 Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Overton, TX. Spring is the most important production and sales season for Texas nurseries, and thoughtful preparation during late winter can significantly influence crop quality, pest pressure, and overall profitability. As temperatures begin to rise, the priority should be a thorough inspection of all overwintered plant material. Carefully examine plants for cold injury, root health issues, nutrient deficiencies, and early signs of insect or disease activity. Pests such as aphids, mites, whiteflies, and scale insects often establish tender new growth early in the season. Removing dead, damaged, or heavily infested plants reduces overwintering populations and minimizes the risk of rapid outbreaks once favorable conditions develop.
Equipment readiness is equally critical. Before spring applications begin, calibrate sprayers, fertilizer spreaders, and chemigation systems to ensure accurate delivery rates and uniform coverage. Check nozzles for wear, confirm pressure settings, and repair leaks. Proper calibration not only improves pest control efficacy but also prevents phytotoxicity, reduces product waste, and ensures compliance with label requirements. This is also a good time to review pesticide inventory and verify that products are properly stored and within expiration dates. Updating and reinforcing your Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program should be part of spring preparation. Establish a consistent scouting schedule and designate trained personnel responsible for monitoring crops. Use tools such as sticky cards, pheromone traps, and regular plant inspections to detect pest activity early. Accurate identification and threshold-based decision-making allow for targeted treatments and help prevent unnecessary applications. Early detection remains one of the most cost-effective pest management strategies in nursery production. Inspect irrigation systems before peak demand by checking drip lines, emitters, sprinklers, and pumps for leaks or uneven distribution, as poor irrigation can stress plants and increase susceptibility to disease and pests. Test growing media for pH and soluble salts, and ensure fertilization programs, especially controlled-release fertilizers, are properly applied to support healthy growth. Implement early weed control with uniform pre-emergent applications and winter weed removal to reduce competition and pest reservoirs. Provide staff with refresher training on scouting, safety, equipment use, and recordkeeping. A well-organized spring plan strengthens plant health, reduces pest pressure, and supports a successful nursery season.
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Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Overton, Tx. Winter freezes often bring hope that cold weather will eliminate insect pests in landscapes and nurseries, offering a natural reset before the next growing season. After several nights of subfreezing temperatures, it is common to expect fewer insects and reduced pest pressure in spring. While freezing temperatures can suppress or temporarily reduce some exposed pest populations, they rarely provide complete control. Many insects are surprisingly resilient and well-adapted to surviving winter conditions through protective behaviors and physiological adaptations, allowing them to rebound quickly once temperatures warm.
Insects are exothermic or cold-blooded; their activity slows as temperatures drop. Feeding, reproduction, and development pause, and extreme cold can kill exposed individuals. However, many species avoid lethal temperatures by seeking protection in soil, mulch, bark crevices, plant crowns, or greenhouse structures. These microhabitats stay warmer than the surrounding air, thereby improving survival. Many insects can survive through dormancy (diapause) or by producing “antifreeze” compounds such as glycerol, sorbitol, antifreeze proteins, etc. that protect their tissues from freezing injury. Eggs, pupae, scales, borers, and soil-dwelling pests are especially resilient. As a result, even after a hard freeze, enough individuals often survive to quickly rebuild populations in spring. Freezes may temporarily suppress exposed pests such as aphids or caterpillars, but they should not be relied upon as a primary management tool. Warmer temperatures can lead to rapid reproduction and early-season outbreaks. Instead, winter is an ideal time to strengthen integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Remove plant debris, prune heavily infested branches, inspect bark and crowns for overwintering stages, and consider dormant oil applications for scales, mites, and aphids. Continue monitoring in greenhouses where pests may survive year-round. Rafia Khan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, TX Winter can feel like a break from pest pressure, but for nursery and greenhouse growers, many insects are still present and waiting for the right conditions. Protected structures, mild winter weather, and overwintering life stages allow many pests to survive on plants, in pots, in growing areas, in debris, and in weeds. If these pest populations are not addressed, they often resume early and aggressively in spring. Common winter pests include aphids, thrips, mealybugs, scale insects, whiteflies, spider mites, and greenhouse moth pests such as the European pepper moth. These insects can survive on plant material, in potting media, or within greenhouse structures, often going unnoticed until populations increase. Programmed scouting remains the foundation of winter Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Monitoring efforts should be focused on current in-house plants and newly arrived plant material. Inspect leaf undersides, stems, and growing points, and use sticky cards to detect flying insects early. Cultural practices play a key role in reducing pest pressure during winter. Sanitation, such as the removal of plant debris, leftover shipped plants, weeds, volunteer plants, and unused containers, should be removed from the production sites as they may harbor pests. Manage irrigation carefully to avoid conditions favorable for fungus gnats and root pests, and inspect incoming plants before placing them into production areas. When treatments are necessary, applying products strategically and rotating insecticide modes of action helps protect product performance and avoid costly resistance issues. Winter is also the best time for growers to step back and evaluate what worked and what didn’t during the past season. Reviewing pest records, adjusting management plans, and training employees to recognize early pest signs can pay off quickly. Investing time in winter pest management reduces carryover populations, improves plant quality, and helps operations enter spring with fewer surprises and lower control costs. Figure: Some greenhouse pests in winter. European pepper moth larva (A) and adult (B), Thrips (C), and mealybug (D)Practical GuideThe Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has issued an emergency quarantine to prevent the spread of the invasive Cotton Jassid or Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper, a destructive pest first detected on imported hibiscus plants. The quarantine currently applies to all Hibiscus species, but may expand to include additional host plants as more data becomes available. The quarantine currently covers shipments from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina, where the pest has been detected. It also applies to Texas counties where detections have occurred, halting the movement of hostable plants without required phytosanitary documentation Current Quarantined Texas Counties
Conditions for MovementNo regulated articles may move from or within quarantined areas except under the following conditions:
➡️ Violations are subject to penalties under the Texas Agriculture Code, including fines up to $4,000 per violation, seizure or destruction of articles at the owner’s expense, and potential criminal charges. Management Recommendations (Non-Regulatory) While the quarantine focuses on movement control, TDA and Texas A&M AgriLife recommend the following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in infested areas:
TNLA Member Update TNLA is in close communication with TDA’s Plant Quality Division and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension entomologists to ensure the industry has up-to-date guidance and clear compliance information.
Members are encouraged to:
👉 Learn more and view TDA’s current quarantine notice. Bell County now marks the furthest south the invasive pest has been confirmed in the U.S. The presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has been newly confirmed in Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell, and Rockwall counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Notably, Bell County’s detection marks the southernmost known presence of EAB in the United States—a major milestone in the pest’s expansion and a growing threat to Texas ash tree populations. 🪲 What is Emerald Ash Borer? The emerald ash borer is a destructive, exotic beetle that infests and kills ash trees by burrowing beneath the bark and cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. Once infested, ash trees typically die within 2–3 years. EAB was first confirmed in Texas in 2016 and has now been detected in 31 counties statewide. The latest confirmations in 2024 represent a notable southward jump, increasing the risk for nurseries, landscapes, and natural ash populations across Central Texas. Counties Affected  The USDA Interactive Map displays confirmed detections across the U.S., including the growing number in Texas.
What’s Being Done to Tackle It The Texas A&M Forest Service is leading surveillance and outreach efforts to slow the spread of EAB. Confirmed counties are subject to state quarantines that restrict the movement of ash wood products to prevent further dispersal. Ongoing education and early detection efforts are critical tools in protecting remaining ash populations. Key Considerations for TNLA Members
Next Steps from TNLA TNLA is monitoring the EAB expansion and will continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure members remain informed and compliant. If you have questions about how EAB may impact your nursery or landscape operation, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] New Tax Breaks, Workforce Wins, and Industry SupportOn July 4, 2025, H.R. 1—known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—was signed into law. At 870 pages, it’s one of the most sweeping federal laws in recent history. But here’s the bottom line for TNLA members: it includes some powerful wins for your business.
Here’s what matters most: 🌿 529 Plans Can Now Fund Certifications You can now use 529 education savings to cover industry licenses—like irrigator training, pesticide applicator certification, or landscape credentials. This makes workforce development more accessible for young professionals in our industry. 🔧 Full Write-Offs for Equipment & R&D Businesses can now fully expense:
That means lower tax bills and more room to innovate and invest. 🏦 Loan Interest Deductions Restored Businesses that borrow to buy land, expand greenhouses, or manage inventory can now deduct more interest expenses, thanks to the return of EBITDA-based limits. 💼 199A Pass-Through Deduction Made Permanent The Qualified Business Income deduction for S-corps, LLCs, and sole proprietors now increases from 20% to 23% starting in 2026. That’s more relief for small and mid-sized businesses. 🌱 Expanded Grower Support & Plant Protection
These provisions mean long-term investment in plant health, crop resilience, and industry sustainability. The Takeaway: While the bill didn’t fix everything (especially on the labor side), it delivers significant financial and operational benefits for Texas green industry businesses. TNLA will continue monitoring how funding rolls out—and will keep pushing for additional reforms where they’re needed most. |
AuthorKim Cabrera, TNLA Marketing Manager Archives
April 2026
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