Landscape Message: August 21, 2020

UMass Extension's Landscape Message is an educational newsletter intended to inform and guide Massachusetts Green Industry professionals in the management of our collective landscape. Detailed reports from scouts and Extension specialists on growing conditions, pest activity, and cultural practices for the management of woody ornamentals, trees, and turf are regular features. The following issue has been updated to provide timely management information and the latest regional news and environmental data.

The Landscape Message will be updated bi-weekly August through September. The next message will be available on September 4. To receive immediate notification when the next Landscape Message update is posted, be sure to join our e-mail list.

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Environmental Data

The following data was collected on or about August 19, 2020. Total accumulated growing degree days (GDD) represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments for the 2020 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly'

Drought conditions have worsened in our state. Updated on 8/18, this map shows some of MA in category D2, "Severe Drought", with the rest classified as either "Moderate Drought" (D1) or "Abnormally Dry" (D0): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA

To track water use restrictions/bans by town, regularly check the MassDEP map:https://www.mass.gov/doc/water-use-restrictions-map/download

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Drought Monitor - Northeast Map

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From the Insects section:

A Review of Beneficial Insects in the Landscape:

It can never hurt to be reminded that the grand majority of insects found in our landscapes are in fact, not pests. I know this may be difficult to believe when that statement is followed by a long list of pests of trees and shrubs as well as pests of public health concern – but truly, the majority of insects we run into on a daily basis are either innocent bystanders (and may have no impact on trees and shrubs) or even beneficial (they provide many ecosystem services such as decomposition and may even provide free pest management services).

Therefore, it is prudent to remind ourselves that beneficial insects are naturally present in our landscapes and to act accordingly. Never attempt to manage an insect that you have not accurately identified first. For the purposes of tree and shrub insect pest management, this review will focus on insects that are either predators, parasites, or parasitoids of common insect pests of trees and shrubs. Please note that the following lists do not represent all known beneficial insects found in the landscape: