Hello- I'm very concerned with the invasion affecting my community . Is there a verifiably effective preventative treatment for mature oak trees to keep the beetles from infesting my tree?

I live in Algonac, MI and have 8 - 12 projects I'd like to do a couple of houses including roof, siding, windows, sidewalk, sheds, and other. I also recently had a new driveway, a new Furnace and 2 AC units installed. The city required permit for the driveway, something the contractor said he had to do in the past and he has been installing driveways for over 30 years. The total permit / inspections was around $1,100. Now the City wants to charge me permits ($50) + 2 inspection ($75 each) for a total of $200 per project. This comes out to around 4 - 6 percent of my project costs. For now though, let's focus shed. From what I see th e Michigan Building Code does not require a permit for a single-story out building if the shed is less than 200 square feet. I am requesting to build one at 12x10, below that limit. The City says I need a zoning permit for the shed, and I'll need a compaction/sand inspection and final inspection for a total of $200. They state the policy is per "the Michigan Building Code is not a negotiable board policy. The city of Algonac did not make up these rules, these rules are put in place by the state. Local government cannot choose to delete, amend, revise, ignore, add to, change, exempt certain persons from, or modify the codes." Question: Is a zoning permit required to build an 12x10 shed? Are 2 inspections required?

Our row of approximately 12 feet tall arbor vitae trees (columnar) were severely bent by the weight of snow and ice this winter. What is the best way to straighten them up again? Pruning? Staking? Some combination of the two or something else? The trees are approximately 20 years old. The ladder in the photos is six feet tall and was included for scale. Thanks for your help

Hi! I’m looking to put a few potted trees or shrubs on my deck, to offer some privacy from our neighbors. Maybe 5 foot max, or something I can prune. I don’t want to totally block their view. The deck is on the east side of the house. Full sun. I’m in Portland. Thanks!

Every year, he quack grass over takes my garden, which is located right next to woods. How can i prevent them from coming up this spring without damaging the flowers?

I want to plant a flat of carex appalachica. The area is currently covered with grass and weeds. Should I remove the exiting grass or just plant the carex in their own 6" plots and hope the carex will grow over the grass?

I have a stand of cherry laurels and one of the bushes has a white covering all over its bark. There are some dead branches on this particular bush. Can you tell me what it is and whether/how to treat it.

After removing a chinese elm tree, I surprisingly have previously unknown tulips and crocuses this spring in that area. I also have inherited irises that have not bloomed yet but will need to be divided. A neighbor gave me daylilies, but they have never bloomed in 10yrs. Advice on where the bulbs will do best? Currently iris and daylilies are partial shade and tulips/crocuses are full sun. I have no sprinkler system and have never watered them or amended the soil etc, but I'd like to create a flower bed with these opportunistic pleasant surprises because they obviously do well despite my black thumb. Only other plants are opportunistic roses that grow like crazy as well as a pine tree. No real grass lawn, mainly weeds that I am going to cover with cardboard then mulch to eliminate the yard. Thank you!

Hello. We have a customer who called asking for contact information for help with chicks dying. She was wondering if there was someone who could test for flu. She has raised lots of chicks but never had this problem before. We recommended her call the vet, but was wondering if there was someone else we could refer her to. Union County, Oregon. Thank you.