Vinca Minor Dieback: Stem and Branch Rot

Sudden Collapse of Established Periwinkle Groundcover After 20+ years, a large vinca minor planting died back 98% in spring, with only tiny new sprigs remaining. The pattern suggests Phomopsis stem and branch rot. Diseas

Weeping Mulberry Decline: Scale and Webworms

One-Sided Dieback on Mature Mulberry A 30-year-old weeping mulberry in Houston showed sudden leaf drooping and dry fruit on one side. The owner noted recurring webworms. Diagnosis Scale insects (white bumps on branches)

Scale Infestation on Golden Euonymus: Treatment Options

Heavy Scale Attack on Golden Euonymus White and black bumps covering leaves and branches, causing rapid leaf drop, indicate a severe tea scale infestation. Insecticidal sprays alone failed. Integrated Approach Prune hea

White Powdery Growth on Oak: Powdery Mildew or Insects?

Diagnosing White Residue on Interior Valley Oak A Los Angeles Valley gardener reported white powdery fungus on new oak growth, deforming leaves and branches, plus white stemless mushrooms at the base. Expert Response The

Peach Leaf Curl on Fruit Salad Tree: Diagnosis and Prevention

Curling, Dropping Leaves on Your Multi-Graft Fruit Tree A Fruit Salad tree (peach, apricot, plum) showed classic peach leaf curl: thickened, curled, reddish leaves that drop prematurely. The disease is caused by the fung

Spider Mites on Alberta Spruce: Identification and Control

Cobweb-Like Coverage on Spruce? Its Spider Mites Reddish, cobwebby growth covering Alberta spruce bushes is a classic sign of spider mite infestation. The mites spin fine webbing and suck sap, causing discoloration and n

Persistent Pests on Banana Trees and Cannas

Beating Stubborn Stalk-Boring Insects A gardener battled small gray insects with white wings inside banana and canna stalks. Multiple sprays (Sevin, malathion, soap) killed adults but new ones kept appearing. Why Sprays

Ants on Cherry Trees: What They're Really After

Why Ants Are Climbing Your Cherry Tree Seeing ants swarming a cherry tree usually signals an underlying pest problem, not an ant infestation per se. The ants are farming honeydew from sap-feeding insects or feeding on sa

Large White Spots on Oak Tree Trunks: Smooth Patch Explained

What Are Those White Spots on Your Oak? A homeowner noticed large white spots with greenish centers on oak trunks where bark was missing. The diagnosis: smooth patch, a condition associated with a fungus that typically h

Identifying White Hair-Like Growth on English Fern

Mystery White Growth on Fern Stalks: Spores or Fungus? A gardener noticed soft, white, hair-like growth covering the stalks of a 6-year-old English fern after moving it outdoors. Initially thought to be spores, the condi

Is Volck Oil Spray Safe for Rosemary and Other Herbs?

Using Volck Oil Spray on Herbs: What You Need to Know Many gardeners wonder whether its safe to apply Volck oil spray—a petroleum-based horticultural oil—to herbs like rosemary. The short answer: its generally okay if dr

Chinese Pistache Drooping New Leaves: Transplant Shock and Girdling Root

6-ft Chinese Pistache planted 2 weeks ago. New leaves slightly drooping (stem curves down). Older leaves similar. Sandy soil, fast drain. 1 water 3x/week. Frost night of planting. Initial Assessment Drooping = root stre

Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium) Care: Light, Water, Cold Protection

Madagascar palm (Pachypodium) in Wichita, KS. Care by season? Heard it comes with disease. Research: No Major Diseases Only consideration: location. Light: Full sun preferred. Cold: Tropical — no hard freeze. Light fre

Pear Tree Stony Pit Virus: Knotty Fruit, No Cure

3 existing pears: sweet, tasty, but knotty inside (knot every inch). Also want cherry planting advice (Bing type, N. VA). Diagnosis: Pear Stony Pit Virus Fruit deformed, gnarly, hard areas. No cure once infected. Variet

Young Oak Vertical Bark Cracks: Stress Injury, Consider Replanting

Two very young oaks (N. Central TX, <1 yr). Vertical trunk cracks, bark peeling. Frost cracks suspected. Expert Concern Oaks dont typically peel like sycamores. Cracks = stress (cold/drought). If focal point, trunk stay

Weeping Cherry Sap Ooze and Trunk Split: Borer or Freeze Injury

3-4 yr dwarf weeping cherry: thick sap ooze from trunk last year; this year trunk splitting, ooze traveling up, spreading to other trees. Analysis Sap = tree response to bark wound (often insect borer). Resin attempts

Lilac Sudden Wilting: Mystery in 1-2 Hours

Lilac buds abundant, then leaves/buds wilting 1-2 hrs later. Neighbor lilac fine. Rainy, not drought. No discoloration/insects. Checklist Bark damage near soil line? Missed wilting first look? Newly planted or establis

Canadian Hemlock Transplant Shock: Browning on One Tree

Several planted last summer; one browning at bottom. Likely: Transplant Shock Adjustment to new site. Good site selection, planting technique, thorough watering at planting minimizes it. Watering eliminates root air poc

Stemmadenia (Milky Way Tree) White Underside Fungus: Downy Mildew Suspect

Three 1-yr seedlings: white, fine, gritty fungus on leaf undersides, spreading from edge inward, killing leaves. Copper fungicide soak limited success. Rare plant, little info. Suspect: Downy Mildew Delicate, spores onl

Common Holly Sticky Resin: Need Photo for Source ID

Common holly: thick sticky resin on leaves for weeks. Questions From leaf or dripping from plant above? Close-up photo of resin on leaf (check focus). Expert unfamiliar with holly leaf exudate; photo needed. Expert