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Common Pests and Problems for
March
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Spray to control lawn weeds such as chickweed and dandelion now when they are growing actively.
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Winter Annual Weeds
Common chickweed (Stellaria media)--also called, Alsine media, starwort, starweed, bindweed, winterweed, satin flower, tongue-grass--can be a pest of the lawn or garden
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Winter Annual Weeds
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)--also called, dead nettle, blind nettle, bee nettle--can be a pest of the lawn or garden
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Apply crabgrass preventor between mid-March to mid-April or about the time forsythia is blooming. If you decide to use a weed and feed product, do not use a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Crabgrass Control , Crabgrass Preventers
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If not already done, remove and dispose of the foliage of plants such as roses, peonies, iris, daylilies, apples, and horsechestnut, which are subject to annual fungal leaf diseases.
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Black Spot of Rose
Yellowing rose (Rosa) leaves with black spots are characteristic of black spot of rose
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Scout for and remove tent caterpillar webs.
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Eastern tent caterpillars (Lepidoptera) in web feeding on apple (Malus); note that the webs are in branch crotches
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Close-up of egg mass of eastern tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera) on flowering quince (Chaenomeles)
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Frost is possible this month. Do not uncover plants or plant tender plants too early. Little can be done to protect large trees and shrubs but you may be able to give some protection to small plants closer to the ground. Protecting Plants from Frost
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Apples, pears, and other plants infected with fireblight should have had diseaed wood pruned out by the end of February. If this was not completed by then, wait until dry weather in mid summer. Pruning wounds made at this time of year may provide entry points for the bacteria that caused the disease.
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Fireblight
Fireblight canker and twig dieback on crabapple (Malus)
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Don't forget to inspect plants you are overwintering indoors for insects. Insect populations can increase rapidly at this time of year before the plants are set outside for the summer.
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Spider Mites - Indoors
Close-up of two-spotted spider mite (Acari) on angel's trumpet (Brugmansia); includes adults, immatures and eggs
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Cool-season grasses are best fertilized in fall. If you do apply fertilizer in spring, make sure it is low in nitrogen. Nitrogen applied in spring encourages excess growth, which is more susceptible to disease. Hold off until May to fertilize zoysia or other warm-season grasses.
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Observe indoor seedling closely for signs of damping off. Treat if necessary.
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© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2009
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