Search Results

Doug fir tree question #858587

Asked February 05, 2024, 6:49 PM EST

Hi We have a Doug fir that I noticed bark coming off quite easily. I see some type of bug or fungus looking thing under the bark and not certain what it is. I’ve included pix. Thx!



Washington County Oregon

Fruit tree pest management (mites?) #858530

Asked February 05, 2024, 11:29 AM EST

We have a large, mature apple tree that I'm pretty sure has had some spider mites (and/or rust mites) on it the last couple of years: some leaves curled and webbed, plus some rust-colored spot on some leaves. But it's not infested, so it still produces lots of good apples (though some do get wormy later in the harvest season). We haven't bothered to treat the tree, as it still produces more than enough good apples and generally looks very healthy (most of the leaves aren't affected by the mites). However, last year, a new (2nd year) cherry tree (that was close to the apple tree) died just after it had started producing its leaves and flowers, and it looked like it was probably killed by spider mites (and/or rust mites). Is there an effective, non-toxic/organic (IPM) way for us to treat our young cherry trees (in winter and/or in spring/summer), to keep the mites off of them? I'm planning to re-plant a new cherry tree soon, but I'm thinking I should not plant it close to the apple tree this year. Thanks!

Benton County Oregon

bugs and bees - Boxelder and ground bees #858527

Asked February 05, 2024, 11:06 AM EST

Good morning, We've noticed an increase in boxelder bugs (we have a nice white house with great sun exposure) over the past 2-3 years. We've tried to keep leaves away from the house so they have fewer places to nest. However, it seems like they come back in greater numbers each year. Our neighbors do have a nice leaf compost pile right beside our driveway. Perhaps that is a source of nesting? We're wondering if you have suggestions for long-term control? We've used flying insect spray but that just targets the ones on the outside of the house. They continue to reappear and we usually have 1-2 inside the house on most days in random areas. We've tried to identify where they are entering, but would really love to get rid of them on the outside to prevent their entry into the house. We contacted an exterminator but it felt like they'd just do the same thing...spray those that are outside (as well as any other insect). We don't want to keep all bugs/spiders, just help control the boxelder population. Do you have suggestions for treatment and prevention? Also, we have a nest of ground bees (not carpenter bees...not as big or with black bottoms). How should we treat them? They're right by our driveway and make it hard to play outside for fear of being stung.



Franklin County Ohio

Blemishes on beans and peas #858500

Asked February 05, 2024, 1:19 AM EST

Last summer many of my bean and pea pods developed lighter colored blemishes that appeared to have pin pricks in the center. See photos. Do you know what might be causing this? I'm thinking it's from some sort of insect.



Deschutes County Oregon

Possible diseased peach tree #858473

Asked February 04, 2024, 4:05 PM EST

Hello! I have a peach tree that I have had for 3 years now. Last year due to life circumstances I was unfortunately unable to keep up with my garden and in the early summer I believe I had a virus or other disease go through. I initially thought it might be rose rosette disease as it started with my rose bushes, and looked like abnormal (although not very red) deformed new growth and deformed buds. However they recovered with several rounds of aggressive pruning and I then found that despite the pruning and spraying the garden for pests my kiwi vine and peach tree were also affected. That seasons fruit ultimately fell off and now all the terminal growth of the tree is all abnormal looking. Now that it is late winter/early spring I am unsure if I should just heavily prune the peach tree and hope for the best or if at this point I should consider it lost and get rid of the tree altogether. I’ve attached a picture what the peach tree looks like now, unfortunately nearly the entire tree looks the same. Thanks!



Clackamas County Oregon

Row Covers #858470

Asked February 04, 2024, 3:08 PM EST

For the last two years, I’ve rented space at a Bloomington community garden. I’ve had a horrible time fighting insects – squash bugs, possibly vine borers, cabbage worm, etc. The garden’s are organic, but hand picking bugs didn’t dent the insect population. Last year I tossed all my cucumber and squash vines, turnips and cabbage. I see two choices: Move to a newly established garden, or stay where I am and use row covers. I’ve read all your on-line information on row covers and have a few questions. It mentions that row covers do not work “if curcurbits were planted in the same area.” What do you mean by area? I have a 4 ft x 15 ft area that has not had cucumber vines in 3 years, but it’s about 5 ft from last year’s bug infested area. Is this far enough away? Also, every garden plot near me had the same insect issue; the renters left bug infected vines in their plots at the end of the season; and the entire area was tilled last October. Could overwintering cocoons have been tilled into my areas? My assumption is that an area that has never been gardened would not have an insect issue that first year. Am I correct?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Squash bugs #858449

Asked February 04, 2024, 9:43 AM EST

How do I defeat squash bugs. As all natural as possible

Henry County Ohio

Tree Spray Schedule #858421

Asked February 03, 2024, 4:29 PM EST

We planted a 5-in-1 fruit and a 5-in-1 apple tree last spring. So far, I have not treated them with anything. I purchased fruit tree and plant guard, as well as a copper fungicide. What spray schedule should I use for each and is there anything else I should be treating them with?

Sussex County Delaware

Squirrel damage to my trees is extensive #858402

Asked February 03, 2024, 1:48 PM EST

Please see photos attached. The squirrel population in my yard had gotten out of control? The first photo is of a small tree that was stripped bare of bark, which resulted in the necessity to remove it completely. The second is a larger tree now under attack with large bits of bark being gnawed away. The third picture is to reveal the size of the tree. Please advise us. These squirrels must be removed from our area to save this tree. What are our options?



Boulder County Colorado

Mystery bug found in mattress - Austin, TX #858371

Asked February 02, 2024, 5:12 PM EST

What is this tiny creature? I was vacuuming my mattress and the vacuum pulled some tiny black and brown specks through the mattress protector. I have a microscope I use as a hobby so I put a couple of these items on a slide and looked at them under 100x magnification. I took some pictures with my iphone through the microscope, I hope they’re clear enough to be identified.

This looks to me like some kind of larva or pupa but I have no idea what the organism would be and why it’s in my mattress. I have dogs so it’s possible they tracked something in from the yard but I really have no idea what I’m looking at and how concerned I should be about it. It looks like there might be eggs on one end too? Yikes. I have a mattress protector that’s supposed to protect it from bedbugs but these things are small enough to fit through the weave of the waterproof fabric material. I’m attaching some pictures so you can see their size (slide and cover glass for scale) and what they look like close up. I am a little creeped out and I’d appreciate some help! Thank you!




Travis County Texas

There’s a hole in my fiddle leaf fig! #858358

Asked February 02, 2024, 3:29 PM EST

I noticed this 6cm X 3cm hole in the newest leaf on my fiddle leaf fig. While one photo looks like there are tiny, thin, long insects on the leaf, these “spots” are not mobile. The size of the hole leads me to believe it was not made by some type of insect that is tiny (e.g. spider mite, mealy bug, thrips, etc.). I have had these insects with other plants in the past and they did not do this extensive damage. In fact, the size of the “hole” is similar to what I have seen with outdoor plants attacked by slugs, caterpillars, etc. The fig plant is relatively small—a little less than 2-feet tall and I’ve had it for about 3 months with no problems until now. My other plants—peace lily and palm—are all fine. Any advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thank you!



Harford County Maryland

Need a tree suggestion #858320

Asked February 02, 2024, 9:03 AM EST

I have lost several ornamental cherry trees to disease on the curbside lawn. Borers have been a problem. Most recently the city said it was diseased it no other info on exactly what this disease was. It started dropping leaves very early. They removed it. I would like to have a tree curbside. Is there something that is disease resistant , medium height , nice color in fall and very hardy and low maintenance? 

Thank you. I live in Royal Oak MI and am a MSU master gardener and love being part of this program. 

Kamila 

Oakland County Michigan

diseased salal #858278

Asked February 01, 2024, 2:23 PM EST

what is wrong with this salal? The leaves are covered with a whitish powder, and others have many black spots. The owner, Celia, cut it way down before but the new leaves soon developed the same problem. When you respond can you also please cc my relative Celia , in whose garden this is happening. Her email is: <personal data hidden>. Thank you.



Lane County Oregon

Green moth ? #858248

Asked February 01, 2024, 9:32 AM EST

Can you please tell me what kind insect this is. We found this in the bathroom. We don't know if it can sting or cause damage of any sort. Regards, Tina Rains



Mesa County Colorado

flying black bug #858213

Asked January 31, 2024, 3:37 PM EST

What is this bug? It is only about one millimeter long.



Lorain County Ohio

Backyard Apple Tree Selection and Care #858195

Asked January 31, 2024, 11:59 AM EST

I plan to plant an apple tree in my yard in Centennial this spring. I have the following questions. 1-Maximum distance to another apple tree for cross pollination. 2-Recommended apple trees for Colorado. 3-For cross pollination, should the neighboring tree be of the same variety or a different one? 4-Advantages of dwarf apple tree versus a regular apple tree. 5-Recommendations for care and maintenance of a dwarf apple tree. Reqarding this form, you ask if question can be publicly accessible. Yes, if my name or email is not viewable; otherwise this question is private. Clarifying this issue in your privacy question below might help people decide whether or not to check the privacy box.

Arapahoe County Colorado

Help....Gardenia is Sickly #858186

Asked January 31, 2024, 10:47 AM EST

Hello, I listened to your program yesterday about houseplants while I was driving and didn’t get to hear the entire broadcast. I have a question; I bought a Gardenia plant 3 years ago in the Spring and it has been doing very well. During the Summer I keep it outside and when the weather starts to cool I bring it inside it lives in a room that faces south but isn’t always too bright so I also use plant lights. The foliage has always been green and very healthy but there has never any buds or blossoms. Recently the leaves seem to droop but revive when I water it. Also, some of the leaves are turning yellow and dying and the green leaves are looking pale. There are also tiny “spider” webs on parts of the plant . I’ve used neem oil before when it got these webs but I hesitate to take the plant outside in the winter. I also use Miracid as a fertilizer during the growing season. The next few days are supposed to be “mild” (for northern Vermont) so perhaps I can take our lovely plant outside and give it a dose of neem oil…What do you think ? ALSO, do you have any advice on how I can coax her to bloom ?

Franklin County Vermont

Fruit trees #858154

Asked January 30, 2024, 6:47 PM EST

I am in Scio Oregon and have some fruit trees. I want to learn how to control the worms in the apples. Most of the trees are old huge apple trees. Do you have information on all the suggested treatments for plums, apples, and pears in this area?

Linn County Oregon

Ants and Meyer Lemon Tree #858142

Asked January 30, 2024, 4:27 PM EST

Hello, We have a dwarf Meyer Lemon in a 5 gallon pot and after lots of work, it still gets infested with ants (small sugar ants). I've re-potted it after shaking and removing nearly all dirt (and ants) and have planted mint as a companion to deter ants. We've also moved it to various places, greenhouse, yard, etc. to no avail. I even circled the pot with cinnamon (ants won't cross that spice) but of course with rain, it's less effective. Thanks for considering. My Name Here :-)

Lane County Oregon

Elm tree issue #858140

Asked January 30, 2024, 3:39 PM EST

I have a 100+ year old elm tree that came with my house which I bought 17 years ago. I have continued to have the tree pruned, cabled and inoculated for DED. When the leaves fell throughout late 2023-early 2024, roughly 80-90% look like they had insect damage. Is this a problem, concern, what should I do, etc.



Multnomah County Oregon

Is this insect a weevil and how can I eradicate it? #858085

Asked January 29, 2024, 8:06 PM EST

This past summer this insect suddenly took over my dahlias and zinnias. The were present on my squash/pumpkin flowers too, but did not seem to destroy them. Their numbers were so many they were literally dripping off my dahlias and destroyed the flowers. I tried soap and detergent and then Seven. The former did nothing, and the latter decreased their numbers for a very short times. The tubers came from Costco (just background info). Please give advise on anything I can do with/to the tubers this winter to avoid planting insect eggs, etc.



Kandiyohi County Minnesota

Dots from oak tree? #858082

Asked January 29, 2024, 7:34 PM EST

Hi. I park a car near an oak tree and I am wondering if the 1-3mm dots stuck all over my car are from the oak and what exactly they are. Photos of the dots and tree attached. I live in Northern California. Thanks!



Marin County California

Catapillar with eyes #858075

Asked January 29, 2024, 4:50 PM EST

What is this? Picture taken in Little Canada MN



Ramsey County Minnesota

Issue with trees #858068

Asked January 29, 2024, 3:53 PM EST

Hello, Can you help me with identifying what is causing the issues with the trees shown in the photo? I took these photos last July and found that they were insects living under the tree bark. Birds came in as you can see in one of the photos and were pecking at the bark thus getting to the bugs. I unfortunately know the type of tree but do know they are approx. 15-20 ft tall at maturity. Have a rounded canopy and deciduous leaves. I have attached a few photos below. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Allison



Wexford County Michigan

White Oak Tree Response to Lawn-Related Cultural Changes? #858066

Asked January 29, 2024, 3:35 PM EST

Regarding white oak trees that have grown up in a lawn area for 50+ years and have been irrigated and fertilized as such (to maximize lawn growth), how would they respond to a sudden stoppage of both irrigation (especially during the summer months) and fertilization for the foreseeable future? More specifically, how would white oak trees infected with Armillaria respond, and would they respond any differently than a healthy tree would? Thanks in advance!

Multnomah County Oregon