers, Kirchner predicts plants bred with unusual color effects will also be big this spring.

“A lot of the breeding we’re seeing lately are these effects that look like spray paint or an ombre effect [moving from light to dark or dark to light],” she explains. “As the temperatures change they can alter the coloration of the plant.”

She points to flowers like Calibrachoa Chameleon Blueberry Scone, Petunia SuperCal Terra Cotta, and Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit as examples of this trend.

Particularly with millennial consumers, Kirchner has noticed an interest in multifaceted and multipurpose plants. Popular questions she gets include, “Does it clean the air? Can I smoke it? Does it smell amazing? Can it be used as a multipurpose cut flower and landscape flower?”

Garvinea and Patio Gerbera daisies fit the bill, as do Delphinium Guardian Blue. “Go outside, snip a few blooms off; by the time those are expiring, you’ll have more blooms outside,” she explains. “Those are something that I think for a dual-purpose cut flower are amazing.”

Gerbera daisies also work as a multipurpose plant because they’re ornamental but also work hard at cleaning the air and reducing carbon. These flowers can be grown outdoors or on a windowsill. In fact, Kirchner says they’re working on a promotion to promote them as having “super powers.”

Daniel Cunningham, horticulturist and project manager at Texas A&M AgriLife Water University in Dallas P erhaps in response to the state’s record dry growing season and record rains in the fall, Cunningham has noticed a “trend towards perennials … and adapted plant material that are easier to grow in the extreme climate we have here in North Texas.” Many of these plants are used in mini meadows or pocket prairies, in addition to wildflowers. Cunningham likes Gregg’s mistflowers because they also attract native pollinators, such as monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects.

As Texans work to create more resilient gardens that can weather drought and heavy rains, Cunningham sees increased interest in rainwater harvesting, despite some misconceptions that it’s illegal. (In fact, homeowner’s associations in Texas cannot prohibit rainwater harvesting systems.)

“Rainwater is the best quality water for plants, especially indoor plants or landscape plants that are susceptible to the salts and chlorine found in municipal water supplies,” Cunningham says. It also minimizes demand on municipal water supply during peak summer months and reduces water bills in residences or commercial buildings. Cunningham recommends getting started with a rain barrel and points out that rainwater harvesting supplies are tax-free in Texas.

Cunningham has also observed a growing interest in edible plants for their ornamental and nutritional value.

“They’re incorporating herbs into perennial beds and fruit trees throughout their landscape,” he says. “I think people are more in tune with landscapes that connect with nature through our food or to wildlife. [It adds] another dimension to landscapes.”

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When educating customers and clients about pest and disease,

By JOHN EGAN

E

ighteenth-century politician, diplomat, and inventor Benjamin Franklin famously pronounced that honesty is the best policy. Although Franklin accomplished many things in his 84 years, he wasn’t a nursery or landscaping professional. Nonetheless, Franklin’s sage advice certainly applies to the 21st-century nursing and landscaping industry.

In communicating with customers about pest and disease prevention practices — or any other lawn care issues, for that matter — Billy Long firmly believes in Franklin’s adage about honesty. Long, owner of San Antonio landscaping company Billy Long Enterprises, stresses to his managers the importance of being straightforward with customers. This is just one of the ways Long and other nursery and landscaping professionals in Texas handle informing customers about various pest and disease problems.

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“Always be upfront and honest, and just tell everybody the truth — what’s really going on,” Long says. “Even though they’re not always going to like the answer, you’ve got to always be honest with people and not give anybody false hope.”

For example, Long says he and his team are upfront with customers about when a problem does not need to be treated but merely needs to run its course.

This might arise when a customer complains about the black spots on rose bush leaves, according to Long. Typically, a fungal disease triggered by high heat and humidity causes these spots. But, he says, those spots don’t need to be treated; rather, once the heat and humidity subside, the rose bushes will recover.

“Sometimes, it’s just educating them that the problem they have is an environmental problem and it will correct itself,” Long says.

green industry professionals recognize it goes both ways.

GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM Bryan Hutson, manager of Calloway’s Nursery in Dallas, also cites the appearance of black spots on the leaves of rose bushes in explaining one of the key considerations when dealing with customers at his store: Listen.

“Listening to folks is crucial so we can best determine what’s the best way to go,” Hutson says. “So often, we kind of jump the gun and go, ‘Oh, yeah, I know exactly what you’ve got, and this is what you need.’ ” By truly listening to a customer whose rose bushes are plagued by black spots, a Calloway’s Nursery employee might learn the rose bushes are planted in an area that’s watered every couple of days — a potential reason for the black spots.

The answer to this dilemma probably isn’t any sort of disease treatment but might involve moving the bushes to another location in the yard, Hutson says.

Billy Long

Bryan Hutson

Mike Sheehan

Another scenario Hutson says he hears from customers involves the pH levels in alkaline-heavy soil. In this instance, he may suggest lowering the pH levels to fix fungus problems, rather than only applying fungicide. He says the answer may lie in changing the soil rather than treating the symptoms.

“Let’s be proactive; let’s change the conditions so that we won’t have to continue to treat for the disease with a fungicide,” Hutson says.

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ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT OF EDUCATING CUSTOMERS IS SETTING EXPECTATIONS REGARDING WHEN A DISEASE CAN AND CANNOT BE TREATED. Mike Sheehan, a North Texas supplier with Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, says it’s important to tell customers some problems, such as fungal disease, might be caused by standing water or poor drainage. “If you don’t change the condition that’s causing the disease,” says Sheehan, “you can apply fungicides every day, and it’s never going to go away.”

Similarly, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service advises that although weeds are the biggest challenge to maintaining a tidy yard, insects can be problematic, with white grubs, chinch bugs, and fire ants ranking as the top insects found in Texas lawns. According to AgriLife, most insect problems can be prevented, or their damage minimized, with regular watering, appropriate fertilization, and frequent mowing.

BE PROACTIVE Whether it revolves around pests or disease, Sheehan says consultation with his clients winds up being proactive and reactive. In proactive mode, he helps set up annual programs for clients. In reactive mode, he fielded dozens of calls from lawn care and landscaping companies in 2018 about an outbreak of fall armyworms on Bermuda grass lawns throughout North Texas.

Sheehan emphasizes the need for customers to anticipate pest and disease problems.

“Don’t wait until the disease is horrible. Once you have a terrible brown mark in your grass, it’s going to take a long time to bring the lawn back. It’s actually easier and cheaper to help prevent disease than to have to cure disease,” he says.

In the end, Long says you simply must explain to customers

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that some situations are beyond your control or theirs, encouraging them to exercise patience. “Trying to explain to that customer to have patience can be a tough issue,” he says, “but you’ve just got to keep grinding it out.”

USE PRODUCTS APPROPRIATELY To that end, Sheehan teaches his clients and employees about pest and disease management via lunch-and-learn sessions.

One message Sheehan tries to get across is that every Texas region regularly copes with pest and disease issues like brown patch. Treatments can resolve those problems, but everyday maintenance — applying the right products at the right time — represents the best way to prevent problems.

When using those products, he says it’s critical to understand the consequences. For example, he says applying an herbicide to a diseased lawn can add stress to an already stressful situation.

At Calloway’s Nursery, if an employee is educating a customer about herbicides, hearing it only from that employee might not be necessarily be enough. In some cases, a customer might request that a senior employee weigh in.

When educating customers about pest and disease, Calloway’s employees are instructed to read the label of any product being recommended for prevention or treatment. In some instances, Hutson says, an employee will read the label to a customer to make sure the customer understands the directions and other details associated with the product.

“We don’t want to give any information that is not on the label,” Hutson says.

Another key component of educating customers is setting expectations regarding when a disease can and cannot be treated, Hutson says. A customer might notice a grass disease during the dormant season, for instance, but the time to tackle the disease might be a few months later, when the lawn enters a new season.

TURN TO TECHNOLOGY Regardless of the issue, nursery and landscaping professionals often turn to high-tech methods when dealing with customers’ pest and disease problems.

Long says customers many times will electronically send photos or videos of lawn issues to help determine how to address them. Yet, as both Long and Hutson explain, that doesn’t always do the trick. Instead, someone might need to inspect a lawn in person or have a customer bring in a blade of grass.

Although Calloway’s employees often can identify a pest or disease based on a photo brought in by a customer, that’s not always possible. Hutson says he and his colleagues then will tap into the internet.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” says Hutson, “and the anticipation and the expectation is that I know every single thing there is to know, and, of course, I don’t. Occasionally, I get some things that stump me, that don’t fit into the normal symptoms and diagnoses of anything.”

That, he said, is when he combs the internet in search of answers.

To better inform customers about pest and disease issues, Calloway’s provides a two-sided handout featuring a monthby-month checklist of instructions for lawns and gardens, such as when to apply various fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides for prevention and treatment.

SET EXPECTATIONS Whether they’re delivered in print, online, or in person, solutions to pest and disease problems are always evolving, according to Hutson.

For instance, people in North Texas were taught for years that if brown areas popped up in their lawns, grub worms were the culprit. Today, Hutson says, fungal diseases tied to excessive moisture usually cause brown patch. As such, the new reality

of brown patch requires sharing updated information with some customers.

Education goes both ways, of course. At Long Enterprises, there’s now a heightened awareness that customers increasingly want organic methods for prevention and treatment of lawn care problems. Much of the stepped-up emphasis on organic approaches to lawn care stems from homeowners’ concerns over their pets’ exposure to harmful chemicals. “The pets are the children of the house. They rule the nest,” Long says.

In line with the rise in pet-friendly solutions to prevention and treatment, Long Enterprises has adopted an integrated managed care stance toward residential lawns — something the company coordinates and conveys through one-onone communication between an account manager and the customers. “It’s not a mow, blow, and go, and you just go trim bushes and go on down the road,” Long says.

Long, who is a Texas Certified Landscape Professional, says exceeding the “mow, blow, and go” routine can mean removing weeds by hand. Long’s certification through TNLA makes him and others like him qualified to identify, prevent, and treat pests and diseases. (Learn more about certification at www. tnlaonline.org/tnla-certifications.)

Aside from being honest and listening, another critical trait in communicating with customers and clients is setting proper expectations.

Hutson says it’s important for customers to realize that not every recommended remedy will “magically fix” a problem. For example, customers might think they’re following instructions to eliminate a fungal disease, yet the issue persists. It could be they’ve failed to reduce the frequency of lawn watering, as had been prescribed by a professional.

“It’s like taking medicine. You want to take the right amount but not too much and not too little,” Hutson says. “If you take too little, then you’re not fixing the problem. If you take too much, then there are all sorts of other things that might happen.”

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In July 2016 the Texas Department of Agriculture placed a 914-square-mile stretch of rural Harrison County under an emerald ash borer quarantine that’s still in effect. This year, the agency expanded the quarantine to include Cass, Marion, and Tarrant counties.

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Cass Marion Tarrant

Harrison

PEST CONTAINING A DESTRUCTIVE

Emerald ash borer is on the move in North Texas

By CRYSTAL ZUZEK

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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A METALLIC GREEN

is threatening the health of North Texas ash trees and spreading eastward. First spotted in traps in Harrison County in 2016, the half-inch-long adult emerald ash borer (EAB) may look harmless, but don’t be fooled. The Asian beetle is a destructive pest that’s hard to stop.

“Emerald ash borer has no natural predators in the U.S. that can keep it in check.

Our ash trees don’t have any natural abilities to withstand or tolerate the damage they do. They multiply quickly and won’t even die in a freeze,” says Paul Johnson, Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Program leader.

Recognizing the danger EAB poses, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) placed a 914-square-mile quarantine on rural Harrison County in July 2016. The quarantine is still in effect with no end in sight, according to Johnson.

“We’re at the beginning of a long-term management process. So far we’ve not found widespread damage, but finding adult beetles in monitoring traps usually means an infestation has been there for quite a few years. We’re still waiting to see how big an impact it will have,” he says.

TDA has expanded the EAB quarantine to include Cass, Marion, and Tarrant counties after confirming the presence of the beetle there. Visit www.texasagriculture.gov for Paul Johnson updates and industry guidance.

ABOUT EAB Females can lay anywhere from 60 to 200 eggs in their brief six-week life span. Two weeks after a female lays eggs between ash bark crevices, flakes, or cracks, EAB larvae hatch and begin feeding on a thin layer under the ash tree’s bark known as the vascular cambium, which produces new wood and conductive tissues. The EAB then makes its mark in the form of a long serpentine artery carved into the ash tree that interrupts the transport of water and nutrients, killing the tree.

Over the course of one or two years, EAB larvae develop through four growth stages before eventually emerging as adults. Unfortunately, all species of ash (Fraxinus spp.), popular ornamental trees in Texas neighborhoods, are at risk of EAB.

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Native to China and areas of East Asia, no one knows for certain how EAB was introduced to the U.S. Johnson says EAB likely made a home in the U.S. by hiding out in packing materials en route to the country.

SLOWING THE SPREAD According to TDA, EAB populations can naturally spread 12 miles per year.

Johnson says EAB can travel even greater distances via transport of firewood and infested woody debris containing ash bark across state lines.

“Emerald ash borer has been in both Arkansas and Louisiana for a few years, so it could have come to Texas through a normal migration,” says Johnson, “but one of the most common ways of spread is through human movement. People may unknowingly take infested firewood with them and cross state lines.”

That’s why TDA is focused on impeding the spread of EAB by preventing the movement of infested firewood. The Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring the EAB population and overseeing education and outreach. For more

“ONE OF THE MOST COMMON WAYS OF SPREAD IS THROUGH HUMAN MOVEMENT. PEOPLE MAY UNKNOWINGLY TAKE INFESTED FIREWOOD WITH THEM AND CROSS STATE LINES.” information, visit tfsweb.tamu.edu/eab.

“We’re trying to make sure everyone from the Certified Arborist to the homeowner knows their options for dealing with this pest. We’re working with our partners to spread the word to reduce the movement of potentially infested woody material so communities can put off dealing with EAB for as long as possible,” Johnson says.

Efforts to eliminate EAB once it has begun taking out ash trees have been unsuccessful in other regions. In the American Northwest, where EAB has decimated massive populations of ash trees, cutting down impacted trees and implementing proactive tree removal have been fruitless.

Treating larger, high-value ash trees with pesticide injected into the trunk can prolong the life of affected trees. Johnson says trees must be treated every two to three years to have a positive impact.

“This option gives people who have a big ash tree in their yard some time to figure out how to transition their landscape [before the tree dies],” Johnson says.

MEASURING EAB’S IMPACT Ash trees account for an average of 1 percent to 5 percent of the trees in Texas communities, according to Johnson. But in the city limits of Austin, ash trees have 4.4-percent representation. If EAB makes its way to the Texas capital, Johnson estimates the city could lose 1.2 million of its more than 33 million trees.

In addition to having an environmental impact, EAB affects the green industry economy.

“Now that Fort Worth is under quarantine, it’s going to affect anyone removing ash trees in Tarrant County. They’ll have to comply with USDA guidelines and figure out how to deal with ash debris. Growers of ash trees won’t be able to ship them outside Tarrant County,” Johnson says.

On the flip side, he adds that producers of pesticide applicators and tree planting and removal companies will benefit from the EAB quarantine.

“Some businesses will be impacted negatively, but some portions of the green industry will benefit,” he says.

The green industry can glean two lessons from the EAB quarantine, according to Johnson.

“First, educate yourself about this pest and share that knowledge with customers.

Emerald ash borer won’t cause a problem for oak trees. Second, think about diversity; don’t always plant the same thing. If you plant only one or two types of trees and they get wiped out, you’re left with nothing. Planting a greater variety of species will foster resilience in our communities,” he advises.

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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Q A

Practical business advice and ideas you can use now

Spring into Action Now that winter’s economic dry spell has concluded, green industry professionals are ramping up for the busy spring season. To help prepare for and prosper during the business rush that comes with the emergence of spring, Mark Ruibal, vice president of sales for Ruibal’s Plants of Texas, and Cody Hoya, general manager of retail and contract sales divisions for North Haven Gardens, offer some advice based on what has worked in their businesses.

Q: How do you ensure you have enough product to meet demand in the spring?

Ruibal: First, we listen to our customers — both retail end users and landscapers of all sizes — to see what they like. If it’s a possibility to produce [what they want] for our area and available, we’ll do our best to accommodate their wishes. Second, we use our point of sales data to see what sold in the past season, how those sales are trending, and how that fits into our production schedule. Third (the trickier part), we scout new and different plants, selecting varieties or colors that we think may be good. If we like something we’ll give it a try in a limited run, push it through retail or to some of our forward-thinking landscapers for them to plant.

After that we restart the feedback loop with our customers to see how they fared with the new offerings, pair that with sales, and make a decision on the next season. Another factor we pay attention to is what we can get from our secondary suppliers that can fill a need, especially on a variety that spikes unexpectedly in a season. We don’t want to increase production too much if everyone else is. That just leads to all of us with extra plants if the spike is temporary.

Q: What type of product do you typically see moving fast in spring?

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Hoya: We are known as a destination for vegetable gardeners, and the volume of herb and vegetable transplants sold during spring — particularly tomatoes — never fails to amaze me. We also specialize in growing our own roses, for which we program a special weekend in March that’s the “kickoff” to spring each year. We also move an astounding number of perennials during the peak season.

Q: Are there any types of plants or colors you foresee being popular this spring?

Ruibal: Succulents, cacti, and lowwater plants have been in big demand, and they should stay strong for a while especially as new varieties are available.

I think the color of the year is a coral.

Some people will look that direction into corals, salmons, and softer pinks.

Q: Is there anything interesting or new you will offer to your customers during the spring season?

Hoya: Our buyers are always on the lookout for the next must-have item, but we’re especially careful to offer only plants and products suited to our unique growing area in North Texas.

That said, our giftware and décor buyer, Tommy Rowden, is particularly invested in keeping our assortment relevant and interesting, and our customers are

Mark Ruibal, VP of Sales, Ruibal’s Plants of Texas

noticing his hard work.

We also have an ever-evolving list of free and paid classes and workshops that Education and Outreach Coordinator Rusty Allen works hard to keep fresh and exciting.

Q: Is it all hands on deck in the spring when you’re selling to retail garden centers and landscapers and product is moving fast?

Ruibal: Because we have both the growing operations and four of our own retail nurseries, all hands on deck is definitely the call. Even a few of the wives and friends get pressed into service.

Q: How do you motivate staff during the long hours of the spring workweeks?

Hoya: All of us pitch in to sticker plant material at our receiving dock and assist customers on the sales floor. Everyone here — no matter where your desk is or what your primary role is —pitches in to help during peak season. We support each other with treats of fruit, snacks, donuts, or sports drinks and look after each other’s well-being during peak season. Plus, to keep up with demand in spring, we typically add between five to 10 seasonal positions, both part-time and full-time.

General Manager of North Haven Gardens Cody Hoya (right) pictured with Sandi Schwedler, senior buyer and gallery curator (left) and Alexis Patterson, advertising and marketing manager.

Q A comes with its own offers and incentives related to the gardening activity. We’re preparing to roll out café gift cards, and we’re constantly tweaking our approach

to coupons and offers, including distinct email lists targeted to specific interests.

by CRYSTAL ZUZEK

Q: Do you have tips for maintaining and keeping up with your inventory?

How do you fill in the gap if you sell out of a product?

Ruibal: In spring, things move so fast it’s important to walk the nurseries and stores daily and use your own observations to back up what the production and point of sale computers say. We make sure we keep in contact with our backup suppliers to see what they are moving or need to move.

Hoya: We have five primary buyers and an inventory manager, and all of us share an open-to-buy system that we’ve customized for our unique needs as an organization. We rely on our point of sales system for detailed inventory management from committal of goods to the actual moment of sale.

Each buyer is responsible for weekly and monthly inventory counts and corrections to keep us accurate. Buyers and sales staff work collaboratively to communicate product levels in order to fine-tune quantities as demand changes.

Q: Will you have any special customer events, classes, or incentives?

Hoya: We’re now offering private events and private workshops in addition to our public events. Both have grown to include hands-on art and make-and-take workshops, and many are catered by our café with wine, snacks, and refreshments.

We program special weekends around timely gardening themes throughout the year, and each of these

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GREEN Vision

By Mengmeng Gu, Ph.D.

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Resources

THE WEEK BEFORE Thanksgiving

2016, we submitted a grant proposal titled “Risk management for current and potential users of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), an emerging technology” to the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center. I coauthored the proposal with James Robbins, Ph.D., project director, from the University of Arkansas-Cooperative Extension Service; and Joe Mari Maja, Ph.D., from Clemson University. We also had Rusty Rumley from National Agricultural Law Center, housed at the University of Arkansas.

After the submission I just forgot about it. There is absolutely nothing you can do after the submission. You will be notified of one of the two results: funded or not. I choose to forget about it. Either rejection of funding comes as expected or approval of funding comes as a surprise.

Then came the surprise. We were notified that our project was funded.

That meant we need to do what we promised: Put on five workshops in 2018 in conjunction with the Academy of Crop Production (Athens, Ga.), Beltwide Cotton Conference (San Antonio), Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference (Savannah, Ga.), and the

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National Association of County Agricultural Agents (Chattanooga, Tenn.).

The Academy of Crop Production was canceled, but AmericanHort invited us, twice — to the Technology Conference in Dallas and to Cultivate2018 in Columbus, Ohio.

That was a total of six four-hour workshops on small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in four states. In those four hours we covered UAS basics, liability and risk, pilot certification and aircraft registration, types of aircraft,

types of sensors, software, workflow, image processing, and agricultural applications of UAS. A total of 351 people registered for our workshops, although not all showed up.

Overall, the participants gave us a rating of 4.6 out of 5. Ninety-nine percent thought our information would help them reduce financial risk, and 100 percent improved their confidence in adopting sUAS technology.

If you didn’t get to attend any of the six workshops, you can access recorded

GREEN Vision

ABOVE: Participants listen to a presentation on liability and risks associated with sUAS by Rusty Rumley from the National Agricultural Law Center. His presentation, titled Risk & Reward: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Agricultural Producers, was part of the 2018 National Association of County Agricultural Agents Conference in Chattanooga.

Applicable uses of sUAS in the Texas green industry include inventory management, crop health monitoring, and asset tracking and management. Small unmanned aircraft systems can take high-resolution pictures of nursery plots, and software is available to count the number of plants. Infrared photos may reveal hot spots (indicated by yellow, orange, or red colors) among healthy (indicated by a green color) plants.

The hot spot may need to be looked at closely to find the problem, which could include disease, insect damage, a clogged emitter (water stress), nutrient deficiency, or another issue.

Instead of scouting the whole field, an employee may only focus on the problem spots.

In addition, labor could be freed up for other tasks. It’ll be much safer for sUAS to fly over the greenhouses to inspect damages than for an employee to climb a ladder or the gutter connecting greenhouses.

When expecting inclement weather conditions like a hurricane, sUAS could be deployed to take before aerial photos of crops, equipment, and infrastructure. This could be provided to file insurance claims, in case there is damage.

As always, it’d be great to hear from you. Let me know if you learned something from our recordings and information.

If there’s a way to improve, I’d like to know.

MENGMENG GU, PH.D., is associate professor/extension specialist in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Department of Horticultural Sciences. Her email address is mgu@tamu.edu.

webinars at greenviion.wordpress.com/suav. After you click on those webinar recordings, don’t forget to check out our speakers’ notes and two sUAS extension publications — “sUAS Pilot Certification Aircraft Registration Non-Hobby Users of sUAS” and “Features to Consider When Purchasing a sUAS.” I’d encourage you to check them out if you have any interest in sUAS or are wondering what sUAS is. As this emerging technology is developing very fast, we hope to update the information and resources in the speakers’ notes as they become available. Last time I checked, there is at least one sUAS expo in every month in China. The possibilities are almost limitless.

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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NOTES FROM SFA Gardens

A Balanced Approach to Pest Management WE’RE USING AN ALTERNATIVE

approach to dealing with insect pests in certain places in our garden.

Many of our plantings are geared toward attracting pollinators, and those plantings are focused on attracting and teaching children about the natural world. Chemical pesticides — even organics — aren’t an option for this type of alternative approach.

We are, in fact, gardening to attract insects — albeit the pretty poster children of the insect world such as butterflies — but insects nonetheless.

We planned to implement planting strategies to encourage beneficial insects — predatory and parasitoid species — to help manage pest populations.

It’s one thing to introduce these insects in the garden; it’s another to attract and then keep them around for the next pest population outbreak.

When pest populations fall below threshold numbers to keep predatory insects in the garden, other food sources need to be present. It turns out, pollen is a high-protein alternative in the predatory insect diet when pests are in short supply.

One of the most effective strategies of pest management in the landscape is providing a veritable buffet of alternative food, aka pollen, so beneficial insects can maintain their own numbers as

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By David Creech, Ph.D.

pest populations begin to increase again. This is not a sterile strategy. There is not an intention to eliminate insects altogether, not even the harmful ones. It is a strategy to keep things balanced and working together so pest populations don’t become economically or aesthetically detrimental to your landscape.

You do have to have a bit of patience and a forgiving eye to tolerate this strategy.

I like author and speaker Doug Tallamy’s philosophy of taking 10 steps back and seeing if insect damage is really that bothersome. Yes, sometimes it is, given that we have Texas’ largest public azalea garden. (Azalea lace bugs are intolerable.) In that case, we employ pesticides, albeit with an application strategy that minimizes the impact on native pollinator species, such as blueberry Milkweed pod clean bees that also use azaleas for nectar.

Attracting and keeping opportunity for gardens that don’t have beneficial insects entails planting a such a specific plant focus, especially variety of flowering plants, with different with so many wonderful annuals and shapes, sizes, and colors of flowers and temperennials that serve as shoulder those that bloom in different seasons crops providing flowers in our early to provide a wide variety of pollen and spring and late fall seasons. nectar options for the different kinds of Our pallet included species of insects throughout the growing season. phlox, bee balm, Winkler’s firewheel, Syrphid fly larvae are voracious feeders rattlesnake master, aster, goldenrod, of aphids, a plant staple in the butterfly penstemon, gayfeather, cardinal flower, garden. We also encouraged lady salvia, and Indian pink. We used bluebeetles, parasitic wasps, and lacewings. eyed grass as an evergreen groundcover Our pilot project took place at the component and native bunch grasses, Piney Woods Native Plant Center, so all including switch grass, little bluestem, the plants we chose are native to the and coastal muhly to provide not only Piney Woods ecoregion. There is broader

NOTES FROM SFA Gardens

Milkweed pod with predators

It’s all of our responsibility in the green industry to educate our consumers on which recipes to choose. We should all be gardening for the greater good, especially as more of the natural world gets covered in asphalt. texture but overwintering habitat for pollinators like bumblebees. And of course, we planted several species of milkweed for monarch caterpillars.

This garden surrounds our Conservation Education Building, so the plants and insect wildlife are on full view for all student and adult groups who come to visit and learn. True to form, the oleander aphids moved in on the milkweed in no time, and it took all my muster to leave them be. Even the

Milkweed with aphids

benign practice of blasting them with a water hose is taboo these days, as it can be equally as effective at removing monarch eggs and small larva.

Soon enough, lady beetle larvae moved in, and I finally began to notice tiny hovering wasps. Aphid mummies were taking the place of the live insects, and finally to my relief I began to see hungry syrphid fly larvae. As chance would have it, I took a progression of pictures with prey, and then a few predators, and finally pest-free plants.

As the summer progressed, I watched this process repeat itself, but each time the aphid population was less numerous than the last. It’s truly fascinating when we stop to see the world that goes on right beneath our noses.

Two years later, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is the increase in native pollinator species to the garden. We were never chemically intensive to begin with, but without forage and habitat, we

simply had no draw for insects — good or bad.

I know this sounds like a pretty little picture, and you’re still wondering how it applies to your business. Think of it as marketing strategy. These are the plants your customer will need to create a backyard habitat or butterfly garden or whatever garden trend du jour that comes along requiring a lighter touch with pesticides.

Urban habitat gardens create a huge potential client base for planting projects in schools, churches, and other public green spaces. As the saying goes, “If you build it, they will come.” If you have the product they need, they will buy from you.

I put together a 50-count perennial plug tray that included five nectar plants and one native grass species this year for our customers. I called it the “prairie tray.” It took the guesswork out for folks who knew what they wanted to do but didn’t know how to do it. They were popular enough that I’ll expand on the concept in the next few years with trays appropriate to a variety of situations, such as exposure or soil type.

Having all the ingredients available is the key to any good recipe. It’s our responsibility in the green industry to educate our consumers on which recipes to choose. We should all be gardening for the greater good, especially as more of the natural world gets covered in asphalt. A nibble here and there on the shrubbery isn’t always a call to arms. It might just mean a beautiful soon-to-bebutterfly larva is nibbling its breakfast, or an eastern bluebird is about to have an afternoon snack.

DAVID CREECH, Ph.D., is regent’s professor emeritus at Stephen F. Austin State University and the director of SFA Gardens.

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BUGS FUZZ

Focus on disease and insects

Resistance Is Futile…

Or Is It? TREKKIES

SHOULD

RECOGNIZE

the first three words of the title above, attributing them to the Borg as they assimilate populations and worlds they come across. To a plant pathologist, such as I they are words used to taunt our enemy, the plant pathogens, as we test new fungicide products against them in our fight to produce and grow beautiful plants.

Yet ever so often, we come across reports that there are some fungicide treatments that “used to work” but do NOT seem to work anymore! What happened? Could it be, the fungal pathogen is resisting?

FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE

Fungicide resistance is defined as an acquired heritable trait that imparts a reduction in sensitivity to an antifungal agent (aka fungicide). In a chapter of a book series published in 2015 titled “The Evolution of Fungicide Resistance,” John Lucas and his co-authors noted that fungicide resistance was rare prior to the 1970s. They also noted that the 1970s were when “novel classes of antifungal chemicals with specific modes of action were introduced and became widely used”.

What is the link between modes of action and fungicide resistance?

Mode of Action (MOA) explains how a particular antifungal product acts or functions to kill or stop fungal growth.

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By Kevin Ong, Ph.D. & Erfan Vafaie

CONTROL

CONTROL

HERITAGE

DECREE

PAGAENT

COMPASS

A classical approach to determining fungicide resistance by challenging the fungus (Botrytis) to grow and sporulate on fungicide-amended potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates. Two isolates of Botrytis cinerea showing different profiles against some common fungicides.

This usually refers to one or more specific cellular processes in the fungus that are disrupted by that fungicide.

The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) is a technical specialist group with the purpose of providing guidelines to help prolong the usefulness of the current available fungicides. FRAC categorizes the fungicides by their biochemical mode of action in the metabolic pathway of the fungal plant pathogen i.e., which part or stage of the fungal cell growth is targeted.

A more recognizable product of FRAC is the FRAC Code, often seen as Group Code on fungicide labels.

These numbers (and sometimes letters) identify fungicide groups by their cross-resistance behavior. Essentially, if different fungicides have the same number, then it is likely they target the similar protein or biochemical step in the fungal pathogen. Hence the common guidance to rotate fungicide used by making sure not to use products with the same group number too many times successively. (See table1.)

Table 1. Some examples of FRAC categorization by Mode of Actions (cellular processes target) and the FRAC Code of fungicides that acts upon one or more targets noted in the MOA. MODE OF ACTION FRAC CODE Cytoskeleton and motor protein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 10, 20, 22, 43, 47, 50 Respiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 11, 21, 29, 30, 38, 45 Amino acid and protein sysnthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 23, 24, 25, 41 Signal transduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 12. 13 Lipid synthesis/membrane integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 14, 28, 44, 46, 48, 49 Sterol biosynthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 5, 17, 18 Plant host defense induction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P01, P02 … P07 Multi-site activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M#

Focus on disease and insects

BUGS FUZZ

organisms that can modify and disarm the fungicide before it reaches the target. (The bomb’s defused!)

CONTROL

CONTROL

HERITAGE

DECREE

PAGAENT

COMPASS

BACK TO THE 1970S

Why did fungicide resistance become more common in the 1970s and later?

For that answer, one must look at the evolution of fungicides. It is during this time that modern fungicide with sitespecific or single-target site action were developed. The fungicides are often very efficacious and systemic, hence effective at lower doses. Unfortunately, the specificity of these fungicides is also its Achilles’ heel.

These four mechanisms allow a fungal pathogen to overcome fungicides: 1. Alteration or modification of the target site. Mutations can occur to

result in “new” individuals without the target site. (Nothing to see here fungicide; please move along.)

2. Overexpression of target. “Hey, if we cannot beat the fungicide then let’s overwhelm it!” Such are the capabilities of some fungal organisms to overcome antifungal compounds.

3. Expulsion of the fungicide from the target site. Some fungal organisms may have better “bouncers” (efflux pumps), which are capable of channeling or routing the fungicide out of the target site quickly. (This way out.)

4. Detoxifying the fungicide. There may be mechanisms in some fungal

Table 2. Examples of fungicides and their corresponding group (FRAC) number.

FRAC CODE COMMON NAME (TRADE NAME ®) 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thiophanate-methyl (Cleary’s 3336) 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myclobutanil (Eagle, Systhane); Propiconazole (Banner Maxx) 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mefenoxam (Subdue Maxx) 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boscalid (in Pristine); Fluxopyroxad (in Orkestra) 11 . . . . . Azoxystrobin (Heritage); Fenamidone (Fenstop); Trifloxystrobin (Compass) 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fludioxonil (Medallion) 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fenhexamid (Decree) 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Polyoxin (Endorse) P(07) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fosetyl- Al (Aliette); Phosphorus acid & salts (Alude, Biophos) M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chlorothalonil (Bravo, Daconil); Copper (Kocide); Mancozeb

But these four mechanisms just explain how some individuals might gain or have the ability to resist certain fungicide.

When fungicide resistance is noticed in a greenhouse or nursery, it is often a big issue in which loss is realized. For that to happen, one would expect a large population of the “resistant” fungus.

Two things contribute to the increase of “resistant” fungal populations to problematic levels: selection pressure and a fast life cycle. Theoretically, the fungicide would knock out all the sensitive fungus but not affect the ones that acquired or have resistance through one of the four mechanisms mentioned above.

These “survivors” can continue to reproduce, and their offspring would be expected to maintain these resistant traits if the fungicide pressure is maintained. Many fungi can undergo many generations in a growing season.

Fungus, like Botrytis, can produce copious amounts of spores in each generation.

THE GOOD NEWS

Our pronouncement of “Resistance is futile” to the fungal pathogen can still be true if we remember to appropriately rotate the types of fungicides used to manage a particular disease so the fungus does not have the opportunity to build up a resistant population.

KEVIN ONG, PH.D., is professor and director of The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University.

ERFAN VAFAIE is extension program specialist IPM, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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Green QUIZ TNLA

According to the article Resistance Is Futile ... Or Is It? mode of action (MOA) explains how an antifungal product acts or functions to kill or stop fungal growth. a. True b. False According to the article Resistance Is Futile ... Or Is It? a recognizable product from the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) is which of these? a. Fungicides b. Fungicide labels c. Fungicide human toxicity ratings d. All the above According to the article Resistance Is Futile...

Or Is It? which of these is not one of the four mechanisms that allow a fungal pathogen to overcome fungicides? a. Alteration or modification of the target site b. Overexpression of target c. Expulsion of the fungicide from the target site d. Toxifying the fungicide

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According to the article Green Industry Trends for Spring, which of the following was not in Leslie Halleck’s examples of most popular indoor plants? a. Monstera plants b. Bird’s nest fern c. Unusual cacti d. Ficus trees According to the article Green Industry Trends for Spring, Lauren Kirchner says which of these colors is considered a “more unexpected shade for flowers”? a. Coral b. Multi-colored c. Cobalt blue d. Black According to the article Green Industry Trends for Spring, what is Daniel Cunningham seeing as increasingly popular despite people thinking it’s “illegal”? a. Hemp b. Rainwater harvesting c. Removal of turfgrass d. Edibles

According to the article Containing a Destructive Pest, TDA says EAB populations can naturally spread how many miles per year. a. 6 b. 12 c. 18 d. 24

According to the article A Balanced Approach to Pest Management, contrary to historical belief, today we are doing what? a. Planting to attract insects to the landscape b. P lanting to remove insects from the landscape c. Planting a sterile landscape d. Planting mostly xeriscapes

According to the article Containing a Destructive Pest, ash trees account for what percentage of the trees in Texas communities? a. 1-5% b. 2-8% c. 5-10% d. Over 10%

According to the article A Balanced Approach to Pest Management, what is one of the most effective strategies of pest management in the landscape? a. Introducing other pests b. U sing traditional pesticides instead of “new” pesticides c. Using “new” pesticides instead of using traditional pesticides d. Providing a veritable buffet of alternative food

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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TNLA Green March/April 2019

NEW MEMBERS

TNLA would like to welcome its new members. If you would like to become a member or if you have any questions or concerns about your current membership, please contact us at 800.880.0343.

Visit www.TNLAonline.org to learn about the benefits of becoming a member of TNLA. REGION 1 Landscape Rockoff Tree Solutions Karen Rockoff 885 Spicer Loop Kerrville, TX 7778028 www.oakwilt.com

Supplier Mission Landscape Supplies, LLC Robert Burk 4455 Stahl Road San Antonio, TX 78217 REGION 2 Landscape La Salle Landscaping Kristen Savant 6205 Skyline Drive Houston, TX 77057 Landscape – Individual Amy Ping Old South Landscapes 2918 Rutersville College Lane Richmond, TX 77406 Supplier Mata Turf, Inc. Anthony Bevis 10408 Tanner Road Houston, TX 77041 www.mataturf.com

REGION 4 Landscape Sam Hill Tree Care Sam Hill PO Box 29869 Dallas, TX 75229 www.samhilltreecare.com

TreeConsult, LLC Greg David PO Box 9 Muenster, TX 76252 www.treeconsult.com

Landscape – Individual Tim McAuliffe Dallas Outdoor Living 2520 Frosted Green Lane Plano, TX 75025 Supplier Patterson and Associates Insurance Agency Sam Best PO Box 852037 Richardson, TX 75085 www.piainsure.com

REGION 5 Educator Montana Williams Botanical Research Institute of Texas 3900 White Settlement Road #4 Fort Worth, TX 76107 Supplier Ramey & King Insurance 320 Eagle Drive, Ste. 210 Denton, TX 76201 www.rameyking.com

Verano 365, LLC David Ashton 375 Commerce St., Ste. 100 Southlake, TX 76092 www.verano365.com

REGION 7 Lone Star Legacy Thelma Adams 2406 Lakeview Drive Rockport, TX 78382 REGION 8 Grower – Branch Better Trees of Texas 2366 Apple Cider Road Temple, TX 76501

Landscape Bioscapes Pete Facundo 6212 Crow Lane #1118 Austin, TX 78745 www.bioscapers.com

Emerald Irrigation Brandon Jordan PO Box 148 Round Mountain, TX 78663 www.emeraldtx.com

J Arbor Contracting LLC Ashley DuBose 12609 Casting Drive Manor, TX 78653

Supplier BKCW Jason Pfaltzgraff 783 CR 3150 Kempner, TX 76539 www.bkcw.com

Ten Thousand Pots John Nguyen 3913 Vinalopo Drive Austin, TX 78738 www.tenthousandpots.com

OUT OF STATE Supplier Greenius Mike Artz PO Box 340393 Milwaukee, WI 53234 www.gogreenius.com

Riverside Plastics, Inc. Zack Schwartz PO Box 421 Flemingsburg, KY 41041 www.riverside-plastics.com

NEW TNLA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS TCWSP Texas Certified Water Smart Professional Jorge Burbano De Lara - Complete Landsculpture TCNP Texas Certified Nursery Professional Renee Micklos - Landscape Systems Garden Center Monica Cubberly – Calloway’s Dana Luse – Calloway’s Jim Burton – Calloway’s Alan Sodek - Red Barn Garden Center

TCLA Texas Certified Landscape Associate Orlando Madrid - Complete Landsculpture TCLP Texas Certified Landscape Professional Kevin Brown - Inframark

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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TNLA

Talks

“I strive to help young men and women in finding the same passion about the green industry I have been blessed with ... .”

Adrian Muehlstein, TMCNP, chief operating officer of Southwest Wholesale Nursery in Carrollton, is a member of the TNLA Board of Directors. He leads student workforce efforts on TNLA’s Labor Task Force Committee and is committed to recruiting the next generation of green industry professionals. ¶ What is your role on the TNLA Labor Task Force

Committee? One branch of the task force is focused

on H-2B visa labor issues. The other branch I help facilitate deals with stimulating interest in and

educating high school and college students about green industry careers. Not all kids will go to a four-year

university, and they need an avenue to pursue a career.

On the task force we’re targeting both angles — those

who want a formal degree and those who want to go to work right out of high school. We educate them about the fantastic opportunities available in our industry. ¶ What have you done to help interest students in green industry careers? I’ve had the privilege of going

to local schools and visiting with students about the green industry’s diverse career opportunities. I’ve

had students and teachers from several universities

and high schools tour the nursery. I explain to them what our operation is all about. On the state level,

TNLA works with the Texas Can Academy, a network of campuses across Texas that educate students who

have struggled in a traditional high school setting to ensure their economic independence. TNLA makes

certification available to these students so they can take tangible credentials with them into the workforce.

¶ Why are you passionate about green industry

workforce issues? I grew up in a farming background.

I always had a passion for growing things. In

high school I started mowing yards and then did landscaping. My passion was taking someone’s

property and elevating it to another level. When I was

a high school senior one of my customers noticed I was good at it and encouraged me to do it as a career. I got a horticulture degree from Tarleton State University.

This has been an extremely rewarding career for me

and my family. I strive to help young men and women in finding the same passion about the green industry I have been blessed with in hopes that they have the

same success in such a rewarding career. I feel that it is an obligation we have as industry leaders to help develop and inspire the future workforce. ¶ How

does the Student Rally at TNLA’s EXPO help the green industry build the future workforce? At the Student

Rally, high school students get to be in the same environment with green industry professionals.

They can walk the tradeshow floor and talk with

representatives from different areas of the industry. It’s a chance for kids to explore all the possible green industry careers and network. ¶ Don’t miss this year’s Student

Rally, Friday, Aug. 9, from 11a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the

Nursery/Landscape EXPO in San Antonio. Students can

register and attend EXPO free of charge and receive VIP seating at Friday’s keynote presentation.

left: Adrian Muehlstein (right) pictured with Flatonia FFA students and teachers

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TNLA Green March/April 2019

March/April 2019 TNLA Green

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TNLA Green March/April 2019