Euonymus 'Chicago Fire' Fly-Like Insects: Likely Winged Aphids

30 Euonymus, fall-planted. Tiny fly-like insects on branch tips, still, appear attached. Likely: Winged Aphids Congregate on tender tips. Pest potential. Confirm ID Close-up photo of tip (check focus on computer). Or:

Garden Ant Infestation: Need Local ID and Extension Help

Montana (Zone 3-4). Ants everywhere: pull carrot, 50+ ants crawl out, carrot like maze. Aphid control didnt remove ants. Steps ID ants first — determines source and treatment. Contact county Ag Extension (courthouse) f

East Palatka Holly Yellowing: Water Deeply, Less Often

15 East Palatka holly planted 3/26 (Ocala, FL). Drip 20 min/day 30 days, now alternate days. 40–50 leaves yellow/brown top to bottom. Most green. Not fertilized; told 6-6-6. Issue: Insufficient Deep Watering Evergreens

Japanese Maple Coral Bark Branch Dieback: Prune and Monitor

Red coral bark Japanese maple (planted last year, full sun). Upper branches turning dark brown/black, drying. Lower branches healthy, leafing. Heavy rain month. Two Possibilities Disease organism killing tissue from ti

Fig Tree White Foam and Leaf Eating: NEEM Spray

White foam on fig leaves; leaves appear eaten. Assessment Foam likely contains eggs/insects. Figs tough—may survive untreated. Simple Fix Spray entire tree with NEEM (botanical: kills mites, fungi, insects). Spray to

Ming Tree (Polyscias) Sticky Leaves: Scale Insects

Ming tree has sticky leaves/stems; no visible bugs. Diagnosis: Scale Non-moving insects under hard shells. Mings bumpy trunk hides them. Treatment Spray entire tree with horticultural oil (SunSpray preferred). Dry in

Panama Disease in Bananas: Devastating but Not in Massachusetts

Effects of Panama disease on banana plants? Description Soil-borne fungus (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense), highly fungicide-resistant. Attacks vascular system. Yellowing lower leaves → progresses upward → whole plan

Mother-in-Law's Tongue (Sansevieria) Ulcers: Overwatering + Pest Spread

Increased watering to weekly; now round brown ulcers on leaves. Other plants have pests. Dual Problem Pests likely spread: Spray all plants at once with NEEM + horticultural oil (crawlers + scale). Primary issue = over

Birch Tree Sap Bleeding After Pruning: Normal Spring Flow

Two large branches cut earlier this year. Now large gooey orange mass at one spot, less at other. Large, otherwise healthy tree. Explanation Normal spring sap pressure. River birch transpires heavily; spring root pressu

Coreopsis Gray-Green Leaves: Fertilizer Residue

Coreopsis blooming beautifully but leaves gray-green (not deep green). Recently sprayed liquid fertilizer. Cause White residue from foliar fertilizer spray. Fix Heavy watering of foliage to wash off. Future: apply fer

Colorful Shiny "Larva" on San Antonio Flower: Mineral Crystallization

Tiny (< rice grain), colorful, shiny, fiber-like projections on flower. Insect larva? Expert Analysis Likely mineral crystallization — aggregate of accumulated minerals (possibly from fertilizers). Resembles pollen slid

Yellow Trunk Growth on Plums, Honeysuckle, Locust: Lichens, Not Disease

10-yr flowering plums, 8 honeysuckle, older locust, rail fence: trunks turning yellow with moss-like growth. Shaded area. Identification: Lichens Symbiotic fungus + algae. Various colors/shapes. Not plant pathogens. Ind

Creosote Bush Near Garden: Petals Safe, May Deter Pests

Creosote bush (bonsaid) near garden; flower petals blow in. Safety for eating produce? Analysis Active chemicals in roots, twigs, leaves — petals: trace amounts only. Strong smell = insect deterrent (benefit). Creosote

Dwarf Burford Holly Leaf Spot in Extreme Heat

2 plants, 7 weeks in KS. 90–103°F, windy. One has black spots, drying leaves. Rain ~every 10 days, watered today. Diagnosis: Leaf Spot Disease Fungal leaf spot exacerbated by heat stress. Management Rake/destroy falle

Balcony Light Assessment: Medium to Medium-Bright

Balcony photo (Facebook link): morning to early noon sun; after 3 PM only partial bright light. Assessment Medium to medium-bright light. Most plants happy. Expert admires Episcia (flame violet) in collection. Expert i

Tomato Leaf Curl: Fusarium Wilt or Water Stress?

Top leaves curling on tomatoes; rest OK. Two Possibilities Fusarium wilt: Affects heirlooms. Resistant varieties labeled F or VF. Plant wilts completely in days; black plugs in stem block water. Water stress (likely):

Japanese Maple Sunburn Recovery: Stress Management

Japanese maple in too much sun 2 days, moved to shade. Leaves crinkling, falling. Cause Transplant + sun stress combo. Care Mulch 3 max organic, not on trunk. Water every 3rd day, 1 inch (pan test) for 1 month, then w

Weeping Willow Bark Separation: Cold Injury, Not Insects

4-yr weeping willow (N. MN): 4 wide bark separation, 4 ft up trunk, extending to branch junction. Black/red ants present; no termites/other bugs. Diagnosis Cold injury (frost crack/sunscald). Ants secondary—exploiting c

Peach Leaf Drop in Wet Spring: Drowning Roots

Peach leaves healthy green, no curl, but falling. Kentucky, 6+ inches rain past month. No irrigation. Cause Excessive rain = drowning. Roots suffocate in saturated soil. Mitigation Level ground for runoff (no pooling)

Aspen Wilting After Overwatering: Recovery Likely

Aspen leaves curling, drying at edges after water left on too long. Overwatering suspected. Diagnosis Overwatering = symptoms identical to underwatering (wilting). Ground will dry if water stopped. Prescription Water