While avoiding the annoying bite of the mosquito may be the motivating factor, mosquito control is important for reducing the spread of disease. And, controlling mosquito populations takes a varied approach beginning first with the avoidance of pooled or standing water. Considering the recent abundance of rainfall, it means the time for eliminating the mosquito’s breeding grounds is upon us!

Prevention of Disease is First, and Foremost

While most of us think of mosquitoes as an annoyance because of their blood sucking bite, we often times forget the greatest concern is their ability to transmit disease. While not necessarily a huge concern for Ohioans, malaria remains one of the most severe public health problems worldwide that’s spread through the bite of the mosquito. Encephalitis, a concern for not only humans but also in the horse population, is a more common disease carried and spread in Ohio by mosquitoes. Who can forget how West Nile virus was quickly spread around the country by both mosquitoes and birds back in the early 2000’s? And, in fact, as recent as early in June 2017 Franklin County Public Health officials reported finding a West Nile infected mosquito pool in Norwich Township near the Columbus suburb of Hilliard. In addition, Canine heartworm, a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs results from Continue reading Recent Rainfall Means Mosquitoes Are On Their Way! →

Do the sunny days make you wonder about skin cancer or sun damage? Here are some stats about skin cancer:

• Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States.
• There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma.
• Early detection is the key in diagnosing and treating skin cancer.

If you must be out in the sun, here are some Continue reading Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun →

The product “Roundup for Lawns” will not kill turfgrass

Last year a new product called “Roundup For Lawns” was introduced to the marketplace. Your first response might be something like ‘so what?’ And, it’s a logical question . . . until you look closer at the label of “Roundup For Lawns” and realize that it doesn’t contain ANY of the active ingredient that’s in Roundup, that being glyphosate. Since it’s named similarly, and packaged similarly, it offers lots of opportunity for confusion, misuse, and the death of plants that may not have been intended to be killed.

Here’s the problem. “Roundup For Lawns” is just that, a new 4-way broadleaf and grassy herbicide combination that does not kill desirable lawn and turf grasses.The herbicide active ingredients in “Roundup For Lawns” are MCPA, quinclorac, dicamba and sulfentrazone. These herbicides have been around for a while and collectively are effective on a broad range of weeds that might infest a lawn or landscape such as dandelion, crabgrass and nutsedge. “Roundup For Lawns” is a selective herbicide that controls specific weeds, but not lawn grasses.

On the other hand, “Roundup” has an active ingredient of glyphosate and is not selective. It will kill all plants with Continue reading Is Roundup Really Roundup?!? →

You’re invited to enjoy the second stop on the Local Foods Farm Tour Series this Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Nightcrawler Gardens.

Nightcrawler Gardens is a family owned and operated business celebrating their 15th year. The name is also a tribute to the earthworm, a true friend to farmers and gardeners, and a sure sign of soil health.

Jason and Sheri started the business with only field grown sunflowers and today NightCrawler Gardens has grown to specialize in Continue reading Local Foods Farm Tour Series Continues at Nightcrawler Gardens →

OSU Extension in Morrow County will be hosting a Hydrangea School on June 19th at their offices in Mt. Gilead from 2 until 4 p.m. A $30 per person registration fee includes the program and handouts along with a plant to take home. Find a flyer that includes more detail and a registration form linked here.

The May, 2018 issue of the Ohio Fruit News has been posted on-line and can be found linked here in PDF format.

In this edition there are articles on the happenings in fruit research at OARDC, an update on Stink Bug control, a new apple disease on apples in New York, information on using NEWA in your farms, and an update on the expectant Spotted Wing Drosophila in Ohio.

Check in at the OSU Fruit Pathology website regularly for updates on fruit growing concerns in Ohio, and don’t hesitate to contact any of the authors of the newsletter with questions.

Do the wildlife enjoy your garden crops more than you do? If so, see this 6 minute video.