The following science-based articles may help you answer questions from the public.  Rosanne Sherry, URI Consumer Horticulture Educator, recommends you read them to help sharpen your own gardening and educator skills!

From UMASS Landscape Message July 29, 2016  edited

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): Agrilus planipennis readily attacks ash (Fraxinus spp.) including white, green, and black ash and has also been found developing in white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus). Adults are active and will be throughout August, depending on local temperatures. Volunteers and staff with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) detected emerald ash borer in Middlesex County in Newton, MA (new county record).This detection was done using Cerceris fumipennis, a native ground-nesting wasp (non-stinging) that hunts beetles of the same family as EAB as well as the invasive beetle itself.

For a map of the known locations of emerald ash borer in the state, as well as further information about this insect, please visit: https://ag.umass.edu/fact-sheets/emerald-ash-borer.

White Spotted Pine Sawyer (WSPS): Adults are still active and will be throughout this month, depending on local temperatures. This is a native insect in Massachusetts and is usually not a pest. Larvae develop in weakened or recently dead conifers, particularly eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). However, the white spotted pine sawyer looks very similar to the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle,Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB. ALB adults emerge in Massachusetts in July and August. Continue to look for the key difference between WSPS and ALB adults which is a white spot in the top center of the wing covers (the scutellum) on the back of the beetle. White spotted pine sawyer will have this white spot, whereas Asian longhorned beetle will not. Both insects can have other white spots on the rest of their wing covers, however the difference in the color of the scutellum is a key characteristic. The regulated area for Asian longhorned beetle is 110 miles²encompassing Worcester, Shrewsbury, Boylston, West Boylston, and parts of Holden and Auburn. visit: http://massnrc.org/pests/albreport.aspx or https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pests-diseases/alb/report.

Plant Drought Stress Symptoms

With much of Massachusetts now either under a severe or moderate drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA) even established plants are showing stress symptoms. Plants’ ability to and method of dealing with drought stress can vary by species or even cultivar. Drought stress symptoms can include: wilting, stunted or slowed growth, dull leaf color, yellowing leaves, scorched leaves, rolled or curled leaves, early fall color, and leaf drop.

Some water stress symptoms are mechanisms plants use to deal with drought stress, and include leaf movements including wilting, rolling, reorientation from a horizontal to a vertical orientation, or abscission (leaf drop). The main purpose of most of these mechanisms is to reduce the amount of leaf surface area which in turn reduces that amount of light and heat absorbed by the plant and the amount of water lost to cooling via transpiration. Leaf rolling also reduces air movement around the leaf surface, and creates a high relative humidity microclimate within the roll; both of which contribute to reduced transpiration. It is important to keep in mind that some plants may drop all of their leaves and appear dead, but may still be alive. Water stressed plants are also more susceptible to insects and pathogens.

Remember that less frequent deep watering is more effective than frequent shallow watering in helping plants deal with water stress. Efficient irrigation application methods such as soaker hoses and drip irrigation are best for ensuring water reaches the root zone of the plant.

Seaweed Farming

http://www.ecori.org/green-economy/2016/7/29/seaweed-farming-takes-root-in-southern-new-england