Search Results

recommended trees for Boise metro area #859958

Asked February 26, 2024, 6:45 PM EST

Hello - first, I thank you for the times through the years you have helped me with garden issues.  

I moved into an older home last summer and there was no tree for shade in the front yard.  Because the yards in this 55+ community are small, I wanted to be sure my selection was appropriate for its potential growth and something fairly free of insect problems or tree diseases.  I asked if my community had a list of recommended trees.  They did not.  Now they are going ahead with my idea as some trees in here are causing potential issues or dying.

Can you offer suggestions for trees that would do well in small yards?  We have common areas that have spots where trees have been removed and the community would like to replace them.  Those areas are not as small as the yards but still must not lift up the paths or patios.  

Thank you for any guidance you might offer.

Sue Fillman




Ada County Idaho

Oak Borer Identification and Control #859918

Asked February 26, 2024, 1:49 PM EST

I had some limbs removed from my Red Oak tree by the Calhoun County Road Dept this month and when I was cutting up the large (12-18" dia) limbs, I found two borers deep in the wood with a clear bore path.

I took the attached pictures and have kept the worms/caterpillars in a jar , just in case.

I cannot determine what they exacly are by researching on the internet, but possibly something like "larvae of several species of clearwing moths (family Sesiidae)"?
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7477.html#:~:text=Clearwing%20larvae%20are%201%20to,the%20base%20of%20the%20tree

I would like to know what they are an how to control them if possible.

https://www.solutionsstores.com/how-to-get-rid-of-tree-borers

Please give me any help you can, as I would like to make sure this 200+ year old oak and the 3 others I have in my yard live on.

Best regards,
Glenn Kowalske, P.E.

<personal data hidden>



Calhoun County Michigan

Koyamaki Japanese Umbrella Tree #859881

Asked February 26, 2024, 8:04 AM EST

I have a rare Koyamaki Tree approximately 30 feet high. It was growing in my yard when I moved in 1995. Very old. We love this rare tree, but branches are browning and dying. Barlett Tree Company could not identify. Hoping you have some insight for us.



Howard County Maryland

White powdery substance on succulant #859867

Asked February 25, 2024, 7:13 PM EST

What is the white powdery substance and what should I do about it? Will it spread to other plants? Is it harming this plant?



Washtenaw County Michigan

Mud hole #859858

Asked February 25, 2024, 5:16 PM EST

I had a beautiful lawn last year...now all the grass is gone and it's just mud. What caused this, some type of fungus or is some type of insect eating it? There are little tiny holes all over the lawn.

Josephine County Oregon

Apple tree cankers #859851

Asked February 25, 2024, 4:11 PM EST

Hello, I live on Kent Island. My apple tree has several dark lumpy spots on the branches and trunk. I am attaching pictures. Are these cankers? Does this indicate fungus? Do I need to treat my tree in some way? Thank you!



Queen Anne's County Maryland

Tree Issue #859817

Asked February 25, 2024, 8:53 AM EST

This maple is approx at least 30 yrs old. Looks wet but it is not. What is occurring and does it need treatment?



Frederick County Maryland

Hemlock infested with woolly adelgid #859807

Asked February 24, 2024, 8:26 PM EST

My 7 hemlock trees are infested with wooley adelgid. It is end February and I see white spots on the ends of the branches. (1) is a white spot the mother, the eggs or the mother on top of her eggs? (2) If a horticultural spray is applied in early March, will it be killing the mother or the eggs or both? (3) if the horticultural spray kills both the mother and her eggs, why is another spray application required at the end of June?

Montgomery County Maryland

Can you identify this bug? #859771

Asked February 24, 2024, 11:19 AM EST

I was sweeping my kids mess in the kitchen when I saw this crawling amongst the crumbs. I've seen one before but not many. I've just moved into this home a couple months ago. 



New London County Connecticut

Bug Identification #859728

Asked February 23, 2024, 2:41 PM EST

Hello. We are finding these tiny bugs in our house (February 23, 2024). I'm attaching 2 pictures. I found a bunch of them dead in bucket we keep in our closet but I also have found several alive and wandering in our bathroom and near our dog's food. Please help identify what these are so we can eradicate them. Can you advise us how to get rid of these?



Eaton County Michigan

Dead lawn - Axonopus compressus #859701

Asked February 23, 2024, 9:33 AM EST

Good morning - I’m visiting family in Mercedes, Texas, and my brother’s lawn has completely died. He hasn’t changed his watering or any other cultural practices. We see that the same is beginning to take place in the lawn across the street as well. The variety is Axonopus compressus. What could be causing this? Insect, virus, bacterium, fungus? We’re trying to figure out the best treatment going forward. Another variety of grass? Maybe a clover lawn? Thank you for your advice.

Hidalgo County Texas

Shore Pine fungus? #859691

Asked February 22, 2024, 11:29 PM EST

Hi there. I noticed a branch hanging off weird and looked closer to see this fungus looking stuff at the top of the tree and at the next two sections that branch out below. Thoughts on what it is and if I should do anything for the tree?



Multnomah County Oregon

Insect identification #859623

Asked February 22, 2024, 9:12 AM EST

This winged pest was found in our basement today (2-22-24). May we ask if you can identify it? Is it something for us to be concerned? Thanks, Dennis George

Franklin County Ohio

Bushes for Hedges #859620

Asked February 22, 2024, 8:30 AM EST

I would like to install a 10 foot long hedge in our backyard that would eventually grow to 4 or 5 feet high and would be dense enough to provide privacy. Can you recommend what type of bushes I could use for the hedge? Thank you

Wayne County Michigan

Timing and methodology for removing garden vegetable matter after harvest #859574

Asked February 21, 2024, 1:48 PM EST

Hi.  We have a decent sized home vegetable garden.  My wife and I have a question about timing and methodology of removal of vegetable matter after harvest.  We've been leaving everything until spring and then removing the plant matter (stems, leaves, past-their-prime vegetables, etc.) that is above ground and putting it the compost bin.  We typically just leave the roots in the ground, thinking they will compost and become part of the soil.  However, I was walking in the garden yesterday and noticing that a lot of the plant matter is kind of rotting and decaying, especially after the cold we had during the snow and ice a few weeks ago.  I started to worry that maybe our methodology is not so wise - maybe this will create a vector for fungus and other diseases to get in the soil.  We'd appreciate some gardening advice on best time to remove plant matter, as well as any advice on methodology, such as best practices and also whether to leave the old root systems in the soil permanently.  Finally, if the way we've done it might lead to introduction of fungus and disease, is there anything we need to do now to mitigate what we've done?  Thank you!!



Multnomah County Oregon

Rosemary bush problem #859570

Asked February 21, 2024, 1:30 PM EST

My rosemary bush is uniformly covered with white spots, but apparently NOT the powdery mold type. I’ve attached top and bottom views of a single leaf. Every leaf on the bush looks like this



Orange County North Carolina

rose bush leaf degradation #859568

Asked February 21, 2024, 12:53 PM EST

Hello, my rose bushes start the year vibrant and healthy. Mid -summer most of my leaves are look like Swiss cheese. By the end of summer the plants are nearly dead. 

 I've tried many different remedies to no avail.  Here are a couple of pictures of my problem.   Thanks. 



Oakland County Michigan

Bug identification #859560

Asked February 21, 2024, 12:32 PM EST

I have flying bugs in my pantry that I cannot eradicate or identify their nest.



Tolland County Connecticut

Feces found various places #859554

Asked February 21, 2024, 11:58 AM EST

Looks like cockroach feces but probably wrong. Found mostly in the pantry. Thought it was mice but nothing eatten. New home five years ago. Live in a rural area.



Dakota County Minnesota

something damaging our trees #859536

Asked February 20, 2024, 7:32 PM EST

Two years ago, we planted around a dozen trees in our backyard. Despite the squirrels and deer, some of the new trees survived. However, last year, we noticed that some sort of bug was killing the bark and trees. Sadly, we had to sacrifice six more trees this year. The damage appears near the graft, at the very bottom of the tree. I've attached some pictures to show the damage. Could you please analyze this and help us get rid of these pests safely taking into account having kinds / dogs around?



Benton County Oregon

Mature Weeping Cherry Tree needs help! #859515

Asked February 20, 2024, 3:51 PM EST

My weeping cherry tree is in need of pruning and I do not know where to start. There are a lot of large dead limbs as you can see in the pictures.  I need direction in what needs to be done to save my favorite tree. There is also sap looking stuff coming from it up high. I can only send a couple pics, if you need more, please let me know. Thanks



Madison County Kentucky

controlling Drosophilia in Strawberries #859511

Asked February 20, 2024, 3:34 PM EST

My everbearing strawberries have soft spots that come about mid summer. The berries look perfect, but there is almost always a soft, mushy spot that ruins the fruit. What can I do about this? I think it is a Spotted Wing Drosophilia that is causing the problem. Can I get rid of them safely and without constant attention?

Clackamas County Oregon

Crapemyrtle bark scale #859493

Asked February 20, 2024, 12:36 PM EST

What is best treatment in MD. I scrubbed many of the white scales from the bark last fall but many remain. Saw a recommendation to soak soil with Dinotefuran but it seems to be banned in MD. Would like to be aggresive in treatment this spring. Thanks for your help!

Anne Arundel County Maryland

tick infestation in home #859475

Asked February 20, 2024, 10:08 AM EST

How do you rid a home from a tick infestation? Repeated treatment with sprays inside by a pest control company have not worked. I am writing this for a friend in Catonsville who doesn't use a computer. I understand that Maryland is experiencing a greater than usual problem with ticks this year.

Baltimore County Maryland

Trimming bushes #859446

Asked February 19, 2024, 5:45 PM EST

I typically trim our burning bushes and Diablo ninebark in February when they are dormant. As the weather is unusually warm, I was wondering if it was still ok to do that trimming. Thank you.

Hennepin County Minnesota