Icky, sticky, gooey stuff…

· August 18, 2010 · 11:14 pm · Lawn care, Misc., Pests, , , , , , , , , , ,

Icky, sticky, gooey stuff...

Did you experience a clear sticky substance or black mold on your deck, lawn furniture or car last summer? If you did, you may be experienc-ing the symptoms of the Asian woolly hackberry aphid, Shivaphis celti. Middle Tennessee hackberry trees experienced severe infestations during the summers of 2003 through 2006.   The aphids mysteriously vanished during the summers of 2006 and 2007 and reappeared again in 2008.

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis and sugarberry, Celtis laevigata are the host plants for this aphid. The aphids are small, about 2—2.5 millimeters long and are conspicuous due to the large amount of bluish white wax secretion from their abdomen. See Photo. The adults are winged and give the appearance of small pieces of cotton on the undersides of leaves.
Overwintering eggs hatch into females that, without fertilization, give birth to living females. The ability of females to reproduce without mating is termed parthenogensis. This ability allows young to be brought forth throughout the summer, accounting for rapid increases in population. The largest populations usually occur in late July or early August in our area. In late fall, males and females are born. After mating, the female deposits overwintering eggs, and the cycle contin-ues the following year.
During severe infestation the aphids excrete large amounts of honeydew, which coats the lower leaves and drips onto objects below the tree. The honeydew attracts ants, bees and other insects and serves as a medium for the growth of sooty mold fungus. In most cases little injury occurs to the trees; however, staining of wood, painted surfaces or fabric may occur from prolonged exposure to sooty mold.
If you are experiencing staining of decks, lawn furniture or other valuable items, you may want to consider treatment for this pest.
Prevention can be obtained by soil treatment in April or May with a systemic insecticide, such as imidicloprid. Reduction of populations can be obtained by spraying small trees with a contact insecticide or microinjection of larger trees in July through September.

Get Outside!

· December 2, 2009 · 8:05 pm · Lawn care, Misc., Tree care, , , , , , , , ,

Been to any of our wonderful state parks recently? If not you are missing out on a great opportunity. Did you know that Tennessee recently won the “Best Parks in the Nation” award?  Imagine that, the best and cleanest parks in the nation right here in your own backyards. With fall almost here, it is the perfect time to enjoy a day out in the wilderness.

There are currently 53 parks in this state, each with something different and unique to offer. This means that everyone young and old can enjoy a visit. Canoeing the Narrows of the Harpeth River is a great family

adventure that is close to residents in the Nashville area. Or, if breathtaking views and great hikes are your thing, then Fall Creek Falls state park is a great choice. It offers over 34 miles of hiking trails, two of which are long distance overnight trails. There is also a scenic route, which can be driven, showing many gorgeous mountaintop vistas. The most popular stop on the scenic route is Buzzard’s Roost, which also has a place for rock climbing and rappelling. It should be noted that to rock climb or rappel, a ranger must be notified.

Unfortunately, there is not enough room in this article to highlight all of Tennessee’s state parks, but you can research different parks and find out what they offer at www.tennessee.gov/parks. There you can

reserve cabins, campsites, and get directions to whatever park you choose.

Author’s note: Though not mentioned above, my personal favorite place to go is Rock Island State Park.   Here is a picture; it is

about two hours southeast of Nashville.

rock island

By: Joe Giansante

What is my Landscape Worth?

· October 21, 2009 · 9:51 pm · Lawn care, Tree care, , , , ,

Most people are aware that trees and other living plants are valuable. They provide beauty to our properties, manufacture oxygen, reduce rainfall runoff, provide sound barriers, and help us save energy by providing cool shade in the summer and reducing the harsh winds in the winter. However, trees and other landscape plants are a part of your property and have a dollar value that can be measured by competent plant appraisers.
A U.S. Forest study conducted in Amherst, Massachusetts shows that real-estate appraisers estimated that trees contributed as much as 27 % increase in dollars for two thirds wooded compared to open land with no plants. Another study by Arbor National Mortgage, Inc., revealed that “ 84 % of the real estate agents feel a house on a lot with trees would be as much as 20 % more saleable than a house on a lot with no trees.” (Arbor National Mortgage 1993).
If you have trees or shrubs that have been damaged or destroyed, you may be able to recapture your loss through insurance claims, litigation, or as a deduction from your income tax. The extent of damage and how the damage occurred will determine which avenues are available to you to compensate for the lost value. If you have a portion of your property condemned for right of ways, utility easements or other condemnation proceedings, the value of any trees and shrubs on that portion of your property should be considered in determining your compensation for the loss of that property. In the event of a loss or damage to your landscape, you should obtain a written appraisal by a qualified terrain appraiser to insure that you are properly compensated for the dollar value of your landscape.

 

 

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