What is it? Wednesday
Dark-winged fungus gnat (Diptera: Sciaridae) maggots Dark-winged fungus gnat (Diptera: Sciaridae) maggots (fly larvae) are about 3/8 inch long, slender, legless, and have transparent bodies with...
Category: In the Garden
Let’s Grow Sunflowers
Nothing brings on the brightness of mid-summer to early fall like the colors provided by sunflowers. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) have a wide skill set. They are grown for beauty, for pollination...
Pineapple Guavas
One of the lesser known fruits that grow well here in South Carolina, the Pineapple Guava, Acca sellowiana, is a large, evergreen shrub in the Myrtle Family, Myrtaceae. Native to South America, it...
Be On the Lookout for the Box Tree Moth
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is a non-native moth that has recently been found in a nursery in South Carolina. Native to eastern Asia, the box tree moth has been present in Canada since...
Keep Trees Healthy To Stave Off Ambrosia Beetles
A few years ago, my husband and I added two Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensis) to our front yard. Each spring, I look forward to their tiny magenta flowers followed by the emergence of heart-shaped...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report June 7, 2021
Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “After some welcome rain in the area over the weekend, crops are looking good. However, given the humidity and rainfall, we are likely to find disease pressure...
A routine check-up of trees saves lives and property
Trees provide significant benefits to our homes and communities, but they may also become liabilities when they fall or break apart, causing property damage, personal injuries, and power outages....
One Year In: An Update On The Asian Longhorned Beetle Situation In South Carolina
It’s been 1-year since the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) was found in Charleston County. This invasive species is mostly a threat to maples but also to poplar, willow, sycamore, birch, and elm....
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report June 1, 2021
Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “On the whole, disease pressure in most crops remains low. The exception is cucurbits, where we are finding powdery mildew in cucumbers as well as downy...
Why You Should Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration is a cultural practice that does not need to be done often but can provide immense benefits for your lawn. Soil is comprised of minerals, organic matter, and the spaces in between those...
What is it? Wednesday
Lovebugs, Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae) are small, black-colored flies except for the top of the thorax being red. The common name “lovebug” refers to the adult male and female flying...
Springs and Seeps are More Important Than You Think
Springs and seeps are more than just a nuisance wet spot in the landscape; they’re considered types of wetlands and are an expression of groundwater flowing upward and surfacing on land. Sometimes...