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This publication provides information on budding and grafting techniques, which can be used successfully in commercial operations.
This propagation chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook explains how and why to grow new plants from seed (sexual reproduction) and from cuttings (asexual propagation).
An introduction to soil acidity and liming for farmers and gardeners to increase crop income and improve lawn and garden performance. Topics covered include soil pH, soil testing, liming standards and application and incorporation of lime into soil.
This factsheet provides instructions on how to properly care for tall fescue grass year round. It includes recommendations for mowing, fertilization, watering, pest control, and renovation.
This comprehensive guide offers information on different grasses for North Carolina lawns, as well as how to establish, care for, maintain, and renovate a new lawn.
This factsheet describes early blight of tomato, including identification, transmission and disease management, and control.
The following management practices will help you care for your lawn throughout the year. Location, terrain, soil type and condition, age of the lawn, previous lawn care, and other factors affect turf performance, so adjust these management practices and dates to suit your particular lawn.
Many landscape maintenance professionals have grown reliant on glyphosate for weed control. Landscape weed control without glyphosate is certainly possible but will require more planning, careful consideration of alternative treatments, more frequent site visits, and higher costs. This publication discusses alternative treatments, their properties, uses and limitations.
This publication focuses on the management techniques and economic analysis of orchards with more than 150 to 180 trees per acre.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of tomato late blight.
This manual, updated every year, covers pesticide use and safety information, chemical application equipment, fertilizer use, insect control, chemical weed control, plant growth regulators, animal damage control and disease control.
To apply restricted-use pesticides to agricultural commodities, you must be certified or be supervised by someone who is certified. Anyone who accepts compensation for applying any pesticide on someone else's property must be licensed. This factsheet covers certification and licensing for private and commercial pesticide applicators in North Carolina.
This factsheet provides a brief summary of the various trees often grown in North Carolina for Christmas tree production.
Phorid flies are small flies that breed in moist, decaying organic matter and can be a problem in and around homes. This factsheet covers their identification, biology, habits, management and control.
Commercial blueberries are generally planted in low areas with high organic-matter content. These sites satisfy the cultural requirements of blueberries for a constant and uniform moisture supply. However, on cold, still nights when radiation frosts occur, heavy cold air from higher surrounding areas "drains" into the low areas causing lower temperatures. Also, the high organic content, especially if the soil is dry, acts as an insulator to restrict heat in the soil from moving up around the plants. The cultural requirement for a uniform soil moisture makes selecting higher sites that are less subject to radiation frosts much less practical than with other fruit crops. This factsheet discusses protecting blueberry plants from freezing.
One of the more enjoyable Christmas traditions is to replant a living Christmas tree into your landscape after the holiday season. This article describes the process of successfully selecting, caring for and replanting a living Christmas tree.
This publication, chapter 7 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various trellis systems for blackberry and raspberry production.
This calendar provides detailed information for the proper care of centipedegrass.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of mealybugs, an insect pest of greenhouse, nursery and landscape plants.
This publication for homeowners and landscapers describes how to mow, fertilize, irrigate, and control weeds in a zoysiagrass lawn.
This factsheet offers information on the identification and management of various flatworms that may be found in North Carolina.
This third in a series on pruning offers general tips on pruning most landscape plants.
This factsheet describes the biology of the green June beetle, Cotinus nitida, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect bean and pea production.
An overview of honey bee dancing, a behavior that constitutes a language telling other workers the location of a food source.
This publication discusses growing and harvesting head lettuce, the most important salad vegetable grown in the United States. Per-capita consumption exceeds 25 pounds annually. In North Carolina, the crop can be grown as both a spring and fall crop in eastern North Carolina and even during midsummer in western North Carolina at elevations higher than 3,000 feet.
This publication explains how to start and maintain a successful pecan orchard on a large or small scale.
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Identification and Management: Brief Description: Japanese stiltgrass (also known as annual jewgrass, bamboograss flexible sesagrass, Japanese grass, Mary’s grass, microstegium, Nepal microstegium, or Vietnamese grass) is a summer annual commonly found in shady, moist areas, and is spreading rapidly in woodlands as well as shaded landscapes and low maintenance turf throughout the southeastern U.S., Mid-Atlantic States and north to New England. Japanese stiltgrass germinates in early spring, several weeks before crabgrass, yet flowers and seeds much later, from mid-September through October. It has broader, shorter leaves than most other annual grasses; somewhat resembling broadleaf signalgrass or spreading dayflower. After frost, the foliage and wiry stems turn a distinctive light tan in color and persist through the winter. Vegetative identification characteristics include: rolled vernation, a very short membranous ligule, and leaf blades that are shorter and broader than most other grasses.
This Entomology Insect Note discusses how to identify and manage common armored scale insects that feed on ornamental plants in landscapes and nurseries.
This factsheet offers information on damping off in flower and vegetable seedlings, a result of fungi present in the growing medium.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect tomatoes.
This factsheet identifies several varieties of the ornamental Callery Pear tree and their impacts on native ecosystems.
This factsheet describes the biology of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri, and provides residential management recommendations.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of cucurbit downy mildew.
This factsheet describes the biology of the yellow and black flat millipede, Apheloria tigana.
This publication offers information on the Jerusalem artichoke, (Helianthus tuberosus L.), also known as sunchoke, which can be produced throughout the United States. However, the plant is better adapted to the northern two-thirds of the country than the southern third. Most areas of North Carolina are satisfactory for producing the crop although yields are not as good as in cooler climates where the crop is better adapted. Jerusalem artichokes are also often used for pickling purposes.
The Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers Group (SEVEW) is proud to offer you the 25th edition of the Southeastern U.S. 2024 Vegetable Crop Handbook. We are excited to provide growers, crop advisers, county educators, Extension agents, and specialists throughout the southeastern United States with this handbook. This handbook represents a joint effort among Extension specialists and researchers from 15 land-grant universities in the U.S. who work in the area of vegetable production. These specialists and researchers represent a wide array of disciplines: agricultural engineering, entomology, food safety, horticulture (vegetable production), plant pathology, postharvest physiology, soil science, and weed science.
English ivy (Hedera helix) is a shade-tolerant, woody perennial vine. When established it creates a dense ground cover with attractive dark green foliage. But, left un-checked this introduced plant invades woodlands, climbs (and kills) trees and is considered an invasive species. Pursuing the internet you can find several “recommendations” for controlling English Ivy. Some good, some are questionable. This publication describes cultural and chemical control options.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect eggplant.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect okra.
Honey bees, like all other living things, vary in traits such as temperament, disease resistance and productivity. The environment has a large effect on differences among bee colonies (for example, plants in different areas yield different honey crops), but the genetic makeup of a colony can also impact the characteristics that define a particular group. Beekeepers have long known that different genetic stocks have distinctive characteristics, so they have utilized different strains to suit their particular purpose, whether it be pollination, a honey crop or bee production.
Neopestalotiopsis leaf, fruit, and crown rot is an important emerging fungal disease of strawberry that can affect every part of the plant (crown, roots, leaves, fruit). The pathogen is thought to be introduced via infected planting stock. The emergence of Neopestalotiopsis, especially the aggressive forms, has resulted in significant crop loss throughout the southeastern US. This publication outlines the disease cycle and best management practices for growers.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of sooty molds, fungi that grow microscopic threads that form easily visible black spots on many plants.
This factsheet describes bees in the family Colletidae.
This chapter of, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, describes building materials and features of different bee hotels. It covers tunnel size, shelter, shade, orientation, navigation, and other features.
This publication discusses production of winter annual cover crops, their benefits and management. Research has shown several important benefits of planting winter annual cover crops, chief among them erosion control, addition of nitrogen (N) to the soil for use by a subsequent crop, removal of nitrogen from the soil to prevent nutrient loading, buildup of soil organic matter and buildup of residue that acts as a mulch for water conservation or retention.
This guide presents basic facts about seeds, including how they develop, how to store and germinate seeds successfully and the factors that influence seed quality. It also summarizes the North Carolina laws that affect seed collecting and distribution.
With training and pruning, fruit trees will develop the proper shape and form to yield high-quality fruit sooner and will live longer. Learn how to train your trees for productivity and prune to remove dead, diseased or broken limbs. This publication includes descriptions of dormant pruning, summer pruning, types of pruning cuts and different training systems.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect potatoes.
This factsheet discusses symptoms and control of several leaf diseases common in North Carolina blueberry production.
Intensive Vegetable Production refers to a system of marketing and producing vegetable crops in which great attention is placed on detail and optimization of resources such as land, capital, labor, equipment, transportation to market and management time. The objective of such a system is maximum profit for the farm. The system you choose should take into account your location, availability of markets, production seasons and personal interest. This publication covers irrigation, plastic mulch, pest management, precision seeding, market preparation and many other facets of intensive vegetable production.
This article describes and defines the different types of insects that sting and are also often mistaken for honey bees.
This annual guide supplies information concerning pesticides that can be used for controlling pests in turfgrasses. Revised for 2024.
This publication covers insect control in a variety of crops, as well as household pests.
This factsheet describes the biology of the catalpa worm or catawba worm or catalpa sphinx, Ceratomia catalpae.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the granulate (Asian) ambrosia beetle, an insect pest of woody ornamental, fruit, and nut trees throughout North Carolina.
This publication discusses growing and harvesting bloodroot, a spring wildflower used to produce natural red, orange, and pink dyes, in North Carolina. It can grow in full sun, but is more often found in semi-shaded, light-wooded areas with moist, acidic soil. The root, consisting of a thickened rhizome covered with fibrous roots, is known for its reddish-orange color.
Most commercial onions produced in North Carolina are seeded in the fall and harvested in mid- to late-June. Weed competition can reduce onion yields up to 96 percent, and weeds must be controlled throughout the growing season. Learn about the cultivation and herbicide options growers can use to keep onions weed-free in both wide and narrow rows.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Gummy Stem Blight.
This factsheet describes the biology of the tersa sphinx moth, Xylophanes tersa., and provides residential management recommendations.
This publication covers chemical weed control and weed response to a variety of crops.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect carrots.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of strawberry production in the Southeastern United States. It covers topics like cultivars, marketing, economics, production techniques, and additional considerations such as cropping and food safety. The guide is structured into four chapters, each addressing different aspects of strawberry farming, with useful resources in the appendix.
The onion is a cool season crop that will withstand moderate freezes. It may be grown either by seeding directly in the field, or by setting transplants. North Carolina growers have an excellent market opportunity in June and July when very few onions are available. Yield will range from 400 to 800 (50-pound) sacks per acre depending on the year and cultural practices. A premium is paid for large onions during our harvest season.
This factsheet describes the biology of the multi-colored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of anthracnose of pepper.
Phytophthora root rot is the most significant biotic threat to Fraser fir Christmas trees in western North Carolina. This publication covers the symptoms of the Phytophthora root rot, how to avoid an infection, and how to treat it if Phytophthora root rot develops.
General guidelines on how to conduct a bioassay for herbicide residues in soil.
Black cohosh is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. It is a native medicinal plant found in rich woodlands from as far north as Maine and Ontario, south to Georgia, and west to Missouri and Indiana. In North Carolina it can be found at elevations up to 4,000 feet and is most common in the western part of the state. It is an herbaceous perennial reaching a mature height of over four feet tall and can grow 18 to 22 inches per month during the growing season.
Anthracnose is an important disease of strawberry with all parts of the plant (fruit, crowns, leaves, petioles and runners) being susceptible to the disease. Disease control is difficult when environmental conditions are favorable for disease development and if inoculum is present. The disease can be especially destructive to susceptible California strawberry cultivars (e.g. Chandler, Camarosa, Albion) when grown on black plastic.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the black vine weevil, an insect that stunts and kills plants by feeding on the roots.
This disease factsheet is a brief description of Verticillium wilt of tomato and eggplant. Symptoms, causal agent, and management are included.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of pillbugs and sowbugs, insect pests that feed on decaying vegetation.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect sweet corn.
This factsheet covers the identification, distribution, and control of Mugwort (also known as chrysanthemum weed), an aggressive, perennial weed that spreads by persistent rhizomes.
This calendar contains suggestions designed to help in the care and maintenance of St. Augustinegrass throughout the year. It includes recommendations for mowing, fertilization, watering, pest control, and renovation.
A step-by-step guide to propagating true-to-type muscadine vines from cuttings or from layering.
Ramps, also known as wild leeks, are native to the eastern North American mountains. They can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests and bottoms from as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. In early spring, ramps send up smooth, broad, lily-of-the-valley-like leaves that disappear by summer before the white flowers appear. The bulbs have the pleasant taste of sweet spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect eggplant.
Manual removal of weeds is time consuming, expensive, and often results in damage to landscape plants when intertwined roots of both the weed and the ornamental plant are pulled up. Nonselective herbicides (which must be selectively applied to avoid injury to desirable plants) are typically used for postemergence annual and perennial weed control. This publication covers choosing the right herbicide for this situation.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Phytophthora blight of peppers.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of thrips in strawberries.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect crucifers.
Many ornamental crop species (including trees, shrubs, and bedding plants) are susceptible to diseases caused by Phytophthora, a genus of plant-pathogenic oomycetes (also known as water molds) that can persist in soil for several years. This publication rates common bedding plants, shrubs, and trees on their resistance to Phytophthora.
Keeping weeds out early in the season is very important for cole crops that are marketed by size. Learn how to use both cultivation and herbicides to achieve good early-season weed control and avoid losses in yield and profits.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of bagworms, a common ornamental plant pest.
This publication describes the signs, symptoms and disease cycle of Mummy berry, a fungal disease of blueberry species. Recommendations for best management practices are included.
This factsheet discusses the identification and control of cucurbit powdery mildew.
Turfgrass, trees, and shrubs are desired in most landscapes because they are attractive and useful. Unfortunately, growing turfgrasses in the presence of trees and shrubs can be a formidable task because each plant group competes with the other for the light, water, and nutrients that are essential for survival and growth. Even so, homeowners can take steps to improve the performance of a lawn growing in shade.
This publication covers insect and disease control in apples, blueberries, caneberries, grapes, peaches, pecans and strawberries.
This factsheet discusses the symptoms and control of bacterial spot of peppers and tomatoes.
This publication will outline sustainable management practices that are appropriate for strawberry growers in the Southeast, the benefits of these practices, and how they may be incorporated into plasticulture production systems.
La antracnosis es una enfermedad importante de la fresa con todas las partes de la planta (fruto, coronas, hojas, pecíolos y estolones) siendo susceptibles al patógeno. Tres especies relacionadas del hongo Colletotrichum, incluyendo C. acutatum, C. gloeosporioides y C. fragariae pueden asociarse con la antracnosis. Sin embargo, C. acutatum es el principal patógeno asociado con la fase de podredumbre de la fruta por antracnosis (AFR) y el tema principal de esta hoja informativa.
This factsheet about Fraser fir pests covers white pine cone beetles, bagworms, gypsy moths, Botrytis shoot blight, sooty molds, fern/fir rust, Rhizosphaera needlecast, Annosum root and butt rot, Rosellinia blight, Nectria canker, Armillaria, and Phomopsis.
La infección de fresa por Phytophthora cactorum ocurre en suelos mal drenados, sobre riego, o durante largos períodos de lluvia en climas cálidos. Los síntomas de la enfermedad aumentan durante los períodos de alta necesidad de agua, como después de que se establecen los trasplantes, durante el clima cálido y seco o a medida que aumenta la carga de fruta. El patógeno se ha vuelto muy importante en los últimos 10-15 años (1999-2014).
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of potato late blight.
This publication provides information about unmanned aerial vehicles and what to consider when choosing a drone for precision agriculture applications. Topics include restrictions, definitions, needs assessment, equipment options, and information processing.
Annual and perennial grasses can be selectively controlled in most broadleaf crops and landscapes using postemergence herbicides that control only grasses -- chemicals often referred to as “postemergence graminicides”. There are four graminicides labeled for use in horticultural crops – fenoxaprop, fluazifop-p, sethoxydim and clethodim. Each graminicide is systemic (translocated) and has short-term soil residual (about 2 weeks). Although each herbicide kills grasses in the same way (acting upon the same site of action), they differ in their effectiveness on grass weeds, safety on crops, and labeled uses.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Fusarium wilt of watermelon.
La mancha angular de la fresa, causada por la bacteria Xanthomonas fragariae, a menudo se confunde con otras enfermedades comunes como la Mancha foliar y el Tizón de la hoja. Una vez que se establece la infección, poco se puede hacer hasta que las condiciones de frío y alta humedad disminuyan. Afortunadamente, esta enfermedad generalmente no afecta severamente los rendimientos.
This factsheet covers the use of horticultural oils to control insects on plants in North Carolina.
This factsheet describes the biology of the American dagger moth, Acronicta americana, and provides residential management recommendations.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of hop downy mildew.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect cucurbits.
This factsheet discusses the symptoms and treatment of powdery mildew in strawberries.
Beekeeping is a very enjoyable and rewarding pastime that is relatively inexpensive to get started. Moreover, it’s a hobby that can eventually make you money! This factsheet is a primer on how to start your first hive and begin keeping bees.
This factsheet describes the biology of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma ellectellum, and provides residential management recommendations.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of black rot in sweetpotatoes.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and provides residential management recommendations.
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This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying different caterpillars and moths in commercial garden and plant production.
This factsheet provides recommended practices and management strategies for protecting wine grapes from spring frost damage.
This factsheet describes the biology of the crowned slug caterpillar, Isa textula.
Anthracnose crown rot is caused by the pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. This disease can cause significant economic damage to strawberry nursery and fruit production systems, particularly in the southeastern production region. This article highlights the symptoms and signs of the disease, disease cycle, methods for diagnosis and integrated management recommendations.
This guide is designed to help identify the most troublesome diseases associated with cool-season turfgrasses. This includes such grasses as tall fescue, fine fescue (chewings, creeping red), Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. A description of the disease symptoms, a list of specific management practices that can be used to prevent or reduce turfgrass injury by disease and a chart to indicate when the disease is most likely to occur are presented.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of slugs and snails, insect pests of ornamental, vegetable, and field crops.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri, an insect pest of citrus and gardenia in North Carolina.
La antracnosis es una enfermedad importante de la fruta de fresa, coronas, hojas, pecíolos y estolones. Tres especies relacionadas del hongo Colletotrichum, incluyendo C. acutatum, C. gloeosporioides y C. fragariae pueden asociarse con plantas de fresa. Esta hoja informativa destaca la antracnosis de la corona (ACR) causada principalmente por C. gloeosporioides y ocasionalmente por C. fragariae (algunos los clasifican dentro del mismo grupo de especies; otros los consideran especies diferentes).
This factsheet covers commercial goldenseal production in North Carolina, a highly valued medicinal herb which has been collected from the forests in North America for hundreds of years. The historical range for goldenseal in the United States was very broad, ranging from as far north as Vermont and Wisconsin, south to Alabama and Georgia, and west to Kansas. It can still be found growing in patches in moist, rich, hardwood forests in much of this area.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Basagran T/O (bentazon).
This plant disease fact sheet discusses southern blight, a soil-borne fungus that attacks tomatoes and peppers, and several other economically important crops, including beans, cantaloupe, carrots, peppers, potatoes, sweet potato, and watermelon.
This factsheet covers management of bacterial spot on ornamentals.
This publication, chapter 5 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, offers information on the growth cycle of blackberry and raspberry plants for proper training and pruning.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in asparagus production.
The elm zigzag sawfly is an invasive species first reported in North America in 2020. This fact sheet details what is known about its biology, identification, and management.
This insect note describes the biology of the Granulate (Asian) Ambrosia Beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and provides management recommendations.
This factsheet covers the identification and control of septoria leaf spot of tomatoes.
This publication provides an overview of the Present-Use Value (PUV) property tax program in North Carolina, with an emphasis on disposition and transfer situations that may imperil continued enrollment.
This PDIC factsheet describes the biology and management of the rosy wolf snail, Euglandina rosea.
This Entomology Insect Note describes common aspects of biology and management of soft scale insects on ornamental plants in landscapes and nurseries with summaries of several example species.
This publication covers the basics of leasing land for farming operations, from both a landowner and tenant perspective.
This factsheet describes the biology of the southern purple mint moth, Pyrausta laticlavia, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Saddleback caterpillar,Acharia stimulea, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of root mealybugs in the genus Rhizoecus including the ground mealybug, Rhizoecus falcifer, Rhizoecus americanus, and the newly introduced hibiscus mealybug, Rhizoecus hibisci.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Botrytis gray mold of tomatoes.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in conifers.
This factsheet describes the biology of the deodar weevil or eastern pine weevil, Pissodes nemorensis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This guide for farmers describes the advantages and disadvantages of using plasticulture to grow vegetables. It includes information on equipment needed, recommended ways to set up a fertigation system and best management practices.
This factsheet describes the symptoms, life cycles and control of needle cast diseases in Christmas trees.
This publication details strategies for to prevent and manage soilborne diseases in greenhouse crop production using soilless media. Tactics include sanitation measures, cultural practices, and the application of treatments to limit the development and spread of these diseases in the greenhouse.
This factsheet describes the biology of the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus echinopus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This document provides essential information on broccoli cultivation, including optimal planting dates for North Carolina, soil and nutrient requirements, and cultivation techniques. It emphasizes proper spacing, high nitrogen levels, and effective harvesting and postharvest methods. This guide offers practical advice for maximizing broccoli yield and quality.
This publication contains step-by-step guidelines for field calibration of stationary sprinkler irrigation systems. Proper calibration is required by law.
Black root rot impacts a range of woody and herbaceous ornamental plant species primarily in greenhouse ornamental plant production, but also in home and commercial landscapes and nurseries. This disease causes decay of the root system and leads to yellowing, wilting, and necrosis of foliage. It is widely distributed and has been described on approximately 30 plant families in many parts of the world. Some of the most frequently impacted ornamentals are pansy, viola, Calibrachoa, annual vinca (periwinkle), Salvia, petunia, Persian cyclamen, snapdragon, Begonia, Verbena, Phlox, and Gerbera daisy. In addition to ornamental plants, some vegetable and other agricultural crops are also susceptible to infection.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the greenhouse whitefly, an insect pest of greenhouse-grown ornamentals and vegetables.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of anthracnose in cucurbits.
This Entomology Insect Note describes darkwinged fungus gnats, an insect pest of some field crops, shrubs, and houseplants.
This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive agricultural, ornamental, and nuisance pest in the United States.
This factsheet describes the biology of the detachable woolly leaf gall wasp, Andricus quercuslanigera, and provides residential management recommendations.
Fine-ground basalt rock has recently become available as a soil amendment in North Carolina. This publication discusses the agricultural application of fine-ground basalt rock, the results of an incubation study to determine its lime equivalence, and its effects on soil nutrients and fertility.
Efficient irrigation is crucial for vegetable production in North Carolina, where weather variability demands careful water management. This publication explains the concept of evapotranspiration (ET)—the combined water loss from soil and plants—and its significance in determining crop water needs. Key topics include the types of ET, the role of the crop coefficient (Kc) in tailoring ET calculations for specific crops and growth stages, and practical steps for using ET and Kc to optimize irrigation. By understanding these principles, farmers can improve water use efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance crop yields while promoting sustainable farming practices.
A guide to maintaining quality turf on athletic fields, including recommendations for establishing and caring for new fields, maintaining established fields, and managing pests.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the western flower thrip, an insect pest of plants that can also transmit tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus.
This factsheet covers the description, biology, and management of the jumping earthworm, a common pest in North Carolina gardening.
This calendar offers suggestions regarding management practices for all-season care of a bermudagrass athletic field.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of cottony cushion scale, an insect pest that debilitates plants by sucking out sap.
This factsheet describes the biology of the barnacle scale, Ceroplastes cirripediformis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This second in a series on pruning offers tips on selecting the right tool for the job and for evaluating a tool’s quality.
This factsheet covers how and when to shape, prune and shear Virginia pine Christmas trees.
Italian honey bees are susceptible to two deadly parasitic mites, while Russian bees have shown promise in resistance to these mites. This factsheet offers comparisons between Italian and Russian honey bees.
This publication offers a discussion on how to lime Fraser fir Christmas trees. Fraser fir Christmas trees require a lower soil pH than most crops grown in North Carolina. Special management strategies for soil pH, calcium, and magnesium are needed to provide proper nutrition without over-liming.
This publication, chapter 12 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, offers information on the time from flowering to fruit harvest for blackberry and raspberry production.
This publication includes a key to identifying insects that can affect vegetable production. Asparagus, beans and peas, carrots, crucifers, cucurbits, eggplant, lettuce, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, sweetpotatoes, and tomatoes are covered specifically.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of globe sedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the cyclamen and broad mites, insect pests of many flowering shrubs and plants.
Blueberries are a native North American fruit, and North Carolina is one of the largest producers of highbush blueberries. Although commercial production is mostly limited to southeastern North Carolina, blueberries can be grown anywhere in the state if the right blueberry species and proper soil modifications are used. Limiting factors include pH, water availability and cold-hardiness.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of aphid pests of ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.
This vegetable disease factsheet discusses collar rot and Alternaria stem canker of tomato, which are caused by different species of fungi belonging to the genus Alternaria. Both pathogens can cause large, irregularly shaped stem lesions with pronounced concentric rings. However, the concentric rings may not always be pronounced with collar rot.
This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common disease pests of maple (Acer spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief but provide links for readers to learn more.
This factsheet describes the biology of the giant strong-nosed stink bug, Alcaeorrhynchus grandis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the oleander aphid, Aphis nerii, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the puss caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the postemergent herbicide Acclaim Extra (fenoxaprop-p).
Diagnostic procedures and treatment of phytopthora crown rot of strawberry are discussed in this factsheet.
This factsheet covers Phomopsis leaf blight, a fungus that causes lesions and defoliation in strawberries.
This Fruit Disease Information factsheet discusses blueberry stem blight, the primary disease limiting establishment of blueberry plantings in southeastern North Carolina.
This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common insect pests of oak (Quercus spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief but provide links for readers to learn more.
This factsheet describes the biology of the azalea lace bug, Stephanitis pyrioides, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Imperial moth, Eacles imperialis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This publication is intended to help you manage diseases and pests of peaches. In choosing a management program, you must weigh the extent of pesticide use against the amount of risk of crop damage you are willing to accept. A rigorous spray program provides the least risk of loss, whereas a minimal spray program using less effective but possibly less hazardous pesticides involves a greater risk of loss.
Orchard management guide for apples, with information on insect, disease, weed, and mammal control, plus horticultural and fertility practices, use of IPM, prevention of insecticide resistance, and sprayer calibration.
More than 40 sedge species may be found in North Carolina landscapes. Although grass-like in many ways, and the nutsedges are often referred to as “nutgrass”, they are not grasses and require different control measures than grasses. Sedges are easily distinguished from grasses by their leafy shoots that produce leaves in “3s” resulting in stems that are triangular in cross section. In contrast, shoots of grasses are flat or round in cross section.
Gloomy scale is an armored scale insect pest of ornamental trees, most commonly red maple trees. These pests are much more abundant and damaging in urban landscapes than natural forests. This insect note describes an integrated pest management approach to identifying, monitoring, and managing these pests.
This factsheet describes the biology of the genista broom moth that is also called the genista caterpillar and sophora worm—Uresiphita reversalis.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of strawberry clipper weevils in commercial strawberry production.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Segment (sethoxydim).
This publication, chapter 6 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, discusses how and when to prune blackberry and raspberry canes.
This publication for nursery managers and homeowners describes how to protect nursery plants and keep them healthy through the winter.
This factsheet describes tarnished plat bugs, also known as lygus bugs, and their impact on strawberry crops.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Fusarium root rot of sweetpotato.
This Insect Note describes the biology and management of greenstriped mapleworm, a caterpillar pest of maple trees.
This factsheet describes the biology of the sugarcane beetle, Euetheola rugiceps, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the greenhouse thrips, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This publication, chapter 2 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, covers the characteristics of recommended blackberry and raspberry cultivars in the Southeast.
This Entomology Insect Note describes false spider mites, insect pests ornamental, fruit and vegetable crops.
Recommended maintenance practices for a lawn that consists of a blend of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are the same as those for a tall fescue lawn. The following management practices will help you care for your lawn throughout the year.
This factsheet covers the growth, planting, shaping and pests of Leyland cypress, a popular Christmas tree variety.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of Rhizopus soft rot of sweetpotatoes.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying mites in commercial flower and plant production.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the cutworm and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of fall armyworms and addresses how to control them as an insect.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of lace bugs, including the azalea lace bug, hawthorn lace bug, rhododendron lace bug, and sycamore lace bug.
This factsheet describes and gives the biology and management of the Southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of the wool sower gall wasp, Callirhytis seminator, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of wireworms, a worm-like larvae of click beetles that are pests of turfgrass.
By routinely measuring the electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of growing media and irrigation water for container-grown nursery crops, growers can monitor nutrient availability and scout for problems. Learn how to use the pour-through extraction procedures as part of your nursery's quality control program.
This vegetable pathology factsheet describes the identification and treatment of basil downy mildew.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying thrips in commercial flower and plant production.
This publication offers fertilizer suggestions for a variety of crops, including field, pasture and hay crops, tree fruit, small fruit, ornamental plants and vegetable crops.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect peppers.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of leaf and sheath spot in turf.
This Fruit Disease Information factsheet describes twig blight, a fungal disease that causes dieback in blueberry bushes in North Carolina.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Pendulum, Aquacap, Corral (pendimethalin).
This publication covers the identification, distribution and control of mulberryweed, an erect, branching, summer annual weed of landscapes and container nurseries that resembles a mulberry tree (Morus spp.) seedling. A native of eastern Asia, it was introduced into North America in the latter half of the 20th century.
This publication discusses a number of options that are available to the greenhouse manager for controlling weeds such as creeping woodsorrel, hairy bittercress, spotted spurge, and others. Not only are these persistent problems in greenhouses but they detract from the perceived quality of plants produced, and also are known to harbor insects, such as whitefly and thrips, and other pests such as mites, slugs and snails.
This pest control guide was a project of the Southern Nursery IPM Working Group (SNIPM) and collaborators. It is intended to provide up to date information about pest control products used in nursery crops and ornamental landscape plantings, and as a supplement to the more comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) manuals for trees and shrubs. Recommendations for the use of agricultural chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the herbicide, glyphosate.
This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common insect pests of maple (Acer spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief but provide links for readers to learn more.
This factsheet describes the biology of the azalea caterpillar, Datana major, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the hibiscus sawfly, Atomacera decepta, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the eastern six-spined engraver, eastern five-spined engraver, and southern pine engraver— Ips calligraphus, Ips grandicollis, Ips avulsus.
This factsheet describes the biology of the palm leaf skeletonizer, Homaledra sabalella, and provides recommendations for management.
La pudrición de la raíz negra (BRR) es un complejo de enfermedades en la fresa, lo que significa que uno o más organismos pueden estar involucrados en la infección, incluidos los hongos Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp. y varias especies de nematodos. Es una enfermedad común en Carolina del Norte y la razón principal por la que los productores fumigan en la región sureste. En los sistemas anuales, la enfermedad se acumula con el tiempo y generalmente alcanza un pico de daño el punto máximo de la cosecha. Sin embargo, el daño temprano causa retraso en el crecimiento de la planta que es evidente dentro de 1-2 meses después de la siembra. BRR puede causar reducciones de rendimiento de hasta 20 a 40%.
Manganese (Mn) is a critical micronutrient essential for the growth, development, and productivity of vegetable crops. Despite being required in trace amounts, manganese plays a pivotal role in key physiological processes, including photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and plant stress mitigation. Its availability in soils is influenced by several factors, particularly soil pH, redox conditions, and organic matter content, making proper management vital for optimal crop performance. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of manganese’s role in plant physiology, its forms and availability in soils, and practical strategies for managing manganese in vegetable production systems.
This publication presents basic information on factors (veil, water and plant relationships) to be considered in developing an effective irrigation schedule.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the cicada killer wasp, a beneficial insect that can also be a pest of lawns and turfgrass.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of wheel bugs, an insect pest that preys upon other plant pests.
This factsheet describes the biology of the golden rain tree bug or red shouldered bug, Jadera haematoloma, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of Cotesia Congregata, a parasitoid.
This final publication in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series gives tips for pruning specific plants.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of ground pearls and addresses how to control them as an insect in turf.
This publication provides information you will need for measuring soil water: types of soil-water measuring devices, how to select the right measuring device and how to prepare and install these devices.
Gnomonia causes leaf blotch and stem-end rot of strawberry. The pathogen typically is introduced on transplant material and can build up in plug facilities and in fruiting fields. It rarely becomes an economic concern.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the crapemyrtle aphid, a common pest of crapemyrtles that reduces plant vigor.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of twospotted spider mites on ornamental landscape plants.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Florida fern caterpillar, Callopistria floridensis, and provides residential management recommendations.
The decisions of when to turn an irrigation system on and off for frost protection are complex and difficult. This guide presents a procedure to follow in making these decisions. This guide is based on the assumption that you have completed certain tasks prior to the night of the decision making. These tasks encompass important planning decisions that are made well ahead of the frost season.
Identification and management of Phytophthora in annuals and herbaceous perennials in greenhouses and in the landscape is discussed in this disease fact sheet.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the preemergence herbicide Barricade, Prodiamine or Regalkade G (prodiamine).
This factsheet describes the biology of the Florida predatory stink bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the boxelder bug, Boisea (Leptocoris) trivittata, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the giant conifer aphid, Cinara spp, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of trombidiid mites— velvet mites, red velvet mites, large red velvet mites, brick mites, and patio mites.
This factsheet describes the biology of the lantana lace bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa, and provides residential management recommendations.
Las hojas jóvenes son muy susceptibles al tizón de la hoja de Phomopsis. La enfermedad también puede debilitar las hojas más viejas en las plantaciones perennes, lo que resulta en rendimientos reducidos al año siguiente. En el sureste durante la producción de viveros, puede ocurrir una defoliación severa y las plantas hijas pueden marchitarse y morir debido a la infección de estolones con síntomas que a menudo se confunden con antracnosis.
This guide provides North Carolina bell pepper growers with a comprehensive approach to nutrient management through foliar analysis. Foliar analysis offers a precise method for assessing nutrient levels within plants, enabling targeted nutrient adjustments at key growth stages—vegetative, flowering, and early fruit set. This document covers essential sampling techniques, including optimal leaf selection, handling, and transportation, to ensure accurate results. It also provides recommended nutrient sufficiency ranges, allowing farmers to interpret foliar analysis data effectively and adjust fertilization practices to enhance crop health and yield. Additionally, guidelines for foliar fertilization are provided, emphasizing timing, solution preparation, and application methods to prevent plant damage and ensure nutrient uptake. By integrating foliar analysis into regular crop management, bell pepper growers can optimize nutrient application, improve fruit quality, and support sustainable production.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Fusilade II (fluazifop-P-butyl).
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Sureguard (flumioxazin).
Black root rot is caused by a complex of pathogens. These pathogens cause damage to the root structure reducing the fibrous structure and turning roots black. Dysfunctional roots leads to plant stunting and decreased yields.
Establishing and maintaining quality annual color beds requires a plan to prevent and control weeds. Weeds compete with ornamental plants for water, light, and nutrients, reducing aesthetic quality and plant growth. To minimize these problems, this publication presents a weed management program that should be developed and implemented prior to planting.
This factsheet, part of the Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests that affect onions.
This factsheet offers information on the top-performing tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescue turf cultivars in North Carolina.
This factsheet describes the biology of the spiny elm caterpillar or mourning cloak butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Dimension (dithiopyr).
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the scoliid wasp and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of annual sedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of Indian wax scale, a tiny insect that detracts from a plant's appearance due to white scales and honeydew secretions.
This factsheet describes the biology of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma, and provides residential management recommendations.
Crapemyrtle bark scales are wide spread disfiguring pests of crape myrtles in landscapes.
Organic farmers cite weed management as their number one research priority. This publication in the Organic Production publication series describes weed control strategies for organic farms based on weed characteristics and an integrated cropping system approach. A special section on cultivation practices that limit emerged and future weeds is based on research by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.
This factsheet provides instructions on how to properly care for carpetgrass year round. It also includes information on fertilization and integrated pest management.
This publication answers common questions dog owners may have about lawn care. Topics include what kinds of grasses to use in high traffic areas; how to deal with damage to lawns caused by dogs; dogs' exposure to pesticides; and why dogs occasionally eat turfgrass.
This factsheet describes the biology of crane flies, also called daddy-long-legs or mosquito hawks, in the genera Limonia and Tipula.
This factsheet describes the biology of the yellowstriped armyworm, Spodoptera ornithogalli, and provides residential management recommendations.
La podredumbre de Botrytis, o Moho gris como se le llama a menudo, es una enfermedad grave en todas las áreas de producción de fresas y es una enfermedad preocupante en la mayoría de los años. La enfermedad es un problema no solo en el campo, sino también durante el almacenamiento, el tránsito y la comercialización de la fruta de fresa, debido a la aparición de podredumbre severa a medida que las frutas comienzan a madurar. Otras partes infectadas por el hongo incluyen hojas, corona, pétalos, tallos de flores y frutas. La podredumbre de la corona se discute en otra parte. La enfermedad es más grave durante la floración y la cosecha en temporadas con largos períodos de nubes y lluvia complementados por temperaturas frescas.
Clavibacter michiganensis, commonly known as bacterial canker, is considered one of the most necessary-to-manage diseases in the greenhouse tomato industry. Bacterial canker spreads quickly to infect both transplanted and directly seeded crops, especially through pruning practices when shears are not properly disinfected. An epidemic can begin with a single infected seed, so disease prevention should always remain a top priority for all growers.
In North Carolina, pole beans are grown commercially in the mountain counties and, on a limited scale, in a few of the eastern counties. They are produced in home gardens throughout the state. With the rising interest in heirloom vegetables, pole beans are increasing in popularity. Pole beans are grown for their distinctive flavor, long pods, high yield, long harvesting season, and high price.
Southern bacterial wilt of tomatoes is addressed in this factsheet.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of a lipid biosynthesis (Acetyl CoA carboxylase or ACCase) inhibitor herbicide injury.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of Bermudagrass and addresses how to control it as a weed.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the earthworm and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
The red-headed flea beetle (RHFB), Systena frontalis, is a serious pest of broadleaved ornamental plants in nurseries. This document describes current knowledge of the pest and best practices for its management in nurseries.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Sedgehammer (halosulfuron).
This guide for blackberry and raspberry growers in the Southeast provides information on bramble cultivars, growth, and production practices. Topics covered include recommended cultivars, site selection and preparation, plant establishment, trellis systems, fertility management, harvesting, and postharvest management.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of nematodes in turfgrasses.
This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive forest pest in the United States.
This factsheet describes the biology of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, and provides management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the buck moth, Hemileuca maia, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the flatheaded appletree borer, Chrysobothris femorata, and provides residential management recommendations.
The center pivot and linear-move type irrigation systems are usually the most practical system for irrigating large, rectangular or regular shaped fields. Selection and management considerations for center pivot and linear-move type systems are discussed in this article.
This Entomology Insect Note describes flower thrips, insect pests of grasses and flowering plants.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of crane fly larvae and addresses how to control them as insects in turf.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of tea scale, an insect pest of camellias and hollies.
This publication provides information and guidance on using computer code to access the National Agricultural Statistics Service's survey data to view data from multiple years, crops, and other categories.
This factsheet describes the biology of the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the yellownecked caterpillar, Datana ministra., and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the small hive beetle, its life cycle and how to prevent infestations of beehives by the beetle. It includes summaries of recommended treatments to control the beetles inside and outside the hive.
This publication offers information on water quality challenges in irrigation water.
This publication discusses the impacts of yellow nutsedge on sweetpotato crops and includes information on weed identification and management.
Water is an essential component for plant growth. In turfgrasses it comprises 75 to 90 percent of the fresh weight of the plant, and irrigation is a key cultural practice in turfgrass management. Only 1 percent of the water absorbed is utilized for metabolic activity. By considering the factors that contribute to water loss, turfgrass managers can devise effective irrigation plans for specific sites.
This publication covers disease control in a variety of crops.
This factsheet describes the biology of the cattail toothpick grasshopper, Leptysma marginicollis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda., and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the yellow poplar weevil (also called the tuliptree leafminer, magnolia leafminer and the sassafras weevil), Odontopus calceatus.
This brochure goes over calibration guidelines for backpack or knapsack sprayers.
Cool-season leafy greens face a different weed spectrum than warm-season crops. The presence of weeds in harvested greens can result in lower prices or rejection at market. Learn about the cultivation and herbicide options that growers can use to avoid weed competition and contamination.
This factsheet describes the biology of claycolored leaf beetles, a sporadic pest in the landscape.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of pythium root dysfunction.
This publication, chapter 8 of the North Carolina Soybean Production Guide, discusses disease management in soybean production.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of Japanese beetle adults, which feed on many species of ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.
This fact sheets details the identification and management of a common group of fungal diseases, anthracnose.
This factsheet describes Orangestriped oakworms, which are often noticed crawling about in August and September
Botrytis blight, or gray mold, is a fungal disease that is widespread in the United States and globally. This fungus spreads via spores in the air and can result in economic losses if not managed early. In North Carolina, this pathogen is most threatening in the spring when temperatures are cool. This factsheet provides information about the disease, how it spreads, when it is a problem, and how to manage it through cultural and chemical practices.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the herbicide Dismiss (sulfentrazone).
This factsheet discusses the identification and management of Sclerotinia Drop of lettuce.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying mealybugs in commercial flower and plant production.
This factsheet covers leaf scorch, a fungus that weakens strawberry leaves and plants.
This Entomology Insect Note describes brown soft scale, a common insect pest on trees, shrubs and indoor plants.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the annual bluegrass weevil and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of barklice, insect pests of smooth-barked shrubs and trees.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in ligustrum.
This factsheet describes the biology of the oak shothole leafminer, Japanagromyza viridula.
This fachseet offers information on alternaria black spot of strawberry, a fungus that grows on injured fruit.
Being related to cotton, okra can be a poor competitor with weeds, particularly early in the growing season. As the crop is harvested, more sunlight can reach the soil and increase late-season weed interference. Learn about the cultivation options and herbicides that growers can use for weed control in okra.
This publication discusses the biology, damage, and control of fire ants in pastures.
This guide to lawn maintenance for North Carolina contains information on establishing a new lawn, maintaining it, and controlling lawn pests using organic methods. It also provides information on renovating an existing lawn.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the black twig borer, an insect pest of many trees typically found in southeastern and coastal North Carolina.
This publications contains detailed drawings and descriptions to aid in identifying pests and insects of shrubs. It summarizes recommended practices for eliminating those pests or insects.
This Factsheet discusses the steps in forming an LLC in North Carolina for your farm.
This factsheet describes the biology of the rose midge, Dasineura rhodophaga, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the juniper scale insect, Carulaspis juniperi, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Cuban laurel thrips, Gynaikothrips ficorum, and provides residential management recommendations.
This publication reports the results of an annual survey of sod growers in North Carolina to determine and track relative inventory levels and project price changes for the year.
This online publication describes how cover crops affect the soil, how to establish cover crops, and how to manage their residue. It includes a review of the winter and summer cover crops recommended for North Carolina. The authors also discuss the economics of planting cover crops and some concerns to consider when planting cover crops.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the southern red mite and the spruce spider mite, insect pests of a number of shrubs and herbs.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in boxwood.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Mexican mealybug, Phenacoccus gossypii, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the yucca plant bug, Halticotoma valida, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the locust leafminer, Odontota dorsalis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the eastern velvethead lady beetle, Zilus horni.
This chapter from the North Carolina Organic Commodities Production Guide discusses the organic standards for soil management.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Ornamental Herbicide II (oxyfluorfen + pendimethalin).
Lawns are ecosystems that impact surface and groundwater systems. The grasses found in lawns clean the environment by absorbing gaseous pollutants and intercepting pesticides, fertilizers, dust, and sediment. Irrigation water properly applied to lawns remains on site to recharge water supplies. In addition, grasses release oxygen and reduce glare, noise, and summer temperatures. Proper management practices need to be developed and followed to protect this environment. The purpose of this publication is to provide you with management strategies to preserve and protect water resources.
This publication describes the composting process, how to make compost that meets National Organic Program standards, and how to apply and utilize compost.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor herbicide injury.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of a photosystem I (PS I) inhibitor herbicide injury.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of leafminer flies, an insect pest of many flowers and ornamentals.
This PDIC factsheet describes the biology and management of the white peach scales, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona.
This factsheet describes the biology of the longtailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the European hornet, Vespa crabro, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of Green June beetles (GJB), Cotinis nitida. The larvae can cause direct damage to turfgrass by feeding on plant roots and organic matter in the soil.
This publication discusses the practice of fraise mowing to remove thatch from Bermudagrass. It covers considerations for turfgrass managers, such as costs and debris, and explores specific uses, effects on aesthetics and soil physical properties, and recovery rate.
This first of four publications in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series introduces basic pruning concepts and key terms. Subsequent publications in the series provide more information on woody plant biology, necessary tools and pruning guidelines for general purposes and specific species.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying whiteflies in commercial flower and plant production.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Marengo (indaziflam).
This publication provides information about what biopesticides are, how they control plant diseases, and how they are used to control diseases of vegetables.
This factsheet describes the biology of the willow bladdergall mite, Aculops tetanothrix, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the boisduval scale, Diaspis boisduvalii, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the pavement ant, Tetramorium caespitum, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, and provides residential management recommendations.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of carpenterworms, an insect pest of hardwood trees in North Carolina.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Casoron (dichlobenil).
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Lontrel (clopyralid).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be defined as a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining cultural, biological, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, aesthetic, health, and environmental risks. A first step in implementing an effective IPM program is to maintain healthy, vigorous plants, which are much less likely to have pest problems. Therefore, an integrated pest management program will also consider cultural practices that lead to healthy and resilient plantings.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of fire ants and addresses how to control them as an insect in turf.
Angular leaf spot is caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas fragariae and occurs frequently in North Carolina and surrounding states. The pathogen is introduced on infected plant material and is difficult to control but economic damage is often low.
Vegetable Disease Fact Sheet
This factsheet describes the biology of the white pine aphid, Cinara strobi, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the roseslug caterpillars, Endelomyia aethiops, also called common roseslugs and American roseslugs.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of amber snails in the family Succineidae.
This muscadine grape production guide will help the increasing number of North Carolina farmers who are considering growing and marketing this fruit as a farm diversification option.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Tower (dimethenamid-p).
Although groundwater and surface waters are rarely polluted by turfgrass pesticides, turf managers should consider the potential for environmental contamination when choosing a pesticide.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the black turpentine beetle, an insect pest of several types of pines in North Carolina.
This publication provides information on the impacts wind-driven events have on the soil fertility. Salt water from storm surges, ocean spray, and tidal surges may increase sodium levels in coastal soils, which can be toxic to plants.
This factsheet describes the biology of the witchhazel leaf gall aphid, Hormaphis cornu, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Asiatic oak weevil, Cyrtepistomus castaneus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the rustic sphinx, Manduca rustica, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet provides general guidelines for obtaining soil samples in Christmas tree fields, a summary of soil test result categories, and information for evaluating those results to develop an efficient Christmas tree fertilization program.
This guide is designed to help turf managers identify the major turfgrass pests found in North Carolina and better understand their life cycles, symptoms, and biology.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the cicada killer wasp and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Devrinol (napropamide).
Leather rot, though occurring rarely in North Carolina, can cause substantial losses of fruit yield. This factsheet covers the identification and control of the disease.
This Appendix from the Extension Gardener Handbook will explain a brief history of land development and its influence on landscape design.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of euonymus scale, insect pests of euonymus, pachysandra and celastrus in North Carolina.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of hemispherical scale, an insect pest of many flowering trees and shrubs, as well as greenhouse plants.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the twolined spittlebug, an insect pest of turf and ornamentals in North Carolina.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of take-all root rot in turf.
This publication discusses how to find information about frost and freeze probability data in North Carolina and how to use these resources to make planting and harvesting decisions.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in rhododendron.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Scythe (pelargonic acid) or Axxe (ammonium nonanoate).
This factsheet describes the biology of acrobat ants. Although acrobat ants are not considered pests of trees and shrubs, they do protect scales and other insects that are pests.
Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers is possible only with a sprayer or spreader that is accurately calibrated. When equipment is not correctly calibrated, it is easy to apply too much or too little of a chemical, which may result in the lack of pest control, damage to turf, wasted money, and/or contaminated environment. This publication explains how to calibrate boom sprayers and granular spreaders used on turfgrass.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of cellulose-inhibiting herbicide injuries.
This publication describes the evaluation of plant survival and vigor on 11 extensive green roofs in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina and provides plant selection guidelines for future green roof installations.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of an ALS inhibitor herbicide injury.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of bahiagrass and addresses how to control it as a weed.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the azalea leafminer.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of caterpillars that feed on trees and shrubs.
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in euonymus.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Magnolia scale, Neolecanium cornuparvum, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the tuliptree aphid, Illinoia liriodendri, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the hemlock rust mite, Nalepella tsugifoliae, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the cherry lace bug, Corythucha associata., and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the fern scale, Pinnaspis aspidistrae, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the banded greenhouse thrips, Hercinothrips femoralis, and provides residential management recommendations.
El coquillo amarillo (Cyperus esculentus) es la segunda maleza más problemática después del amaranto Palmer (Amaranthus palmerii) y la tercera maleza más frecuente en el cultivo de camote en Carolina del Norte después del amaranto y la maleza alfombra (Mollugo verticillata).
A foundation of IPM in urban landscapes is to put the right plant in the right place. This reduces plant stress and thus the long term costs of pest management. Impervious surface cover is linked to red maple condition and scale insect infestations. This publication describes impervious surface thresholds to use when selecting sites for planting red maples in urban landscapes.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the preemergent herbicide Princep, Simazine (simazine).
This factsheet describes the biology and management of cutworms in strawberries.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying scale insects in commercial flower and plant production.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of the rhodesgrass mealybug and addresses how to control it as an insect in turf.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of microdochium patch (pink snow mold).
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of purple nutsedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Reward (diquat dibromide).
Japanese maple scale is an exotic, armored scale insect pest of several ornamental trees and shrubs, most commonly in urban landscapes. This insect factsheet provides an integrated pest management approach to identifying, monitoring, and managing Japanese maple scale.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the silverleaf whitefly, an insect pest of ornamentals and vegetables grown in commercial greenhouses.
This factsheet provides information about control strategies for dealing with common ragweed, particularly for Fraser fir production operations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, the caterpillar of the regal moth. Because hickory horned devils are harmless to humans and are relatively rare, no control measures are needed.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Australian cockroach, also known as a waterbug and the shad roach, Periplaneta australasiae.
This factsheet describes Southern bacterial wilt, a widespread and destructive disease affecting multiple crops, and gives management options.
The predominant method for strawberry production in North Carolina and throughout the United States is annual hill plasticulture. However, growers continuously face challenges such as escalating labor and production costs, heavy pest and disease pressure, and recurrent yield losses due to extreme weather events and climate change. Transitioning to a soilless greenhouse production system (e.g. table-tops) could be an avenue to alleviate some of these challenges. However, greenhouse strawberry production in North Carolina faces a host of other challenges, one of which is the lack of knowledge on cultivar performance. To help growers better understand cultivar behavior in greenhouse conditions in NC, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of seven commonly grown cultivars (‘Albion’, ‘Brilliance’, ‘Camino Real’, ‘Fronteras’, ‘Monterey’, ‘Sensation’, ‘Sweet Charlie’) in a commercial strawberry greenhouse setting in Eastern North Carolina. The greenhouse was a multi-bay, mid tech, double poly plastic covered facility. The trial, which was planted in September 2022 and concluded in May 2023, was conducted on-farm using a randomized complete block design with four replicates per treatment. Although overall yield comparisons did not reveal any significant differences among cultivars for the season as a whole, there were notable differences during specific months of the harvest period which lasted from December through May. The two everbearing varieties in the trial, Albion and Monterey, were the earliest producers of fruit, while the standard short day varieties, Camino Real and Fronteras, had almost no early yields, but demonstrated substantial peak season production in April. Postharvest quality evaluation included pH, TA (total acidity) and Brix (soluble solids content). Although pH and TA were fairly similar over all cultivars, brix was more variable, with Sweet Charlie having the highest average brix and Brilliance having the lowest average brix.
The purpose of this bulletin is to summarize the specific characteristics of the cultivars released by the NCARS. A brief description of the important characteristics will be followed by a review of each cultivar in order of ripening sequence. Ripening dates provided are average dates calculated from years of observation at the Sandhills Research Station.
This publication discusses the signs and symptoms as well as management of a variety of strawberry viruses including Strawberry Mild Yellow Edge, Strawberry Mottle Virus and Raspberry Ringspot Virus.
The symptoms and treatment techniques of southern stem blight in strawberries are discussed in this factsheet.
Weed competition in lettuce reduces both yield and head quality. This cool-season crop faces competition from winter annuals as well as early summer weeds. Learn about the cultivation and herbicide options that growers can use to control weeds in lettuce, including advice for lettuce grown with plastic mulch.
This factsheet provides information on whiteflies and their impact on North Carolina strawberries.
This publication, chapter 11 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, discusses fertilization and soil fertility for blackberry and raspberry plants.
This publication, chapter 13 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, offers tips on harvesting and handling blackberries and raspberries postharvest.
Maple spider mites are a common arthropod pest of landscape and nursery-grown maple trees, most commonly red maple and red maple x silver maple hybrids (Freeman maples). This pest factsheet provides an integrated pest management approach to identify, monitor, and manage maple spider mites.
This factsheet describes the biology of the lesser canna leafroller, Geshna cannalis, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the banded sphinx moth or lesser vine sphinx, Eumorpha fasciatus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the whitefly Aleuroplatus vaccinii, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the whitefly parasite, Encarsia formosa, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the Leaf crumpler, Acrobasis indiginella, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the spongy moth, Lymantria dispar, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the pales weevil, Hylobius pales, and provides residential management recommendations.
This field note for farmers published by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) describes the composting process, how to make compost, and how to use it. Included are instructions for determining an application rate and the results of research by CEFS on integrating cover crops and compost.
This publication, chapter 4 of the 2023 Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide, discusses soil testing, nursery stock, and spacing for blackberry and raspberry production.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying different flies and maggots in commercial garden and plant production.
This factsheet, part of Insect and Related Pests of Flowers and Foliage Plants, discusses identifying slugs and snails in commercial flower and plant production.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of centipedegrass.
This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of white grubs and addresses how to control them as an insect in turf.
Maintenance contracts for turfgrass areas should be written to provide security for all parties involved. The person or company receiving services (the contractor) should be aware of everything it has agreed to and therefore is required to do. This publication provides basic guidelines on how to write a good contract regarding turfgrass maintenance.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of springtails, an insect pest of lawns and turf and occasionally the home.
This publication covers the different types of bermudagrass, uses of bermudagrasses, planting methods and the grasses' pests and diseases.
Infestations of moss in turf are associated with unfavorable conditions for growing healthy, dense turf. This publication offers control options.
This factsheet describes the biology and management of the imported willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolor, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the dogwood sawfly, Macremphytus tarsatus, and provides residential management recommendations.
This factsheet describes the biology of the purple mite (also known as the purple camellia mite, the purple tea mite (camellia and tea are closely related plants), and cha-geom-eun-hog-eung-ae, Calacarus carinatus.
Precision agriculture (PA), often referred to as "smart farming" or "precision farming," represents a transformative paradigm shift in the field of horticultural sciences, particularly when applied to vegetable cultivation. The fundamentals of PA involve site-specific management of inputs such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Nowadays, PA leverages advances in remote sensing, robotics, and data science to optimize crop production, enhance both yield and resource efficiency, and minimize environmental impacts. This article introduces PA technologies and recent advances, along with the potential benefits they bring to vegetable production. It also provides considerations for growers interested in adopting PA technologies in their operations.
North Carolina has one of the most varied climates of any eastern state, and a diverse number of grape species and varieties can be grown. But to be a successful commercial winegrape grower, it is critical that you select varieties that grow well in your region and that have an established market.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of Surflan (oryzalin).
This publication covers information on hydraulic ram pumps and offers guidelines on installation and purchasing a system.
The self-propelled gun type traveler system is usually the most practical system for irrigating irregular shaped fields. Selection and management considerations for self-propelled gun type systems are discussed in this article.
This factsheet describes the symptoms of a photosystem II (PS II) inhibitor herbicide injury.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the cicada, an occasional pest of trees when laying eggs.
This Entomology Insect Note describes the biology and control of the azalea stem borer.
Color guide to identification of weeds common in container nursery crop production. Also includes a table of preemergence herbicide efficacy on these species.
This pesticide factsheet covers the use and characteristics of the herbicide Oxadiazon (oxadiazon).
This factsheet, part of the publication Insect and Related Pests of Shrubs publication, includes an identification key and descriptions of pests in gardenia.
This fruit disease information factsheet discusses several disease problems when growing figs in North Carolina.
