Ask a Master Gardener: Tree disease, planting annuals and native grasses

The cedar-apple rust is seen afflicting a cedar or juniper. The rust is in the sporulation phase, in which it becomes gelatinous, forming orange-like blobs.
The cedar-apple rust is seen afflicting a cedar or juniper. The rust is in the sporulation phase, in which it becomes gelatinous, forming orange-like blobs.

Q. What is this creepy looking orange stuff (see photo)? It is jellylike and oozing out of the branches. Will it get on other evergreens like pine or arborvitae?

A. That is a fungal disease often called cedar-apple rust. There are actually three different species of rust that can infect cedars. All three rusts can infect most varieties of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) as well as many other junipers. It has an overwintering phase on cedar and junipers of brownish balls that have horns and are about -1 inch in diameter. In the spring when it warms up enough and we get some rain, these horned balls open into orange gelatinous "blobs." The blobs release spores that infect the alternate host - apple trees. On apple trees, the symptoms are completely different - yellowish spots and, if bad enough, can cause dark rotten spots to develop on the fruit. While the alternate hosts most commonly infected are apples and crabapples, it sometimes infects pears, hawthorn, quince and serviceberry.

The good news is this disease is specific to junipers and cedars. Therefore, other evergreens like pines, firs and arborvitae are safe. When it is in the "blob phase," it means it is a good time to spray trees like apples to protect them, if they aren't resistant. Many popular apple cultivars are susceptible to this disease.

Q. I'd like to plant some annuals to get some color in some flowerbeds. What are some good options?

A. You can plant some annuals right now that prefer cool weather. Good prospects are pansies, violas and toadflax. An herbaceous perennial often treated as an annual is primrose, often referred to as hardy primrose or Primula primrose.

By the end of April or early May, the weather will be warming enough that a much wider range of annuals can be planted; if these are planted before then, they may not take off growing until it warms up. I asked Alice Longfellow of Longfellow's Garden Center in Centertown for her favorites.

"My favorite annuals for providing lots of summer color are Profusion Zinnia (Z. angustifolia), Vinca, Gomphrena and Celosia. More expensive options include Lantana, Pentas, Angelonia, Supertunias (vegetative petunias) and sun-loving Coleus, but they are worth the cost," she said.

"If one is sowing seeds, use marigolds, zinnias (cut-and-come again or State Fair types), and rose moss (Portulaca). They can't be beat. Sunflowers are versatile; you can seed them early, as they tolerate cool soil conditions, or late, as they are strong growers in the heat."

Q. Where can I get good information about native grasses?

A. Grow Native by Missouri Prairie Foundation has great information on its website. They have quite a number of publications and a plant database. One publication "top performing native plants for landscaping" lists six different grasses and sedges to consider.

Also worth considering is a business just south of Jefferson City, Wildflower Nursery. They sell both plants and seeds and carry these for a number of native grasses. They are at 9814 Pleasant Hill Road. Call them at 573-496-3492 or check their website for hours, http://mowildflowers.net/. The website has more than 20 types of grasses and sedges.

The Central Missouri Master Gardeners are a volunteer group of 191 members, 122 of whom are Cole County residents, who maintain 11 beautification sites in Cole County, which are nonprofits or public entities. Master Gardeners must complete a basic training program of at least 30 hours of horticultural training, as well as 30 hours of volunteer service. The Missouri Master Gardener program is supported by the University of Missouri Extension.

Have a gardening question? Call 573-634-2824 or stop by the Cole County Extension Center in Jefferson City at 2436 Tanner Bridge Road.