The official blog of the Oregon State University Plant Clinic
It may not be possible to save large trees in decline
Trees often decline for apparently no clear reason. However, if you look carefully at the conditions the tree has experienced over the years, the [...]
Big Beetles
This is the time of year when many of Oregon's beetles are emerging in their recognizable adult stages and encountering humans wherever they go! [...]
Flying Ts
The capacity of the natural world to surprise and delight is simply wonderful. There are things out in the environment we may not see because [...]
Jumping Oak Galls
When you were a child, did you ever see what were called Mexican jumping beans? They used to be sold at the ends of [...]
Tenlined June Beetles
Every year, as June rolls up here in the PNW, a hard-to-miss scarab beetle makes its appearance. Curious folks take notice and want to [...]
Carpenter ants
Like many of you, I’ve been working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. The weather has been steadily warming, which means I’ve extended my [...]
Rust never sleeps
I’m pretty sure Neil Young didn’t intend his song entitled “Rust Never Sleeps” to become an unofficial anthem of fungal plant pathologists, but that [...]
Pest alert posters
Here is our first set of pest alert posters for the PNW. We'll continue to add posters to highlight new potential insect pests. Contact [...]
The chemical stew of black spot
The intermittent rainfalls this spring in Western Oregon have been a bonanza for fungal diseases, and many are showing up earlier than we have seen [...]
Snow-making bacterium is making no friends
The same bacterium used to make artificial snow, Pseudomonas syringae, is causing problems in blueberries right now. The near freezing night time temperatures experienced [...]
Carpet Beetles
Series: Insects commonly submitted to the OSU Insect ID Clinic While you’re sheltering in place at home right now, you’re probably noticing some [...]
Brown rot – an aptly named and unwelcome disease of stone fruits
I have a sour cherry tree in my yard that declines a bit more each year. It is in sad shape, with seared-open main branches injured by sun scald and invaded by decay fungi. This all stemmed from leaf loss due to an ongoing and pervasive case of brown rot caused by the fungus Monilinia. This organism infects first through the flowers, usually after a rain while the flowers are open.
Tea Scale: An unwanted hitch-hiker
Sunny days and warmer weather bring about thoughts of gardening: which plants are not performing as well as would be liked, which new ones would look better in that spot. If you are contemplating adding to your garden, be sure not to add an unwanted component: insect or mite pests (or disease) that might be tagging along with your new acquisition.
Pest and Weather Models
The Oregon Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has a great collection of online resources to support both commercial growers and home gardeners across the country. Their web-based tools include weather and climate driven models for IPM/pest models, plant disease risk models, crop models, horticultural models, beneficial species models, climate suitability models, and many others.
The spotted lanternfly makes its first west coast appearance
Last September we published our first post about the potential for the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, to be a pest of serious concern to Oregon agriculture. At the time, only a handful of eastern states had reported established populations (Pennsylvania has been the most impacted). More recently, a live adult spotted lanternfly was reported in Davis, California.
We’ve moved! (And How to Find Us)
Cordley Hall is preparing for a major renovation, and while we wait for brand new lab and office spaces, we've relocated upstairs on the [...]
Hide your honeybees, the Asian giant hornet has landed in the PNW
The New York Times just published (5/02/2020) an updated article about the Asian Giant Hornet titled ‘Murder Hornets’ in the U.S.: The Rush to [...]
Purple days
Winter is the perfect time for dreaming of the perfect garden.Even if your garden is established, it is never really finished. Preferences change over time. [...]
Baby it’s cold outside
The forecast for the next few weeks is cold – the first severe cold temperatures we have seen in western Oregon this winter. It may be a good time to review how plants are damaged by freezing weather.
Secretary of War brings back the flower of peace
The association of poinsettias with Christmas is said to have begun over 500 years ago. The plant has been growing in dry tropical forests, along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Guatemala, for even longer than that. In its native form, it grows as a lanky, long-stemmed small tree or large bush. The wild plant has brilliant red “flowers”, but the red bits are narrow, less eye-catching, and scarcely like those on the plants we see in garden centers.
Garlic Gone Bad – Part II
Part II to our series! Here are more common problems you might encounter in your summer-grown garlic.
Garlic Gone Bad
Winter is the time to use your summer-grown garlic. Fortunately, we have great garlic-growing weather here in Western Oregon, although occasionally problems do arise. This week we are showing some common problems that can pop up and which are usually only found when you are cracking those heads, seeking the perfect cloves for your favorite potato and garlic soup.
Calling all naturalists!
Our fun Friday feature is a short introduction to a really cool app called iNaturalist. iNaturalist is essentially an online social network of enthusiastic naturalists, citizen scientists, students, researchers and experts who provide a worldwide crowdsourcing species identification system. Record your own observations, get help identifying species you record, and join projects that can use your observations for research or education efforts. Take your smart phone into your backyard or out on a hike, and try recording your first observation.
Governed by Micrometeorology: Apple Scab and Spore Dispersal
Apple scab, that fungal disease known to just about anyone who had grown an apple, can convert a promising young fruit into a disfigured, unappetizing reject. Although safe to eat, in this day of readily available perfect fruit, we would rather do without scabby fruit.