Timely Tips for May 2008
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Building a Green Future in Maryland - Visit the Green Building website!
The concept design for the proposed building is to combine an office building and a living research laboratory for exploring green technologies. This center will bring the results of research in sustainable practices to Maryland’s residents, students, and businesses through tours, seminars, and conferences. Through outreach education, which is the hallmark of Extension, Marylanders will learn how to implement energy saving practices in order to save money and reduce the degradation and destruction of natural resources. Research & demonstration gardens will feature sustainable landscaping, ornamental gardening, and organic food production.
This project will capitalize on the University of Maryland’s reputation as a national leader in research. The goal is to be a leader in green building function and technology by pursuing advanced concepts like energy neutral design and handling all waste on-site. This facility will be the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified building on a University Land Grant research farm. View our power point presentation for more information.
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Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic beetle from Asia. It feeds on and kills ash trees, which are important riparian and landscape trees in Maryland. Emerald ash borer is currently infesting part of southern Prince George’s county. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is in the process of removing ash trees in the eradication zone to stop the spread of this beetle. To help prevent further movement of this pest do not transport hardwood firewood out of the county or from the southern half of the county into the northern part of the county. Also, ash trees cannot be planted or moved out of the county. Currently all of Prince George’s county is under a quarantine for this pest. Details of the quarantine order can be found on the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Emerald Ash Borer Page. For photos, links and latest news, visit HGIC’s Emerald Ash Borer web page
If you suspect that you have an infested ash, you can use the electronic form to report it to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
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Sudden Oak Death
Sudden Oak death is a devastating disease that has killed thousands of trees in California. The causal agent is a fungus like organism called Phytophthora ramorum.
This organism was identified on dying oaks in California and has since spread to other states, including Maryland, through the nursery and retail trade. This organism causes two distinct types of diseases. Bark infections that kill the host and foliar blights that serve as a source of further infections. Hosts on the east coast that are killed by this disease include oaks and Douglas fir. Pieris, lilac, rhododendron and azalea, camellia, viburnum and others can serve as a source of disease spores. Phytophthora is a genus of diseases not unknown to Marylanders, but the various species of the disease we normally encounter are known as ‘root rot’ and are most often found in water-logged soils or poorly drained soils. P. ramorum, on the other hand moves more readily and can be spread by the wind from one plant’s foliage to another.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is seeking help from the public in tracking down infected plant material. They are particularly interested in any camellias, lilacs, and viburnums that were purchased and or planted in 2003 or later. Also of interest are rhododendrons (including azaleas) that are exhibiting symptoms. In addition, samples of any other plants on the host list published by the USDA, APHIS that were planted in 2003 or later and are exhibiting unusual symptoms should be sent to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) for testing. For the latest information and links visit our Sudden Oak Death web page. If you suspect you have an infected plant, whether it has symptoms or not, please call our phone consultants at 800-342-2507 (410- 531-1757 outside of Maryland) to determine if a sample needs to be analyzed. You can also report suspect plants via our online form
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