UPDATE 



HAPPY NEW YEAR! It sure is tough to get back into the swing of 

 things after the holidays. Luckily, this is a relatively slow time in 

 the PDL. It's the time of year when I give numerous presentations at 

 workshops and grower meetings as well as try to catch up on report- 

 writing and paper work. Although relatively few samples were received 

 in the last two months of 1994, there were some notable samples among 

 those diagnosed. 



Phyllosticta Needle Blight continues to be a problem on balsam and 

 Fraser firs. As 1 mentioned in the last report, this needle blight has 

 been increasing in frequency over the last few years and very little is 

 known about the life cycle of the fungus. Hopefully, Bill Merrill and 

 Nancy Wenner will have had some new information on this disease (they 

 have been doing a little work with it) at the Christmas Tree Pest Manage- 

 ment Workshop in Keene (January. 5-6| Several samples of Rhizosphaera 

 Needlecast on spruce began were diagnosed in November Remember 

 the key time for control of this needlecast is during shoot elongation. 



Problems on greenhouse crops were relatively few during Novem- 

 ber-December. Soft Rot was diagnosed on two cyclamen samples. In both 

 cases the corms were planted too deep and the plants were over-watered. 

 Fungus Gnat larvae were also abundant in both samples. There is strong 

 evidence that the little critters transmit bacteria and fungal spores, so 

 they can be more than just a nuisance Pythium was isolated from rot- 

 ting geranium roots and Oedema has begun to show up ivy geraniums, so 

 be sure to adjust your watering during cloudy weather in the upcoming 

 months. There was only one confirmed case of Powdery Mildew on poin- 

 settias this season. In general, the crop was fairly clean throughout the 

 country. 



During the next few months, continue to inspect and monitor gerani- 

 ums for Bacterial Blight (see the |une/|uly issue of The Plantsman for a 

 description of symptoms|. If you suspect the disease, please submit 

 whole-plant samples to the PDL for diagnosis. The plants should be re- 

 moved from the potting mix and the root system should be wrapped in a 

 plastic bag before shipping (the mix should be moist but not soaked). 

 The samples can be mailed in a sturdy box (be sure to pad the plants 

 with newspaper). Or, you can always hand- deliver samples to the lab. 

 Finally, remember nothing beats good sanitation, good air circulation, 

 and careful monitoring for preventing disease problems 



The final topic is I'd like to cover is the new fee system for samples 

 submitted to the Plant Diagnostic Lab. Beginning May 1, 1995, the fee will be 

 $12 00 per sample. A sample consists of a single plant species but may in- 

 clude several specimens of the same species (actually it's best to send 

 several specimens showing the range of symptoms from healthy to most 

 severely diseased) As a results of decreased funding and budget con- 

 straints, this fee is necessary to defray a portion of the costs for supplies 

 for the PDL. 



If you wish to submit plant material to the PDL for diagnosis, send samples 

 [with a check for $12.00) to-. The UNH Plant Diagnostic Lab. C/O Dr Cheryl 

 A. Smith. Nesmith Hall. UNH, Durham. NH 03824 Samples should be 

 accompanied by an identification form [available from your county Cooperative 

 Extension office). Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in 

 Plant Health, and can be reached at 603-862-3841. 



Groundcovers 



continued from page 28 



Phlox stolonifera 

 (Woodland Phlox) 



This native woodland groundcover 

 looks well naturalized under shrubs 

 and trees or along pathways. Very 

 showy blooms in spring. About 

 eight inches with flowers and 23" 

 without. Colors are purples, pink, 

 and white. 



Sedum John Creech' or spurium 

 'Purple Teppich' 



Two great sun groundcovers, both 

 better than Dragons Blood.' They 

 are 2-3 ", with pink and red flowers 

 respectively. 'Purple Teppich' has 

 very dark foliage, ')ohn Creech' is 

 green, both are very low and do 

 well in hot sun. 

 V/aldsteinia ternata 

 (Siberian Barren Strawberry) 

 Lush groundcover with evergreen 

 leaves and buttercup flowers in 

 May. 4-6", Waldsteinia is a good 

 spreader for a shady area. 



\anthorhiza simplicissima 



(Yellow Root) 



Underutilized native groundcover 

 for sun or part shade with decora- 

 tive astilbe-like foliage and nice 

 fall color. Spreads rapidly, does 

 have yellow roots, and great for a 

 bank. 



Here are a few thoughts on de- 

 sign. Try to use finer textured plants 

 in small areas. Mass larger leaved 

 plants such as Hosta or Ligularia un- 

 der shady areas further away. 



Think of contrasting textures of 

 leaf color when accenting a speci- 

 men. Try also to plant ground-cov- 

 ers, if using more than one, with 

 gradually descending heights for a 

 more natural look. 



Finally, try groundcovers that are 

 new to you, and use them in differ- 

 ent situations to become familiar 

 with them. Convince your custom- 

 ers to use less bark mulch, lawn 

 and asphalt, and perhaps a little 

 more 'real' groundcover. 



Leslie van Berkum is co-owner of Van 

 Berkum Nursery, Deerfield. NH; phone- 

 603-463-7663 



26 



The Plantsman 



