Fall Webworms on Bradford Pear: Identification and Safe Control

Bradford pear trees have webs at branch tips full of worms. The expert identifies them as fall webworms—common on sweetgum, pecan, and sometimes ash. They’re usually too high to reach, and their impact is minimal. Manag

Jade Plant Stem Rot: Overwatering and Fungal Disease

A 12-year-old jade plant fell over; the main trunk was mushy at the break. The expert diagnoses stem rot from a fungus, caused by overwatering. Jade plants are succulents that store water; they need very little irrigatio

Fungus Gnats in Peace Lily: Organic Control Methods

A peace lily (Spathiphyllum) gifted after a father’s passing developed tiny flying gnats after repotting in organic soil. The expert identifies them as fungus gnats breeding in moist soil. Non-Chemical Controls Dry t

Powdery Mildew on Lilac: Identification, Life Cycle, and Control Options

A lilac has a white powdery substance on leaves—classic powdery mildew. The expert provides a detailed breakdown: it’s a host-specific fungus (won’t spread to unrelated plants), thrives in humid spring/fall, and overwint

Red Emperor Japanese Maple Losing Red Color: Stress or Variety Trait?

An 8-foot Red Emperor Japanese maple planted in spring lost its red leaf color, turning green/yellow in afternoon sun in California. The expert says the tree isn’t dying—some JMs change color seasonally or with stress. V

Ficus Leaf Curl: Insect Pests and Fertilizer Mishap

A 6-foot indoor ficus developed shriveled, folded new leaves with yellowing and tiny black bugs in the creases. The owner’s daughter may have watered it with herb fertilizer runoff. The expert advises collecting the inse

Kwanzan Cherry Dieback: Borers, Decay, and Environmental Stress

A 14+ year old Kwanzan cherry has half its canopy dead with brown leaves, the other half green. No borer holes seen, but 17-year cicadas damaged it years ago. The expert suspects internal decay from bacteria/fungus, or h

White Growth on Red Tip Ligustrum Roots: Fungus or Harmless?

A 20-year-old red tip ligustrum (likely Ligustrum japonicum ‘Rotundifolium’) has thick white growth on exposed roots and up the trunk. The expert says this may be a mushroom or fungus on dead root tissue. If the plant lo

Euonymus Scale: Identification and Control

A 4-year-old, 6-foot euonymus hedge is losing leaves, with tiny white specks on limbs and foliage. The expert identifies scale insects—likely the primary pest on euonymus. The white “specks” are usually on leaf underside

Snowball Bush (Viburnum) Blight: Aphids and Organic Control

A 39-year-old snowball viburnum in Georgia, recently pruned and blooming well, developed a recurring blight also affecting nearby gardenias and hydrangeas. Bayer rose/flower spray helped the gardenias but the snowball re

Aspen Leaf Galls: Phylloxera Insects and Simple Management

An aspen tree has pea-shaped, light green structures in rows along the leaf midrib on the underside. Leaves appear dry and moisture-depleted. The condition has recurred for years. The expert identifies these as likely Ph

Saving a Mature Trembling Aspen with Cankers and Borers

A 25–30-year-old trembling aspen in Newfoundland shows black, split bark, annual branch loss, and severe thinning. The owner loves the tree and wants to save it. The expert suspects insect borers or fungal/bacterial cank

Boxwood Blight: Identifying and Managing Volutella Stem Blight

Three out of five 12-year-old boxwoods in partial sun developed brown, dry leaves. The diagnosis: Volutella Leaf and Stem Blight, caused by the fungus Pseudonectria rouselliana (asexual stage Volutella buxi). It attacks

Ants on a Young Weeping Cherry: Harmless or a Sign of Trouble?

A young weeping cherry tree had ants crawling on its leaves. The owner wondered if treatment was needed. The expert reassured that ants alone rarely damage trees—they’re usually farming aphids or nesting in cavities. The

Why a Mature Willow Drops Leaves Daily: Moisture Fluctuation and Root Damage

A large willow tree began shedding yellow leaves daily, some with brown dots, while a nearby willow showed dead branch tips. No aphids or bugs were visible. The expert advised checking for bark damage at the base and roo

Weeping Willow Leaf Spots: Identifying Fungal Diseases

Two-year-old weeping willows in North Carolina developed brown spots on leaves, followed by yellowing and premature leaf drop. The owner ruled out insects and confirmed adequate watering. The expert response outlines sev

Diagnosing Red Maple Decline: White Spots, Shriveling Leaves, and Fungus

A 7–8 foot red maple in Long Island, NY, transplanted six years ago, began showing distress over the past year: lower leaves shrivel, and the trunk and branches develop pale white spots. The upper canopy remains relative

Reviving a Stressed Tibouchina in Extreme Heat

Tibouchina, often called the glory bush or princess flower, dazzles with vibrant purple blooms—but it’s notoriously finicky about water. A gardener in McAllen, Texas, where daily temperatures soared above 100°F, reported

Troubleshooting Key Lime Trees: Fruit Splitting, Brown Marks, and Leaf Miners

Key lime trees are a beloved addition to Florida gardens, but they can develop puzzling issues that leave growers scratching their heads. One common scenario: the limes stay green yet develop brown scuff marks, and some

Pink Dawn Viburnum Leaf Spots and No Flowers: Insect Damage and Cold Buds

4-Year-Old Viburnum Has Reddish-Rusty Leaf Spots, Never Flowered 7 ft, 6+ hrs sun. Spots on leaves. Owner sent photo. Expert Analysis Spots look like insect chewing (holes, transparent blotches), not disease. Take leave