Frequently Asked Questions
The growth on the trunk of the maple tree is likely a burl. Burls are abnormal swellings or growths that develop on the trunks and branches of trees. Burls can be found on deciduous trees and evergreens. The exact cause is...
The growths on the pin oak are a type of gall. Galls are abnormal growths of plant tissue induced to form by mites, insects, or other small organisms. The galls on the pin oak are called horned oak galls because of the horn-like...
The small, black beetles are likely sap beetles. They are also known as picnic beetles or picnic bugs. Sap beetles commonly feed on over-ripe or damaged fruits and vegetables in the garden.
Sanitation is the best...
Yellowjackets are social wasps that build paper nests in the ground, a log, building wall, attic, or other sites. The workers from the colony travel up to a few hundred yards from the nest while looking for food. In early summer, the...
The small, white worms are likely the larvae of the spotted wing drosophila. Spotted wing drosophila adults are small, yellowish brown flies. Males have distinctive dark spots on their wings, hence the name spotted wing drosophila....
The white, powdery material on the peony foliage is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease. Powdery mildew occurs on a large number of plants (peonies, lilacs, viburnums, roses, garden phlox, bee balm, turfgrass, and many...
Poorly-shaped fruit are usually the result of poor pollination. Poor pollination may be due to cool, wet weather and improperly applied insecticides that limit bee activity. When insecticides are necessary, select an insecticide with...
The bitterness in cucumbers is produced by the compound cucurbitacin. Cucurbitacins are normally found in the leaves, stems, and roots of cucumber plants. The cucurbitacins spread from the vegetative parts of the plant into the...
Unfavorable weather conditions are the primary reason for blossom drop on tomatoes. High daytime temperatures (above 85 degrees Fahrenheit) and low nighttime temperatures (below 55 degrees Fahrenheit) interfere with pollination, causing...
In regards to fruit set, bell peppers are sensitive to high temperatures. The optimum temperature range for flowering and fruit set on bell peppers is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot peppers tolerate high temperatures much...
The wart-like growths on the hackberry leaves are galls. Galls are abnormal growths of plant tissue induced to form by mites, insects, or other small organisms. They are quite common on trees.
The gall found on the...
The white, fuzzy objects on the branches of your maple tree are wooly alder aphids. (The insect is also known as the maple blight aphid.) Wooly alder aphids feed on the sap of maple trees from bud-break until late June. Then...
Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries should not be renovated like June-bearers. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are most productive when the plants are maintained as large, single plants. All runners that develop on...
Annual grasses, such as crabgrass and foxtail, can be controlled by hand pulling.
Perennial grasses, such as quackgrass, are much more difficult to control as they spread via underground stems or rhizomes. (All of the rhizomes...
The best time to divide perennials varies with the different plant species. Early spring (just as new growth begins to appear) is the best time to divide aster, chrysanthemum, hosta, bee balm, sedum, yarrow, obedient plant, and ornamental...
Late summer/early fall blooming perennials include New England aster (Aster novae-angliae), New York aster (Aster novi-belgii), boltonia (Boltonia asteroides), garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium),...
When purchasing grass seed, select a high quality seed mix that is best adapted to the site. Kentucky bluegrass is the best choice for sunny areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Choose a seed mix that contains...
Harvest mature bulbs in late summer when the tops have turned yellow and begun to dry. Cure the shallots in a warm, dry location for 1 to 2 weeks. After the shallots have been cured, cut off the dry foliage, place the bulbs in a mesh...
Plants in containers need to be fertilized on a regular basis as nutrient levels in potting mixes quickly fall due to absorption by plants and leaching during watering.
Many commercial potting mixes contain a slow release fertilizer...
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