Lichen on the Bark of My Tree  

What is that grayish green or sometimes yellowish stuff on the bark of my trees?  

The stuff that is often found on the bark of trees is lichens. They are unique and harmless, but some consider them to be unsightly. So, what are lichens and what is the treatment for them?

What are lichens?

Lichens on trees are a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae. The fungus grows on the tree bark and collects moisture, which the algae need. The algae then create food from the sunlight to feed the fungus.

Wild Onions or Star-Of-Bethlehem. What is this giant weed in my lawn? 

This giant, interesting looking weed is called Star-of-Bethlehem. They are perennial weeds (return every year), in the lily family, which grow from a bulb. It may look eerily similar to wild onions or wild garlic that you will see on the lawn around the same time of year. 

What Are Fall Webworms? 

What causes thick webbing on trees?  

Is it bagworms, or tent caterpillars or some type of spider? No, it’s most likely fall webworms. The caterpillars produce a web of fine silk over the terminal ends of plants. They only feed inside the silken web, which they enlarge as they grow. The webs may become messy and not liked for aesthetic reasons, but usually don’t affect plant growth. The dry webs may hang in plants into the winter months. 

Virginia Green has seen a large population of fall armyworms (moth larvae) show up on a limited number of Virginia lawns over the last few days. Offshore winds from the south have blown adult moths into our area this summer. Those moths laid eggs which have now hatched into larvae that can cause significant damage to a lawn overnight. These little grubs get their name from the way they feed; they march in groups leaving brown turf in their wake, with damage often presenting itself as a pronounced line between affected and unaffected areas.

Landscape vs. Drastic Temperature Changes  

How does drastic changes in temperature affect my landscape plants?  

Cooler temperatures in the fall trigger plants to reduce growth and store energy for the winter.  As temperatures get closer to freezing, plants stop growing and become dormant.  By becoming dormant, plants are able to withstand cold temperatures better. A sudden cold spell in the late fall can do more damage than sustained cold temperatures in winter.  

What are clovers?  

White clover (Trifolium repens), also known as Dutch clover, is a cool-season perennial often found growing in patches along roadsides and in pastures and lawns. It is a low-growing plant with creeping stems (stolons) that produce roots and shoots at nodes (joints) along the stem, which helps the plant to spread. 

Late Fall Fertilizer  

What are the benefits to applying fertilizer in late fall?  

One main benefit to late season fertilization is it’s ability to help turf grow out of any stressors that may have occurred over the summer months, and it helps provide the necessary nutrients for new seedlings to germinate and mature.

What are the benefits to applying late fall fertilizer and weed control?

One main benefit to late season fertilization is it’s ability to help turf grow out of any stressors that may have occurred over the summer months, and it helps provide the necessary nutrients for new seedlings to germinate and mature. Late season fertilization also ensures there will be better fall and winter color, earlier spring green-up, increased shoot density, improved fall, winter, and spring root growth, getting ahead of winter annuals, and food storage reserves (carbohydrates) within the turf plant.

What are bagworms?  

The bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, is a caterpillar that forms a cocoon-like bag which hangs from the host plant. The larva constructs the bag from silk and covers it with bits and pieces of leaves and twigs from the host plant. The bag itself will look different depending on what host plant it is feeding on. The larva is dark brown with a yellow head and has black and yellow spots covering its body. Adult female bagworms are almost maggot like; they are wingless and lack functional legs, eyes and antennae.

Are you noticing unfamiliar light green patches in your lawn? Chances are, you're dealing with Poa Annua, also known as annual bluegrass. This common intruder in Virginia lawns can be more than just an eyesore; it can threaten the health and appearance of your outdoor space.