Search Results

acuba in distress #245782

Asked May 19, 2015, 10:20 PM EDT

I have several acuba about 9 years old that have been in a shady situation for the past 4 years. They are 3-6 feet tall depending on how much the deer have chewed them over winters (I net them but the deer crawl under). Anyway, they had a lot of dead branches that I was trimming off and I noticed frequent signs of some kind of pest/disease that splits open the bark. Branch sections may turn black or just light brown, and the damage seems to start from either top or lower down on a branch. Damage travels too; in pruning I often had to go far down branches that were green on the outside to find normal-looking insides. Attached are some photos.



Montgomery County Maryland

Adding - I'm considering homemade insect sprays like vinegar/soap, etc. #198275

Asked July 10, 2014, 4:02 PM EDT

My hydrangea paniculoatas are not blooming. Cut them back in April. Long cold winter have any effect? Friend has same problem. Also mini petunia hanging basket has white, skinny, long bug - seems thinner than aphid. Am afraid of chemical sprays as hummingbird loves to come eat and 'hum'. Granular poisons seem too dangerous - to me also.

Passaic County New Jersey

adios insecticide #125582

Asked May 06, 2013, 2:55 PM EDT

can a home gardener get hold of Adios(Sevin + cucurbaticin)? have looked all over and cannot find. Are there dealers who can sell to home gardeners? Thanks for any info! Debbie Jabara, Wichita, Ks

Sedgwick County Kansas

Advice on Peach Leaf Diseaes #190093

Asked June 10, 2014, 4:05 PM EDT

I the last several days my peach tree has developed a leaf disease (see pictures). Eventually the leaves turn yellow and drop. Can you tell me what I might do to alleviate this? I recently sprayed the tree with Immunox and Captan and a small amount of Permethrin. Could this have caused the problem?



New Castle County Delaware

Advice please on how to g... #203139

Asked July 29, 2014, 10:39 AM EDT

Advice please on how to get the occupants of a very active wasp, hornet or yellow jacket nest to leave - permanently! It is about 8" x 6" with multiple entry & exit holes & hanging about 6' up from a pne tree in the small suburban backyard of my dog sitter so the yard is in constant use with neighbors' homes close by. Thanks. Caroline Turner

Montgomery County Maryland

advise re yellow jacket nest down in porch #150537

Asked September 02, 2013, 12:07 AM EDT

i've sprayed, poured bleach, stuffed cloth in cracks.The wasp seem to be damaging the cement. I'm afraid it's a big nest and getting bigger........  help!  
thanks,  Kim

Jackson County Colorado

Aeration Type Holes in Yard #234319

Asked April 02, 2015, 10:28 AM EDT

My front yard has holes sporadically located around that look as though I have aerated. There are small dirt mounds around the top of some but not most of the holes where something may have been digging and getting rid of excess dirt or such. Any help in what this may be?



Chesterfield County Virginia

African or Africanized Bees #156079

Asked October 07, 2013, 4:09 PM EDT

Is there any agency that will help remove African or Africanized Bees from my neighborhood?

Clackamas County Oregon

After a hard pruning of m... #130310

Asked May 28, 2013, 2:38 PM EDT

After a hard pruning of my Blue Holly bushes, and Weeping Yew it appears they have "Cottony camellia scale", what is the best treatment method?

Carroll County Maryland

After curly top virus #167139

Asked February 17, 2014, 12:20 PM EST

Based on the information here (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02949.html) I believe my container garden tomatoes had curly top virus last year. It didn't kill the plants, but the leaves curled and turned purplish long before they died and fell off. It even caused trouble for my one (expensive!) hybrid. There were 5 different plants, each in a 22" pot. Can I reuse that soil this year? For tomatoes or for different veggies? What other steps should I take to avoid it this year?

Boulder County Colorado

After exiting my vehicle ... #147891

Asked August 19, 2013, 9:22 AM EDT

After exiting my vehicle a few months ago, this black winged & horse headed looking insect landed on my vehicle. It looked almost comical to the point that I would have remembered an insect like this in the 20 years or so that I lived here. Is this a native insect of Minnesota? Sorry for the blurry picture, but I was trying my best to get a good picture of it.



Scott County Minnesota

After nearly 2 weeks in t... #223710

Asked January 05, 2015, 12:41 PM EST

After nearly 2 weeks in the house, our Black Hills Spruce Christmas tree is giving off thousands of small flies. They congregate at the windows, walls, and ceiling near the tree, but also throughout the house. The flies are about 2-3mm long, pale to dark brown, and very soft-bodied. They produce orange-brown blood when squished. Please--what are these, how long will this infestation last, and what can be done about them? I'm currently using a vacuum cleaner to dispose of them, but new ones reappear within hours. THANKS Mark Jirsa

Ramsey County Minnesota

After so much rain last m... #135870

Asked June 21, 2013, 2:38 PM EDT

After so much rain last month, there are several brown patches in my front lawn. I took a spade and lifted several different sections of the brown areas in my lawn thinking it might be grubs; it turned out that it was not grubs or any other insects that I could find or see. I don't use any chemicals on my lawn and pretty much use natural products like corn gluten in the Spring and compost in the Fall. Could this be a fungal infection in the lawn? If so, what natural remedies can I use to eradicate it? Thank you.

Anne Arundel County Maryland

against curculio weevils #209376

Asked August 27, 2014, 6:27 PM EDT

Our 10-year-old Stanley Italian plum bears lots of fruit--enough for us, the squirrels, and the raccoons.  But last year, for the first time, we were dismayed to find that some of the plums had little white worms in them.  This August I found a live adult curculio weevil on a fallen plum, so I'm sure that curculio is what we're up against.  I've read about carbaryl and phosmet, and since they're toxic to humans and bees, have decided not to use them.  Any other suggestions?  

Larimer County Colorado

Agave problem #184599

Asked May 23, 2014, 1:52 PM EDT

Hi - Garden compass suggested i contact you. I have several agave plants that have developed the problem shown in the attached photo. Can you tell me whether this is a result of temperature/moisture issues or possibly Agave snout weevil? or something else? how can i help plants recover?Thanks so very much.
august geise



Arapahoe County Colorado

Agave Weberi - Fungus or Scale and Treatment? #115511

Asked February 24, 2013, 12:40 PM EST

In the last week our beautiful Agave plant has acquired yellow and brown spots on the leaves. After an online search I believe our plant is Agave Weberi and I think it is either scale or fungus. Can you help me identify the problem and suggest the best treatment?   I took a photo of the entire plant so you see it is protected by a wall and surrounded by cactus. It is in part shade this time of year. We don't water it.  Thanks for your help.  



Pima County Arizona

Aggressive Back Yard Insect #238483

Asked April 21, 2015, 1:06 AM EDT

Ladies and Gentlemen: In a bird house in our back yard, some flying insects established themselves which we originally thought to be bees, however, unlike the benign honey makers, those things turned out to be of an extremely aggressive nature. They chased us all over the yard and managed to sting us several times, aiming primarily for the face. Not able or wanting to get too close, they can only be described to be like a small bumble bee with black and brown coloring. Looking forward to your answer with great interest, we thank you for your time. Cordially, The Lemmings Harvey and Eleonore (503) 581-1071 3820 Saxon Dr. S. Salem, OR 97302

Marion County Oregon

aggressive bees #208972

Asked August 26, 2014, 8:32 AM EDT

We have some bees underground. They look just like carpenter bees. Just not quite as big. They are very aggressive. They will chase you all the way to the house. Stinging you multiple times. They don't stop until you kill them. What kind of bee could be that aggressive?

Richland County Wisconsin

Agressive bees #154670

Asked September 27, 2013, 11:43 AM EDT

What is the best way to get rid of a bee hive, the bees have nested in a railroad tie behind a fence on our property. What are the best pesticides to use?

Yamhill County Oregon

Ailing Weeping Birch #209792

Asked August 29, 2014, 10:44 PM EDT

Why are all the Weeping Birch trees in Sheridan appear to be dying?

Sheridan County Wyoming

air spade #218969

Asked October 31, 2014, 9:33 AM EDT

Hi -- I have some ailing trees (both evergreen and deciduous) in northwest connecticut and my local tree company has suggested air spading as a solution.  I would call the ailing a "failure to thrive"...and some of the spruce have gall... I've been looking on line and cannot find much info about what air spading actually does...(much less why it would be helpful for trees with gall).  Any suggestions?


Litchfield County Connecticut

Ajjpple/Fruit Tree Spraying-spring #170511

Asked March 17, 2014, 3:34 PM EDT

When Do I spray apple trees to prevent codling moth/apple maggot this spring.?

Coos County Oregon

Akebia fruit? #156612

Asked October 10, 2013, 9:17 PM EDT

So this was on my Akebia vine. Is this typical?



Benton County Oregon

alfalfa #168813

Asked March 04, 2014, 11:59 AM EST

We have a 25 acre alfalfa farm and we are novice farmers .
 The alfalfa is 8 years old and declining.
We live near Boise, Idaho and have sandy loam soil.  
The custom farmer that cuts, bales and sells our hay says we should re-plant it.  Unfortunately, he says we should kill it all with roundup in order to replant.   He says he doesn’t know any other way to do it.  
I am just not willing to do that and am trying to find out some info.  Perhaps you will know or can refer me to someone for the info  

1. Does alfalfa truly have a natural life, and in order to be more productive, need to be replanted every 5-8 years or so?
   
2. if it does have a natural life, do you know of any way to kill it without an herbicide spray?
3. But, if it does have a long life, and just needs better management to remain productive, can a cover crop be planted into it?  If so, what would I plant and when? Are there any other management techniques that don't involve chemicals?
   

  I would appreciate any info  
Sincerely, Claudia Shimkus
208-936-8351
mcshim@msn.com





Canyon County Idaho

alfalfa establishment timing & costs #195530

Asked June 30, 2014, 11:05 AM EDT

Lancaster County, southeast Nebraska:  Rain-fed dryland, soybeans this year, now in sixth year of corn/bean rotation, preceded by six years of alfalfa. Looking at alfalfa establishment following bean harvest this fall.

Q1:  What timing issues should be anticipated?
Q2:  What are projected per-acre costs?


Lancaster County Nebraska