Lexington, KY 40546
Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN
Number 1271
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
-Mulch May Help Reduce Phytophthora Root Rot
in Fraser Fir Grown for Christmas Trees
TURF
-Brown Ring Patch on Putting Greens
-Red Velvet Mites
-Why Do Large Numbers of Earthworms Come to
the Surface?
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
Mulch May Help Reduce Phytophthora Root
Rot in Fraser Fir Grown for Christmas Trees
By John Hartman
Many Kentucky Christmas tree growers are using
Fraser fir and similar fir varieties in their
plantings. Although they take longer to reach a
saleable size compared to some of the pine species
often used, fir trees are attractive (Figure 1) and
bring a good price. Based on field and laboratory
observations, firs are known to be very susceptible
to Phytophthora root rot disease. Water-saturated
soils favor root rot and wet soils likely occurred in
many tree plantings during the heavy rainfalls this
spring. When Fraser firs die from Phytophthora
root rot, the entire tree turns brown (Figure 2) and
dies.
A recent experiment conducted by plant
pathologists at North Carolina State University
suggests that application of wood chip mulches to
Fraser fir planting sites can reduce the occurrence
of Phytophthora root rot. These studies were
recently published in the journal Plant Disease
(Richter et al). Their study showed that two years
after planting, mulch treatments significantly
reduced disease at some locations compared to
untreated plots or those treated with compost
(dairy manure compost).
June 7, 2011
PEST OF HUMANS
-Full as a Tick
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS
INSECT TRAP COUNTS
Mulch treatments (chipped white pine, bark
included) were made as raised beds using about a
foot of mulch. Trees were transplanted into the
field as 2-2 seedlings (2 years in a seed bed
followed by 2 years in a field transplant bed) or 3-
0 seedlings (three years in a seed bed) or plug + 1
(greenhouse-grown plugs followed by 1 year in a
field bed). Trees were planted into the soil just
underneath the layer of mulch. The authors
indicated that some of the transplanted tree roots
may be growing into the wood chip mulch where
conditions are less favorable to the root rot
pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi.
The disease suppression demonstrated in these
experiments indicates that mulches may be a
valuable contribution to an integrated disease
management system for Fraser fir. Growers
contemplating the use of wood chip mulch as new
plantings are established will want to try it out to
see if it works in their location. In addition, site
preparation to improve soil drainage and careful
irrigation management are still important for
reducing Phytophthora root rot.

Figure 1. Healthy Fraser Fir.
Figure 2. Fraser fir which has died from
Phytophthora root rot.
TURF
Brown Ring Patch on Putting Greens
By Paul Vincelli
With the help of Rich Buckley, Turfgrass
Diagnostician from Rutgers, we documented
Kentucky’s first case of brown ring patch (Figure
3).
Brown ring patch is a newly described disease
caused by the fungus Waitea circinata var.
circinata. This disease commonly occurs on Poa
annua but also can be found on creeping bentgrass
and roughstalk bluegrass. The disease produces
rings of chlorotic or brown foliage, commonly in
late spring, and can look very much like yellow
patch (caused by Rhizoctonia cerealis). There
may be darker green turf internal to the
yellow/brown ring. Rings can become sunken if
not treated. It tends to be more
common/destructive on drier parts of the green. It
also is reported to be a “low fertility” disease like
anthracnose or red thread.
As far as management, adding ½ lb to 1 lb N (in
any form) will help promote recovery. However,
be careful with nitrogen applications now, because
of the summer-like heat that will probably favor
Pythium and brown patch activity. Fungicides
usually perform better if some nitrogen fertility is
in place. Primo MAXX alone sometimes has
slightly increased disease in research trials, though
Primo in combination with nitrogen fertility prior
to symptom development has resulted in
substantially less disease and improved turfgrass
quality relative to e untreated controls. Several
fungicides are labeled and effective. Two
applications at high labeled rate may give better
performance than one application and/or lower
rates.
 Why Do Large Numbers of Earthworms Come
to the Surface?
By Lee Townsend

Occasionally, large numbers of earthworms are

found dead on sidewalks and driveways. What
happened? No one knows for sure but there are
several potential explanations.

Migration is at the top of the list. It may be due to

natural movement or because of crowding where
populations are high or resources are becoming
limited. Earthworms can travel longer distances
Figure 3. Symptoms of brown ring patch on a Poa annua
and move more efficiently on the surface than they
putting green.
can below it. But, they breathe through their
cuticle (skin) which must be moist. Normally, the
ground surface and air are too dry to allow them to
remain exposed for very long. Moisture and
humidity from rain allows them to remain up
Red Velvet Mites longer at night and move further than possible
By Lee Townsend under drier conditions. Also, it is easier to burrow
back into the soil when necessary.
The large size and
vivid color of red Earthworms are legless so they move by wriggling
velvet mites make them their body. Very small bristles spaced along their
hard to overlook as body provide some traction that allows them to
they crawl across move through the soil and though the grass pretty
sidewalks, driveways, efficiently without having legs to get in the way.
or soil. The red color of The system doesn’t work on surfaces like concrete
the mites is sometimes or blacktop so the worms are stranded in the hot
mistaken for blood and sun and dry air which quickly kills them.
people fear that the
mites are parasites of At one time, it was thought that earthworms had to
Figure 4. Red velvet mite
come to the surface after rainy periods to keep
humans and animals.
(William M. Ciesla, Forest from drowning in saturated soil. This does not
The color appears to be
Health Management appear to be the case. Other explanations for
a warning to potential
International, Bugwood.org) earthworm surfacings include: sensitivity to low
predators that the mites
soil pH, which could be the result of heavy
are distasteful and should be avoided.
applications of nitrogen to the turf; reproduction –
however, only a few species come to the surface to
The active adults live in soil, humus, and leaf litter
mate; vibration – earthworms will move to the
where they feed on small arthropods. Most of the
surface in response to vibrations, including that
time is spent in the soil with occasional visits to
from rainfall; and application of lawn chemicals –
the surface. The larvae attach to insects and other
however, earthworms come up where no
invertebrates and feed as external parasites. There
chemicals have been applied.
is no need for control.

PEST OF HUMANS
Full as a Tick
By Lee Townsend
The
American
dog tick
(ADT) has
been
particularly
abundant this
season. It
and the lone
star tick are
the two
problematic
Figure 5. Engorged female American dog species in the
tick with some of the 4,000+ eggs that state. Adult
she may produce from a large blood
ADT spend
meal.
the winter on
the ground
and are active from April through June, seeking a
dog, larger mammal, or human host for a blood
meal. Engorged females drop off the host and
develop a batch of 4,000 to 6,500 eggs that are laid
on the ground. Mortality is high so only a few will
survive to the adult stage.
A tiny 6-legged larva will emerge from each egg
in 3 to 4 weeks and climb on vegetation to wait for
a passing small mammal, such as a mouse, for the
first blood meal. Larvae can survive up to 11
months without feeding if necessary.
Engorged larvae drop to the ground, digest the
meal, and molt to the nymphal stage. This process
can be as short as three weeks to as long as several
months. The nymphs repeat the process, often
using a raccoon or opossum as the second host,
before molting to the adult stage. Adults can
survive without feeding for two years if necessary.
The ADT is a vector of the bacterium that causes
Rocky Mt Spotted fever (RMSF). Typical
symptoms include: fever, headache, abdominal
pain, vomiting, and muscle pain. A rash may also
develop, but is often absent in the first few days,
and in some patients, never develops. The
incidence of RMSF in the US has increased
noticeably over the past 10 years. However,
according to the Centers for Disease Control, the
incidence in Kentucky (and Ohio) is low (0,2 to
1.5 cases per million residents). It is greater in our
other neighboring states.
A toxin from the ADT can cause tick paralysis in
dogs and occasionally small children. This can
occur when ticks attach at on the neck or base of
the skull. Full recovery usually occurs within 1 to
3 days after removal of the tick. It is important to
check yourself, children, and dogs when in and
leaving areas where ticks are or may be active.
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS
By Julie Beale and Paul Bachi
Agronomic samples this week have included
phosphorus deficiency in corn; head blight and
leaf blotch on wheat; and target spot and Pythium
root rot on tobacco.
On fruits and vegetables, we have seen
anthracnose and phylloxera injury on grape;
common bacterial blight on bean; bacterial blight
on Swiss chard; Pythium root rot, bacterial canker
and thrips injury on tomato; and Pythium root rot
on watermelon.
On ornamentals and turf, we have seen Alternaria
leaf spot on impatiens; Botrytis blight on peony;
Pythium root rot on sunflower; thrips injury on
marigold; scab on crabapple; spot anthracnose on
dogwood; downy spot on hickory; anthracnose on
elm, oak and maple; as well as Phyllosticta leaf
spot and Verticillium wilt on maple.
 INSECT TRAP COUNTS
May 27 – June 3

Location Princeton, Lexington,

KY KY
Black cutworm 8 1
Armyworm 6 132
Corn earworm 49 30
European corn 0 5
borer
Southwestern 0 0
corn borer
Fall armyworm 0 0
Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2011 season are available
on the IPM web site at -
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.
View trap counts for Fulton County, Kentucky at -
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/InsectTraps

Note: Trade names are used to simplify the information

presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the
Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is
criticism implied of similar products that are not
named.