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Let's start with buffalo gnats. There has been widespread
press on the arrival of buffalo gnats. These are blackflies.
They bite around the head and shoulders to get blood. Viewed
under a microscope, they don't have the thin mouthparts of
mosquitoes. The sucking portion looks more like a straw. That's
why their bite hurts so much. The normal blackfly life cycle
lasts about two to three weeks and you're done for the year.
There are other biting midges as well, and some of them can
cycle throughout the summer months. For blackflies, high DEET-concentration
mosquito repellents usually show excellent repellent properties.
Wearing light clothes also helps. For some other biting midges,
DEET doesn't do as well.
Tomatoes have really taken off with the warm weather.
Remember blossom end rot, especially with the uneven moisture
conditions we have been experiencing. While blossom end rot is
technically a calcium deficiency, it is really caused by uneven
moisture supply to take the calcium around the plant. Mulching
with 2-4 inches of material will greatly help your situation
later at fruit set. If you are watering, use an inch a week.
This amount, combined with mulching, should be more than
adequate.
Watch those cutworms! With many of the garden areas
sporting a covering of chickweed, cutworms may have found an
ideal egg laying site. Some of the cutworms actually cut plants,
while others tend to just clip leaves. The dingy cutworms
overwinter in our area and tend to clip only leaf tips, while
black cutworms blow in on the winds as moths. The moths lay eggs
that hatch into the larvae that can cut plants. Permethrin and
bifenthrin are both effective against cutworms.
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 Fungal diseases have started in earnest on shade trees.
This group of fungi includes anthracnose, apple scab and others.
Most have irregular dead areas along the leaf tips, margins and
between the veins. We have had this group of diseases most years and
have seen that trees generally survive quite well. This year will be
worse on trees with borderline health, because of the freeze. There
is no cure for a disease that has infected a leaf, but usually it is
not life-threatening.
Weather is another concern. Many areas received very
little rain, while others received about half an inch. The heat is
also taking a toll on cool-season crops and turfgrass. Turf is
showing some major stress symptoms at this time. Grass plants are
going to seed at very short heights, and some areas with very good
drainage are starting to go dormant. We can water all we want, but
it is hard to take away heat. With the very dry atmosphere,
evaporation is also very rapid. Mulches on flowers and gardens will
help reduce evaporation from the soil. Make sure there is plenty of
water available to supply enough for the plant's needs.
Remember, the best time to plant pumpkins for Halloween is
about Father's Day! For earlier fall decorations, earlier planting
may be advisable.
[Text from file received from
John
Fulton, University of Illinois Extension,
Logan County Unit]
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