Suffering Austrian Pines on Clyo Road
Taken from the famous Buffalo Springfield 1966 song “For What It’s Worth” the lyrics in my blog title are so appropriate. Something BIG is happening to mature Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) trees all over the Centerville-Washington Township area. Have you noticed these large long-needled conifers dying in your community?
According to the ODNR’s Division of Forestry the Austrian pine is the pine most susceptible to Diplodia Tip Blight, a fungus that commonly attacks mature trees that have been stressed. And these trees have seen stress! This menace will slowly kill the tree over several years and wreak havoc in mass plantings as it spreads to surrounding trees. If it was present last year, I must have been oblivious. THIS year….. it is everywhere. Just drive down Clyo Road around Alex-Bell. Or check out I-675 between the Centerville and Wilmington Pike exits. I what I see from my car is any indication, we’re on track to soon lose thousands of pine trees.
Diplodia tip blight
Even though the Austrian pines are fast growing they are not long-lived trees and are often mixed in with spruces and deciduous trees in new plantings. When the Austrians die off, the spruce and deciduous trees are still there.
Regional Urban Forester Wendi Van Buren notes, “A telltale way to determine of a tree is infected with Diplodia tip blight is to look for the signs of the pathogen, which consist of tiny black, fungal fruiting bodies (pycnidia) that are formed on the surface of the infected needles and cones.” Read more about it HERE on this OSU extension fact sheet.
Educational Opportunities
I attended the perennial seminar at Knollwood today and came home with 4 new perennials!! Don’t miss out on Knollwood’s next seminar, Saturday, September 3 at 10am and again at 11am at St. Luke’s Catholic Church for: “Learn to Plant Like the Pros”. Learn as John Scott narrates as the landscape crew installs a job from start to finish. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 937-426-0861.
Siebenthaler’s Garden Center
“Clip and Cook With Herbs” Learn how to harvest and dry a myriad of herbs or make a culinary wreath at the Thursday, September 8 seminar (Centerville garden center location) at 10 am or 6 pm. Event will repeat at the Beavercreek garden center at 1 pm on Saturday, September 10.
Dahlias on Parade
The Greater Columbus Dahlia Society will hold their 46th annual dahlia show September 3 & 4 at the Marysville Family YMCA and Ohio National Guard Armory Facility in Marysville (1050 Charles Lane, Marysville OH 43040). This is a free event.
Vickster's Vine 
Another reason for the death of many evergreens is DuPont’s Imprelis. A week after DuPont announced it will stop selling its popular lawn chemical, Imprelis, the EPA is officially banning the sale of the pesticide. The ban comes after thousands of tree deaths (especially Norway Spruce and White Pine) in treated lawns and golf courses have been reported over the last few months. It’s not clear if the pesticide will ever be allowed back on the market, and as investigations continue, DuPont faces lawsuits from affected property owners. Please investigate to see what you can do if your trees have been affected by Imprelis, a chemical released in 2010 that had been touted as a more environmentally-friendly product until the massive tree death reports surfaced. DuPont has established a hotline for property owners: 866-796-4783 and a website for more information: http://www.imprelis-facts.com/.