August News

Magnolia scale

Magnolia scale is our largest soft scale insect, reaching ½ inch in length.  This scale spends the winter on small twigs as tiny, dark-colored nymphs.  In the spring, the scales begin to feed, mature, and change color.  The males, which turn white, are smaller than the females, about 1/8 inch in length, and emerge as tiny, gnat-like insects.  The males mate with the females and then die.  The females turn white to brownish-purple in color and continue to enlarge through July.

Magnolia scale adults
Magnolia scale eggs hatch internally and the crawlers emerge from the mother insect. Crawler emergence occurs late summer into early fall.  Insect life cycles are dictated by heat so emergence of crawlers will vary from year to year.   On average crawler emergence occurs from late August through the end of September.  This would also be the best time to treat with insecticides (see chemical management below).  The crawlers move around until they find a suitable feeding site, usually on branches, where they settle down and remain through the winter.  The adult female dies after reproducing, but may remain attached to the stem for many weeks, making the population seem larger than it really is.

Damage
Scale insects have sucking mouth parts and feed on sap from the tree.  They can remove large quantities of sap and can stress the host tree.  Trees can usually tolerate small populations of scale.  The extensive feeding by a larger population will stress the trees and often leads to yellowing of leaves and twig dieback.  Over time, an untreated population of magnolia scale may lead to decline of the tree.
Excess sap is excreted by the insects as honeydew.  Honeydew is sticky and will coat plant parts and often drip onto surfaces under the tree.  A black fungus called sooty mold will grow on the honeydew, but does little actual damage to the plant.  The sticky honeydew and black sooty mold are often noticed before the insects are seen.  The honeydew may also draw other insects like ants and wasps to the tree.

Chemical
Scale insects are very vulnerable in the crawler stage when the young are looking for a place to feed.  Adult scales are usually protected from chemicals because of their protective coating. Registered sprays applied before the crawlers are present will have little effect on population control. Timing of application is critical.  Chemical sprays would be used at the time of crawler emergence (on average from late August through the end of September).

Source: Morton Arboretum

Transtect comes in Easy-to-Use Water Soluble Packets.

• Transtect is the only systemic insecticide that controls both soft and hard shell scale. No more field diagnosis of scales.
• Field studies have shown superior control on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infested trees and controls Hemlock Elongate Scale at the same time.
• Provides fast uptake and control of pest problems.
• Excellent spring and early summer treatment for season long control.

Key Insects Controlled: Armored Scales, Adelgids, Aphids, Flatheaded Borers, Longhorned Borers, Psyllids, Sawfly, Soft Scales, Whiteflies.

POSTEMERGENCE CRABGRASS CONTROL WITH QUINCLORAC

Quinclorac has shown to be a good-excellent post crabgrass herbicide. Quinclorac also exhibits some broadleaf activity, especially on legumes like black medic and clover. Drive activity is very rapid, with crabgrass kill occurring within 1-2 weeks after herbicide application. Young (non-tillered) crabgrass may brown & die in less than one week.

Contact your sales representative if you would like Ice melt pricing

The Power of a Positive Educator

When I think about the teachers who made a difference in my life I realize they were all positive. Mrs. Liota smiled every day and made me feel loved. Coach Caiazza believed in me while Mr. Ehmann encouraged me to be my best. Years later as I think about the impact these teachers had on my life it’s clear that being a positive educator not only makes you better it makes everyone around you better. Positive educators have the power to transform lives and inspire young minds to believe they can and will change the world. In this spirit here are seven ways we can all choose to be a positive educator.

1. Be Positively Contagious – Research shows that emotions are contagious. Sincere smiles, kind words, encouragement and positive energy infect people in a positive way. On the flip side your students are just as likely to catch your bad mood as the swine flu. So each day you come to school you have a choice. You can be a germ or a big dose of Vitamin C. When you choose to be positively contagious your positive energy has a positive impact on your students, your colleagues and ultimately your school culture. Your students will remember very little of what you said but they will remember 100% of how you made them feel. I remember Mrs. Liota and her smile and love and it made all the difference.

2. Take a Daily Thank you Walk – It’s simple, it’s powerful, and it’s a great way to feed yourself with positivity. How does it work? You simply take a walk... outside, in a mall, at your school, on a treadmill, or anywhere else you can think of, and think about all the things, big and small, that you are grateful for. The research shows you can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you combine gratitude with physical exercise, you give yourself a double boost of positive energy. You flood your brain and body with positive emotions and natural antidepressants that uplift you rather than the stress hormones that drain your energy and slowly kill you. By the time you get to school you are ready for a great day.

3. Celebrate Success – One of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for yourself and your students is to celebrate your daily successes. Instead of thinking of all things that went wrong at school each day focus on the one thing that went right. Try this: Each night before you go to bed think about the one great thing about your day. If you do this you’ll look forward to creating more success tomorrow. Also have your students do this as well. Each night they will go to bed feeling like a success and they will wake up with more confidence to take on the day.

4. Expect to Make a Difference – When positive educators walk into their classroom they expect to make a difference in their student’s lives. In fact, making a difference is the very reason why they became a teacher in the first place and this purpose continues to fuel them and their teaching. They come to school each day thinking of ways they can make a difference and expecting that their actions and lessons will lead to positive outcomes for their students. They win in their mind first and then they win in the hearts and minds of their students.

5. Believe in your students more than they believe in themselves – I tried to quit lacrosse during my freshman year in high school but Coach Caiazza wouldn’t let me. He told me that I was going to play in college one day. He had a vision for me that I couldn’t even fathom. He believed in me more than I believed in myself. I ended up going to Cornell University and the experience of playing lacrosse there changed my life forever. The difference between success and failure is belief and so often this belief is instilled in us by someone else. Coach Caiazza was that person for me and it changed my life. You can be that person for one of your students if you believe in them and see their potential rather than their limitations.

6. Develop Positive Relationships – Author Andy Stanley once said, "Rules without relationship lead to rebellion."Far too many principals share rules with their teachers but they don’t have a relationship with them. And far too many teachers don’t have positive relationships with their students. So what happens? Teachers and students disengage from the mission of the school. I’ve had many educators approach me and tell me that my books helped them realize they needed to focus less on rules and invest more in their relationships. The result was a dramatic increase in teacher and student performance, morale and engagement. To develop positive relationships you need to enhance communication, build trust, listen to them, make time for them, recognize them, show them you care through your actions and mentor them. Take the time to give them your best and they will give them your best.

7. Show you Care – It’s a simple fact. The best educators stand out by showing their students and colleagues that they care about them. Standardized test scores rise when teachers make time to really know their students. Teacher performance improves when principals create engaged relationships with their teachers. Teamwork is enhanced when educators know and care about one another. Parents are more supportive when educators communicate with their student’s parents. The most powerful form of positive energy is love and this love transforms students, people and schools when it is put into action. Create your own unique way to show your students and colleagues you care about them and you will not only feel more positive yourself but you will develop positive kids who create a more positive world.

Upcoming Industry Events

Turf Education Day (TED)

ILCA and the Chicago Botanic Garden have come together to present the 11th annual Turf Education Day! August 29th. Lawn care is a big part of many of our businesses and organizations. Whether you choose to subcontract some of those services, or provide them in-house, it is critical to your profitability and customers’ satisfaction to stay informed about the latest turf care products and practices. This day of training and education is for any professional who cares for and looks after turf.

Registration includes free parking, lunch, and access to the Chicago Botanic Garden before and after the event.

EVENT DETAILS