MGV Plant Health Update

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014, I attended the MGV Plant Health Update at the UW-Extension offices on Watertown Plank Road.

The meeting was chaired by Milwaukee County Horticulture Agent Sharon Morrisey.

We learned that we are still behind last year and the 30-year average in growing degree days.

We learned that woodpeckers are thriving in areas of emerald ash borer infestation.

We learned that chipmunks and birds steal gooseberries and grapes.

We learned that the native wild cucumber is being removed as a weed in some areas because it is smothering ornamental trees.

We learned that the japanese beetles emerged late this year, and that there are fewer of them than in previous years.

We saw examples of powdery mildew on ninebark and hard brown buds on peony (NOT botrytis blight as I had previously thought).

We learned about the following website:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/plantdoc/

This website is a treasure trove of information on issues dealing with plant identification, disease, and pests.

The meeting was very educational.

Counts as 1.5 hours MGV continuing education credit.