By Ann Davenport

Hostas are a mainstay in our landscapes.  They are a tough, reliable, “hassle-free” plant with what seems like thousands of varieties from which to choose.  While hostas are considered to be relatively disease free, they are susceptible to a virus referred to as Hosta Virux X (HVX).

Leaf discoloration along the veins is a symptom of Hosta Virux X

HVX was first identified in 1996 by Dr. Ben Lockhart at the University of Minnesota.  It has become a common virus in hosta and is a concern to nurseries, garden centers, and home owners alike.  Hosta Virus X is not transmitted through insects, nematodes, seed, or pollen transfer.  Rather, the virus is transmitted mechanically through wounds resulting in sap to sap contact during dividing, transplanting, trimming, etc…  Once a plant has HVX there is no cure and the plant must be destroyed.

HVX reduces plant vigor and most symptoms are displayed in a deterioration of leaf quality.  Symptoms can include line patterns (often along veins), mosaic patterns, blotches, twisting or puckering of leaves, and necrotic (dead) spots.  Symptoms vary among cultivars and may take years to develop.

Other symptoms include puckering of dead spots in the leaf

Since there is no cure for HVX the best management strategy is to prevent the spread.  Plants with the virus should be removed from the garden and destroyed.  Do not compost infected plants as the virus can live in infected soil for up to two years.  It is good practice to sterilize your tools regularly and it is especially recommended to do so between plants when cutting or dividing.  Sterilization can be done by using a solution of Dawn dish soap, 70% alcohol solution, or a 10% bleach solution.  In all cases it is not enough to simply dip the tool in the solution.  Tools must be scrubbed clean of all dirt and debris.

Additional information can be found online by visiting American Hosta Society and University of Minnesota Extension Yard and Garden News.

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By Ann Davenport

May and June is the time to get out into your garden and take a look at your pine trees.  Do they look like they are losing their needles?  Take a closer look.  Do you see little worms on the old needles?  If so, you are likely looking at European Pine Sawfly.  European Pine Sawfly are part of the wasp family.  It is the larvae stage that eats your pine needles.  The larvae are about an inch long with a black head and a gray-green body.

Sawfly larvae feeding in groups

They feed in groups on the previous year’s needles.  Mugo, Scotch, Jack, and Red pine are favored by European Sawfly.  White and Austrian pine are less susceptible.

Early detection is the best method of control for the European Pine Sawfly.  Begin inspecting your evergreens in early May for signs of feeding.  If caught early, they can easily be removed by hand.  You can blast them off with a hose or spray with an insecticidal soap (you can purchase it or make your own with liquid dish soap).  You may need to spray a couple times a week during the feeding season.  As larvae mature, insecticidal soap becomes less effective and you may need to step up to an insecticide containing pyrethrin.  This can be found at a hardware store or garden center.

Close up of European Pine Sawfly

To make your pines happier and healthier and less attractive to sawfly, water them regularly throughout the summer and up to the first frost.  One to two defoliations won’t kill an otherwise healthy pine.  The new growth isn’t affected and barring no other disease or insect factors, the plant should recover.

For additional information about European Pine Sawfly as well as other Sawfly species found in Minnesota take a look at this University of Minnesota Extension publication.

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By Shannon O’Halloran

Kenny constructing a rock wall

You may have seen this gentleman wandering through your yard during the installation of your landscape.  Kenny is our craftsman.  He builds amazing rock walls and water features, as well as all of our carpentry products.

As head of our carpentry program, Kenny designs many of our fences,

One of Kenny's beautiful fences

gates, pergolas, window boxes and stoops.  At Field we are always looking for ways to put unique elements into our landscapes which are personal to our clients.  Kenny is the person that makes these unique features shine.

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