Search Results

Mountain Laurel #861668

Asked March 16, 2024, 11:55 AM EDT

Hope you can advise, my Mountain Laurel is looking horrible, it is 25 to 30 years old and has never looked like this before. It looks like the leaves are dried and the whole thing looks drooped. There are several branches that are all brown and dead looking, I attached a few pictures, can you give me any advise.



Broome County New York

Dead Branches & Powdery Cloud #861584

Asked March 15, 2024, 1:28 PM EDT

so I have four large deciduous type bushes that I’ve had in my yard for well over 20 years. The only issue I ever had with them in the past was bag worms which were treated years ago and we keep an eye on it every year, and if not had to treat the past few years. they have always looked very healthy. This year I noticed several dead branches on all four of the plants. as I was trying to do a video to show a friend of mine, who majored in horticulture, I incidentally shook one of the branches and a billowing cloud of powdery substance came out, and it happened throughout all four plants, regardless of the health of the branch. I can’t include videos on this Forum so I tried to do some screenshots from the videos. If you need or want to see more and you have some other way to access videos that I could send, just let me know.



Cecil County Maryland

Seeds, sowing, greenhouse and garden #861502

Asked March 14, 2024, 6:38 PM EDT

Do you have an updated planting schedule for Jefferson county and surrounding areas? I am a first time central Oregon gardener, I just got a greenhouse, but I am hearing mixed things!

Jefferson County Oregon

Lawn grass #861474

Asked March 14, 2024, 2:51 PM EDT

What kind of dormant grass is this? It started showing up last year.



Taylor County Kentucky

Organic weed control #861469

Asked March 14, 2024, 2:39 PM EDT

I have 7 acres of blueberries with standard weedmat and drip irrigation setup. We have been mowing along weed mat edge for years because we are organic certified. I have not checked into organic herbicides lately so thought I'd ask: Have you identified an effective and cost-effective organic herbicide for such use?

Hood River County Oregon

workshop #861406

Asked March 13, 2024, 8:40 PM EDT

I called and this site was sent to me, I am in SD and I read your info. I wanted to see if someone could come to SD ABerdeen, June 1, and present info on arboretum --pics and program on certain plants?? I know that this is a far drive from Minn to SD This is for the SDState Horticultural Society

Anoka County Minnesota

Dirt analysis wanted #861170

Asked March 11, 2024, 6:52 PM EDT

Our 1-acre yard appears to have many soil types, even though primarily clay. One area uncovered for wildflowers/milkweed appears dead soil. Can't find even 1 worm. Think previous homeowners have done things unhelpful to various soil areas. I'd like to map out the yard for what's best to grow where, and learn how to either amend bad/dead soil, or realize it must be replaced in total.

Wright County Minnesota

Privacy trees #861131

Asked March 11, 2024, 2:00 PM EDT

I am on several gardening websites and I am confused. Looking for privacy trees and there seems to be positive and negative comments about the different suggestions. Also would like to plan a xenoscape front yard. Am I reading correctly that there is someone who would come for consultation. Thanks for your help. Adele

Broomfield County Colorado

Pear rootstock #861120

Asked March 11, 2024, 12:29 PM EDT

I am looking for pear rootstock for a handful of scions I obtained at a local scion exchange. Where is a good source for semi-dwarf to standard pear rootstock?

Jackson County Oregon

Pine bark beetle #861117

Asked March 11, 2024, 12:04 PM EDT

Good morning.

I am working with the Majestic View Nature Center on a project with a pine log for a display.  We are planning to install the log inside the Center, but know that the log contains pine bark beetles, mainly larvae, and want to know if this is an issue bringing larvae (still hydrated, possibly alive) into the center in a display.  The log has been cut both top and bottom, and has been split in half, but in carving, we found well hydrated, squishy larvae in the wood.  Do we need to sterilize the log (heat?  cold?) before bringing it indoors, or will the larvae naturally die off since the log is no longer standing?  

With kindest regards,

Ted Hibbs

Jefferson County Colorado

Central Oregon grass #861091

Asked March 11, 2024, 1:41 AM EDT

We removed a lot of Bitterbrush from the land around our home in Black Butte Ranch near Sisters Oregon to reduce fire risk. I would like to throw out some grass seed to take root to prevent dust and erosion. This is meant to be natural and not a lawn.



Deschutes County Oregon

replace box wood with native plants #861086

Asked March 10, 2024, 10:40 PM EDT

I live in a condo in downtown Portland where the builder used boxwood and juniper accent plants. What native plants would you recommend to replace the boxwood and juniper? I would like to use native plants like oregon grape that are low maintenance and low water users.

Multnomah County Oregon

Maple tree erosion #861048

Asked March 10, 2024, 4:25 PM EDT

I'm wondering what I should do to help the root system of this maple tree. For years, the limbs were were not trimmed and the grass underneath died from too much shade and the soil began eroding away down the little hill year after year. Now, the tree is trimmed and more sunlight is getting under the limbs and grass could potentially grow there now. I was told though, that maple roots come to the surface looking for water. I understand this, but am wondering if the bare area around the trunk would benefit from dirt, peat moss?, and seed this spring. Can grass grow there again with extra love and attention? We are looking to keep the tree healthy while still making it aesthetically pleasing. We are in a suburb of Detroit.



Oakland County Michigan

Where to buy multigrafted apple trees in Michigan. #861043

Asked March 10, 2024, 3:28 PM EDT

Hi,   I'm interested in planting 1 or two apple trees in my backyard.  We live in zone 6a (Whitmore Lake area).  I don't have much room, but our soil is rich and I plan to plant on a raised berm to get better drainage.  I am considering getting 2-4 grafted trees to help with fertilization/fruit set.  I would like to see if I can get trees with semi dwarf or dwarf root stocks and espalier them to make them easier to pick. 


  I have found nurseries which produce these types of trees, but they are in the southeast (North Carolina or Georgia) and I wonder if it wouldn't be better to get my trees from a Michigan nursery.  I like Northern Spy apples, but am not sure whether they grow well and what their disease tolerance profile is.  (I think I've also seen a 'Nova Spy' apple, but couldn't find much information about it. 


Thanks.  

Livingston County Michigan

ArborKelp Treatment for Douglas Fir Trees - Is this helpful? #860978

Asked March 09, 2024, 3:55 PM EST

I live in the SW Hills of Portland, and we have approx. 15-20 Douglas Fir trees in our yard and around our house. Due to recent storms (wind, ice, rain) we were forced to remove one of the trees due to some uprooting and falling toward our home. SavATree is recommending ArborKelp Treatment 3X/year to promote better root health. I was wondering what the Extension Service thinks of this, and IF it is a good treatment, could I do it myself? Thanks!

Multnomah County Oregon

First Pruning to Create Espalier Apple Trees #860975

Asked March 09, 2024, 3:26 PM EST

Hello, Two years ago we built a fencing structure to support the apple trees we had planned to grow. Last spring I purchased and planted one Honeycrisp and one Zestar apple tree along the fence structure. It was recommended from two different nurseries that I allow the trees to grow for one season to allow the root structure to take hold and grow more before any serious pruning of the trees to create an espalier form out of them. There are already buds forming on the apple trees and I believe we are at the end of the winter pruning season. The idea for this project spawned from an article in the Northern Gardener Magazine but I am unable to find the article for guidance right now. I want to get your advice about where to prune the trunk to start directing growth for the espalier. My goal is to have them in a horizontal cordon growth pattern with three to four tiers of paired branches to maximize the surface area across the fence structure. I believe the Northern Gardener article said to cut the trunk down to 6" to encourage latent buds to start growing for the first set of horizontal branches. Is that 6" up from the root flare or 6" up from the graft? And does my memory of the 6" cut sound correct? It seems so drastic to cut the trunk back that much but I'm pretty sure the article said to cut the trunk at a distance that was less than 12". Just about everything I look for online talks about pruning espalier trees after the tree form is already established. This first cut is so important, I could really use your expertise and guidance with this. My supreme gratitude for any advice, Tara (a Novice Espalier Arborist) P.S. The attached photos are showing the progress of a planter box we built but you can see the apple trees and the fence structure in the background of the images.



Hennepin County Minnesota

Chestnuts #860969

Asked March 09, 2024, 1:38 PM EST

I'm looking for some chestnut seeds to plant, and the best producing yet blight resistant varieties to get. Seeds are very hard to find. Thank you.

Muskegon County Michigan

Deer Damage (trees) #860954

Asked March 09, 2024, 9:47 AM EST

What is the recommended method to keep deer from rubbing on my Royal Raindrops Crabapple tree? Also, is the damage survivable?



Oakland County Michigan

Dormant seeding #860910

Asked March 08, 2024, 1:41 PM EST

Hi. I am writing from Freeborn County Extension. Cory Shea called us asking about dormant seeding. He applied seed in the fall and with the little to no snow we received, he is curious on what to do next. Should he water his lawn when it gets warm? But it still might freeze as temps dip below freezing. He is concerned about his yard and wanted some advice. His phone is<personal data hidden> and his email is <personal data hidden>. The staff listed on the dormant seeding page (https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/dormant-seeding) do not come up in the staff directory to connect with for our office to help Cory get his question answered. Thanks, Amy Wadding 4-H Staff in Freeborn County <personal data hidden>

Freeborn County Minnesota

House Plants #860853

Asked March 07, 2024, 10:56 PM EST

I have acquired an indoor Areca Palm Plant. I would like all the information that I can get on keeping it alive, happy, healthy, and thriving.

Deschutes County Oregon

East Side Botany Resources #860841

Asked March 07, 2024, 7:30 PM EST

Hello! I am super interested in learning more Eastern and central Oregon plants and I was wondering if there are any classes or extension programs surrounding this topic? I'd love to even just shadow someone on the east side to get a firmer grasp of that plant life out there.

Clackamas County Oregon

Former Healthy Lawn Looks Sick #860794

Asked March 07, 2024, 12:57 PM EST

We have a large expanse of lawn right on Lake Champlain. After 5 years of using Truegreen lawn service for liming and seeding, but not other pesticides or chemicals because of our location we stopped the service a year ago for cost saving. Our lawn now looks very sick. And skunks are really digging for grubs. Please advise. Can send photos by e mail. Thanks

Chittenden County Vermont

Is this a caddis fly? alder fly? stone fly? something else!? #860773

Asked March 07, 2024, 9:07 AM EST

Hell! I saw this insect in the 'lower' Kinnickinnic River yesterday. Can you tell what sort of insect it is from this photograph? Many thanks! Charles Phelps



Hennepin County Minnesota

Need help to save Gardenia #860698

Asked March 06, 2024, 12:35 PM EST

Zone 7b : I believe they are Dwarf Gardenias. They have been growing nicely in 12-18" pots while outside on East facing deck when temperature is above freezing. (They were "raised" indoors from Oct 2020 until Spring 2022). Winter (2022) I stored them in a greenhouse on the same deck (made sure to keep evenly watered and temperature steady). One of the 3 Gardenias turned black and died. The other 2 plants appeared fine and remained healthy throughout the Summer and early Fall. I brought both plants indoors before 1st frost in Oct (2023). Avg house temp is 66 degrees; they were in front of East facing windows and I added a small plant light. Around December, I noticed webs all over the stems and leaves. I manually wiped them off and treated the plants with horticulture oil. No more webs, but parts of the plants were dying. I removed all dead parts and repotted both plants in new sterile pots with new potting soil. However, they continue to wither away: tips of leaves are brown and leaves keep dropping. Interestingly, the leaves near the inside fell 1st and the dying process is visibly working it's way to the ends of the branches. I moved them both back outside in hopes they will make a positive turn. What can I do to help?  



Surry County North Carolina

Winter Aconite #860623

Asked March 05, 2024, 6:23 PM EST

Hi. There was winter aconite on our property when we moved here 11 years ago--some. It's so pretty when it first comes up in the spring. We had no idea it was so invasive. Now it has spread so that it is filling our flower beds and getting into our grass and looks like it could take over. I've tried digging it up, but unless you get the bulb, it spreads like wild onions (which we also have). What can I do, short of killing everything off? Thank you, hoping you can help!

Montgomery County Ohio