Spiders in the Garden, Oh My!
I don’t have to tell you that some people are terrified of spiders. I chalk it up to fear of the unknown. Like snakes, the best way to lose your fear is by learning about them and how to identify...
Category: In the Garden
What Is It? Wednesday- Heat Stress in Broccoli
The different sized beads and color variation in this broccoli head is known as “cat eye,” where clusters of small, lighter-colored beads are surrounded by larger, darker-colored beads. This is a...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – June 12, 2023
Midlands Region Rob Last Generally, crops are developing well, be it a little slower than usual based on below-average temperatures. As we move further into June, we see increased temperatures,...
Calibrachoa
For vibrant color from spring to frost, plant Calibrachoa. In hanging baskets or pots, they trail over the sides and act as a “spiller” in combination plantings. Calibrachoas are native to South...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Termite bond + Formosan subterranean termites
“I’ve received a letter from my pest control company about my home’s termite bond for Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus. What do I do?” According to Dr. Eric Benson’s blog on...
What Is It? Wednesday – Spined Soldier Bugs
Eggs and nymphs of a predatory stink bug called the spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris) are on this strawberry leaf. These beneficial insects feed on over 100 pest species of insects and can...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- June 5, 2023
Statewide Tom Bilbo – Vegetable Entomologist Keep an eye out for armyworms in sweet corn, especially later plantings. As the season carries on, the risk of Fall armyworm, in particular, will...
Hydrangea Hysteria
Many believe that “hydrangea hysteria” erupted in 2004 with the debut of the reblooming bigleaf hydrangea, ‘Bailmer,’ now known by its trade name of Endless Summer® The Original. Since this mophead...
This Month in Your Garden June 2023
Coastal Region – Brad Fowler Managing fire ants in the landscape can sometimes be difficult, but applying fire ant baits in early June, when ants are foraging, can help keep them under...
What Is It? Wednesday – Parasitic Wasp Pupae
This is a cluster of parasitic wasp pupae. The adult wasp would have laid eggs into a caterpillar to provide food for the developing larvae. The larvae develop inside the caterpillar and then exit...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- May 30, 2023
Midlands Region Rob Last Following additional rainfall over the holiday weekend, sanitation will be critical in strawberries to remove water-soaked and diseased berries. Maintain fungicide...
Weed of the Month- American Burnweed
American burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius) is an annual summer weed. It is native to North America and is a member of the aster family. It is a fast-growing weed that can reach heights up to...