The popularity of water gardening and aquascaping has increased significantly over the past few years. A well-designed and properly maintained water garden is aesthetically pleasing and can increase the property value. However, despite the positive effect that a water garden can have on the landscape, poorly managed gardens can cause headaches for the owner as well as detrimental effects to the environment. Namely, the introduction of noxious aquatic weeds that can wreak havoc on the water garden and can infest our lakes, rivers and other ponds.

Be very careful of your selection of plant material when constructing a water garden or when landscaping a wet area of the property with water-loving plants. A few of the plants that are used for these purposes can be very invasive if allowed to escape. Some of these plants can spread rapidly clogging up waterways, choking out native species and destroying the habitats of many fish and water-dependant species. Some of these problem plants are sold as water garden plants but some are brought in by accident. Some of the problem plants contaminate the plants we buy and are then introduced unintentionally. Some of the problem plants are native, but many of them are not. I will list a few of these plants. Many of them are on either the federal or state noxious weed list but a few, that are not on either of these lists can still cause problems.

If you get involved in the sale or production of aquatic plants, or if a client asks you to design and install a water garden, be very careful of your plant selection. Remember, just because a plant is pretty doesn't mean it should be used. The headaches and environmental problems that a noxious weed can cause are far too costly.

The following plants can be troublesome: Salvinia molesta ( Giant Salvinia, Water Velvet, Koi Kandy or Karibaweed; a federal noxious weed ), Hydrilla verticillata ( Hydrilla, Florida Elodea; a federal noxious weed ), Ludwigia hexapetala ( or L. uruguayensis, Creeping Waterprimrose; a North Carolina noxious weed ), Lythrum salicaria ( Purple Loosestrife; a North Carolina noxious weed ), Myriophyllum aquaticum ( Parrotfeather; currently not regulated in North Carolina but very invasive ) Eichhornia crassipes ( Water Hyacinth; currently not regulated in North Carolina but can cause problems ). If you see any of these plants in a water garden, pond or being sold, contact the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-206-9333 or call me at 910-321-6871:

Visit the following url for more information about aquatic weeds and for pictures of the plants that I have listed: http://www.cropsci.ncsu.edu/aquaticweeds/

Its time to consider preemergent weed control applications, but don't base your timing of application on the calendar. Instead, use the weather conditions as your guide for when to apply these herbicides. We are at a critical time of the year for summer weed emergence. If we have warm temperatures for any length of time, some of these weeds will start germinating and it will be too late for the herbicide to do any good. I would rather put the herbicide out too early than too late. Consult the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual for specifics about the herbicide that you use.

Grub worms are the larval stage of Japanese, Green June and various other beetles. While these beetles are in this stage of their development, they can cause severe damage to the roots of turf and ornamentals. The beetles overwinter, in the ground, as grubs. They go deep into the ground to escape the cold. They start moving toward the surface in March, however, this movement is temperature-dependent and can start earlier if it warms up early. By April, they should be close enough to the surface to start feeding on roots and close enough for ground applications of insecticide to be effective.

Moving forward into their development cycle, they begin to pupate in May and begin emerging as adult beetles in June. During the adult stage, they feed on the foliage of many ornamentals, fruit trees and vegetables. From May through the adult stage, ground applications of insecticides will be a waste. Instead, wait and spray the adults as they feed on above ground parts of the plants. The strategy during the adult stage is to try and reduce the number of egg-laying adults that will supply the next generation of grubs, with foliar sprays.

The adults begin laying eggs in the ground around June/July. Like the pupal stage, ground applications of insecticides would have little effect at this time. Wait until August, after the eggs have hatched. From August through September, the grubs will be small and close to the surface. Your insecticide application will be most effective at this time. After September, the grubs begin moving deeper into the ground for the winter and pesticide applications will be a waste of time.

Consult the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual for specific insecticides to use on the grubs and the adult beetles. For more information about grubs, call me at 910-321-6871.

Get Certified - Be a Professional:

The North Carolina Landscape Association (NCLA) is hosting the Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) test which is a nationally certified "hands-on" test for the following categories: 1) Landscape Maintenance 2) Landscape Installation 3) Basic Irrigation Knowledge and other core elements.

Benefits of the CLT certification test is it 1) standardizes the level of professionalism across the country 2) allows landscape professionals mobility throughout the state, nation and Canada with ease and recognition 3) recognition by and partnership with ALCA.

By participating in one of the pretest regional trainings, applicants are better prepared for the CLT test and will promote professionalism throughout the state.

There will be training throughout the state with one in Fayetteville on March 9. This is an excellent organization to be affiliated with as landscape or maintenance personnel. For additional training sites and information, please contact the NCLA office at (919) 266-1777 or Nancy Anderson at (910) 321-6872.

MARCH 2000

03/03/00 - Boliva, NC - 3 hours credit in all ground & dealer
USING PESTICIDES SAFELY A.M., contact David Nash, 910-253-2610

03/03/00 - Boliva, NC - 2 hours credit in A L N D
USING PESTICIDES SAFELY P.M., contact David Nash, 910-253-2610

03/06/00 - Wadesboro, NC - 1.5 hours credit in all ground and dealer
PESTICIDES & HUMAN HEALTH, contact Richard Melton, 704-694-2415

03/10/00 - Charlotte, NC - 1 hour credit in L N D
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, contact James Wurz, 315-736-8231

03/17/00 - Greensboro, NC - 1 hour credit in L N D
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, contact James Wurz, 315-736-8231

03/17/00 - Raleigh, NC - 1 hour credit in L N D
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, contact James Wurz, 315-736-8231

03/17/00 - Sanford, NC - 2 hours credit in L N D
POST-EMERGENCE WEEDS, contact Debbie Roos, 919-775-5624

03/21/00 - Wilson, NC - 1 hour credit in L N O D
CARE FOR WHAT YOU GROW, contact Cyndi Lauderdale, 252-237-0113

APRIL 2000

04/18/00 - Wilson, NC - 1 hour credit in L N D
ORNAMENTAL INSECT MGMT, contact Cyndi Lauderdale, 252-237-0113

MAY 2000

05/16/00 - Wilson, NC - 1 hour credit in L N 0 D
ATTRACTING BENEFICIAL INSECTS, contact Cyndi Lauderdale, 252-237-0113

For a complete and up-to-date list, visit the following url: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/fooddrug/pesticid/recert.htm This site is updated once per month.

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