This is another good oak tree that should be planted in our area.  It is a much better oak than the water oaks that are widely planted in the area.

            The scientific name is Quercus phellos.  Some people mistakenly call this the pin oak.  Its leaves are two to five inches long and one half to one inch wide.  They are willowlike with bristle tips.

            This tree averages about 60 feet in height and 40 feet wide.

            Brief Recognition Factors

·           Outstanding shade tree.

·           Fine texture for an oak.

·           Adaptable to a wide range of conditions.

·           Touted as street plantings, plazas, parks, malls, etc.

·           Longer lived than water oaks.

Now a few bad features –

·           Can retain its leaves into late fall and early winter.

·           Pruning is needed to lift lower branches.

·           Needs to be fertilized to promote accelerated growth.

·           Chlorosis from pH can be a problem.

Overall, this is a very good tree to plant in the landscape

Sugarcane Field Day June 1, 2007

      The Terrebonne Sugarcane Field Day will be held on Friday, June 1, 2007,
beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the USDA Sugarcane Farm off Bull Run Road in Houma.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in sugarcane production to see what research and technology is ongoing in the sugar industry.

            Registration is at 8:00 a.m. and the field tour begins at 9:00 a.m.  Following the field tour the group will travel to the Sheriff’s Rifle Range for speakers discussing topics impacting the sugar industry.

Caterpillars in the Trees

            Beginning to get a few calls concerning caterpillars on the oak and pecan trees and many ornamental trees.  Many trees are too large to effectively control them because the entire tree would have to be sprayed.

            The egg masses are laid throughout the canopy of the tree where they begin to hatch, then grow and forage on the leaves.  When you see them climbing up the trunk of the tree, these are ones that fell to the ground and climbing back to get to the leaves.

            Management of these caterpillars requires spraying to reduce the population.

Pyrethroids (peremethrin, Scimitar, Battle, Bayer, Advanced Garden with Cyfluthrin) in combination with liquid soap is an effective control measure.

            Another good product for homeowners is Carbaryl 50WP (Sevin). Bacillus thuringiensis and spinosad will help control them but at a slower rate because the caterpillars have to ingest the material before it can work on them.

            Many times control is not necessary because general feeding of a few caterpillars will not injure trees, but heavy populations can cause complete defoliation and can stress the tree and allow other problems to develop.

 Wildlife Food Planting

            It is time to plant warm season plantings for food plots.  You can go to our web site and get an excellent publication for warm season plantings.  It is Titled.  “Crops for Wildlife Planting – Recommendations, Establishment and Management.”

            Question – I have heard about a problem on tomatoes called spotted wilt virus.  What varieties can I plant that have some resistance?

            Answer – This virus has been prevalent in the past.  Some determinant types are Amelia, Crista, BHN 640 or Top Gun.