Diseases and Pests

Bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa bacteria) is a serious disease of a wide range of tree species, most commonly red oaks, elm, sycamore, sweetgum, hackberry, ginkgo, and maple. The bacteria is found only in the xylem tissue of the plants, and is spread by root grafts. Xylem-feeding leafhoppers, treehoppers, and spittlebugs are also possible vectors. Fortunately, the disease does not spread quickly.

Scorch symptoms appear on leaves in early to midsummer, becoming more intense as the season progresses. Affected leaves may turn a yellow/green color from the margin of the leaf inwards, eventually turning all brown. Older leaves are usually affected first, with individual branches or sections of branches become discolored. Branches will leaf out the following spring, but symptoms will re-appear and slowly spread through the crown of the tree over time. Symptoms are often confused with drought stress, oak wilt, cankers, etc., so this is a disease that should be submitted to the U of I Plant Clinic for clinical diagnosis. Treatment:

Bacterial leaf scorch can be managed by increasing tree vitality by mulching to retain moisture, watering during periods of dryness lasting more than two weeks, pruning out dead branches, and fertilizing when appropriate. Antibiotic trunk injections may be effective at delaying symptom development, but they do not cure the tree, and the injection sites open new paths of entry for organisms that decay wood. Over time, repeated treatments can severely weaken the tree. Choosing non-susceptible hosts to plant near affected trees is also recommended to prevent the spread of disease.

Zimmerman pine moth (Dioryctria zimmermani) is a common pest of Austrian, red, and Scotch pines, injuring tree trunks and often killing branches. Injury on trunks are crusted areas of white pitch one to two inches in diameter or white cones of pitch that are about one inch in diameter. Heavily infested terminal leaders may bend downward like a hook.

Adult moths emerge from the bark around mid-August. They mate and deposit eggs in crevices or wounds in the surface of the bark and at terminal buds. Hatching about 10 days later, the young larvae are tan or green with small dark spots. They will begin to move across and feed on the surface of the bark for several weeks. Mature caterpillars spin cocoons where they overwinter. In spring, the larvae become active again, moving across the bark for several days before boring into the tree to pupate.

Caterpillars are best controlled when young and actively feeding, so August is the time to scout and treat. Pyrethroid insecticides such as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, permethrin, or other labeled insecticide to control Zimmerman pine moth are effective. These pests usually only attack the trunk in trees under 8 inches in diameter in the lower 10 to 12 feet. In larger trees, look for caterpillars in the branches.

University of Illinois Extension Service https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php 217-333-0519 The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424 Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice 847-835-0972

2929 MacArthur Blvd. Northbrook, IL 60062 (847) 830-0093 www.theorganicgardener.net

by Meta Levin

has become a successful niche landscape company, a book and a family. The Organic Gardener Ltd. lives on Chicago’s North Shore, but works all over the Chicago area, as well as Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.

As a teenager Jeanne Nolan fled the North Shore, looking for a less materialistic lifestyle. Along the way, she worked on communal farms in Southern California, Ashville, NC and Austin, TX. The last is where she met her now husband, Verdant Nolan, who grew up in west suburban Oak Park, IL. She also picked up expertise in and a love for planning, planting, tending and teaching others about organic farming.

A little less than 20 years later she returned, settling temporarily in her parents’ Winnetka home, where she did what she liked best: growing food in the yard. Family and friends suggested that she start a business. Eventually, she took a job with Chicago’s Green City Market, where she became the assistant to the market’s founder, the late Abby Mandel.

Mandel asked her to make the Lincoln Park Zoo’s vegetable garden more interactive. Nolan transformed it into “The Edible Gardens,” a popular, synergistic exhibit where families can learn how food is grown. The Organic Gardener still maintains it in partnership with the Green City Market.

As she worked, she realized that there was a large and diverse urban agriculture food movement growing in Chicago and across the United States, but that didn’t seem to be the case in the suburbs. Thus, the genesis of The Organic Gardener, Ltd, which she began in 2005.

Verdant Nolan joined her a year later. The early years were difficult. To bring in some regular money, Verdant Nolan taught ballroom dancing at night. “By day I planted tomatoes and by night I taught people to salsa,” he says. For years they worked seven days a week.

In the beginning, they had one employee. Now there are 28 in season, 12 of whom are year-round. “We don’t do much in winter,” says Verdant Nolan. “Our season goes from February through Thanksgiving.” The average employee stays with them three to five years, but in that time, they are considered part of the family.

Adrienne Detanico started with The Organic Gardener in 2014 as Lead Garden Educator, but now is Vice President. Nolan says she is a “fantastic coordinator of people and a master of plants. She makes gardens beautiful.”

Cameron Smith is the Maintenance Team Manager. “He is calm and collected, even when everything seems chaotic,” says Nolan.

Foreman and Project Manager Jon Colón is a master craftsman, says Nolan, who describes him as conscientious and detail oriented. “No matter the size, he gives it the same amount of attention.”

Nolan says Maggie Nykaza, Garden Communications Coordinator, is The Organic Gardener’s “unsung hero. We have a discerning clientele and she knows how to handle that. She does all the customer relations.”

The Nolans emphasize a company culture of treating each other, as well as their customers, with respect. “We all help each other,” he says. “You can be your own person and work at our company. We are proud of the culture we have created.”

Since the beginning, The Organic Gardener has built more than 1,000 organic food gardens for homes, businesses, rooftops, non-profits and schools. Most of their customers come from referrals, although they often are called in by larger landscape contractors to design and install an organic edible garden as part of a larger project.

Recently, they turned to ILCA as a way of finding more skilled labor, as well as to take advantage of education. “I always read all of the articles in The Landscape Contractor magazine,” Nolan says. “Especially the business and trends.”

The couple has two children. Thea is 19 and following in her parents’ footsteps, growing food to sell at the Glencoe Farmers Market. A junior at Bennington college in Vermont, she plans to major in psychology. Her younger brother, Kye, is 13. His talents lean towards art and theater.

The husband and wife team are proud of what they have built. “Our intention is to do the best job possible,” says Nolan.