Fire blight is an enemy of growth you must battle
Q: What can I do about fire blight?
A: Fire blight is a disease destructive to blossoms, leaves, shoots, branches, fruit and roots. The disease is caused by a bacteria.
The samples that are normally brought into the office are from Bradford Pears or fruiting pears, but other trees and shrubs in the Rosaceae family can be affected. A typical symptom of fire blight is what is called the “shepherd’s crook.” This is where the tip dies back and bends. Affected twigs are black to rust colored, and dead leaves and fruit remain on them.
Fire blight enters through natural openings or wounds and is spread to other plants by wind, rain, insects and pruning tools. To help control fire blight, prune branches 8 inches below the infected area. Between each cut, dip pruning tools in a 10 percent bleach solution. Succulent growth is most susceptible, so avoid excess nitrogen applications. Chemical controls can also be applied as a preventative during warm, wet weather. Antibiotics should be applied during bloom. Follow labeling instructions.
Q: Should I fertilize my lawn now?
A: Not quite yet. The soil temperatures are still a little cool and our turf has not finished greening up. The best time to apply fertilizer is in May.
Q: What about weed control?
A: Many post-emergent and some pre-emergent herbicides should not be applied during this time. Application of these herbicides can cause a delay in spring green-up. The use of post-emergent herbicides should especially be avoided during the spring green-up of turf grasses that have been poorly managed or that are experiencing winter injury problems.
Properly maintained, healthy, vigorous turfgrasses are more tolerant to post-emergence herbicides than turfgrasses that have not been properly maintained or are suffering from winter injury. Always read the herbicide label. Some labels specifically state “Do not apply during spring green-up.” Many of the weeds that are present at the moment are winter weeds and will soon die with warmer weather. The best way to treat these weeds is with a pre-emergent during the first to mid October.
Q: What are these biting gnats?
A: This insect is known as a black fly or buffalo gnat. Population explosion is often triggered by extreme rainfall. The breeding ground is oxygenated water sources; therefore, adults are usually associated with slow moving streams, creeks or rivers.
Livestock, family pets, and humans can all fall victim to the vicious bite of the black fly. The flies prefer to feed in the daytime and seem to like the head, ears, and shoulder areas simply because these areas of the body are warmer.
The female fly actually feeds by cutting into the skin, injecting an anticoagulant, and then enjoying the blood that forms in the hole she makes. The anticoagulant often causes mild to severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals and the bite can itch and persist for a number of days. These bites can be as painful as the bite of a fire ant.
Insect repellents containing DEET are not effective in preventing black fly bites. In fact, research shows that DEET may actually attract black flies. Products containing a permethrin designed specifically to repel ticks will work, but these chemicals are designed to be applied only to clothing, not to the skin. There are some herbal-based treatments containing geraniol or citronella oil that seem to work, too.
For more information, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or visit the office at 801 Main St., Perry. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston for more news about your local Extension office.
Dates to remember
May 3: Propagation class, Perry 6-8 p.m.
May 12: Pollinators class, Perry 6-8 p.m.
This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Fire blight is an enemy of growth you must battle."