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I too have a lot of black pepper looking things around my home they get into everything and sometimes they pierce your skin and when you try too remove it I see that it just goes deeper and deeper into my skin. I would like to know we’re these come from and how to get rid of them. I have also seen those little pinkish red things they actually be on my ceiling fans and it feels like they are dropping things on my head and when I look up at them they hide and than every now again peek out there heads to drop something do n it’s so small I don’t know what it is and I live around a lot of water can someone help please!!!! #752654

Asked May 28, 2021, 6:39 AM EDT

I too have a lot of black pepper looking things around my home they get into everything and sometimes they pierce your skin and when you try too remove it I see that it just goes deeper and deeper into my skin. I would like to know we’re these come from and how to get rid of them. I have also seen those little pinkish red things they actually be on my ceiling fans and it feels like they are dropping things on my head and when I look up at them they hide and than every now again peek out there heads to drop something do n it’s so small I don’t know what it is and I live around a lot of water can someone help please!!!!

Dallas County Texas

Lopsided Japanese Maple Tree after ice storm #752653

Asked May 28, 2021, 6:12 AM EDT

Two key branches on the Japanese Maple were broken during the ice storm. The tree is growing well but more on one side than the other. What can I do to even it out and prevent disease where the branches were lost? Alternatively, should I contact an arborist?



Marion County Oregon

Woody shrub disease #752651

Asked May 28, 2021, 2:50 AM EDT

What kind of insect/bug has a hard shell and attaches itself to the branches of a row of shrubs. They are really infested and the branches are dieing. The hedge row faces east in front of a stone building. Can you identify the shrub also. There is also a bug in one of the pictures. Thanks for your help.



Franklin County Ohio

Can our weeping birch be saved? #752650

Asked May 28, 2021, 2:10 AM EDT

We were grateful to watch Nicole Sanchez's hour-long lecture on "How to Identify and Manage Birch Borer Infestation''. We have a 90 year old weeping birch in our back yard that arborists say is 20-30% affected. A 7 foot limb just fell down 2 ft away from me, so we need to act quickly. We have gotten varying bids on injecting it with Acephate (which you didn't mention) or Imidicloprid (and pruning it) and bids on cutting it down. One question we didn't hear asked or covered in your Q and A was: How long do Weeping Birches tend to live? Is our 90 yr old. 80 foot tree at the end of it's life? If so, then we'll opt for cutting it down. If not, we'll pay the money to keep it alive. Thank you for your time!!

Marion County Oregon

Plant identification #752649

Asked May 28, 2021, 12:20 AM EDT

What is this plant, and is it invasive? I'm a volunteer helping to care for an abandoned 19th century cemetery in Leakin Park. We're weeding invasives (like the mile-a-minute and garlic mustard also in the pictures) and we don't know what to do with this plant. Many of them are affected by a white coating (fungus?) that leaves them looking yellow and sickly. Thank you!



Baltimore City County Maryland

something eating my beets #752648

Asked May 28, 2021, 12:13 AM EDT

For the last couple of years I have planted beets in my garden. They come up fine, but then something proceeds to eat the leaves to the point that the plant dies. Last year I replanted twice with the same result. This spring I planted and the cycle repeated. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Blake

Jackson County Oregon

Black spots on daisy petals #752642

Asked May 27, 2021, 10:22 PM EDT

Hello!! I bought a potted perennial daisy plant from Lowe's a few weeks back. It had LOTS of closed buds and one that was semi open. I planted it in full sun, gave it a good watering, and, one by one, the closed buds opened offering the most beautiful daisies!! Then, all of a sudden, the leaves developed dark spots. They aren't bugs as they won't come off the leaves. And the blooms that we so pretty? Most of them wilted. Badly. What could have caused this? How cani fix it?

Washington County Maryland

white cucumber stem #752637

Asked May 27, 2021, 8:56 PM EDT

As you can see from the attached picture, one of our cucumber plants has what seems to be a dry white stem near the bottom of the plant. The rest of the plant is doing okay, though, and continuing to grow. There is no evidence that we can see of pests. The cucumber was planted in a raised bed full of mixed purchased "Raised Bed Garden Soil" and Tru Leaf Compost. We had a soil text from Penn State both before and after installing the raised bed (i.e., the existing soil on top of which the raised bed was placed was tested in March 2021; after the raised bed was filled with compost and garden soil, that raised bed soil was tested in April). That latter soil test showed soil ph 8, Potash, Calcium, and Magnesium all "above optimum" and Phosphorus at "optimal" range. They recommended applying Urea, but we did not do that as we could not find it in a small quantity (the raised bed is only 4 ft by 8 ft). The cucumber was planted about May 1, 2021. Other cucumber plants next to this one do not have the same stem problem. They are slightly lighter green than the tomato and basil plants nearby though. The raised bed is covered with landscape fabric and watered via a soaker hose. What, if anything, should I do with the white stem cucumber?



Anne Arundel County Maryland

Thawing vacuum-packed smoked fish #752634

Asked May 27, 2021, 8:13 PM EDT

Hello. Is it safe to thaw vacuum-packed smoked fish in the refrigerator without first opening it? Thank you.

Linn County Oregon

Prepping soil for thuja green giant #752630

Asked May 27, 2021, 7:46 PM EDT

Hello... I had 4 30’ 30 year old white pines cut down this week. The stumps are going in the next day or so. My plan is to plant four 5-6’ Thuja Green Giants and allow them to hedge. My question is... What is the best way to prep the soil for the green giants and appropriate timeframe? I’ve read and queried several resources and received conflicting options. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Ron Rock

Cuyahoga County Ohio

Shrubs not budding #752629

Asked May 27, 2021, 7:40 PM EDT

I have 3 shrubs that I am not sure if they survived the winter and recent cool spring. Two shrubs were purchased and planted last May and June. These were Allegheny Viburnum and Burkwood Viburnum. The limbs seem to be flexible, but haven’t seen any buds appearing. How can I tell if there will be any growth with these shrubs? Since I didn’t these last season I am not sure what to expect. I have a Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon that was planted July 2018, and did fine last last spring. So, what can you tell me about this situation? I also have other shrubs (Snowball bush and Mockorange) in the general vicinity that have leafed out. The Mock organge has some leafs, but does not seem to be very full. This was planted May 2016. The folks at O’Tooles Garden center suggested I use organic Neptune Harvest fish & seaweed fertilizer once a week for 4 weeks. Tomorrow will be week number 2.



Jefferson County Colorado

Voodoo Lily Question #752627

Asked May 27, 2021, 7:08 PM EDT

My voodoo lily has these small red "sores' on them. Have you ever seen this and what should I do about them? Could it be red blotch from an amaryllis? They don't seem to cause any major harm. I used a topical fungicide and am thinking about trying a systemic kind too. My elephant ears also seem to get infected too but there are not any outward signs, but the tuber has a hint of pink yo it and if I cut a leaf the sap (?) has some red/pink in it too. Thank you!



Hennepin County Minnesota

Transplanting Ash Saplings #752612

Asked May 27, 2021, 5:47 PM EDT

Hello; We have a one acre lot in West Bloomfield, the back 30'-40' wooded. I wandered around with LeafSnap and was surprised at finding 5-10 Ash saplings. Many were killed by the EAB; I'd like to transplant some of these and so help in their recovery. If you have time, a few questions: 1. How much sun? They are in mostly shade. 2. How close together? 3. Alone or mixed with other trees? 4. Several big hickories around; problem? 5. How to protect afterwards? 6. Also, are Slippery Elm saplings worth transplanting? I'd like a natural, native, forest-like back 30'-40'. Thank you! Mladen Humer

Oakland County Michigan

Need help with holly #752608

Asked May 27, 2021, 5:31 PM EDT

This showed up on my tree this week



Howard County Maryland

Virginia Creeper climbing on a tree #752607

Asked May 27, 2021, 5:29 PM EDT

Is having virginia creeper climbing on a tree safe. I have heard two different answers - it is ok (from a retired extension agent) and not ok (from an arborist). What is the answer? Thanks.

Anne Arundel County Maryland

White areas on bark/limbs of maple trees #752606

Asked May 27, 2021, 5:29 PM EDT

We have large white spotty areas and large white areas on the branches of our maple trees. One is a red, Crimson King and the other is an Emerald maple I think. Leaves are OK. No other signs of an issue. What is this?

Ramsey County Minnesota

why are my red pines dying #752605

Asked May 27, 2021, 5:27 PM EDT

I have 40-50 red pines on my property and this year they appear to be dying. Needles browning from bottom up. two trees have lost all their needles. They started browning last summer. This spring the rest started looking bad. The bark shows no signs of trauma. They are not close to the road so no salt exposure. I do not use round-up or any other herbicide.



Allegan County Michigan

Cicada damage to trees #752591

Asked May 27, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

Hi, I have a black gum tree that we planted about 6 years ago. I noticed the other day that a branch was wilted, and saw cicada damage there from egg laying. It is clear that branch will die off soon, and I see similar damage on the underside of other branches as well, although no flagging yet. Since I had heard cicadas don't damage trees, I didn't investigate much, but now I see that the egg laying process can harm young trees and I am concerned they may kill my tree! So, I have a few questions: 1) Should I be concerned about this tree (6 years since planting, 5" diameter trunk 1 foot from ground), 2) Is it too late to wrap the tree in netting as recommended, 3) Is there anything else I can do to protect my tree and help it withstand the onslaught? Thank you for your help and guidance...I wish I had known sooner about this type of damage.

Montgomery County Maryland

Grass Dying Out #752585

Asked May 27, 2021, 4:20 PM EDT

I am loosing more and more of the Bermuda grass on the south and southwest side of the backyard. I have lived here since April 2019 and at that time there was grass in the entire area. But, it has been dying back each year and now there are significant areas with no grass. There are Magnolia trees and a fence along the south lot line, but the majority of the area receives full sun all day long. I had the company (Davenport) we use to fertilize the lawn take soil samples which were submitted to NCDA&CS for analysis. I receive their report today, but am not sure how to interpret it. I am hoping you can tell me what you think I need to do to reverse this problem. I have attached a copy of the report, along with several photos of the area. The grass in the rest of the backyard and the entire front yard looks great. Thank you.



Wake County North Carolina

what is best to kill poison ivy #752580

Asked May 27, 2021, 4:02 PM EDT

What is a pet friendly and environment friendly way to kill Poison Ivy? Is there a home made herbicide I can make?

Baltimore County Maryland

Mexican Feather Grass #752578

Asked May 27, 2021, 3:59 PM EDT

I purchased Mexican Feather Grass from a Corvallis nursery and then found out it is very invasive and spreads seeds etc. - is this grass listed as an invasive plant in Oregon(Willamette Valley) and is it controllable in a small garden(15'x15')? Thanks

Linn County Oregon

Strawberry leaves and vines #752572

Asked May 27, 2021, 3:41 PM EDT

how do I get rid of strawberry vines that seem to be spreading through my lawn

St. Louis County Minnesota

leaves dropping from apple trees #752571

Asked May 27, 2021, 3:40 PM EDT

Hi, In the last couple of days my apple trees (10) are dropping their green leaves like flies. What could be causing this? Some of the leaves are partially grey. So sudden. There is fruit on the trees.

Clackamas County Oregon

Daffodils not blooming #752570

Asked May 27, 2021, 3:40 PM EDT

I have lots of daffodils and this year many of them did not bloom. Is there a reason or anything I can do? Or should I pull them out and plant fresh bulbs?

Arapahoe County Colorado

Are these plants worth keeping? #752568

Asked May 27, 2021, 3:39 PM EDT

Hi - The attached two photos are of plants/weeds on the edge of our woods. Are they some type of noxious weed, invasive plant or a native plant worth keeping? I haven't been able to identify them using the MN Extension tools and a couple books I have that include native plants. Thanks! Kathy Kletscher



Dakota County Minnesota