How to Avoid Palm Disease on Your Property (LBD)

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. 

Do you need landscape support on your commercial property?

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

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   

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https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LyraEDISServlet?command=getScreenImage&oid=16534467

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 

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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

VALLEY VIEW, Ohio – Mainscape has been named one of the largest landscape companies in North America by Lawn & Landscape magazine 17th. 

Mainscape ranked 18th on the 2019 Lawn & Landscape Top 100 list, which was published in May and sponsored by Kohler.

“Sponsoring the Lawn & Landscape Top 100 list has been such a privilege,” says T.J. Landrum, Kohler’s vice president of marketing, gasoline engines. “As Kohler continues to reaffirm our commitment to helping professionals serve their customers more effectively, it is inspiring to see so much passion for the industry and to know that we are a part of the success these companies are experiencing.” 

The Lawn & Landscape Top 100 list is based on 2018 revenue from landscape profit centers as reported by each company listed. Companies on the list earned total revenue of $10,221,735,143 in 2018, which is an increase of $603,045,036 or 6.27 percent, compared to 2017. The average expected growth for 2019 is 10 percent. Companies on the list also reported total employment of 97,269. Eleven new companies were added to the list this year. 

Executives from these companies were also invited to the Lawn & Landscape Top 100 Executive Summit and Awards, sponsored by Kohler, Exmark and Horizon Distributors. The event, which took place in Dallas, gives executives from the Top 100 companies a chance to network with each other while also receiving high-end education. 

“The companies that appear on our Top 100 list have produced more than $10 billion in revenue in the green industry, says Brian Horn, editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine. “In an industry that continues to grow, these companies are major reason for this upward trend. The list is a way to acknowledge the companies, while the event gives them the opportunity to learn from each other.” 

This year’s list was compiled by Lawn & Landscape editors in the first half of 2019.

About Kohler Co.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 30,000 associates. With more than 50 manufacturing locations worldwide, Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier furniture, cabinetry and tile; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, and St Andrews, Scotland.

ABOUT LAWN & LANDSCAPE

Lawn & Landscape is the leading b2b publication serving the $70-billion landscape and lawn care industry. With a suite of services – including a monthly print edition, dozens of e-newsletters, active social media accounts and events – L&L provides landscape business owners with the research, insight and analysis to help them grow their companies. 

ABOUT GIE MEDIA

GIE Media, Inc. is a leading b2b media company serving some 17 different industries through print and digital magazines, websites, e-newsletters, apps, conferences, reference books and other media platforms. GIE Media, Inc., is headquartered in Valley View, Ohio and employs more than 100 editors, publishers, sales representatives, marketers and other professionals.

Why Rejuvenation Pruning is Important

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!