NC State Extension Publications Numbered Publications, Factsheets, Hard Copy Documents, Authoritative Sources & more …

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Identification of Common Trees of North Carolina

By: Robert Bardon, Will Braun, Renee Strnad

This publication provides the basic concepts of tree identification using observation and a dichotomous key. It features an illustrated guide to distinguishing leaf characteristics, instructions for using a dichotomous key, and illustrated descriptions of 21 common trees in North Carolina.

Phorid Flies

By: Sydney Crawley, Matt Bertone

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.

What is a Bee Hotel?

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

This is the first chapter in the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel. It covers the benefits of bees, pollination in cities and towns, and how bee hotels can support native bees.

Bee Hotel Design and Placement

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

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.

The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide

By: Hannah Levenson, Elsa Youngsteadt

Identifying bees on the wing is known to be tricky. The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide is a beginner’s resource designed to help quickly and generally identify native bees in North Carolina. Developed by experts at NC State Extension, it provides an overview of some of the most common groups of bees in the state. The guide will help users learn to recognize bees according to key characteristics and, eventually, according to their overall appearance.

Callery Pear: 'Bradford' and Other Varieties and Their Invasive Progeny

By: Courtney Johnson, Kelly Oten Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet identifies several varieties of the ornamental Callery Pear tree and their impacts on native ecosystems.

Garden Cleanup for Pollinators: Trim Perennial Stems in Their First Winter

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Hannah Levenson, Leslie Rose, Charlotte Glen

It can be a challenge to manage a perennial garden to look tidy and maximize benefit to wildlife. To benefit native, solitary bees, we recommend trimming perennial stems in their first winter to a create a 12"-24" stubble. Bees occupy these cut stems as nesting space over the following year. Recommendations are based on participatory research conducted with Extension agents and Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers in North Carolina.

Homeowner’s Guide to Managing Diseases Using Fungicides, Bactericides, and Alternative Products

By: Ella Reeves, Inga Meadows

This publication provides homeowners with recommended chemical control options to use in combination with an integrated management plan for managing common diseases in the landscape or garden.

Manage Compost and Soil Contaminated with Broadleaf Herbicides in Residential, School, and Community Gardens

By: Bryan Luukinen, Samuel Cohen, Elizabeth Shapiro Garza, Catherine Kastleman, Rhonda Sherman, Lucy Bradley

This publication provides strategies for managing soil and compost contamination from persistent broadleaf herbicides by answering frequently asked questions related to plant symptoms, herbicides and their usage, and prevention.

Spotted Lanternfly

By: Kelly Oten Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive agricultural, ornamental, and nuisance pest in the United States.

Emerald Ash Borer

By: Kelly Oten, Ryan Bohannon Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the emerald ash borer, an invasive pest of ash trees in North Carolina.

Jumping Worms

By: Matt Bertone

This factsheet covers the description, biology, and management of the jumping earthworm, a common pest in North Carolina gardening.

Common Disease Pests of Oak in North Carolina

By: Rebecca Eshleman, Kelly Oten

This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common disease pests of oak (Quercus spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief to allow readers to peruse common diseases of oaks, but provide links for readers to learn more.

Common Insect Pests of Oak in North Carolina

By: Rebecca Eshleman, Kelly Oten

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.

Appendix 4. Building Plans for a Simple Bee Hotel Shelter

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

Appendix 4 in the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, provides detailed building plans for constructing a simple bee shelter.

Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina

By: Rebecca Eshleman, Kelly Oten

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.

How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

This collection describes how to design and build a bee hotel to support native pollinator species.

Elm Zigzag Sawfly

By: Kelly Oten, Matt Bertone, Delaney Serpan Invasive Forest Pests

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.

Lime Equivalence of Fine-Ground Basalt Rock

By: Luke Gatiboni, David Hardy

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.

Botrytis Blight of Greenhouse Ornamentals

By: Inga Meadows, Mike Munster, Leighann Murray Ornamental Disease Information

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.

Introducing Children to Insects in Childcare Center Gardens

By: Sam Marshall, Mary Archer, Lucy Bradley Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens

This factsheet is a guide to introducing children to common garden insects in an early childcare setting. It includes age-appropriate activities for childcare providers to engage young children in identifying garden insects at all life stages.

Asian Longhorned Beetle

By: Kelly Oten Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet offers information on the biology and management of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive forest pest in the United States.

Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae).

Anthracnose diseases of trees

By: Courtney Smith, Kelly Oten

This fact sheets details the identification and management of a common group of fungal diseases, anthracnose.

Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina

By: Rebecca Eshleman, Kelly Oten

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.

Meet the Residents

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

The second chapter in the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, highlights some of the common occupants of bee hotels in North Carolina and their nesting requirements. It also details the seasons when adults are most often active (foraging and building nests) and describes body sizes and tunnel diameters.

Foliar Analysis for Bell Pepper Production in North Carolina: A Guide for Growers

By: Emmanuel Torres Quezada Vegetable Nutrient Management

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.

Slugs in Strawberries

By: Lorena Lopez, Hannah Burrack, Aurora Toennisson

This factsheet describes slugs and their impact on strawberries.

Interpreting Freeze / Frost Probabilities from the National Centers for Environmental Information

By: Natalie Nelson, Layla El-Khoury, Mike Boyette

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.

Appendix I. More NC State Resources

This appendix from the Extension Gardener Handbook provides a list of links to useful online gardening resources.

Appendix 3. Plants that Produce Hollow or Pithy Twigs and Stems Used by Nesting Bees in Eastern North America

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

Appendix 3 of the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, provides a list of plants that create hollow or pithy twigs and stems that can be used as a source of nest materials for bee hotels.

Common Insects of Wildflower Plantings within North Carolina Turfgrass: A Field Guide

By: Laurie Hamon, Terri Billeisen

This guide introduces readers to some of the most common visitors to gardens in North Carolina, particularly in turfgrass-dominated areas. Readers will glean basic information about bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, beetles, and true bugs found among wildflowers in these locations.

Firewood as a Vector in Invasive Pest Dispersal

By: Kelly Oten Invasive Forest Pests

This factsheet covers information related to firewood as a threat in moving invasive pests to new areas.

Insect Pests of Dogwood in North Carolina

By: Rebecca Eshleman, Kelly Oten

This fact sheet compiles common arthropod pests of dogwood trees (Cornaceae) in North Carolina. It contains brief descriptions with links to reputable and more thorough fact sheets.

Urban Wildlife: Our Animal Neighbors

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to observe urban wildlife, record information and use findings to develop a wildlife habitat improvement plan.

The Importance of Zinc in Vegetable Crop Nutrition in North Carolina

By: Emmanuel Torres Quezada Vegetable Nutrient Management

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth, playing a critical role in numerous physiological processes, including enzyme activation, protein synthesis, and hormonal regulation. While required in small amounts, zinc is indispensable for high-quality vegetable production. Deficiencies can severely affect crop performance, leading to reduced yields and quality. This publication focuses on zinc management for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, broccoli, and cabbage, addressing its importance, adequate soil and foliage levels, fertilizer sources, and strategies for identifying and correcting deficiencies.

Bandedwinged Whitefly on Ornamentals

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes the bandedwinged whitefly (Trialeurodes abutiloneus).

What If Bee Hotels Aren’t Actually Good for Bees?

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

This chapter in the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, responds to critiques of bee hotels and their impact on bee populations.

Appendix 1. Bee Hotel Checklist

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

This appendix to the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, summarizes the best practices suggested throughout the document.

Red-Headed Flea Beetle Management in Container Nurseries

By: Danny Lauderdale, Steven Frank

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.

Growing Fruit Trees in Childcare Center Gardens

By: Mary Archer, Michael Parker, Lucy Bradley Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens

Early childhood educators can easily engage children in growing, harvesting, and preparing tree fruits that provide numerous opportunities for hands-on learning. Fruit trees add year-round value to childcare outdoor learning environments and provide opportunities for children to follow seasonal changes. In addition, fruit trees help to increase the natural diversity of the spaces and provide pockets of shade. While growing fruit trees can be a very rewarding process, proper planning, preparation, and care of the trees takes time and is essential for success.

Home Composting with Earthworms

By: Rhonda Sherman

Earthworms can turn food scraps into a soil amendment called vermicompost — worm castings — which increases plant growth and reduces attacks by plant diseases and pests. Vermicomposting is easy, involves little work, and can be done indoors or outdoors. All you need is a container, bedding, worms, and worm food.

Walnut Scale Insect on Ornamentals

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes walnut scales (Quadraspidiotus juglansregiae).

Earthworm Composting

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to make a composting bin to house earthworms and recycle food scraps.

Landscape Management Calendar

By: Barbara Fair, Steven Frank, Matt Martin, Grady Miller, Joe Neal

This poster-sized landscape management calendar is a guide to keeping your landscape healthy with sound management practices. It discusses proper establishment and maintenance practices as well as monitoring and targeted treatment of pests.

Appendix 2. Plants with Leaves and Fibers Used as Construction Materials in the Nest Interior

By: Elsa Youngsteadt, Meredith Favre

Abstract 2 of the collection, How to Manage a Successful Bee Hotel, lists plants that may be used in nesting materials for bees.

Nantucket Pine Tip Moth

By: James Baker PDIC Factsheets

This factsheet describes Nantucket pine tip moths (Rhyacionia frustrana).

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