Pomegranate Tree Declining on One Side: Root Stress Suspected

A four-year-old pomegranate showing yellowing on half the canopy while the other half remains green signals a localized problem—likely root or soil-related rather than a systemic disease. Investigate the Root Zone First

Green Growth on Fruitless Mulberry: Lichens Explained

If youve noticed a greenish, crusty or leafy growth on the limbs of your 30-year-old fruitless mulberry trees in the Dallas area, youre likely seeing lichens—not a harmful fungus. What Are Lichens? Lichens are fascinati

Is Your Old White Oak Tree Healthy? Understanding Loose Bark and Fern Growth

Many homeowners worry when they notice loose bark and small ferns growing on the limbs of their mature white oak trees. These changes can look alarming, but theyre often completely normal for older specimens. What Youre

Bougainvillea Cream Spots and Leaf Drop: Magnesium or Water

10-year bougainvilleas suddenly develop cream irregular spots on leaves, then drop. Leaves cream-colored on ground. Possibilities Overwatering/poor drainage (rain?): Bougainvillea needs excellent drainage. Magnesium de

Foxtail Palm Tip Burn After Frost: Underwatering

Punta Gorda, FL: 3 foxtails (2 yrs in ground) frost-damaged, now rainy season, frond tips drying. Likely not enough water reaching roots despite rain. Why Frost damage impairs water uptake. Sandy soil + rain = rapid dr

Sago Palm White Spots: Need Photo for Scale ID

Sago palm has white measles on fronds; lower fronds yellow. Cooler wet summer, screen porch, possible overwatering in May. Next Step Send sharp close-up of white spots (review focus). Likely scale insects (cycad scale o

White Froth on Basil: Spittlebugs

White gummy spit under basil leaves. Spittlebug nymphs (froth = protection). Adult = three-lined spittlebug. Control Hand-remove if few plants. Froth houses nymphs; wipe or wash off. Usually minor; no spray needed.

Crape Myrtle Black Soot: Sooty Mold from Insects

Healthy crape myrtle turned black (ground too) after Sevin spray didnt help. Sooty mold on honeydew from aphids/scale. Solution Read UAEX FSA-7555: Sooty Mold Control insects → mold weathers off. Speed up: dilute soapy

Bark Lice on Maple: Harmless Clean-Up Crew

Park maple covered in silk webbing with thousands of tiny orange pinhead creatures. Bark lice (Psocoptera) — not true lice, not parasitic. Biology Feed on fungi, lichens, dead insects on bark. Spin protective silk webs

Meyer Lemon Yellow Leaves After Summer Outdoors: Normal or Pot-Bound?

Vancouver, BC: Meyer lemon summered outdoors, doubled leaves. Brought in for fall; many leaves yellow with yellow spots. Fed Miracid weeks ago. Possibilities Natural thinning: Citrus shed interior leaves before bloom/f

Sago Palm White Spots: Asian Cycad Scale

White spots covering sago palm leaves; neighbors say fungus. Actually Asian cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) — major pest. Management Horticultural oil/neem sprays (repeated, thorough). Systemic dinotefuran (Safari)

Arborvitae Yellowing in Rhode Island: Soil Test Needed

10-year-old arborvitae yellowing after very wet spring/June, dry August. Northeast location. Owner asks about fertilizing. Advice Dont fertilize now (fall/winter approaching). Do soil test via extension (free baseline

Black Spots on Trees in Wet Area: Need Better Photo

Trees in wet side yard (spring runoff) have black spots/splatter and large brown spots. Insecticide around bush stopped leaf drop. Photo out of focus. Next Step Resend sharp close-up of spots. Note if same spots on diff

Aspen Aphids in Fall: Don't Spray Now

Colorado aspens with aphids; tree service recommends 3 sprays in late September. Hard freeze coming, leaves will drop. Advice Waste of money. Aphids die with freeze; leaves fall. Spring spray (if needed) is appropriate.

Globe Willow Frothy Flux: Yeast Fermentation in Wounds

Older globe willow (Salix matsudana Navajo) shedding outer bark, sweet-smelling clear/white ooze at branch joint and down trunk, attracting flies. Southern NM. Diagnosis Frothy flux (not slime flux). Yeast/saprophyte fe

Sudden Tree Deaths in Southern California: Stress and Decay

Moreno Valley, CA: 50-ft poplar/alder dead; 35-yr English walnut has dead branches with black mold under bark (jet black, damp gunpowder texture). Progressing from branch tips inward. Diagnosis Black substance = seconda

Willow Weevil/Leaf Beetle: ID First, Then Treat

Willow leaves being eaten by black bugs; yard littered with leaves. User saw previous answer about similar issue. Critical Step ID the insect first. Collect specimens → garden center or county extension. Wrong ID = wron

King Sago Large Bulb and Scale: Two Issues

Three King Sagos (Cycas revoluta) since 1998, FL. Cycad scale controlled with Merit. This year: huge 12 bulb (normally 6) with orange specs, no new growth. Scale Asian cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) — managed with

Green Balls Under Houseplants: Need ID

Small green balls on floor under houseplants, squeeze to green paste. Unknown origin. Next Step Send photo of balls with ruler for size. Identify which plants theyre under. Could be fertilizer prills, insect frass, fung

Aloe Vera Pups and Dracaena Care: Water Management

Two aloe pups (slightly rooted, one damaged) potted in houseplant mix, not watered yet. Roots looked rotted, some removed. Used rooting hormone. Aloe Care Water once to activate hormone, then let dry completely before