Books and Guides for Diagnosing Diseases of Ornamentals in the Landscape

PP070 (10/03R)
By Dr. Sharon M. Douglas
Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P. O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504-1106

Telephone: (203) 974-8601 Fax: (203) 974-8502
Email: Sharon.Douglas@ct.gov

There are many good reference books on diseases of ornamentals in the landscape. As follows is a selection of moderately priced (i.e., affordable) ones, many of which have the bonus of having good color photographs.

Compendium of Conifer Diseases, 1997, E. M. Hansen and K. J. Lewis; APS Press, St. Paul, MN*; 124 pp., $49.00. ISBN 0-89054-183-3.

Compendium of Elm Diseases, 1981, R. J. Stipes and R. J. Campana; APS Press, St. Paul, MN*; 120 pp., $49.00. ISBN 0-89054-042-X.

Compendium of Rhododendron and Azalea Diseases, 1986, D. L. Coyier and M. K. Roane, Eds.; APS Press, St. Paul, MN*; 77 pp., $49.00. ISBN 0-89054-075-6.

Compendium of Rose Diseases, 1983, R. K. Horst; APS Press, St. Paul, MN*; 64 pp., $49.00. ISBN 0-089054-052-7.

Cultural Practice Problems of Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape and Nursery, 2002, R. D. Childs, D. C. Swanson, and R. F. Kujawski; Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management and UMASS Extension; 108 pp., $17.00 + $5.00 handling. Order from UMASS Extension Bookstore, Draper Hall, 40 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003; (413) 545-2717.

Diagnosing Injury to Eastern Forest Trees, 1987; AGRS-08, $9.00. Order from Publications Distribution Center, 112 Agr. Admin. Bldg., Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802.

Disease Management Guide for Connecticut Arborists 2003, 2003, S. M. Douglas; Connecticut Tree Protective Association, Rocky Hill, CT; 212 pp., approx. $20.00. Order from Connecticut Tree Protective Association (CTPA), c/o Rita Smith, Executive Secretary, 58 Old Post Road, Northford, CT 06472.

Diseases and Pests of Ornamental Plants, 5th Edition, 1978, P. P. Pirone; John Wiley & Sons, New York; 566 pp., approx. $90.00. ISBN 0-471-07249-4.

Diseases of Annuals and Perennials, A Ball Guide, 1995, A. R. Chase, M. Daughtrey, and G. Simone; Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL; 202 pp. ISBN 1-883052-08-4.

Diseases of Trees and Shrubs, 1987, W. A. Sinclair, H. H. Lyon, and W. T. Johnson; Comstock Publishing Associates, Division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY; 574 pp., approx. $60.00 (reprinted in 1993). ISBN 0-8014-1517-9.

Field Guide to Tree Diseases in Ontario, 1997, C. Davis and T. Meyer; NODA Northern Forestry Program; 135 pp. Free upon request, limited availability. ISBN 0-662-23576-2. Order from Publication Services, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, P. O. Box 490, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 5M7, CANADA.

Landscape Plant Problems: A Pictorial Diagnostic Manual, 2^nd Edition, 2000, R. S. Byther, C. R. Foss, A. L. Antonelli, R. R. Malieke, and V. M. Bobbitt; 157 pp., approx. $30.00; Publication MISC0194. Order from Bulletin Office, Cooperative Extension, Washington State University, P. O. Box 645912, Pullman, WA 99164-5912. (800) 723-1763.

Pests & Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials: A Biological Approach, 1999, S. Gill, D. L. Clement, and E. Dutky; Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL; 304 pp. ISBN 1-883052-20-3.

Scouting and Controlling Woody Ornamental Diseases in Landscapes and Nurseries, 1992, prepared by Gary W. Moorman; AGRS-62, $7.00. Order from Publications Distribution Center, 112 Agr. Admin. Bldg., Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802.

Westcott's Plant Disease Handbook, 6^th Edition, 2001, C. Westcott, rev. by R. K. Horst; Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA; 1,008 pp., approx. $255.00. ISBN 0-7923-8663-9.

*All Compendia can be ordered from APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097, (800) 328-7560; www.shopapspress.org

Summary

There are many good reference books on diseases of ornamentals in the landscape. This fact sheet lists a selection of moderately priced (i.e., affordable) ones, many of which have the bonus of having good color photographs.