Do you have the weed that resembles miniature mimosa trees? If so, you’re not alone.
This common, troublesome weed is called chamberbitter or botanically Phyllanthus urinaria. It can be controlled with correct timing and persistence.
Chamberbitter is a summer annual that requires warm soil conditions to germinate. It has numerous, small, round fruit attached to the undersides of its leaf stems.
Attempt control measures before chamberbitter produces
Q. I see webs at the ends of branches in some of my trees. Should I be concerned?
A. These are fall webworms. These worms (caterpillars) enclose leaves and the ends of branches with silken webbing. They are found in this protective webbing consuming leaves. Although they can defoliate branches on which they are feeding, very little to no permanent damage is done to the tree. It is more of an aesthetic problem. What they are feeding on is a temporary part of the plant - the leaves.
During the past few weeks numerous people have contacted the Okaloosa County Extension Office seeking diagnostic assistance and control options concerning fall armyworms and sod webworms in turfgrass. This includes farmers with these critters in their pastures and homeowners whose lawns are being eaten away by these hungry caterpillars. We’ve even had requests for help from a local landfill and from a local airport with grass runways.
Sod webworms and fall armyworms
Gray leaf spot is a common fungal disease of St. Augustinegrass. Wet conditions promote this fungus. This includes high humidity, heavy dews and particularly frequent afternoon and evening rains. It’s primarily a disease of St. Augustinegrass. The Florida Lawn Handbook states, “St. Augustinegrass is the only important warm-season turfgrass that is seriously affected.” I’ve seen St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass growing intermingled with the St. Augustine infected with gray leaf spot and the
Take-all root rot is a disease that often affects lawns at this time of year, particularly St. Augustinegrass. Symptoms observed above ground are due to a soil borne fungus attacking the root system. By the time leaf symptoms are apparent, the root system has already been severely damaged.
Hendry County Extension Agent, Gene McAvoy and I provide advice on this disease in today’s article.
Leaf symptoms first appear in irregular patches as yellowing of lower leaves
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