PLANT DETECTIVES

Directions Consider the information presented in each scenario – What is useful? – What is not useful? – What is missing? Based on the information provided determine a possible solution for the client Use an IPM approach for each of your answers

Goal Based on information provided by client, determine possible cause(s) and present range of solutions client can choose. – You are NOT telling the client what to do – You are educating the client on the control options available

What you need: N3959 or other access to publications

When you see these: After you have come up with your own answers, listen to our suggested reply to the client. Click on these icons when you see them in the presentation. – Must be connected to the internet

PLANT DETECTIVES Herbaceous Plants

Scenario 1 It’s July and Mr. Green is highly perturbed with all the garden phlox he inherited from his mother. It is now covered with a white coating and is losing leaves.

Scenario 1 It’s planted on the east side of his home packed in with many other plants. He irrigates one evening a week using an overhead sprinkler. He’s fertilized with fish emulsion three times so far this season.

Scenario 1 What is most likely wrong with this plant? Using an IPM strategy, what options would you give Mr. Green? Discuss these questions before continuing to answer on next slide

Scenario 1 Powdery mildew on phlox – Whitish growth is the fungus growing and producing spores on both upper and lower leaf surfaces. High humidity promotes disease. POWDERY MILDEW is one of the few diseases you can diagnose own your own – most have to be sent to the lab for confirmation.

Scenario 1 Management options include: Replant with resistant cultivar Ample spacing to allow airflow Change watering practices Sanitation Fungicides

Scenario 1 Powdery mildew on different plants is caused by different species of fungi. These fungi affect different annuals, perennial, herbaceous and woody plants. The powdery mildew on Mr. Green’s phlox is not the same as powdery mildew on his lilacs, roses, squash or beebalm, but they occur under the same conditions.

Scenario 2 Sharon Coneflower is aghast that her prized roses are suddenly being ravaged. She sees clusters of dark- colored “bugs” in the flowers and on hole-ridden leaves.

Scenario 2 What do you think is causing this problem? Using an IPM strategy, what options would you give Ms. Coneflower? Discuss these questions before continuing to answer on next slide

Scenario 2 Japanese beetle – A scarab beetle from Asia Slightly less than ½” long Shiny, metallic green & copper- colored with white spots on edge of body

Scenario 2 Roses are a favorite food Adults feed on leaves and flowers, consuming entire petals Adults congregate in large numbers, lured in by pheromones = a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal that affects the behavior or physiology of others of its species.

Scenario 2 Management options include: Hand removal Trapping Insecticides

Scenario 2 Japanese beetles attack a lot of other plants besides roses (over 300 species!). Some favorites include grapes, Virginia creeper, linden and birch trees, raspberries, and many garden flowers.

Scenario 3 Mrs. Smith brought in a sample to the UWEX office of a low- growing weed with purple flowers that is crawling all through her flower beds. It’s been getting worse every year.

Scenario 3 What weed do you think this is? Using an IPM strategy, what options would you give Mrs. Smith? Discuss these questions before continuing to answer on next slide

Scenario 3 Creeping Charlie An herbaceous perennial. Spreads by seed and by creeping stems that grow along the ground. Thrives in moist, shady spots.

Scenario 3 Management options include: Increase light levels Water less frequently Remove by hand Herbicides – Spot spray – Timing

Scenario 3 Further into the conversation with her, she mentions she has a small dog and is worried chemicals will hurt it. Would that change the answer you give her?

Scenario 3 Read the label Re-entry time Organic options Keep dog out of the flower bed!