Search Results

bindweed #840911

Asked July 16, 2023, 12:21 PM EDT

What is the best way to eradicate bindweed?  It is covering an entire yard of an older home.  HELP!

Thank you.


Denver County Colorado

Reviving brown yews #840903

Asked July 16, 2023, 11:25 AM EDT

Hi, I’m seeking advice on options to revive some brown portions of yew shrubs planted about 2 years ago. In the attached photos you can see the issue is more acute in one yew, affecting almost the whole side. On the others the brown is isolated toward the bottom, evidenced by fallen brown needles. I am observing that much of the mulch from around the yews has eroded since they were planted, and a ‘hump’ is visible on the ground above the root balls. So my layperson theory is the roots are stressed and would benefit from a covering of compost and mulch material. Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you can provide!!



Hennepin County Minnesota

Apple tree #840866

Asked July 15, 2023, 9:06 PM EDT

Hi! I have two apple trees with some issues on their leaves. I think it might be cedar rust? One of the trees has holes in leaves. They also had moth cocoons that we good off. The first pic is the tree with the moths on it and has destroyed leaves . The other two pics is my other tree 10 ft away



Tulsa County Oklahoma

Japanese Maple Borer #840848

Asked July 15, 2023, 6:40 PM EDT

I believe my Japanese Maple is infested with borers. I peeled away the loose bark were they’ve been traveling up the trunk and branches. I lost about 20% of the tree last winter which I’m assuming is from the borers weakening the tree. What is the best way to treat it? Pictures attached.



Franklin County Ohio

Japanese beetle grubs? #840810

Asked July 15, 2023, 12:50 PM EDT

This spring i built a 5' x 11' raised garden which I filled with bagged soil (garden and potted) from COSTCO.  I am now finding this huge numbers of grubs.  Ace said to use Traizicide but that is a neurotoxin (safe of course????).  Decided to pull out carrots and try with remaining tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.  Other half of same garden is strawberries which I do not know if it is ok to use on.  Will try and attach photos.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  If I kill grubs will they be gone or return?

Thank you

Ken Noreyko



Jefferson County Colorado

Is puncturevine removal required? #840804

Asked July 15, 2023, 12:25 PM EDT

If puncturevine is on your property, are you required to remove it?

Denver County Colorado

Genetic testing #840768

Asked July 15, 2023, 1:16 AM EDT

Hello, can you tell me where I can get a plant tested to verify species? Thanks, Phil

Clatsop County Oregon

Magnolia in Michigan #840705

Asked July 14, 2023, 3:24 PM EDT

My magnolia leaves are dropping and not as large this year, also quite a few empty branches

Hood River County Oregon

Butter Cup fruit dying #840692

Asked July 14, 2023, 2:37 PM EDT

I have had good success in past years growing Butter Cup squash. This year I’m getting many fruit but they aren’t growing and die. The same seems to be happening with my cucumbers. I e submitted three photos. The first is of a normal looking fruit, the second shows some yellow discoloration and the last shows a dead brown fruit. Thank you for your help



Orange County Vermont

Honeycrisp Apple Tree Disease? #840626

Asked July 14, 2023, 10:28 AM EDT

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to read my inquiry. I planted a potted Honeycrisp apple tree that I bought from Jared's Nursery fall of 2022. At planting I mulched it with the free mulch provided by Jefferson county - note that around the same time I also planted an additional apple tree and a pear tree, both of which are also mulched, receive the same care, and are not exhibiting the same issue. It seemed to have been growing well. Kept the watering over winter to a minimum. I am watering the Honeycrisp apple tree about every three weeks or so with about 5 gallons of water or so - the other two are different sizes so the amount of water used for the other two is different. I have not used any fertilizer on any of the trees as I was told that it would be best for root development. They are all on a slight slope and are located on the south side of the property, not sure if that makes a difference. Around the time we first started having some hail (~June timeframe), I started seeing some damage to the leaves, I attributed it to the hail and didn't think more of it. It now seems to have spread some more and it simply does not look right. Hoping you can help me diagnose the issue and perhaps guide me with a solution. Thanks again a bunch in advanced, looking forward to hearing from you.



Jefferson County Colorado

Seeking native garden feedback #840625

Asked July 14, 2023, 10:24 AM EDT

I'm starting a project where I want to landrace/breed native perennials and annuals for drought tolerance. Most of the lawns in my area are completely dead from the drought the last few years. My own front yard is starting to have exposed soil and the soil quality is poor. I want to be able to provide alternatives for both my yard (and maybe eventually for my community) that don't need much/any supplemental watering. I have done some research and have some native candidates in mind that are already somewhat drought tolerant. I am wondering if you or someone you know would have some expertise that you would be willing to share and to listen to the ideas I have so far on this project. Project info: I have really sandy soil in my yard. I did the jar test and got about 90% sand 8% silt and 2% clay. I also did an NPK test which came back as 0,0, and sufficient so no nitrogen or phosphorous whatsoever. I am looking at plants that are full sun and part sun as the west facing space I am looking at varies in sunlight depending on time of year and how much foliage is on surrounding trees. I'm also looking for plants that aren't terribly aggressive or weedy. I used MN Wildflowers website to find the majority of my information. Here is the short list of plants that I'm looking at: Agastache foeniculum (Blue Giant Hyssop) Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) Houstonia longifolia (Longleaf Bluets) Antennaria parlinii (Parlins Pussytoes) Symphyotrichum urophyllum (Arrow-Leaved Aster) Anemone virginiana (Tall Thimbleweed) Euphorbia corollata (Flowering Spurge) Heuchera richardsonii (Prairie Alumroot) Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea) Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) Carex inops (Sun-loving sedge) Carex brevior (Short-beak Sedge) Carex bicknellii (Bicknell's Sedge) Oryzopsis asperifolia (Rough-leaved Rice Grass) Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea) Rudbeckia hirta (Black Eyed Susan) Vulpia octoflora (Six-weeks Fescue) Erigeron strigosus (Prairie Fleabane) Hedeoma hispida (Rough False Pennyroyal) Trichostema brachiatum (False Pennyroyal)

Hennepin County Minnesota

Why do my rose bush leaves keep getting spots #840577

Asked July 13, 2023, 7:44 PM EDT

Hello, why rose bush keeps getting these spots I added mulch and coffee grounds for fertilizer, trimmed off everything that looked in bad condition and used diatomaceous earth and still getting these spots while I see nothing that looks like it’s causing this damage. Pictures included



Broome County New York

Apple Tree Rooting #840567

Asked July 13, 2023, 6:57 PM EDT

Hi, I am growing an apple tree at 8,400' and a neighbor's horse reached over the top of my tree enclosure, grabbed the top of my tree and ripped it out of the ground. As of today no buds have opened. The tree is still green when scratching the bark later off. However, I just noticed the tree was loose in the ground and inspected it for roots and noticed there are no active growing roots off the root ball on the bottom of the tree. 

Is there any hope of the tree surviving and if so, what can I do to help it stay alive? Would applying a rooting hormone and constant watering help reestablish roots? The tree is about 3 years old. Thank you!

Custer County Colorado

Swallow bugs #840501

Asked July 13, 2023, 2:19 PM EDT

Do barn swallows harbor swallow bugs?  


My neighbor in the condo next door to mine lets a barn swallow nest remain on her porch. Swallows return every year to use it. 

Arapahoe County Colorado

Mystery Growth(fungi) #840468

Asked July 13, 2023, 11:57 AM EDT

What is this mysterious growth?



Macomb County Michigan

Spot on my rose bush, what’s next? #840435

Asked July 13, 2023, 9:41 AM EDT

Hello, I have a double knockout rosebush, the leaves have a grayish white spots on them. I will include a picture from the research I found I cut off all those leaves, trimmed them down, put on diatomaceous earth I put down wood chips. I’ll include another picture and use coffee grounds as a fertilizer in about two weeks later I had the spots came back. I see no signs of bugs, eggs I’m at a loss. What do I do? Please help me save my rosebush.



Broome County New York

Why do nearly all of our Harbelle peaches taste "off" and sometimes seem "grainy"? #840424

Asked July 13, 2023, 8:03 AM EDT

Tree planted spring 2016; this season's Fruits coming ripe now (7-13-23); taste is poor and not sweet, the texture is grainy and punky and there is less juice. Same problem last year, in other years it seems like these peaches tasted fine. We have had considerable brown rot problems especially with this tree, for which we spray fungicide the best we can, cull regularly when we see it developing, and keep the orchard ground clean. Red Haven and Loring are also in our orchard and have historically not had this taste problem, although they are not ripe yet this year. The spraying regime has included the following in various orders/seasons: Horticulture spray (early spring/pre-growth); Bonide Fruit Tree Sray; Bonide fruit and Nut Tree Orchard Spray; Sevin; Captan; Spectricide Immunox Multi-Purpose Fungicide. The Harbelle peaches look wonderful this year and are bountiful, but we find them inedible when we cut into them. Have others experienced such problems with this cultivar?



Montgomery County Maryland

After flooding #840405

Asked July 12, 2023, 10:22 PM EDT

How should we care for our vegetable gardens after they have been submerged by flood waters and when will any potential vegetables be safe to eat from a plant that has been flooded. What steps can we take to try to save the plants. And what can we expect from our underground crops such as garlic, onions, beets and potatoes. Are they all compromised because their leaves have been submerged and infected by flood water? Should we be composting, feeding or otherwise treating the plants or are they not likely to produce healthy vegetables this season?

Windsor County Vermont

please identify this insect that is all over my dog water dish and all areas under my maple tree #840393

Asked July 12, 2023, 8:47 PM EDT

I'm not sure if this is an insect or insect larve. I can't find it in my field guide books. I found dozens in my dog's water bowl and find them crawling all over, especially under my maple tree. I have vegetables growing nearby and  wonder if it is harmful to them.



Arapahoe County Colorado

boxwood leaf miner #840332

Asked July 12, 2023, 3:25 PM EDT

How do I get rid of boxwood leaf miner? I have been digging up the plants.

Franklin County Ohio

cherry blossoms #840270

Asked July 12, 2023, 12:02 PM EDT

Do sweet cherry blossoms have to be pollinated in order for there to be a cherry?. I have two cherry trees about 5 feet high which I planted last summer. I had about a hundred blossoms this spring but only got about 6 cherries. Thanks.

Oakland County Michigan

Canadian cherry parts not leafing out #840256

Asked July 12, 2023, 11:22 AM EDT

My Canadian cherry is not fully leafing out. Some beaches good many just partial. Should I remove the partially leafed out branches?



El Paso County Colorado

Can you identify this fungus #840240

Asked July 12, 2023, 10:00 AM EDT

I'm attaching three pictures of some kind of fungus which has started appearing in my garden. They all have appeared overnight, at the size they are in the pictures. They don't appear to start small and grow, and don't seem to be getting larger than when they first appear. My garden is fenced to keep out both large animals (I live adjacent to Crego Park, so I get Deer, turkeys and other large animals) and the fence keeps out rabbits and moles (the fence extends underground about a foot). The only animals which can get into my yard are the occasional squirrel. My cat roams the yard, and I'm hoping these growths are not potentially harmful to her (although she isn't showing any interest in them, and I scoop them up and discard them when they first appear.) I would appreciate any information you can give me in identifying these things, and letting me know if I should be concerned about them, if I should be treating them to get rid of them and/or prevent more of them from appearing. Most of my garden beds are populated with ornamental plants, but I do have an area where I grow vegetables (Although so far, these things have not appeared in the vegetable garden area.) But I'm wondering if I should be concerned about eating the vegetables which are growing in proximity to these (apparent) fungi. Thanks very much for your consideration. Mike Rogell Lansing, MI



Ingham County Michigan

Plant id #840147

Asked July 11, 2023, 3:54 PM EDT

Pivoting 1: Is this a bamboo plant? If so, is it invasive? Also, is it hardy in Michigan? Photo 2: What is the name of this plant?



Kent County Michigan

Chinese Junipers - Trimming #839979

Asked July 10, 2023, 5:47 PM EDT

We have a screen of Chinese Junipers that are approximately 17 years old and border a parking lot.  Unfortunately, they have been allowed to become overgrown.  Is it possible to trim these back to a reasonable size without sacrificing their health?  If so, how would you recommend approaching the trimming?  All at once?  A little at a time?

Thank you!







Wayne County Michigan