Bracket Fungi on Tree Trunks: Don't Spray, Fertilize for Strength

Bracket fungi on tree Bracket fungi on tree trunks. Internet says cut and burn. Any spray to kill fungi? Fungi Are Decomposers, Not Killers Brackets are fruiting bodies of internal decay fungi. They feed on dead heartwo

Leyland Cypress Hedge Browning: Foliage Disease, Likely Fatal

8 ft × 20 ft Leyland hedge brown/dead in middle. Will it recover, stay dead, or spread? Prognosis: Poor Leylands suffer multiple fatal foliage diseases (Seiridium canker, Botryosphaeria, Passalora needle blight). Conife

Grape Disease: Pierce's Disease or Crown Gall? Send Photos

Father battling grape disease 5 years, keeps returning. Half vines removed. Can send photos for diagnosis. Two Incurable Grape Diseases Pierces Disease (Xylella fastidiosa) — vectored by sharpshooters, marginal leaf sc

Black Sooty Mold on Mexican Lime: Wash Off, Control Source

Mexican lime has black powdery fungus on new growth within days. Neem oil, insecticide didnt work. Hasnt bloomed. Help! Its Sooty Mold, Not Primary Fungus Black coating = sooty mold on honeydew from sap-sucking insects

Bradford Pear Leaf Blackening: Transplant Shock, Not Fire Blight

Leaf picture Young Bradford pear leaves black in middle. Not blight. What to do? Diagnosis: Transplant Shock / Environmental Recently planted trees often show leaf scorch/blackening from root loss. Not fire blight (whic

Peony Powdery Mildew: Organic Home Remedy (Cornell Formula)

6 peony bushes with powdery mildew. Sprinkler waters every other day. Read about Messenger, Serenade, cutting back. Whats best? Organic Treatment: Cornell Baking Soda Formula Mix: 1 tbsp baking soda + 1 tbsp light horti

Mushroom Identification: Don't Eat Unless Certain

Yellow/brown mushrooms under pines in Kansas City. Safe to eat? Golden Rule If not 100% certain, DO NOT EAT. Many poisonous mushrooms resemble edible ones. Resource Missouri Dept. of Conservation guide: Edible/Poisonou

Sap Bubbling on Plum Tree: Canker, Woodpeckers, or Wound Response

What does sap bubbling from a plum tree mean? Three Main Causes 1. Bacterial Canker (Pseudomonas) Sunken, oozing cankers on trunk/branches No cure—manage stress, prune dead wood 2. Woodpecker Damage Rows of small h

Butterfly Bush Sudden Decline: Root Rot from Overwatering

2-year-old giant butterfly bush lost all green and flowers, drying out completely. Help? Diagnosis: Root Rot Sudden total collapse = roots dead Caused by excess water → Phytophthora/Pythium Shallow-rooted species—easil

Ficus Benjamina Leaf Curl: Aphids in New Growth

Ficus benjamina top leaves wont open, are yellow-green, bugs inside when opened. Plant otherwise healthy. Diagnosis: Aphids in Terminal Buds Feed on emerging leaves → curling, distortion Yellow-green color from sap los

Angel Trumpet Leaf Damage: Slugs, Not Snails or Geckos

3-foot angel trumpet has holes and edge feeding on leaves. No insects seen. Someone said night snails. Geckos climb on it. Whats eating it? Most Likely: Slugs Nocturnal, hide by day Rasping mouthparts → holes + edge fe

Azalea Leaf Browning: Environmental, Not Insect or Disease

DSCF2976: DSCF 2977 Azalea leaves have geographic brown patches with fine white surface on upper leaf. What is this? No Pests/Pathogens Visible Pattern suggests abiotic stress: Water extremes (too much/little) Nutrient

Volck Oil for Sago Palm Scale: Limited Effectiveness

Will Volck oil work on sago palm scale? Same as Previous: Asian Cycad Scale Volck (dormant/horticultural oil) suffocates exposed insects but: Poor penetration under scale covers No residual protection Requires perfect

Powdery Mildew on Crimson King Maple: Identification and Fungicide Options

Crimson King maple leaves turned milky white. Cause and treatment? Diagnosis: Powdery Mildew White, fluffy fungal growth on leaves/stems. Favored by: Cool, humid weather Shade Spring/fall/winter Symptoms: dwarfed, cu

Sago Palm White Dusting: Asian Cycad Scale or Fungus?

Sago palm (5 ft, Houston) has 4 dead fronds, light white dusting on ferns. Neighbors sago similar. How to treat? Likely: Asian Cycad Scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) White, cottony scales on veins, stems, leaves Invasive,

Transplant Shock in Red Twig Dogwood and Lilac: Proper Moving Technique

Transplanted 4-year-old red twig dogwood 2 weeks ago—watered well, now leaves falling, plant limp. Want to move 2 lilacs same age. How to avoid killing them? Classic Transplant Shock Roots severed → cant support top gro

Bark Shedding on Mature Mulberry: Stress, Lightning, or Decline?

27-year-old fruitless mulberry in Las Vegas: bark cracking and falling off after neighbors pruning last year. Other tree 15 feet away fine. Will I lose it? Is it contagious? Bark Loss = Serious Stress Bark separation fr

Curling Leaves on Potted Calamondin: Citrus Leafminer Cycle

Gift Calamondin in Michigan has curled leaves from day one. No bugs visible. Outdoors all summer, no improvement. Grew citrus successfully in Florida. Different situation—need advice. Diagnosis: Citrus Leafminer The cur

Yellowing Pine Needles at Branch Bases: Normal Fall Needle Drop

4 long-needle pines (15 years) have yellow needles at branch bases. Nearby spruce has some yellowing on one side. Dry August, 2.5″ rain in Sept. Disease? Not Disease: Seasonal Needle Drop Pines shed older (interior) nee

Weeping Pussy Willow Sudden Decline: Water, Blight, or Canker?

Weeping pussy willow leaves curling and dropping en masse. Some branches turning dark brown/black from tips inward ~5 inches. Want to save it. First Check: Water Willows need consistent moisture. Drought causes rapid le