Fusiform Rust on Pines: Identifying and Removing Infected Galls

Q: What is it? In my young pine tree near the lake. One of the Cronartium rust diseases. Maybe Cronartium quercuum. Although several rust diseases exist, I lump them all as fusiform rust. The only treatment is to remove

Calico Scale on Trees: Identification and Simple Mechanical Control

Q: Any idea what these black and white things are? Theyre on trees along a front walkway near Atlantic Station. They are calico scale. Control by scraping them off the trunk and monitoring for recurrence next year. Scrap

Pear Fruit Thinning: Spacing Guidelines for Young and Mature Trees

Q: My young tree had 8 pears last year. This year Ive counted 125. Whats the rule for removing some so I get a good crop without breaking limbs? Pears commonly overproduce. My father didnt thin; he used branches and 2x4s

Frogs in the Bathroom: How They Enter and What to Do

Q: This is the second frog Ive found in my bathrooms. First in December IN the toilet; this morning ON THE FLOOR next to the toilet in the OTHER bathroom! How are they getting in and how to prevent? As a single person, a

Planting Spring Bulbs in March: What to Expect from Late-Planted Daffodils and Tulips

Q: What happens if I plant bulbs really late, like in March? Mine are still firm. They would bloom six weeks later but quickly fade in Aprils heat. Examples: Daffodils planted late, seen in mid-April. Tulips planted ear

Controlling Catchweed Bedstraw: Persistent Annual Weed with Sticky Stems

Q: I have a pesky weed I cant identify. It feels sticky to the touch. I dug it up, ensuring no roots left, but it came back! Identify and suggest control. You have catchweed bedstraw. Its an annual from seed each year. S

Keeping Honeybees Away from Your Pool: Cooperation with Beekeepers and Soapy Water Deterrent

Q: My neighbor is a beginner beekeeper. His bees like my pool but Im allergic. What can I do? Tom Bonnell, Henry County beekeeper, says honeybees are highly beneficial: they pollinate crops (apples, melons, almonds), pro

Thinning Pear Fruit: Preventing Limb Breakage and Improving Harvest Quality

Q: This is the 2nd spring with my Keiffer pear tree; it had 8 pears last year. This year Ive spot-counted 125. Whats the rule for removing some so I get a good crop without breaking limbs? Pear trees commonly overproduce

Hino Crimson vs. Hinodegiri Azaleas: Understanding the Difference Between a Hybrid and Its Parent

Q: Is there a difference between Hino Crimson red azalea and Hinodegiri red azalea? I read Hino Crimson is a sport of Hinodegiri but am not sure what that means. Hino Crimson is actually a hybrid of Hinodegiri (Rhododend

Evaluating 'Aerify Plus' for Lawn Compaction: Why Surfactants Aren't a Substitute for Mechanical Aeration

Q: Im about to aerate and overseed fescue but drainage is poor with compacted soil. I read about Aerify Plus, a spray-on product. Ever heard of it? Despite its name, I dont think this product will help. Its active ingred

Core Aeration Best Practices: Depth, Hole Density, and Pattern for Healthy Lawns

Q: I got this from my lawn company when I asked about aeration: We provide core aeration but not the Criss-cross method. It causes too many divots from tires (repeated 180° turns). We prefer the circular method—few divo

Managing 'Kiowa' Blackberries: Pruning Ground-Hugging Canes for Better Yields

Q: Last April I ordered three Kiowa blackberry plants, spaced 5 feet apart. Last summer they spread like hyperactive ivy covering 20 x 10. This year, runners from last years growth flowered into thousands of blossoms and

Organic Control of Caterpillars on Pea Plants Using Bacillus thuringiensis

Q: I have peas! And bugs. Time for insecticide dust or something else? A: The damage pattern looks like caterpillar feeding. Any garden insecticide would work. But I recommend products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (

Mysterious Yard Holes: Identifying Subsidence from Rotting Tree Roots

Q: We built a fire pit where previous owners had an above-ground pool. I tilled grass and covered with stone. A friends chair leg fell into a 6-8 inch wide, 2-foot deep hole. Since no earth is piled around the hole, my b

Controlling Roughstalk Bluegrass (Poa trivialis) in Fescue Lawns: Difficult Choices

Q: Our fescue lawn was diagnosed with invasive winter grass Poa trivialis, consuming over 60% of the lawn. What would you do? You wont like my answer. Poa trivialis (roughstalk bluegrass) and Poa annua (annual bluegrass)

Ginkgo Stump Sprouts: Why They're Unreliable and What to Do Instead

Q: Our beautiful ginkgo tree was destroyed in a storm years ago. We left the stump. Now two new trees sprout from it. Whats best? Im sad to say the sprouts wont do what you want. Theyre likely attached to the stump side,

Fascinating Fasciation: When Coneflowers Develop Flattened Stems and Fused Blooms

Q: My granddaughter spotted this flower in my front yard. It seems unique: one very wide stem and a daisy bloom that wraps around, looking like two blooms fused together. This is a physical phenomenon called fasciation.

Virginia Creeper Rash: A Lesser-Known Cause of Contact Dermatitis

Q: I pulled Virginia creeper off a fence last week. I broke out in a terrible itching, burning red rash like my husband gets from poison ivy. I can roll in poison ivy with no problems, but this creeper did a number on me

DIY Large Plant Markers: Readable Labels for Standing Gardeners

Q: Can you suggest a source for large plant markers, easily read while standing? I use metal tags on tall wire legs (everlastlabel.com). Use a grease pencil or printed labels on clear tape with an inexpensive label machi

Why Hydrangea Flowers Turn Green: Vigor, Fertilizer, and Weather Effects

Q: Whats going on with my hydrangeas? Some are beautifully purple & pink, others are green. They get watered at 6:00 a.m., have ~5 hours of daily sun, liquid fertilizer once a month. I think they may be growing too vigor