How to Avoid Palm Disease on Your Property (LBD)

by Mainscape Landscaping Company | Nov 11, 2019 | General Environmental

It’s important to regularly check your landscape for any potential issues or diseases that palms may have developed. Many people put off calling a landscape provider when they see something wrong because they think the issue will go away on its own. That’s not always the case. If you notice a change in landscape on your property, call a professional who can help you discern the next steps. Learn how you can avoid palm disease on your property below.

What is Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD)?

Recently there has been some media attention about a palm disease named Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD) formerly known as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD). This disease is fatal to susceptible palms and has been on the rise lately in Florida over the last few years.

The disease is transmitted by an insect that will feed on plant sap.

Symptoms will include premature fruit drop and death of flower stalks. Lower fronds will then turn a bronzish color and brown starting at the leaf tips, progressing upward into the canopy very quickly. It is not uncommon for palms to turn completely brown within a few weeks of initial symptoms. Susceptible palm species include, Sylvester, Medjool, Canary Island Date, Senegal Island Date and Sabal palms. 

There is no cure for LBD.

Antibiotic trunk injections with oxytetracycline (OTC) every 3 months can protect healthy palms and may suppress disease if administered in the very early stages. If injections are stopped, palms may develop disease and die. 

Mainscape recommends quarterly injections on all susceptible palm species mentioned above except sabal palms.

Sabal palms are inexpensive palms to replace compared to Sylvester, Medjool and Canary Island date palms. Below are the susceptible palms as well as what the symptoms look like on an infected Sylvester palm. 

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Contact one of our specialists to learn more. Our team is big enough to serve you, yet small enough to know you. We would love to help you maintain your property or get started on a new project!

Take-All Root Rot

by Mainscape Landscaping Company | Sep 6, 2019 | General Environmental

Take-All Root Rot (TARR) will be most prevalent during periods of prolonged rainfall such as summer to early fall months when Florida receives the majority of its annual rainfall.  The disease affects St. Augustinegrass by attacking the roots and stolons, and it can cause significant damage if it is left untreated. Since St. Augustinegrass is the most commonly used turfgrass species on Florida homes it is imperative to properly diagnosis this disease and develop a treatment plan accordingly to prevent turf loss.  TARR can also be observed on Bermudagrass which is widely used on golf courses, community entrances, common areas and clubhouses.  

Symptoms

Take-all Root Rot occurs naturally in the soil in Florida.  Because TARR is a root disease, it does not attack the leaf tissue (blades), but will prevent the turfgrass from taking up water or nutrients from the soil causing the leaf tissue to develop a chlorotic appearance.  The blades will appear yellow or light green, but by this time, TARR has been active on the root system for up to three weeks possibly longer, and can progress into patches of thinning or dead grass if not treated timely.  Disease development will persist, especially when there are favorable conditions such as excessive soil moisture content.            

Symptom photos   

Photo Credit: University of Florida – St. Augustinegrass roots rotted due to TARR

Management

Reducing or alleviating unnecessary stress to the turfgrass by following these recommended maintenance practices will help promote a healthier lawn. 

• When possible, avoid removing more than 1/3 of the leaf blade during mowing events (could be difficult during rainy season due to excessive growth of the grass)

• Reducing irrigation frequencies and duration when soil moisture content is saturated

• Applying equal amounts of nitrogen and potassium nutrients in slow release forms (when permitted)

Mainscape utilizes integrated pest management (IPM) to scout and treat areas of TARR before they reach damaging levels.  Once TARR areas have been identified, our IPM Specialists have been trained to apply the most effective products along with key nutrients to help the grass recover.  The Mainscape management team also proactively scouts for areas of TARR during their property evaluations and will create a customer service request (CSR) to ensure areas have been documented for treatment.  Multiple applications may be necessary depending on severity. Follow-up treatments are performed 60 days after the initial treatment and in most cases this will effectively suppress Take-all Root Rot.  

Severe damage photos 

Do you have questions? For over 30 years, Mainscape has provided innovative, award-winning landscape services to communities, corporations and military bases throughout the United States. Our specialists are the best in the field, and we’re ready to help you take your property to the next level!

Lawn & Landscape Top 100

by Mainscape Landscaping Company | Aug 1, 2019 | General Environmental

Why Rejuvenation Pruning is Important

by Mainscape Landscaping Company | Jul 15, 2019 | General Environmental

In order to maintain healthy plants, they should be regularly monitored and pruned. Rejuvenation pruning reduces plant size by 30 to 50 percent and exposes latent buds along the lower portion of stems to sunlight so they will grow new shoots and leaves, resulting in a healthier, denser, and more attractive shrub. The amount of reduction will depend on plant species, health and desired height. 

When can rejuvenation pruning be done? 

Rejuvenation pruning can begin in early Spring and continue throughout the Summer. Mainscape typically completes hard cut backs by the onset of summer so homeowners can enjoy their rejuvenated shrubs after they have flushed out for the better part of the growing season. Mainscape performs selective rejuvenation pruning only on plants that need it. All others are trimmed to maintain shape. 

What to expect after rejuvenation pruning 

For the shrubs shown above to look their best, it requires an “ugly stage”. Most plants have very few leaves after rejuvenation pruning and have a bare appearance for a few weeks. Dramatically removing this many leaves may be alarming at first, but soon you will see tiny new leaves forming all along the remaining stems. 

What else do I need to know?

Removing some flowers during rejuvenation pruning may be unavoidable; however, plants that produce flower buds on new growth will produce even more flowers on all the new growth to come. Examples are Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Ixora, Ole- ander, Plumbago, Crepe Myrtle, Roses, Allamanda, Thryallis, Duranta, and Firebush. The rejuvenation process can add years to the life of plants that need it. Aging or weak shrubs may not recover from severe pruning; however, that is usually an indicator that they would not have survived long term anyway. 

We take pride in our superior landscape services in Indianapolis (our HQ) and all across the country. Head to our Knowledge Center for free information and resources to keep your plants looking healthy!