Hello. I grow hydroponically in a greenhouse. I have a ridge gourd plant. It started fine but now the leaves are getting spots, discolouration and drying. I was wondering if it is because I had sprayed them with neem oil but I don't think that is it. They are under a white grow light for 5-6 hours daily. The other plants (two bottle gourd) and two dill plants are doing fine. They are separated, fans are operating all the time, and temperature of 68 degrees. The plants are growing in perlite in a bato bucket. Photos attached. Thank you very much. We live in Hopkins/Minnetonka.

I had the soil in my alley garden tested last Fall. My plan is to grow flowers in this garden, but there is one clump of rhubarb growing. The lead was 1245ppm. Do I need to worry about lead being taken up by the rhubarb, or about my grandchildren helping me in this garden given the lead? They are good handwashers :-) Thank you so much!

We have planted 8 autumn blaze maples in the past two years. Is it beneficial to apply a root stimulator now. Six trees were potted and two were burlap ball trees

before I call an exterminator for termites, I was hoping somebody could identify this insect and let me know if it is it termite or something else. I know I can ask the termite company, but I think it’s best to go in knowing what I have and not relying on them to tell me. I also have a video of it moving, but it would not let me upload so if there’s an email or something, I can send it to you if you need more info I can do that. Thanks so much for your help.

Hello, I recently purchased some impatiens and the edges of the flowers are turning white and some of the leaves looked a little brown. Could you tell me what this could be? I also bought a pre-grown mint plant and pruned all of the leaves. I then cut the plant down to the stem and it hasn't grown any for about a week. Do you think this plant should be discarded? Thanks!

I remember reading that Kentucky Coffee tree was recommended to grow in MN for a shade tree. In the latest information I find online on the UMN site and in brochures, it is no longer listed. Can you tell me why it is no longer recommended? Should I be concerned for my trees?

Greetings! I am reaching out with a request for grub identification. The infestation in south Minneapolis is pretty widespread - approximately 40'x20' with some other scattered areas now appearing damaged. The grubs are down about 1" and there appear to be approximately 6-10 grubs per square foot, depending on if covered by bare soil or loose turf. They do not appear to have pronounced spines/hairs. Japanese beetle? June beetle? Other? Let me know if you'd like better images or additional info. Once identified, can you recommend control/eradication options and timings? Obviously any '-cide' is deadly to something, but is there anything in particular that is recommended that looks out for those creatures up the food chain like birds, opossums, raccoons, and the like? Thank you in advance!

We have a young mature linden (maybe 10 years?) on our boulevard. It has always had day lilies surrounding it. The Linden seems healthy and growing, no yellow leaves, bigger every year. I just transplanted another 10 clumps of day lilies near it (to the right in the photo). I was digging in between the roots to find spots, there are a lot of tree roots. Then I found on the umn site that day lilies are bad companion plants for trees. How much should I worry about this? Should I rip out my transplants? How about the other day lilies nearer the base? The boulevard is too sunny for hostas, though we're trying them. I'd rather be done, but my primary concern is keeping the tree healthy, so I'll rip them out if I have to.

Hi, I have read that asparagus should be treated to avoid insect infestation.  What type of insecticides can you apply to them ?  Malathion , Sevin?    Also I would like to know if you can apply Preen around your asparagus plants to reduce weeds without affecting plants performance?

thank you

neal 

I'm reaching out with a few queries regarding yard care, and though I'm not entirely sure I've contacted the correct team, I hope you can either assist or direct me to the right group. We recently moved into our first home in Dublin, Ohio, in August 2022. Having grown up without a yard, the task of maintaining one is both new and somewhat overwhelming for us. Our yard has become a place of relaxation for me, although I've noticed several types of grass and some bare patches, and I suspect there might be weeds, though I'm unable to identify them. Currently, I'm mowing the lawn bi-weekly, but I'm eager to learn more about proper yard care. My long-term vision is to cultivate a garden rich in native plants with minimal grass, which I hope to achieve gradually over the coming years. In the interim, I would like to keep the existing grass healthy and vibrant. I understand that many B.E.H.T members are county extension educators who offer local consultations and even site visits. I would be immensely grateful for such a service. A visit from a knowledgeable individual would be incredibly beneficial as we navigate this new responsibility. Could you please advise on how to proceed with arranging a site visit or point me towards the appropriate contact for further guidance? Any information or resources you could provide would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance.