Search Results

what is eating my zinnia? #843188

Asked July 29, 2023, 12:55 PM EDT

Found some black something on the leaves of some of the zinnias and then a little later the pedals had been eaten off the plant and the plant had died. What was or is that

Oklahoma County Oklahoma

Invasive beetle? #843149

Asked July 29, 2023, 7:31 AM EDT

Hi, I would like to send a picture of a very large beetle to someone who is familiar with forest invasive insects. Do you know who I should send it to? Thank you, Charlotte

Chittenden County Vermont

Blue Grama seed germination #843087

Asked July 28, 2023, 3:01 PM EDT

Assuming Blue Grama grass was originally grazed by buffalo how can I improve germination of seed to reduce the bare patches in pasture grass? Would a drag help? I do have 4 cows in the pasture so some hoof traffic is taking place. I've tried dry land alfalfa seed and dry land pasture mix, but broadcast and drag didn't seem to help with either of those. Some alfalfa seed was raked into the bare patches, but never germinated. Any ideas on how to leverage the seed this year to improve germination would be appreciated. 

El Paso County Colorado

Safe to eat tomatoes affected by black walnut wilt? #843059

Asked July 28, 2023, 1:34 PM EDT

Hello, I planted my first garden in raised beds this year. I grew several tomato plants only to find out later they’d been affected by black walnut trees on my property. The plants have still produced a large crop of tomatoes, which look normal and healthy despite the wilt. Are the tomatoes safe to eat even though the plants have been affected by the black walnut toxicity?



Kent County Michigan

Dry Lilac Leaves #843044

Asked July 28, 2023, 12:20 PM EDT

We planted this lilac bush a couple months ago and it looks to have some type of disease. It gets regular water and about half a day of full sun. Can you help?



Deschutes County Oregon

Carolina Cherry Laurels #843030

Asked July 28, 2023, 11:41 AM EDT

Hello, I just bought 2 Carolina Cherry Laurels, will they survive our winters in Oklahoma?

Rogers County Oklahoma

Oak Tree Sapling #842990

Asked July 28, 2023, 9:51 AM EDT

I have an oak tree sapling that is about 5 years old and it is about 4 foot tall. My question is about pruning the lower branches. The tree has several branches towards the bottom of the trunk. What is a good pruning regimen to give the tree a good shape? I do realize that the lower branch pruning would be done over several years. I put a wire cage around it to stop the local critters from pruning it off at the ground.



Polk County Iowa

Is this a Honeysuckle? #842952

Asked July 27, 2023, 7:43 PM EDT

We just moved into our house and it was advertised to have 13 berry varieties on site but I don’t know all the types. I’m trying to make sure we don’t have anything unsafe for my small children. I’m guessing they are safe but I want to be sure. Someone mentioned I may be able to contact you all? Let me know what I can do. Thank you!



Deschutes County Oregon

Evergreen trees #842930

Asked July 27, 2023, 5:22 PM EDT


We live in a residential neighborhood in Portage, MI, and have a question about which evergreen we should choose to replace a towering blue spruce that has finally become all but a skeleton. It sits on a corner of our front yard and, once it’s removed and the stump ground, we’d like to replace it with another evergreen. The question is…with the changing climate and resulting insects/diseases…which evergreens are remaining healthy and will be a good replacement.

I’ve talked with several local nurseries whose staff, however friendly, seem unprepared for this question. My brother-in-law who has farmed in Berrien County for years suggested MSES as a source of info. Have you any suggestions as to which evergreens might be a good replacement?

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

Kalamazoo County Michigan

HUMAN INTERACTION WITH CARPET BEETLES? #842862

Asked July 27, 2023, 12:06 PM EDT

Please, provide link to photographs of the consequence of human skin to Carpet Beetles. I am trying to identify my own situation. I will provide photographs. Bed-bugs was ruled-out by an exterminator, but he reported finding a solitary Carpet Beetle skeleton. THANKS ! As for photographic documentation: I converted the HEIC files to PDF. They were too large. Reduced both to 7.25, but still won't load.

District of Columbia County District of Columbia

Flooded potatos #842774

Asked July 26, 2023, 6:27 PM EDT

I’m assuming that potato crops inundated by floodwaters are also unusable. Is that accurate?

Lamoille County Vermont

Zucchini trouble #842706

Asked July 26, 2023, 11:57 AM EDT

My zucchini plants were producing great until last week. Now they look like they will die soon. Do zucchini get worn out after a bountiful harvest? Do they need additional fertilizer? There is no sign of bugs and I don’t have powdery mildew.



Kenton County Kentucky

Are these mature trees of heaven? #842619

Asked July 25, 2023, 7:46 PM EDT

Good evening. I have two large trees in my backyard, which I'm fairly certain are trees of heaven, but I want to be absolutely certain before I consider removal. The trees themselves are a bit over two feet in diameter, and maybe 40-50 feet high (rough estimate based on my house height). They both get thin, white columnar clusters of flowers in spring, although I forget if either of them drop seeds later in the season. I believe they do. I've included a photo of the flowers. I do get tree of heaven root suckers all over my property, sometimes all the way in the front yard, but my alley has several smaller trees of heaven, which I'm sure of, and I'm not sure if those are responsible. The smaller shoots smell characteristically bad, but when I break branches off of the largest two trees, they don't smell nearly as much. The second photo is of some of the tree's various characteristics. Thank you for the help!



Wayne County Michigan

Grazon in the garden #842590

Asked July 25, 2023, 5:36 PM EDT

Will hot peppers absorb grazon if planted in grazon contaminated soil even if they show no signs of contamination

Linn County Iowa

Want to know why my aspen trees have leaves turning brown. #842571

Asked July 25, 2023, 4:15 PM EDT

Wanting to know why my aspen tree leaves are turning brown.



Teller County Colorado

Is my garden safe with an American Eastern Walnut tree right near it? #842546

Asked July 25, 2023, 2:42 PM EDT

I have a small vegetable garden, and an American Eastern Walnut tree has grown within 25 feet of my garden. This tree has grown very, very fast with the tree now being appx. 50' tall. Knowing that these Walnut trees put off a toxic chemical known as Juglone, is my garden being exposed to this Juglone chemical through the root systems, and is this safe for me and my family to continue to eat from the garden? Please advise, Thank you,

Livingston County Michigan

Weed killers #842545

Asked July 25, 2023, 2:39 PM EDT

What are the best weed killer products or natural remedies that kill weeds but don’t harm the lawn?

Oakland County Michigan

Identify a tree #842544

Asked July 25, 2023, 2:33 PM EDT

We have a tree or bush growing on the corner of our house in the rock right next to an established bush. It probably needs to be moved. I think it’s an arborvitae or pine. It’s about 2 feet tall.



Polk County Iowa

Finding a new bee swarm #842496

Asked July 25, 2023, 11:21 AM EDT

My bees swarmed and now I have an empty hive. Is there someway to acquire another swarm?  I  had heard there are folks that collect swarms but don't know how to connect with them.

Jefferson County Colorado

Black film on plants and patio #842468

Asked July 25, 2023, 9:12 AM EDT

Hi - This year we have been getting a sticky black film on some of our plants and patio. Pictures attached of catmint, virbinum and an unidentified tree.



Campbell County Kentucky

Biochar inoculation help #842461

Asked July 25, 2023, 7:41 AM EDT

I am having difficult finding what I should best use to inoculate (to charge) char in order to turn it into biochar.

I do not wish to blend it with compost or other materials which will dilute the biochar. I seek to keep the char is its original state, as much as I can, but to inoculate it.

I am faced with two options: (1) to inoculate it so that it works best as a general soil amendment to the red soil typical to Albemarle County; (2) to inoculate it so that it best assists in nutrient development / maintenance of soil in a raised bed garden. The latter is formulate with Miracle Grow potting soil, degraded wood chips, humate soil conditioner, green sand, worm casting, granite dust, vermiculite, pearlite and peat moss.

Compost tea seems to be a favorite inoculant. John Kohler uses a tea sold on Amazon . . . Boogie Brew Compost Tea.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqtD3DZV9iM&ab_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZEAJRJ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A2TNVEX3UKOJOH&th=1

One YouTube instruction even calls for 1C sugar, 1C worm castings, 2C oats, 1 small handful of each of rock dust and clay kitty litter to inoculate a 5-gallon bucket of char. See the following @ 15:15.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rcDSuwaIA4&ab_channel=TheUrbanHarvest-HomegrownEducation

I and my wife are retired folks with a small garden. The simplest advice you can offer will be appreciated.

Thank-you.

Tom B. (Class of ’70)

Albemarle County Virginia

Why do I have flowers but no zucchini? #842363

Asked July 24, 2023, 2:52 PM EDT

My zucchini (and summer squash) plants have plenty of flowers but only two zucchini have grown from them. Can you tell me why?



Kent County Michigan

White leaves on one cucumber plant #842354

Asked July 24, 2023, 2:35 PM EDT

The top leaves on one cucumber plant have turned white. The cucumber forming on this plant has light green stripes while the cucumber forming on another plant appears normal. It doesn’t appear to be caused by insects.



Ramsey County Minnesota

Sticky black mist #842319

Asked July 24, 2023, 12:38 PM EDT

There is an oak tree above what is happening. My car, my railings, my plants esp . my hostas have a black misty covering every morning. It started early June best as I can remember, and it has continued since. On my white railings and hostas it is black. I wash it off and it is back the next day. I have tried to wash my hostas as they have big leaves but other plants I haven't, and they seem to be slow growing. I don't know what it is, what to do about it, what I should do about my plants? This hasn't happened before, and I have lived here under this tree for over 35 years.

Jackson County Michigan

Invasive hawthorn removal #842192

Asked July 23, 2023, 5:52 PM EDT

Was wondering if you had any advice on how to kill/remove hawthorn trees that propagate from their root system.

Barry County Michigan