Root-Knot Nematodes in the Vegetable Garden
Root-knot nematodes attack a wide variety of plants and can become serious pests in the home garden. They are microscopic roundworms that live in the soil and on plant roots. They injure plants by...
Tag: IPM
Mushrooms in Lawns
Mushrooms are the above-ground fruiting bodies of fungi that live in the soil. These fungi feed on decaying organic matter, such as old roots, stumps and thatch. When these fungi are present in your...
Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Aphids
Aphids can be a problem in the home landscape, vegetable garden, or fruit garden. They can vector many viral diseases and can cause significant damage to desired plants if the aphid population is...
Natural Enemies: Predators and Parasitoids
Though most people cringe at the sight of an insect, there are countless species of beneficial insects. One such group of insects is referred to as natural enemies. These are insects that prey upon...
Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Evergreen Bagworms
Evergreen bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, is a detrimental insect pest to landscape plants that often escapes detection until there is significant plant damage. Bagworms feed on many plant...
Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Cabbage Looper
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) is a common vegetable garden pest that feeds on many different species of crops, such as: beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and other brassica crops. Other host...
Leaf & Needle Drop
A well-cared-for plant in the landscape that suddenly begins dropping leaves or needles can be a very troubling sight. There is usually no need to be alarmed, since leaf and needle drop often occurs...
Apple & Crabapple Diseases
Growing apples and crabapples in South Carolina can be both fun and rewarding. The success of your apple-growing enterprise will depend largely on the care and attention the trees are given...
Bermudagrass Mite
The bermudagrass mite (Eriophyes cynodoniensis), also called bermudagrass stunt mite, is a very small, elongate, creamy white or translucent-colored mite that requires a magnification of 15x to 20x...
Galls & Outgrowths
Galls are abnormal swellings or localized outgrowths (tumors) of plant tissue. They are extremely variable in size, shape and their location on the plant. Some are little more than a blister on the...
Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
Spider mites can be a serious problem in the landscape. They are often brought in from external sources on purchased plant material, however they can be blown in with the help of wind currents. They...
Identifying & Managing Beach Vitex
What is Beach Vitex? Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is an exotic, deciduous, woody shrub that does not grow tall but forms thick patches by long runners at the soil surface. It is in the same...