Vernon County

Horticulture Updates

Ornamentals

Periods of drought the last few summers have left many trees and shrubs injured or dead.  For more information on this topic, go to Missouri Environment and Garden

Oak trees dying?  Hypoxylon canker is most likely the problem.

Leaf spots are abounding on trees due to the rainy weather this spring.  Preventative sprays are the best option but means you have to spray long before you see a problem. 

Galls are seldom a problem to trees.  Gouty and horned oak galls are the exception.  In severe cases they can slowly kill even large trees.  There are no good controls except to prune out galls when you first find them.  Vein pocket galls have been bad on trees this year.  Trees may look wilted from a distance but it is because of the gall damage.  No control is available when you see the damage and trees shouldn't have long term damage. 

Itch mites flourish on some of the oak gall insects.  These mites feed on the gall insects but when blown around they can land on people.  If you have itchy bites with welts the size of a quarter, this could be the problem.  For more information, see this article from Kansas State University. 

Fruit & Vegetables

Heavy rains are causing many garden plants to die.  Root diseases could be a problem, but they are probably dying from a lack of Oxygen.  Plants get oxygen from the soil and if the soil is saturated for too long, they wilt and die.  Click here for more information. 

Produce from gardens that have been covered with flood water are not safe to use.  Click here for more information.

Peach leaf curl is a common problem.  Treatment requires the use of a fungicide while the trees are still dormant.  For more information see G6030. 

Earlier rainy weather has also increased fire blight in pears and apples.  Besides spraying and pruning for control, help avoid fire blight by planting resistant varieties.

Tomato diseases are a yearly problem.  To help prevent them, spray fungicides on a schedule starting at transplanting.  Missouri Extension has good general information on tomato growing.

Heavy rains are causing wilting of tomatoes and other garden plants.  It could be simply too wet of soil or it could be a wilt disease caused by too wet of soil.  Click here for more information.

Lawns

Heavy rains are also affecting lawns with fungus disease.  Brown patch is one affecting many local lawns at present. 

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		University of Missouri Extension Vernon County vernonco@missouri.edu Site maintainer: Pat Miller millerpd@missouri.edu Updated 01/11/06