- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today, Ventura County Cooperative Extension's Maren Mochizuki shares with us about
a local research project.
Armillaria mellea is a fungus that causes root rot in citrus, peach, and many other edible tree and landscape species. UCCE Farm Advisors Jim Downer and Ben Faber are investigating the effect of soil disturbance, organic matter, and Trichoderma (another soil fungus) inoculation on survival of peach trees planted in soil infested Armillaria mellea. Preliminary results were presented on Aug. 4 at the ASHS annual conference in Palm Desert, CA.
To view the presentation abstract, please visit: http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2010/webprogram/Paper4324.html
For more information on symptoms and management of Armillaria mellea, please visit this UC IPM page.
Field shot showing infected tree with bare branches
and yellow leaves caused by Armillaria mellea.
Armillaria mellea
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today Maren Mochizuki shares updates with us from a local research project.
Does planting landscape shrubs and trees below grade affect their growth and aesthetic quality? Preliminary results on deep planting were presented on Aug. 4 at the ASHS annual conference in Palm Desert, CA.
To view the presentation abstracts, please visit here and here.
For more information on the shrub project, please see this previous post:
Shrub deep planting plot after three years growth (July 2010).
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The new issue of Landscape Notes, written by Ventura County Cooperative Extension’s Jim Downer is now available. While written mainly for landscape professionals, home gardeners will also find useful information.
Topics covered in this issue include:
- Upcoming Landscape disease symposium information
- Use of mulches to control weeds in landscapes
- Potting media studies
- It’s conk season so keep an eye on your palms
- Author: Chris M. Webb
This year’s landscape disease symposium will be held on Thurs., October 14 in Camarillo, at the Camarillo Ranch House. As always, there will be much to learn!
Scheduled topics include:
- Biology and control of Armillaria mellea – the oak root fungus
- Viral pathogens of ornamental plants
- Identifying common mushrooms in the landscape
- Biology and regulation of Asian Citrus Psyllid in California
- Scorch (Xylella) diseases in California
- Understanding citrus diseases in landscapes
- Exotic pest update
- New regulations affecting the landscape industry in Ventura County.
Details, registration instructions and contact information can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today, Maren Mochizuki shares with us preliminary findings from a local research project.
Soil pH along most of the California coast north of Los Angeles ranges between 7.3 and 8, which is generally higher than many edible and ornamental plants prefer. In some cases, availability of micronutrients such as iron is severely limited in soils above pH 8, leading to deficiency symptoms in plants. Other plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas prefer acidic soil conditions (pH 6 and below).
To investigate potential soil pH reduction over time, UCCE Farm Advisors Jim Downer and Ben Faber and UCCE Staff Research Associate Maren Mochizuki applied coffee grounds, lemon waste, peat moss, pine needles, oak leaves, and municipal yardwaste in addition to elemental sulfur to soil with an unadultered pH of 7.8.
The project is on-going and is in its third year. Preliminary findings indicate that the combination of organic material plus elemental sulfur reduces pH to a greater degree and more quickly than either the amendment or sulfur alone. We have seen the greatest effect thus far with elemental sulfur plus coffee grounds, chipped lemon waste, or peat moss.
Lemon waste from Ventura County packinghouses.
Lemon waste was chipped before application and
incorporation into soil.
Coffee grounds (top) and peat moss applied
to soil prior to incorporation with a rototiller.
