Yew Problem

QuestionI probably have more than 40 yews planted throughout my yard and noticed as I was fertilizing them a couple of weeks ago that the interior branches are laden with white powdery clumps. Is this some type of f

black growths on plum trees

QuestionThere are black growths on our plum trees. The growths can be almost described as warts. The trees still flower and bear fruit, but some of the fruit has scabs on it similar to apple scab. Is this something

clematis question

Questionevery year my clematis blooms beautifully, then all flowers immediately fall off and leave the fluffy center on the stem. while my neighbors clematis blooms beautifully all summer. what is wrong

White dusty growth on Yoshino cherry

Question White growth on Yoshin I saw your answer recently to a question regarding weeping and a white scaling on two cherry trees.... Our four year old Yoshino cherry in Northern VA does not have the weeping but w

Messy Locust Tree

Question Locust Tree Leaves Weve had issues with this tree for years, but now that we have a beautiful new deck wed really like to use it without having to blow the deck clean several times a day. Our tree mak

dying leaves on my southern magnolia tree

QuestionQUESTION: I have a southern magnolia tree %26 virtually the biggest part of the leaves look dead, there are a few that are still green but this tree has always had beautiful green leaves until this year, is

Bugs Attacking Locust Tree?

Question Bug I just received an answer from Steve, which Ill try and afix below. In the meantime he asked me to send in a photo of a bug we see often, and had wondered if this bug was related to our trees leav

ash tree problems

QuestionI would like to know how to get rid of the webworms that infest my ash tree. I have tried Sevin, Malachion or something like that. I was advised by Stephen Vann to contact my local county extension. How do I

Fox tail palms

QuestionHi Kathy we have fox tail palms and had several hard freezes this winter, the fronds that survived were burned but seemed to be ok but lately there have rotted at the trunk and fallen over, there is no new g

vinca

Questionhi, this is our first time planting vinca, my husband planted them several weeks ago and they are dying. some have wilted pretty bad but appear to have buds forming others are just dry brittle and brown. i w

Bugs on a mock orange shrub

QuestionI had a mock orange in a spot in the garden for about three years and every year it got covered in black bugs the leaves curled and it hardly flowered. I moved it to a less prominent spot in a differen

Shademaster Locust Leaf Drop

Question Green Bug Hi Steve, I emailed you yesterday about our locust tree that sheds the entire season. You asked me to send a photo of the bug that I see hanging around, though not sure if this is whats caus

Rose of Sharon bush

QuestionI had a rose of sharon in one corner of my yard for abour 10 years. Then 3 years ago, it was in full bloom, and beautiful, when suddenly the leaves started shriveling up, and the blooms withered. I ass

arborbvitae

Question arborvitae we have many arborvitae lining our property (up to 40 years old in maturity). lately they have started turning brown - and weve noticed the stems have started splitting open - kind of a bur

Magnolia tree dying

QuestionMagnolia tree planted 10 mos. ago. So. Cal. Sandy soil. Other mags have done nicely in this soil. This tree thrived ( dark green and growing well) until recently noticed that it appears to be dying fro

Crystal like formation around trees & plants

Question Crystal like formation I have a very strange crystal like formation around my cherry tree, tomato plant, zucchini plant, and cantaloupe. The crystal like formation is jelly like, sticky, and moist. &n

Peach Tree Watering

QuestionI have a three year old peach tree. A couple of months ago I mulched under it out to the drip line. I put a layer of compost followed by 4 sheets of newspaper and then some cypress mu

clear drippy stuff on juniper bushes

QuestionHi, my very large and very old juniper has developed a clear drippy substance on the tips. What is this and how can I treat it? Thank you, Janet AnswerHi Janet: If this substance is clear and st

Pland disease

QuestionLeaves of my apple trees are turning yellow resulting in premature defoliation and in fruit dropping. AnswerVivek: Many things can cause these symptoms. Be sure first that you have plenty of moisture in the

sick Acer

Question diseased Acer I have a mature, established Acer which has been experiencing dieback for the last two years. Several branches have had to be cut off completely and now the bark is peeling away at the b