Current Conditions July was generally moist and warm for the majority of the region, although some areas remain in drought conditions and there were some cool night-time lows. The average rainfall amount across the region was approximately 2.00 inches. Most of the region experienced daytime highs in the 80s, though some areas enjoyed cool temperatures…
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Problematic Pests The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, a member of the scarab beetle family, is the adult stage of the white grubs found in your lawn. They were first introduced to the United States via New Jersey from Japan in 1916, where they were not considered a pest. In some parts of the country there…
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A recently published US Forest Service study revealed that the massively destructive Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is four times more likely to develop to adulthood when feeding on red maples (Acer rubrum) as compared to other susceptible species. The study, published in the journal “Insects”, showed that ALB attacked red maples at very high rates,…
DetailsBloom Blues (and greens and yellowish browns…) An algal bloom is constituted by the rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system. Although there is no hard and fast threshold level cited that determines if a bloom is present, when concentrations of an algal species reach hundred to thousands of cells per milliliter of water an…
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Pathogenic Problem Currently found in nearly all of the world’s coffee growing regions, Hemileia vestatrix is a fungal pathogen causing the disease coffee rust which is devastating central American farms. This disease has been verified on Coffee arabica and Coffee canephora, arabica and robusta coffee; two of the most economically important beans, but may also…
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Behold the Blob? Have you seen or stepped in some seemingly disgusting things in your yard lately and have been too grossed out by the possibilities to figure out what it could have been? Well, rest easy, slime molds; unique, non-pathogenic fungi common to turfgrass, have been reported recently sighted on lawns in the region. Slime molds…
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Pernicious Pollutants Everyone is aware that trees provide numerous benefits to the environment and civilization, but removing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen, providing shade, stabilizing soils and aesthetic beauty are just the beginning. In addition to carbon dioxide, trees are also responsible for clearing the air of other detrimental pollutants, according to a new study…
DetailsStorms, pests, aesthetics, insurance… there are plenty of reasons why you may need to retain the services of a tree care company. While they might seem like indestructible objects, any trees on your property need to be looked after carefully to ensure their survival. This could mean getting a Frisco tree service to trim and…
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A study was recently undertaken in Massachusetts, conducted by researchers from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of New Hampshire to determine the effects winter moth caterpillar populations are having on subsequent growth in oak trees. This recently published study revealed that damage from the winter moth caterpillar is severely affecting the…
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Causes and Concerns Soil compaction is caused when an external force applies pressure to soil which reduces porosity, destroys structure, limits water infiltration, reduces air circulation and increases resistance to penetration of roots. This condition can diminish crop yield and plant vigor. While many people are aware of the negative effects soil compaction can have,…
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