UMass Extension Landscape Nursery and Urban Forestry

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UMass Extension Landscape Nursery and Urban Forestry

Make a gift to the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program: http://bit.ly/1Q3HPl4

The UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry team provides programs and research-based information on the best horticultural practices and technology for environmental stewardship in nursery and landscape management. Our team is a group of educators and specialists in weed science, entomology, plant pathology, IPM, diagnostics, and sustainable practices. For home garden and landscape questions email: [email protected]

06/19/2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE for June 19, 2026 has been posted.

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/landscape-message-june-19-2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is a regular update to inform and help guide land care professionals in the management of our collective landscape.

Each edition includes valuable information from sites throughout Massachusetts, including growing degree day accumulation, soil temperature, precipitation amounts, and plant phenology.
Detailed reports on cultural practices and the status of insects, diseases, and w**ds of interest to landscapers, arborists and turf managers are also regular features.

There will be 20 messages throughout 2026. New messages are available weekly during the heart of the growing season, bi-weekly in early spring and mid to late summer, and monthly during the fall.

The next Landscape Message will be posted on June 26.

Photo: Sambucus Black Lace by Eric Ruquist

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06/18/2026

Poison ivy can be very prominent within the landscape and through contact causes painful rashes. Therefore, being able to recognize this plant ensures you stay safe and comfortable while enjoying the outdoors!

✅ Poison Ivy

❌Poison oak

❌Virginia creeper

✅ Poison Ivy

Poison ivy consists of 3 leaflets that at maturity are green with either a dull or glossy look. New growth and during the fall season, poison ivy will be a red- green color. The larger middle leaflet has a smooth toothed shape all around, with the outer leaflets having a mitten shaped appearance, formed by the lower outer edge having a lobed- toothed look. While people often think of poison ivy in the low ground covering shrub form, this plant can also be a woody vine having a fuzzy exterior (shown in image 4). This vine will climb trees, houses, poles and more.

Want to learn more about poison ivy? Read w**d specialist Randall Prostak's article in April's edition of Hort Notes.
https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/newsletters/hort-notes/hort-notes-2026-vol-372

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06/17/2026

Shade can be one of the most enchanting while also one of the most challenging parts of the landscape, but there are a number of striking plants that flourish in shady locations.

In general, light levels are defined as follows:
• Full sun: 6 hours or more of direct sun
• Part sun/part shade: 4-6 hours of morning or evening (not midday)
• Dappled shade: indirect light (such as filtered through trees)
• Shade: 4 hours or less of morning or evening sun (not midday)

Shade tolerant plants have evolved to be adapted to lower light levels. Sun plants will stretch to try to reach more light, often resulting in lopsided or leggy growth. Too much shade may also cause plants to have reduced growth and reduced or no flowers.

Read on to learn about specific shade tolerant perennials in the article Perennials for Shade in our June edition of Hort Notes

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/newsletters/hort-notes/hort-notes-2026-vol-374

Photo of Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’ by Mandy Bayer

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06/16/2026

NEXT WEEK!
Come Walkabout with UMass and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension!

What: Get hands-on experience scouting and identifying landscape insect and abiotic problems.

When: Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Where: Heritage Museum & Gardens
67 Grove St
Sandwich, MA 02563

Register Here:
https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/events/2026-landscape-pests-problems-walkabout-insects-cultural-practices

Join Tawny Simisky, UMass Extension Entomologist, Russ Norton, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Extension Educator, and Escher Cattle, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Entomologist, for a walk through the landscape.

We will examine some of the most common insect and cultural problems of woody ornamentals, as well as discuss and demonstrate how to put IPM practices to work efficiently.

The event is held rain or shine. Dress for walking and the day's weather. Bring a clipboard, pencil and hand lens, if possible.

Pesticide credits: 2 pesticide contact hours for category 36 and Applicators License available.
Association credits: 2 ISA, 1 MCLP, 1 MCA, and 1 MCH association credits are available.

Price: $60 per person

Photo of Heritage's hydrangea garden by Russ Norton, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension.

06/15/2026

Excerpt from our June 12 Landscape Message – Pioneer Valley Region Report by Nick Brazee, UMass Extension Plant Pathologist

Despite the dry weather, many plants are still looking great, and symptoms of stress are generally limited right now. Continue to irrigate trees and shrubs transplanted within the past three years. Careful attention to automatic irrigation systems is important to ensure plants are getting sufficient water. Keep in mind that overwatering can be equally as damaging as underwatering. New trees and shrubs do not require daily watering. During extended dry periods, foundation plantings may require irrigation regardless of their age. If they are shielded from rainfall by a roof eave and experience radiative or conductive heating from a foundation or hardscape, this can increase their risk of drought stress.

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/landscape-message-june-12-2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is a regular update to inform and help guide land care professionals in the management of our collective landscape.

Each edition includes valuable information from sites throughout Massachusetts, including growing degree day accumulation, soil temperature, precipitation amounts, and plant phenology.
Detailed reports on cultural practices and the status of insects, diseases, and w**ds of interest to landscapers, arborists and turf managers are also regular features.

Photos: blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Bizon Blue') by Nick Crazee

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06/12/2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE for June 12, 2026 has been posted.

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/landscape-message-june-12-2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is a regular update to inform and help guide land care professionals in the management of our collective landscape.

Each edition includes valuable information from sites throughout Massachusetts, including growing degree day accumulation, soil temperature, precipitation amounts, and plant phenology.
Detailed reports on cultural practices and the status of insects, diseases, and w**ds of interest to landscapers, arborists and turf managers are also regular features.

There will be 20 messages throughout 2026. New messages are available weekly during the heart of the growing season, bi-weekly in early spring and mid to late summer, and monthly during the fall.

The next Landscape Message will be posted on June 19.

Photo: Peony (Paeonia) paired with a Golden Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo 'Aurea') by Nicholas Brazee

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06/08/2026

Excerpt from our June 5 Landscape Message - East Region Report by Kit Ganshaw and Sue Pfeiffer

Several garden peonies appeared to have been damaged over the stormy weekend (May 30-31). After closer inspection, they likely have peony leaf blotch, a fungal disease caused by Cladosporium paeoniae. The blooms are stunted and there are red blotches along the stems. This disease typically affects older varieties, while lack of air circulation and overhead watering can contribute to its spread. The disease begins in the stems, eventually spreading to the foliage, giving it the common name peony leaf blotch. Infected parts should be pruned out and disposed of. Care should be taken during fall cleanup to remove all potentially infected material from the site.

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/landscape-message-june-5-2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is a regular update to inform and help guide land care professionals in the management of our collective landscape.

Each edition includes valuable information from sites throughout Massachusetts, including growing degree day accumulation, soil temperature, precipitation amounts, and plant phenology.
Detailed reports on cultural practices and the status of insects, diseases, and w**ds of interest to landscapers, arborists and turf managers are also regular features.

Photos of peony leaf blotch by Kit Ganshaw.

Subscribe to our newsletters!
https://t.ly/TNxtf

06/05/2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE for June 5, 2026 has been posted.

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/landscape-message-june-5-2026

The LANDSCAPE MESSAGE is a regular update to inform and help guide land care professionals in the management of our collective landscape.

Each edition includes valuable information from sites throughout Massachusetts, including growing degree day accumulation, soil temperature, precipitation amounts, and plant phenology.
Detailed reports on cultural practices and the status of insects, diseases, and w**ds of interest to landscapers, arborists and turf managers are also regular features.

There will be 20 messages throughout 2026. New messages are available weekly during the heart of the growing season, bi-weekly in early spring and mid to late summer, and monthly during the fall.

The next Landscape Message will be posted on June 12.

Photo: Primula japonica by Eric Ruquist

Subscribe to our newsletters!
https://t.ly/TNxtf

06/04/2026

HORT NOTES for June 2026 has been posted.

In this Issue:
🌿 What's Happening with UMass Extension
🌿 Hot Topic (Literally): All About Turf Dormancy
🌿 Trouble Maker: Spotted Lanternfly Nymphs are Active
🌿 Q&A: Most Common Lawn Problem Seen in Plant Diagnostic Lab
🌿 Garden Clippings: June's Tips of the Month
🌿 Perennials for Shade
🌿 Veg Notes Excerpt: Strawberry School Take-Home Messages

https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/newsletters/hort-notes/hort-notes-2026-vol-374

Hort Notes is a monthly e-newsletter from UMass Extension for landscapers, arborists, and other Green Industry professionals, including monthly tips for home gardeners.

📷 Drought Comparison on Turf by Jason Lanier, UMass Extension

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06/03/2026

eggs have hatched and early instar nymphs are active on the UMass Amherst campus. This is an established population that was first detected in 2025.

Look for nymphs on the new growth of tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), as well as the new growth of a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Nymphs may favor cultivated roses, multiflora rose, cultivated and wild grape, perennials, black walnut and butternut.

Does your community have an established population of spotted lanternfly? Check this map provided by the MA Department of Agricultural Resources to find out: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/a25afa4466a54313b21dd45abc34b62d/page/Dashboard?views=Spotted-Lanternfly

Seeing spotted lanternfly nymphs in Massachusetts at a location not included in the above map? Please report them here: https://massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx

Note: if trying to photograph or capture, nymphs move quickly and will change position to hide from you. They are also impressively strong jumpers.

Photo: A black and white spotted early instar spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) nymph rests on a tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) branch. This nymph was approximately 0.5 cm. long. (Tawny Simisky, UMass Extension)

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Telephone

+14135450895

Website

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape

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