Search Results

Hydrangea scale #752204

Asked May 26, 2021, 8:59 AM EDT

Dear MD Extension, We have just discovered what we are 90% certain is hydrangea scale eggs on our hydrangea plants. This is the 1st time we have seen them; we suspect they may have come over from the neighbors' ivy. In any case, we are wondering if you had suggestions for solutions to this problem; we certainly do not want to use anything that would hurt other insects (especially bees and cicadas). Thanks!

Baltimore City County Maryland

snake identification #752201

Asked May 26, 2021, 8:36 AM EDT

Can you please identify the snake in the attached photo? It was in my garage in Cary, NC, this morning. It got stuck in a sticky trap set up by my exterminator. Maybe it was trying to eat the other critters already stuck in the trap. Do I need to look for other snakes in my garage now? What precautions should I take? Thanks.



Wake County North Carolina

Native plants for Hennepin County #752186

Asked May 26, 2021, 2:35 AM EDT

Where can I find a list of native plants for Hennepin County that includes the common names? Thank you.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Growing Hosta plants #752182

Asked May 26, 2021, 12:05 AM EDT

Can you give me some tips for planting Hostas? I have 5 established plants that do well as long as I keep the slugs under control, but now I want to finish out a row of them and wonder if you have advice about soil, ect. I live in Portland - back yard full of morning sun and some afternoon sun. Thanks!

Multnomah County Oregon

Any Advice on Using Dawn Soap to...... #752174

Asked May 25, 2021, 10:53 PM EDT

I've written before about bagworms on my 200 arborvitae trees. I am spraying with Captain Jack's DBB. However, (a) the spray dries clean. Soon, I cannot tell where I have already sprayed. Also, (b) the spray is pricey, but I like that it an approved organic. So, I was wondering if I could add a few drops of Dawn to the solution to tell how well I am coating the leaves. And, ideally, can a Dawn solution discourage the bagworms from eating the leaves? Has any testing been done in either or both of these areas? In the least, is it safe for the trees, if only as a marker so I knw where/how thoroughly I sprayed ? Thanks, Jon Goldberg

Cecil County Maryland

Bee identification #752165

Asked May 25, 2021, 10:06 PM EDT

Can you help us identify this bee? It is very large and has been bumbling around our garden for a few days. Tonight my children thought it may have become trapped in an old bird nest in a fake wreath on our porch, as it was buzzing, almost hissing. We took the wreath down to allow an escape and there is a hole in the back of the nest. And the bee came out flew around and returned to the hole. We put the wreath back up and have decided to leave well enough alone, but we are very curious! I would appreciate any insights you could give to my budding entomologists.



Jefferson County Colorado

Poison Ivy and Rhubarb #752162

Asked May 25, 2021, 9:22 PM EDT

I planted my great-grandfather’s rhubarb in my yard early May 2010. We gave it it’s own little garden. We rotatilled and amended the soil. We knew there was poison ivy 30 feet away previously but nothing was up. I got an extreme case of PI from the roots(?). The rhubarb is growing. We continue to spray the nearby area to prevent poison ivy from growing. Haven’t seen any. It’s in the neighbor’s yard, so it’s tricky. Can I eat the rhubarb? Can I transplant it and if no evidence of PI, can I eat it? Maybe I would be transplanting the PI and expose myself to it each time I pick it? Thoughts? Thanks so much! Annette

Otter Tail County Minnesota

Toxic plants and horses #752154

Asked May 25, 2021, 8:15 PM EDT

Hello, I'm wondering if there's information I can obtain about typical Michigan plants and trees that are toxic to horses. Thank you. Sincerely, Nikki Rundell Horse owner

Washtenaw County Michigan

Is this a weed or a useful plant? #752150

Asked May 25, 2021, 8:05 PM EDT

I've attached a photo of a plant in my garden. Can you please let me know if it is a useful plant or a weed. Thank you, Al



Douglas County Colorado

Black Bear Mange 2 #752149

Asked May 25, 2021, 8:03 PM EDT

I've added a photo of the black bear that has the mange. Thank you.



Douglas County Oregon

Grubs and Chinch Bugs #752148

Asked May 25, 2021, 7:58 PM EDT

I have a BUNCH of holes in my yard. I believe its from a skunk digging for grubs. My lawn care company insists there is no current grub activity t. there was a skunk removed from my yard this morning. is there somebody the can inspect my yard and prove the wrong? thanks in advance

Oakland County Michigan

plants that don't get along #752141

Asked May 25, 2021, 7:27 PM EDT

what plants should you not plant near each other? --can you plant Italian parsley next to cilantro? Lucy in Highlands Ranch

Douglas County Colorado

Is this the start of a hive? #752139

Asked May 25, 2021, 7:17 PM EDT

We had a very great and cool swarm on our little cherry tree the other day. In hindsight I should’ve contacted someone to take the swarm because I know how important they are. This was on Sunday and then it rained hard and got chilly so the swarm stayed overnight. I thought they all moved off yesterday but this morning I noticed some are still there and there’s a white substance on the branches. I LOVE bees but this would be a bad location for a hive. Will you tell me if they are building a hive? Thank you, Ellen



Ingham County Michigan

Soil Sample Confusion #752134

Asked May 25, 2021, 6:51 PM EDT

Confused concerning instructions for taking soil sample for residential lawn. MSU instructions page item 4 states "Take samples to a 3- to 4-inch depth for lawns". Item 4 also states "Each sample should be about 1/2 cup." If I were to use a core sample tool that was 1" in diameter at 4" deep, that sample would only be 5.49 cu inches, about 75% of the 1/2 cup guideline. (A half cup is 7.2 cu inches.)  My home made core tool (13/16" diameter ID) at 4" deep creates a sample that is 2.07 cu inches, about 28% of the 1/2 cup requirement.

Is it better to a) forget the 1/2 cup statement and adhere to the defined sample quantity and the appropriate sample depth, b)  take multiple samples in the same immediate area to  get the 1/2 cup requirement or c) take more than the 10 random sample to come up with a total 5 cups of soil to mix together, returning 1 cup of that final mixture in the soil kit?

Thanks!

Wayne County Michigan

What is this plant? #752130

Asked May 25, 2021, 6:42 PM EDT

Dear Wise Ones, I live in Edmond & this beautiful perennial plant thrives at our neighborhood Clubhouse. I would love to know the name so I could perhaps get some for my garden. Thank you sooo much, Kimberly Sealey



Oklahoma County Oklahoma

Is this orange powder on my euphorbias rust? Do I need to destroy? #752121

Asked May 25, 2021, 6:01 PM EDT

Hello! I just noticed this bright orange powder all over my Euphorbia characias 'Wilcott' (Euphorbia 'Silver Swan'). The powder is on two of the three Silver Swans that I have. They are about 4 feet apart from each other; the third plant is about 7 ft away.

The plant pictured has powder all over the back (wall facing) side, from top to bottom of stems. It is a 2 year old plant (2.5 ft high, 2.5 ft wide) that has been very healthy until now. The other infected plant was planted last month. (It has just a few orange powder spots.)

I have two other varieties of euphorbias in the same area, 1 specimen of each, and neither of them has any orange so far.

All these plants are on tiered flower beds on a compact, west-facing backyard hill with full sun and intense wind exposure. Drainage is good--planted in a mix of compost, sand, dirt. I would guess that poor air circulation is a factor, since the wall-side is worst, but I'm not convinced, as it's such an exposed site.

We've had very variable weather in Seattle recently, but showers every few days, or frequent watering for nearby new plantings. It was in the 60s for several days, and then two days ago the temperature went down again. That is the only remarkable change recently.

Diagnosis: I'm guessing this is a type of rust fungus. Do you agree?

Next steps: Do I need to remove the entire (pictured) plant, or just the infected parts, if possible? And remove the few affected spots on the younger Silver Swan plant? I don't see any orange on my other plants. My rose bush just has some black bugs crawling around the flowers right now! Do I need to worry about this spreading?

Many thanks,

Gwen



King County Washington

River Birch #752111

Asked May 25, 2021, 5:36 PM EDT

I have a 10 foot River Birch I planted about 3 years ago. I notice the leaves are wilting and have grey spots on them. Can you help with diagnosis and resolution. My research is leaning me towards Spotty Leaf.



Carroll County Maryland

Giant Pine Tree #752110

Asked May 25, 2021, 5:13 PM EDT

I have a wonderful, big pine tree in my yard at 2004 Bookcliff Avenue here in Grand Junction. It is not looking very good. Branches on the north side of the tree are without needles and appear dead. The branches on the east, south and west have needles but they are more brown than green. To be honest, since I am not on ditch water I have not been watering my lawn for the last couple of years and am putting barrier fabric and gravel down instead of having grass along with raised beds and planters. I am afraid the pine tree is not getting enough water. Please advise - FYI - a friend said he thinks it is a Ponderosa Pine and that to him it looks like it needs water

Mesa County Colorado

verticillium wilt #752107

Asked May 25, 2021, 5:07 PM EDT

I believe my daughter is losing a couple of crimson maples in her yard due to verticillium wilt. I believe I lost my crimson maple to the same thing. I cut down the tree and ground the root 6" deep and planted a purple fountain about 4-5 feet away from the old trunk. Is the purple fountain susceptible to verticillium wilt

Indiana County Pennsylvania

Rose problem #752106

Asked May 25, 2021, 5:04 PM EDT

This is the first time I have tried growing knockout roses. This one was doing so well until the last week. It sits on our deck and gets partial shade. It seems to be turning brown in the middle. We also observed white spots, dark green slime or insects behind the bloom and dying buds. What's going on and what can we do?



Howard County Maryland

Poison Hemlock removal #752105

Asked May 25, 2021, 5:02 PM EDT

Does anyone come remove these terrible plants for us, or what is the best way to remove?

Clackamas County Oregon

Maple tree leaves #752099

Asked May 25, 2021, 4:50 PM EDT

Attached are 2 pictures of very sick maple tree leaves. I see no evidence of an insect. This is on a very small tree, but is very close to a huge maple. The huge maple is not on my property so would like to tell the owner what the problem is. I am planning to cut down this small tree, but don't want to spread whatever is on this tree. Thank you



Windham County Vermont

Foxes #752095

Asked May 25, 2021, 4:33 PM EDT

There appear (via night-time cameras) to be 3 young foxes and 1 adult living in a natural area adjacent to our house here in Hillsborough. They appear to be active from nightfall to dawn, including on our front porch. The remains of small animals on our front lawn is an almost daily discovery. Would appreciate any advice as to whether they will move on or do we need to learn how to live alongside. You counsel would be appreciated.

Orange County North Carolina

Salsa #752091

Asked May 25, 2021, 4:21 PM EDT

Afternoon, Since there seems to be no place locally to find canning lids this year we were wondering if we could freeze our beloved salsa recipe. We would follow the recipe as usual even boiling it for the allotted time. But at that point we would normally put it is jars and water bath it for 10 min. Instead of water bath can we just let it cool and put in small freezer bags and it still be ok? Thanks for the help. Jeann

Lane County Oregon

Poa annua #752088

Asked May 25, 2021, 4:01 PM EDT

I have a problem with poa annua and have been trying to get rid of it for years. Can you tell me what pre emergent I should use in the fall. How many applications in the fall and exactly when to put it down. I aerate in spring so what should I use on the spring also. Thank you very much.

Grand Traverse County Michigan