FOR-180: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Wintercreeper

Ellen Crocker, Jacob Muller, Joseph Omielan, Joyce Bender | August 14, 2025 (New)

Wintercreeper was introduced from China in the early 1900s as an ornamental plant, valued for its evergreen leaves and vigorous growth. Unfortunately, it easily escapes the confines of the garden and outcompetes native vegetation for space, light, nutrients, and moisture in woodland settings. Once established, wintercreeper can be hard to eradicate and management of small patches is much easier than waiting until the infestation has spread.

FOR-179: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Autumn Olive

Ellen Crocker, Jacob Muller | August 14, 2025 (New)

Autumn olive was introduced from Asia in the 1800s and was promoted for many years for erosion control, as a windbreak, and to create wildlife habitat. Since that time, autumn olive has invaded much of eastern North America. While it is most problematic on reclaimed mining sites, it can colonize a diverse range of habitats including closed canopy forests.

FOR-177: Field Guide to Kentucky's Invasive Plants

Ellen Crocker | October 11, 2024 (New)

Invasive plants are non-native plants that cause ecological, environmental, or economic damage. Because they can spread rapidly and take over, forming dense monocultures, invasive plants threaten the diversity and health of forests, prairies, streams, and other natural areas. In addition, they can cause a range of other problems, from harm to native plants and animals to losses in agriculture, tourism, and property value.

FOR-174: Fall Webworms

Ellen Crocker, Jonathan Larson | October 31, 2023 (New)

Fall webworms are native tent caterpillars that can be found throughout the United States and southern Canada. This species is distinguished by its "tent" constructed at the ends of tree branches, allowing caterpillars to feed gregariously on enclosed foliage. While these insects can cause heavy defoliation, especially during periodic outbreaks, fall webworms by themselves do not cause mortality in healthy trees and are typically not a serious concern meriting management. However, other tent-forming caterpillars may be confused with fall webworm (such as the eastern tent caterpillar) and learning to distinguish these species can be useful for understanding potential impacts.

FOR-175: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Bush Honeysuckle

John Cox, Ellen Crocker, Jacob Muller, Jeff Stringer, Billy Thomas | October 31, 2023 (New)

Several species of Asian bush honeysuckle in the genus Lonicera are invasive in North America. The most common invasive bush honeysuckle species in Kentucky is the Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) but other invasive honeysuckle species include L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. x bella. These species, originally native to China, Korea and parts of Japan, were introduced to the U.S. as far back as the late 1800s and were promoted for conservation and wildlife uses in the 1960s and 1970s. Unfortunately, bush honeysuckles are still popular ornamental plants despite easily escaping into natural areas. The negative impact of dense stands of these species and the ease in which they can escape cultivation is a major concern across the region.

FOR-171: Best Practices for Mushroom Foraging in Kentucky

Megan Buland, Ellen Crocker, Brandon George | May 19, 2023 (New)

Kentucky is a great place to forage wild mushrooms. Its extensive forests are home to many different edible fungi including morels, chanterelles, lions' mane, chicken of the woods, oyster mushrooms, and more. While mushroom hunting is a great hobby, it is not without risks. Many mushrooms can cause illness if consumed and some are deadly poisonous, resulting in lasting illness or even death. Even those broadly considered edible should be approached cautiously as improper storage and cooking, drug interactions, and allergies can all result in adverse reactions.

PPFS-OR-H-11: Common Problems of Annuals and Perennials: An Index

Ellen Crocker, Jamie Dockery, Nicole Gauthier, Jonathan Larson, Kimberly Leonberger | August 2, 2021 (New)

PPFS-OR-W-30: Common Problems of Common Trees: An Index

Ellen Crocker, Jamie Dockery, Nicole Gauthier, Jonathan Larson, Kimberly Leonberger | July 19, 2021 (New)

PPFS-OR-W-31: Common Problems of Common Shrubs: An Index

Ellen Crocker, Jamie Dockery, Nicole Gauthier, Jonathan Larson, Kimberly Leonberger | July 19, 2021 (New)

PPFS-OR-W-28: Laurel Wilt Disease and Redbay Ambrosia Beetle

Ellen Crocker, Tyler Dreaden, Nicole Gauthier, Jonathan Larson, Kimberly Leonberger | July 8, 2020 (New)

Laurel wilt is a newly discovered fungal disease that presents a major threat to sassafras in Kentucky. The disease was first detected in the U.S. in 2003 and in southwestern Kentucky in 2019. Currently, laurel wilt is known to occur in eleven southeastern states bordered by Kentucky (north), North Carolina (east), Florida (south), and Texas (west). Research is ongoing to determine the impact and distribution of both the laurel wilt fungus and the redbay ambrosia beetle that carries it.