Cylindrocladium is traditionally classified as a leafspot disease, but as new strains start to emerge, growers are starting to realize that this disease can take on many forms. In herbaceous plants and Ilex, Cylindrocladium appears as a colored leafspot. In Azaleas it can cause a dieback of roots and vascular system, in Rhododendron cankers form…

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What next? In addition to the rugose spiraling whitefly (RSWH) which showed up in late 2011, we now have another ficus whitefly! This was first noticed in Collier County by keen-eyed Scott Krueger, our DPI plant inspector. This Brazilian whitefly causes horrendous amounts of sooty mold, much like the RSWH. This newest whitefly, believed to…

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The following is an excerpt. To read the full article, click here. How do different paints and pigments affect the surface temperature of greens? The practice of overseeding bermudagrass greens for the winter is growing less common with each passing season. There are three major reasons for this trend. First, a difficult economy has superintendents seeking ways…

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DO IT DIFFERENT…DO IT BETTER: Whether you think about it or not, you are in direct competition with other golf courses for every golfer who puts a tee in the ground. Money that is spent to play golf is what is called discretionary spending. If the experience that a golfer has at your facility isn’t…

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For more than 65 years, Polk County Florida Youth Fair has provided youth from organizations such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America  with the opportunity to display exhibits of their work in agricultural and home economics projects. This year more than 1,182 local kids registered projects in…

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Zinc. Yes, zinc is this month’s nutrient of the month. I contemplated skipping it and going straight to boron. I mean, when was the last time a client accused our fertilizer of not having enough zinc? And what does a zinc deficiency look like? Well, after doing a little research on zinc, one of our…

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Role: Phosphorus is the second most essential mineral element required for plant growth.  Phosphorus is required for plant energy metabolism.  In addition, Phosphorus is an integral component of compounds found in plant cells such as sugar-phosphate intermediates of respiration and photosynthesis.  Phosphorus is also vital in the carbohydrate transport system which moves energy to all parts…

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Spring is right around the corner…….This is a great time of the year as flowers begin blooming, birds are chirping, and the weeds are germinating! We should be thinking about applying preemergence herbicides real soon. As a matter of fact, a great way to determine the best time to apply these preemergence applied herbicides is…

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Boxwood Blight has been documented in Europe for several years now  and has just started to take hold here in the US. The pathogen responsible for this blight is a strain of Cylindrocladium. Like many other leafspot diseases, the spores of this disease are spread via splashing water and on strong wind currents. Boxwood Blight…

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With the New Year comes a new growing season, and before long, rose producers all over the country will start to pot up new crops. Most growers shoot for target ship dates starting just before Mother’s Day. There are a couple different ways that growers will produce these rose crops. The easiest way to do this…

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Many questions concerning possible winter-kill to turfgrass always arise this time of the year. What Is Winter (Low Temperature) Kill? Low temperature or cold weather damage to plants is a collective term used to describe several forms of injury.  Death by cold is the consequence of damage to cell membranes and the breakdown of metabolism, primarily that…

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Role: Nitrogen is the mineral element that plants require the most.  Nitrogen is used primarily for chlorophyll production.  Furthermore, Nitrogen serves as constituent of many plant cell components, including amino acids and nucleic acids.  Nitrogen is a mobile element within the plant. Nitrogen influences many turfgrass plant responses.  Nitrogen generally increased color and shoot growth.  Proper Nitrogen…

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It’s been just over a year since I joined the Harrell’s family. When I was interviewing for the Marketing Generalist position I asked several people what they liked most about working for Harrell’s. Each person said, “The people.”  ‘The people’, I repeated to myself. Really? It’s not the benefits, the pay, the hours? Perplexed, I…

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First let’s take a look at Easter Lilies… ya know, those lilies with the massive white flowers that are sold in droves for the Christian holiday of Easter. It is estimated that between 8-10 million are produced for this holiday alone. Bulbs must go through a vernalization or cooling period of about 6 weeks, which…

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A fertilizer label can be confusing to the most veteran turf or nursery manager.  It is important though that you know what you’re buying since the analysis is just the starting point when considering what you are buying.  Some points to consider are the sources of nutrients, percentage of slow release, minor elements and sizing. …

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