SAGO PALM
This is a very popular ornamental plant that we use widespread in our landscape. We call it Sago palm but it is not a palm at all, but rather a Cycad.
The scientific name is Cycas revoluta. It performs best in full sunlight to partial shade. It is propagated by seeds and suckers taken near the base of large plants. Sago palms have erect, sturdy trunks that are typically about one to two feet in diameter. The leaves are dark olive green and about three to four feet long.
The sago palm has either male or female cones. Male cones protrude and are shaped like a cone or torpedo. Females are “cabbage” shaped.
Brief Recognition Factors:
- Slow rate of growth.
- Palmlike form for small spaces.
- Accent, specimen plant.
- Drought Tolerant.
- Can be grown in containers.
- Palms used for Palm Sunday services.
As with all plants, there are some problems with this plant.
- Does get scale insects on leaves.
- Does get leaf anthracnose causing dead sections of the plant.
- Can be expensive for older, larger plants.
Overall, a very good, hearty accent plant in the landscape.
DISEASES ON ORNAMENTAL TREES
Beginning to see a few problems on our ornamental trees due to ideal weather factors – wet, cool, and warm.
Fire blight is showing up on ornamental pear trees and Japan plums (loquat). Twigs, flowers, and leaves wilt and form “shepard’s crook” at the ends of infected shoots. Blackend leaves usually remain attached to branches. Remove infected branches, clean and disinfect cutting tools. Copper fungicides can be applied during bloom to reduce infection of flowers, but must be made every 4-5 days during bloom. The product, Aliette, can be sprayed to enhance the natural resistance of the plant to the disease, but must be sprayed 2 – 3 times prior to disease development to be effective.
POWDERY MILDEW ON CRAPE MYRTLES
This is a fungus that appears as a white, powder-like substance on leaves of crape myrtles and other ornamental plants. Chemicals used to control powdery mildew on crape myrtle include – chlorothalonil, copper hydroxide or thiophanate-methyl.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IS NOW IN FULL SWING.
Tomatoes are a popular crop at this time. Begin to look for the following insects and diseases on tomatoes.
Insects – Aphids, thrips, stink bugs, whiteflies, fruit worms, hornworms, and leaf miners.
Diseases – Early blight, late blight, leaf spots, anthracnose, Buckeye rot, Blossom-end rot, Fusarium Wilt, and Tomato spotted Wilt virus.
We have a very good publication titled “Vegetable Gardening Tips” Tomatoes. It is publication 1902 and you can get it online at our web site: www.lsuagcenter.com.
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE (KILLER BEES)
There have been a lot of questions and concerns about the killer bees and there are locations where they have been found in Louisiana. It has been a concern of mine because I am highly allergic to bee stings after a near fatal attack as a young child. I often get the following questions on bees.
Question – Can you tell me if this bee is a regular honey bee or a killer bee? The better question would be – Is it possible to tell an African honey bee from a regular or European honey bee by looking at it?
The answer to both questions is – NO. The size difference is very subtle. Our recommendation or procedure is to send the bees (minimum of 50) to the Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry where they are looked at and sized. If size is an issue they send them to the USDA lab for confirmation. Other facts on Africanized bees will be in future articles.