Summer is almost behind us and soon the leaves on the trees will be turning beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red. For those of us in the plant health care field or landscape industry, it will be time to put our heads down and finish up all those projects and services to bring in the year. We are pleased that we have time enough to protect the plants on the properties we care for and provide services that will help our landscapes thrive!
Let’s focus on a couple of important issues you may be dealing with and think about the most productive treatments you can make this season.
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is the most damaging forest insect pest in North American history. It will eventually affect more than 10 billion ash trees on our continent. EAB will kill most of them if they are not protected. Fortunately, TREE-äge products are extremely effective at protecting our ash trees. The city of Milwaukee has treated 28,000 trees over the last decade and never lost a single tree to EAB. Talk about effective! Late summer and early fall is a great time to finish up ash treatments for EAB, which will last for two years. Good soil moisture is also key. Ask your clients to water the base of the tree the day before you treat. As the leaves begin to fall, treatments slow down and it will be time to move on to other services.
Chlorosis
Fall is the BEST time to treat for micro-nutrient deficiencies in trees. We all know those sickly -looking chlorotic trees by the yellow leaves with green veins. Trunk injecting Mn-jet Fe product in the fall will produce a lush green canopy next spring. In the fall you can go ahead and utilize the highest label rates and not be as concerned with high temperatures affecting the treatment. Make sure you snap a pic of the tree right now in its chlorotic state so you can compare the much greener canopy next summer. One of our favorite treatments! Customers see the results and will never forget what you did for their tree!
A chlorotic oak tree, before and after treatment
Conifer Beetles
There are several insects that affect Pine and Spruce and we have all experienced the slower injection uptake that resinous conifers exhibit from time to time. In the fall, the resin pressure is reduced so your treatments will go much quicker than in the spring. Whether you are protecting trees from Western Pine Beetle, Southern Pine Beetle, Ips beetle, Pine Wilt Nematode, or a similar pest, you will find that the TREE-äge products provides extremely long-lasting control and this time of the year is the best time to complete those treatments so get them scheduled!
Plant Growth Regulation
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) help plants and your business in multiple ways. By slowing growth of above ground vegetation, less maintenance and pruning is required to keep trees and shrubs looking the way you want. They can even be applied to flowering shrubs like lilacs and rose. PGRs increase a plant’s root mass and encourages the growth of fine root hairs, which will also absorb water and nutrients better. Fall is the perfect time to apply PGRs, right before the dormant winter season, and the treatment will remain in effect through spring!
A plant growth regulator like Shortstop 2SC will not only save you labor, but also help with chlorosis by increasing nutrient absorption and increasing chlorophyll production. Combine it with Mn-jet Fe for even more chlorosis-fighting effects.
Fall Seeding
When laying down new turfgrass seed in the fall, make sure you use Hydretain when watering everything in. University studies have shown that Hydretain helps increase germination rates in seeding, so you’ll get more complete coverage for your new turf and better coverage for next season.
Well, that should keep you busy this fall! As the days get shorter, we hope your business and the plants you protect are thriving! Keep up the good work!