Deciduous Magnolia Dormancy: Velvet Buds and Leaf Drop Explained

Deciduous Magnolia Dormancy: Velvet Buds and Leaf Drop Explained A magnolia tree lost all its leaves but has velvet tips that seem to be separating with small branches. Owner wonders if its dead. Its Alive and Normal! Yo

Treating Powdery Mildew on Bee Balm and Neighboring Plants

Treating Powdery Mildew on Bee Balm and Neighboring Plants Two bee balms (Monarda) in a new rain garden have a white, non-rub-off coating on leaves. Lilac and Joe Pye weed nearby are starting to show it. Dry year, but ow

Managing Gummosis in Young Plum Trees: Causes and Solutions

Managing Gummosis in Young Plum Trees: Causes and Solutions A 7-ft plum tree (3 years in ground) oozes amber sap from trunk (6–18 inches up). Started at a spring pruning cut. Bark has cracks attributed to rapid growth. O

Rescuing a Braided Money Tree from Stem Rot After Pruning

Rescuing a Braided Money Tree from Stem Rot After Pruning A money tree (Pachira aquatica) had one dead braid removed; the cut left an indentation on an adjacent braid. New growth from that braid turned pale, and white mo

Troubleshooting Leaf Damage on Bauhinia Kockiana Vines in the Tropics

Troubleshooting Leaf Damage on Bauhinia Kockiana Vines in the Tropics A Bauhinia kockiana vine in Malaysia (tropical) has leaf spotting, poor flowering, and looks sickly. Planted from a flowering nursery plant. Vine fo

Investigating Yellowing Leaves and Scale on Meyer Lemon in Hawaii

Investigating Yellowing Leaves and Scale on Meyer Lemon in Hawaii Two Meyer lemons in Hawaii: one has yellowing leaf undersides, the other has scale on fruit (from stem to mid-fruit). Citrus fertilizer used, plenty of wa

Eliminating Scale Insects on Blooming Orchids with Alcohol and Horticultural Oil

Eliminating Scale Insects on Blooming Orchids with Alcohol and Horticultural Oil An indoor orchid (few years old, consistent bloomer) has dark spots behind flowers and on the stem near blooms. Leaves look great. Orchid

Diagnosing Spots on Agave: Scale, Edema, or Fungus?

Diagnosing Spots on Agave: Scale, Edema, or Fungus? An agave in a well-drained cactus bed (Zone 9b, Orlando) developed spots 3 weeks ago. Other 20+ succulents are healthy. Dry weather recently. Whole agave Leaf clos

Combating Camellia Dieback and Canker with Pruning and Fungicides

Combating Camellia Dieback and Canker with Pruning and Fungicides A camellia bush has lost 1/3 of its branches; another 1/3 is dying. Leaves wilt, turn yellow, branches die. Camellia dieback Diagnosis: Camellia Diebac

Identifying Slime Mold in Lawns: Harmless Nuisance

Identifying Slime Mold in Lawns: Harmless Nuisance A single yellow, foam-like growth appears on a lawn. Owner wonders if its animal feces or a disease. Yellow slime mold Its Slime Mold (Myxomycete) Not a fungus, not

Rain-Induced Decline in Red Apple Ice Plant and Recovery Steps

Rain-Induced Decline in Red Apple Ice Plant and Recovery Steps San Diego red apple ice plant (8 years old, previously lush) turned brown and died back after record rainfall. Red apple dieback Cause: Excess Moisture Ic

Treating Leaf Miner and Health Issues in Grapefruit Trees

Treating Leaf Miner and Health Issues in Grapefruit Trees A Florida grapefruit tree (15 ft, 6-in trunk) has curling leaves and reduced fruiting. Gets lots of sun. Diagnosis Leaf curling with serpentine mines indicates ci

Diagnosing Widespread Dieback in Red Apple Ice Plant Groundcover

Diagnosing Widespread Dieback in Red Apple Ice Plant Groundcover Over 1/2 acre of red apple (Aptenia cordifolia, ice plant) on a California hillside started dying in summer 2015. Leaves turn brown, then vines die back. O

Managing Seiridium and Botryosphaeria Canker in Leyland Cypress

Managing Seiridium and Botryosphaeria Canker in Leyland Cypress Twelve 5-year-old Leyland cypress (7 ft tall) are turning brown at the bottom. Diseased tree Detailed canker view Two Major Canker Diseases Seiridium

Fungal Disease Triangle: Why Pathogens Thrive in Northern Kentucky

Fungal Disease Triangle: Why Pathogens Thrive in Northern Kentucky A Master Gardener study group debates why many fungal pathogens thrive near Cincinnati. Options: (a) humid weather & moderate temps, (b) very cold winter

Hypoxylon Canker on Green Ash: Signs and Management

Hypoxylon Canker on Green Ash: Signs and Management A green ash on a floodplain in Georgia has black, crusty, carbon-like growths at the base. A chunk was removed and did not appear to originate under the bark. Black f

Normal Bark Shedding in Mature Pecan Trees

Normal Bark Shedding in Mature Pecan Trees A 50+ year old pecan tree (40 ft tall) in San Antonio is shedding bark for the first time the owner has noticed. This Is Normal Aging Young pecan bark is smooth. As the tree mat

Assessing Bark Cracks on Bradford Pear Trees

Assessing Bark Cracks on Bradford Pear Trees A neighbors Bradford pear has dark, peeling areas on the trunk. Concern about disease or structural risk. Largest crack area Another area Assessment The photos show a b

Lichen on Mulberry Tree: Symptom of Underlying Stress

Lichen on Mulberry Tree: Symptom of Underlying Stress A 3–4-year-old fruitless mulberry has white spots on the trunk and slow growth (2–3 ft in 3 years vs. 30 ft for an older tree). White spots on trunk Close-up of

Aphid and Ant Infestation on Meyer Lemon: Identification and Control

Aphid and Ant Infestation on Meyer Lemon: Identification and Control A Meyer lemon tree has egg-like things on leaves, blackish trunk discoloration, and ants crawling all over. The owner applied Sevin dust. Trunk disco