Search Results

Why is my pin oak tree dying? #865550

Asked April 23, 2024, 9:52 AM EDT

We have noticed that one of our two pin oak trees is losing its leaves on the inside; and all inside branches are now bare. Outside branches have some new leaves but far fewer than it used to have when it was healthy. We noticed this last year but it’s worse this year. I don’t see any visible insects on the branches or trunk, which is approx 10 feet around at the base. It’s about 40 feet tall. I do see some splitting and green “moss” and fungus and other stuff on some of the branches. Please see my photos. The tree is about 28 years old. It’s planted in rich soil that used to be agricultural (growing soybeans and maybe corn), then turned into a small subdivision in southern Anne Arundel County (Harwood, MD). We had an older maple tree die a few years ago (located about 200 feet away from this tree). Someone told me they thought it was possibly anthracnose. Do you have any idea what is happening and how we can save this tree? I have many more photos I can send. Thanks so much in advance.



Anne Arundel County Maryland

Question about lawn to prairie conversion #865549

Asked April 23, 2024, 9:50 AM EDT

Hello, I am preparing this year to convert a large portion of my yard to prairie. I read the How-To page which provided a lot of useful information, however I'm wondering if you have any other resources that go into more detail about the process and if you can recommend any seed dealers in the metro or online for high-quality native seeds and plugs. I am located in Golden Valley, and if there are any volunteer master gardeners in the area with experience in prairie restoration who would be willing to talk with me I would greatly appreciate being connected with them. Thank you! Bob

Hennepin County Minnesota

How to prevent mildew on peonies #865524

Asked April 22, 2024, 10:18 PM EDT

Last couple years my peonies have been full of mildew. What can I do at this point in time before I see any evidence of mildew?

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Can this PJM Rhodi be saved? #865519

Asked April 22, 2024, 9:40 PM EDT

I have a PJM Rhododendron that was planted in 2020 and did fine until last year and this year, when I now only get a few blooms at the top. The bottom areas seem to be dead, but the top areas seem to be fine. Suggestions to see if it can be saved - should I prune hard and see how it grows next year? Fertilizer recommendations?



Berrien County Michigan

Lawn problems (very patchy and bare) #865515

Asked April 22, 2024, 8:57 PM EDT

Hello. My lawn is in a lot of distress and I'm looking for some advice. It has become extremely patchy the last couple of years, especially last year and this. I think there are a couple of issues: 1) subscribing to biolawn for a few years has left it a mono-culture and grass hasn't replaced weeds, and 2) the drought and my lack of watering. I'm going to reduce my lawn footprint, but I'll still have a decent amount of grassy areas. Looking for advice on a) should I get the soil tested, and if so, what kind of test, and by whom, and b) I'm thinking of alternatives and wondering if a clover mix is a good idea. I live in St. Paul. Thanks in advance!



Ramsey County Minnesota

Vinca eradication #865485

Asked April 22, 2024, 5:48 PM EDT

Hello! I'm looking to get advice on how best to efficiently get rid of a very large, mounded area of vinca (likely minor?) on a part of the yard which is shared with a neighbor. Fairly certain I could get my neighbor's buy-in, but wanted to get a better idea of what the process might look like before I spoke with them. Approximately 600sqft+area. It's shaded by a very large, beautiful cedar, established rhody, and medium-ish liquid ambar tree. Given its size, hand-pulling is a bit daunting, to say the least, as my back has seen better days. I've seen a couple OSU ext posts recommending mowing/trimming very low, covering w/ cardboard, and mulching with chips for some period of time. However, I think there's controversy about using cardboard + wood chips vs just chips? I asked a previous question of an ext expert about best practices for removing lawn and they recommended using just chips w/ no cardboard to encourage greater soil microbial biodiversity?. Can I get away with not using cardboard if a very thick layer of chips is used? How best to keep a thick layer of chips in place at the sloped edges? How long would I need to leave the chips in place before planting new plants? (looking to go with more native plants) Thank you!

Multnomah County Oregon

Mini maples in lawn #865482

Asked April 22, 2024, 5:17 PM EDT

I have 2 healthy maples over 45 years old. The helicopter seeds they drop in the fall have taken root this spring, so I have hundreds of mini maples (see pics) all over our 1/2 acre lot. Not a good look for the lawn. How eradicate? Should I allow them to grow and eventually cut with mower? Should I use a weed-be-gone type of product? Other?



Oakland County Michigan

fertilizing viburnum and spirea #865446

Asked April 22, 2024, 1:55 PM EDT

Do I need to fertilize viburnum shrubs and spirea

Ramsey County Minnesota

Killing existing turf grass for conversion to native plants #865440

Asked April 22, 2024, 1:31 PM EDT

I am looking for the best way to kill a large area of turf grasses in my drainage ditches (6ft wide x 70ft long and 11ft wide x 56ft long) so that I can replace with native plants (preferably from seed to save on cost). Could you suggest the best way to permanently destroy the grasses that is also environmentally friendly? I was debating about doing the back-breaking work of turning over the turf, versus placing newspaper/cardboard/mulch and waiting at least until June before applying compost and sowing the seeds. Also, could you recommend a place to purchase native seed packets for a large area? One final question, I collected some native seeds last fall and have kept them in the fridge. Would this fall be the best time to sow them so that they can go through stratification? Thanks for your time and expertise!! ~Natalie

Washtenaw County Michigan

INVASIVE GRASS VS. FLOWERING PLANTINGS #865439

Asked April 22, 2024, 1:28 PM EDT

I HAVE A FLOWER BED (FOR NATIVES) SURROUNDED BY A GRASS LAWN (WAS HERE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE HOUSE). THE GRASS INVADES THE FLOWER BED. DIGGING/PULLING THE GRASS SEEMS TO ONLY ENCOURAGE NEW GROWTH (SINCE IT SPREADS VIA UNDERGROUND ROOTS) WHILE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGING THE FLOWERS. IS THERE ANY NON-CHEMICAL OR (ALAS) CHEMICAL SOLUTION THAT IS SELECTIVE FOR KILLING THE GRASS WITHOUT KILLING THE FLOWERING PLANTS ALONG WITH THE GRASS?

Deschutes County Oregon

Softening yard #865431

Asked April 22, 2024, 12:55 PM EDT

Hello, My backyard's ground is unpleasantly hard with the turf becoming increasingly sparse and the ground itself unlevel. I get decent but the yard does sit beneath a canopy of red oaks. Attached was my soil test results. I have just thoroughly aerated this space, but I'm curious what else is recommended to make the ground less compact. Additionally, based on what I've described and the soil test, what are the most effective things I need to do to improve my backyard?



Kent County Michigan

Seeding or sodding after a pre-emergent applied #865427

Asked April 22, 2024, 12:34 PM EDT

We have a number of bare areas on our lawn where we would like to plant see or lay sod.  Before we realized it, our lawn care company but down a fertilizer with a pre-emergent.  Is it possible to seed or sod sooner than three months after a pre-emergent was applied if we till the soil or add dirt?

Dakota County Minnesota

Raspberry Fertilizer #865426

Asked April 22, 2024, 12:34 PM EDT

Hello, Your website indicates compost is a good fertilizer for raspberries. If the raspberries have been mulched around, would you recommend applying compost on top of the mulch and watering in? Or would using an all purpose 10-10-10 be advisable? Thanks, Kyle

Anoka County Minnesota

Fertilizer for seedlings? #865421

Asked April 22, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT

What fertilizer would you recommend for vegetable (tomato, pepper, lettuce...) seedlings after they are sveral weeks old? And flower seedlings (snapdragons, zinnia, marigold...)? I have used fish and seaweed emulsion 2-3-1 in times past. Also looking at an organic kelp/worm casting mixture at 6-4-4? Thank you!

Emmet County Michigan

New Norway Spruce trees are thinning - what to do? #865416

Asked April 22, 2024, 11:49 AM EDT

Hello and thanks : planted three years ago at 7-8 feet tall, they are now ten feet, but thinning: I can see through them. Their branches have thinned from the bottom up, primarily starting on the sides facing southwest. Around the corner a neighbor's Norways are so thick no light passes through! What is the difference ? What can I do? Two arborists have come by. The first taught me that the hottest times of day are the afternoon, and SW is where the sun is, so...but I have watered them as directed, and doubt that is the major issue. The second told me I planted just a touch too high - that the roots are surface roots and mulch is good but it's not soil. But he said they would be fine ultimately. I added soil as he described. Last year I put in fertilizer stakes. They may have helped upward growth, but not thickness. 33 trees. They live with me a little SW of Cleveland.

Lorain County Ohio

I am removing 40 year old Railroad ties in a terrace, can I plant vegetables? #865404

Asked April 22, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

I am removing a railroad tie terrace and replacing with stone boulders, is the soil safe to plant vegetables to be consumed? Is there a time where that soil will be safe?

Anoka County Minnesota

Hydrangea shrub leaves come out in spring with very small and all curled up leaves #865403

Asked April 22, 2024, 11:28 AM EDT

I live in Fulton, md 20759. I have three shrubs hydrangea shrubs from Proven Winners named CityLines Paris Bigleaf - a macrophylla. I have these shrubs for 3 years in somewhat shallow planters, but with large root balls. shrubs are very small in size (8”x8”) and have never flowered. I never cut down the old branches (5-6” long at most) but this spring I have pruned the branches. Last year I changed the planter soil to more gritty with peat humus and Kow Manure from Lowe’s,and proven winners potting soil, I have used slow release and general fertilizer this year. Manure and fertilizers in small amounts. Again the shrubs have crowded leaves at bottom center with very small (approx. 1/2” ) and overcrowded crippled leaves at center of the shrub. This time I have pruned the shrubs - more like cut off tiny twigs that didn’t have any leaf buds. -photo attached I have two other hydrangea ‘tree’ - guessing microphylla They were bought by my daughter. When she brought them - last spring - they were planted in 28” planters,and were flowering nicely. Now this spring, same problem as the other three on top - very small Curley leaves at the bottom center! I do want to add that 3 hydrangea are at the back of the house and 2 tree hydrangea at front of the house, never got planted on same side. - photos included 1. Is it overwatering? It is all the rains this year - don’t have a greenhouse. But never watered the shrubs myself. 2. Or is it some kind of disease. Is there some solution to fix it (I do not use chemicals) 3. Or should I throw them out? Even then I will have to know what is wrong to fix it.



Howard County Maryland

grub control #865402

Asked April 22, 2024, 11:16 AM EDT

Over the years, I have had some grub issues in my lawn. Usually, I would treat the lawn with grub ex late Fall. I was wondering would it be a better idea to treat with a grub preventer now ( April) instead.

Fairfield County Ohio

Lesser Celandine #865394

Asked April 22, 2024, 10:42 AM EDT

My yard (in Lyndhurst) is being invaded by what I'm pretty sure is Lesser Celandine. I've seen it around my neighborhood but not in my yard until the last two years. It started in the woods at the back of my property but now it is popping up in my lawn. I've heard you can't kill it... that you have to dig it out without leaving any tubers behind but that's impossible. I'd need a bull dozer. Is there anything I can do?

Cuyahoga County Ohio

Soil question #865377

Asked April 22, 2024, 9:10 AM EDT

Hi there! I just got a new garden bed I want to turn into a cutting garden. My husband also would like to get some bulk soil to add some topsoil to the lawn. We are wondering if there is any soil we can use for both the lawn and in the garden bed to cut costs. Thank you! :)

Hennepin County Minnesota

Japanese beetles?? #865352

Asked April 21, 2024, 8:12 PM EDT

Hello, Is there anything that can be done about the Japanese beetles? Preferably organic... Last late summer/fall I put down Milky Spore, but they came back worse than ever. I can tolerate a little bit of munching, but they're defoliating even my salvias at this point. Thanks, Laura

Hamilton County Ohio

Weeping White Spruce #865340

Asked April 21, 2024, 6:40 PM EDT

Hello, Several branches from my weeping white spruce either broke off or were eaten by an animal. Do you know if they will grow back? Would fertilizer help? Also last year this little tree seemed to attract many bees. Is this common? Thank you for any help you can offer.

Carver County Minnesota

Star jasmine discoloration #865337

Asked April 21, 2024, 6:04 PM EDT

My star jasmine’s trunk and branches are black with white spots. Is this caused by disease or pests? What can I do to treat it?



Lane County Oregon

Cover Crops #865329

Asked April 21, 2024, 4:56 PM EDT

What cover crop can I plant now in my backyard?

Baltimore City County Maryland

arborvitae browning #865324

Asked April 21, 2024, 4:34 PM EDT

2 year plus arbs browning at bottoms it .just started this season use fertilizer spikes in spring looked for bugs nothing? thanks scott

Cuyahoga County Ohio