Is spraying still needed in South Anchorage to protect trees from spruce beetles? When should it be done by?

I would like to know about soil testing for lawn and garden - how do I go about this, where can I get a kit to perform this and would I send this to a lab etc. I also have some evergreen trees I'd like to identify as they are not doing well all of a sudden and I'm not sure what they are and how best to care for them. Thanks

I have microscopic bugs in my bathroom and kitchen.  I will include a video and some pictures.  They seem smaller than small ants.  I have tried various home remedies and chemical sprays to remove this bugs.  How do you suggest I eliminate them?

Attached are pictures and here is a link for the video.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TPsbebEJSLFAQZ4h8

Thanks.

I ordered abutilon bella seeds from Etsy and these grew. They look like an Amaranth and like millet, having many tiny seeds in the center. Please advise.

Hi, I have large patches in my yard that have a lot of ants. I have tried to sprinkle Terro brand granules but it hasn't helped the overall problem of multiple areas affected. Can you suggest a natural product to buy or make? Thanks

I have a pink diamond hydrangea tree. Can I trim it back now or is it too late. Should I fertilize?

I’m looking for a ground cover to stabilize a shady, steep, forested hillside. Mostly deep shade, dry because of runoff of rain, erosion issues already a problem. Fast coverage, low maintenance, deer resistant desirable. A work crew recently cut tree roots at the base of the hil (see photos)l, which I’m sure means we lose those trees in time, but we need to try something now to keep the entire hill from eroding away. I’ve already looked at your list of ground covers, and am unfamiliar with pussy toes, about the only one that ticks every box. What would be your top 5 recommendations?

We have lived a block from Como Park for 14 years, between the park and the fairgrounds. This year we are seeing our front lawn being torn up in a way that we have not experienced before. It started with about half the yard and is spreading. The surface is being dug up. Perhaps at night. We’re not sure. The affected areas are now a terrain of shallow holes and small dirt piles. We have no trees in our front yard. A few bushes and shrubs, but the damage is not occurring near them. Our neighborhood is always full of squirrels and chipmunks, of course, but it’s hard to think that this is being caused by them. They haven’t done anything like this in the past. I am attaching three photos. They don’t do a good job of showing what’s going on. I would have added some different views, but it looks like three is the limit. I hope these help. Do you have any thoughts? Thanks much. Gary Lee Joyner

Hi extension team, I have several dozen used aluminum baguette baking sheets. I want to reuse them in our vegetable garden as a border. Research online about safety and leeching is mixed. Do you have any perspective on whether these would be safe to use in the ground? They are aluminum with a glaze and have been used for commercial food production. The product is here: https://www.katom.com/225-49034.html Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!

I identified a fruit fly in our yard on 4/24/ 24 and 4/25/24 . I wasn't able to obtain a photo. We have a cherry tree in our yard which is about 5 years old and gives us plentiful amount of cherries yearly. Should I use a pesticide to make sure no future pest- fruit fly appear in the yard?