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Plant Diseases/Questions Answered by Expert Jim Hyland

SubjectDate Asked
Magnolia tree11/9/2011
  Q: I have a magnolia tree that is approx. 12 years old. It has always been healthy until this summer. ...
  A: Sounds like Magnolia scale, an insect. This small insect lives in a scale and sucks the plant juices ...
Foam on trees10/24/2011
  Q: Why is there foam on my backyard tree after it rains?
  A: With heavy rain, water works its way through the bark, especially towards the tops of the trees, to ...
River Birch Roots10/21/2011
  Q: I live it a condo complex, which has River Birch's between each set of condo. These Birch Tree were ...
  A: This being a river birch, there should not be a problem with the roots. You should not have a ...
White Oak trees10/20/2011
  Q: We have multiple white oak trees planted in medians and in the landscape... in the past 3 yrs we ...
  A: Hardwood trees especially oaks have a tendency to sprout water shoots when planted as single open ...
Sick Golden Raintree10/19/2011
  Q: I live in Central Florida and I have a large 20-30 year old golden raintree in my front yard that is ...
  A: There are several things going on with your tree. First the blue and red insect is a Golden raintree ...
Yellow Pine Needles9/22/2011
  Q: I live just east of San Antonio, TX. We have had severe drought conditions over the last year. I ...
  A: Water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when he pan has ...
flies9/20/2011
  Q: We have a tree in a filed out back and today it was covered in tons of flies and some bees and it ...
  A: Sounds like the tree may have a disease called slime flux. The sap will run out and the flies and ...
worms9/17/2011
  Q: About a month ago I noticed these worms on my Oleander bush. I took them off and put them in soapy ...
  A: The Oleander caterpillar is the most significant insect pest of oleanders. The caterpillar is an ...
Willow tree fungus?9/10/2011
  Q: I'm in York, Pa and just recently noticed these red "rubbery feeling" spikes coming out of the ...
  A: These are the frass from a borer (beetle) that has infested the trunk. About all that can be done is ...
Westmont Arborvitae9/9/2011
  Q: I planted two Westmont Arborvitaes about a month ago & have been watering them daily. I noticed ...
  A: Sounds like too much water. Over watering will cause the same symptoms as too little water--needles ...
Trunk fungus? or peeling bark - pink dogwood9/3/2011
  Q: We have a pink dogwood tree in our backyard. It's leaves show no sign of anthracnose or any other ...
  A: Bark splitting can occur in response to various environmental factors at different times of the ...
Dogwood: Pruning, Fertilizing, Disease Control???8/21/2011
  Q: I have two white Dogwoods. Both are approx. 10" in trunk diameter. They are slowly dying as some ...
  A: Dead branches can be pruned at any time of the year. Live branches should be pruned in the dormant ...
Killing Maple Tree Fungus/Fungi8/20/2011
  Q: I have a large maple tree in my yard. It has an open knot hole approx. 3" in diameter. There is a ...
  A: This sounds like one of the decay type fungi. What you are seeing is the fruiting body of the ...
Debra Maple8/17/2011
  Q: My Debra Maple in Colorado is getting odd brown areas along the veining on the leaves. Then this ...
  A: Sounds like Maple anthracnose. The most common symptoms include brownish discoloration along veins, ...
Fuzzy Parasite8/10/2011
  Q: I need to know what is this parasite on the image. It's fuzzy, yellow and it comes from some leaf ...
  A: It is one of the leaf gall insects but there are many and I can only guess which species this is--I ...
Italian Cypress/ needle blight/browning8/7/2011
  Q: Several Italian Cypress in central Florida are browning and dropping needles from bottom up. Have ...
  A: The browning of evergreens is commonly referred to as needle blight. Needle blights are caused ...
moss on tree8/4/2011
  Q: My trees covered by green stuff like moss it later on kill the tree, so where can I get: Kocide 101 ...
  A: These are lichens. And can be controlled with the Kocide product however Kocide DF has been ...
Dogwood Tree - Brown Splotches on Leaves8/1/2011
  Q: I have a white dogwood tree in front of my window facing the west. When I returned from Florida in ...
  A: It could also be Dogwood anthracnose. The treatment for lack of water and this disease are ...
Maple Tree7/14/2011
  Q: Further to my last question re white blobs on the branches and leaves, I attach two photos to ...
  A: These are cottony scales. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a highly ...
flowering plum tree7/13/2011
  Q: We had a rare freeze in West Tx. in mid. Jan.(-6º). Our 35 yr. old flowering plum tree bloomed in ...
  A: Sounds like it sorry! You can see if any of the branches are still alive by starting near the end of ...
AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE CONCERN7/11/2011
  Q: MY WIFE AND I HAVE PURCHASED ABOUT A 16 FOOT AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE AT A LOCAL TREE NURSERY TO BE ...
  A: Sounds like a scale insect I would NOT buy a tree with this on it. In fact I would not plant a tree ...
OAK TREE7/9/2011
  Q: MY OAK TREE HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE SPIDER WEB FROM BASE OF TREE MOVING UP. ITS ABOUT HALF UP THE TREE ...
  A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ...
Cotton candy?5/30/2011
  Q: I have a small gumbo-limbo tree around 4 yr old. I noticed one of its branches is now covered with a ...
  A: This sounds like a relatively new insect to Florida called Gumbo Limbo Spiraling Whitefly. White ...
Maple Octobery Glory5/26/2011
  Q: I recently planted a Maple Octobery Glory tree and it was doing very well, but now it has developed ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
maple tree leaf disease5/25/2011
  Q: I have a 25 year old maple tree. Last year the leaves developed black spots all over them and then ...
  A: Several different fungi in the genus Rhytisma infect the leaves of maples and cause raised, black ...
Pear tree disease5/24/2011
  Q: i have two pear trees, the beginning of summer the leaves looks green and beautiful after the leaves ...
  A: This sounds like a leaf spot called Fabraea Leaf Spot. This is controlled with the use of a ...
Flowing Plum Tree5/23/2011
  Q: this season the tree started out blooming very well,but it has just started to do the same thing as ...
  A: I would guess that this is the feeding of Japanese beetles. There are a few caterpillar type insect ...
Unhappy Spruce5/22/2011
  Q: Sorry, Jim, I submitted this question a moment ago without the photo attached. Hello Jim, I have ...
  A: Looks like a disease. The most important disease of spruce in landscape plantings is Cytospora ...
Weeping willow tree5/22/2011
  Q: My approximately 5-6 year old weeping willow tree is excreeting white foam like substance from the ...
  A: This is called Frothy flux of willows. Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood (slime ...
Soot like cover on holly leaves5/21/2011
  Q: I have three holly trees which are robust and normally healthy; the trees are all in full bloom. ...
  A: Check a couple of things--if the leaves are sticky this is an insect either an aphid scale. These ...
Autumn Blaze Maple Bark Issues5/19/2011
  Q: I planted an Autumnblaze about 3 or 4 years ago. It was about 12' tall with a 3' caliper. Last year ...
  A: No sounds like the tree is recovering nicely. It sounds like a case of sunscald. Young maples are ...
Bugs inmy Bradford5/18/2011
  Q: I have recently had a Bradford pear in my yard struck by lightening. When chopping up the part fell ...
  A: Sounds like a Betsy beetle. They do not cause any damage nut feed on decaying wood. Sounds like the ...
Need unknown growth identified5/15/2011
  Q: I am attaching an image of something that has suddenly appeared overnight (almost). It has a spongy ...
  A: This is one of the stinkhorn mushroom. The stinkhorns probably take the prize for most phallic ...
Quaking Aspen5/11/2011
  Q: I have three aspens planted together appx age 8 yrs. This is the first spring I noticed a rusty ...
  A: This is a canker disease called Cytospora canker. In disease affects already weakened or stressed ...
Aspen tree wilting5/10/2011
  Q: I have an aspen tree whose leaves are curling up on the edges and drying out. I noticed this after I ...
  A: Over watering can be as bad as too little water and the symptoms are about the same--wilting ...
Maple5/10/2011
  Q: I purchased a Japanese maple; and placed it n a location in my yard that register too much sun. ...
  A: It sounds like the tree is going through the stress of the planting and replanting. If you have not ...
dwarf burford holly5/9/2011
  Q: I planted 2 of these plants about 7 wks ago & now 1 has black spots & the leaves are drying up, ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spot disease. I would rake the leaves up that fall and remove from the area. ...
birch tree heavy seeping or fubgus5/6/2011
  Q: We cut two large branches off a birch tree earlier this year, Now have a large mass on one spot, ...
  A: This is normal. River birch transpire a great amount of water-this is especially true in the spring ...
pine tree fungus4/19/2011
  Q: I have two Douglas fur pine trees with what appears to be a seasonal fungus. I have noticed that ...
  A: Sounds like Cooley spruce gall adelgid. The Cooley spruce gall adelgid overwinters as an immature ...
maple trees4/16/2011
  Q: I'v got two maple trees. They have a green moss like growing up them. What can I do to stop it?
  A: Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable ...
Dogwood tree4/13/2011
  Q: We live in Southeast Michigan and this past winter the leaves on our Dogwood tree never fell off. We ...
  A: There are not many diseases that will cause the leaves to stay on dogwood trees. Sounds like it ...
Sweet Gum Tree4/4/2011
  Q: We have a Sweet Gum Tree in our front yard that is well over 30 years old. I have just noticed that ...
  A: This sounds like either slime flux or alcoholic flux. The oozing is called "slime flux" and is ...
Pin Oak in Backyard4/2/2011
  Q: This season many of the buds on the lower branches of my oak tree are spliiting off about an inch ...
  A: Sounds like a reaction form the cold. As long as the tree is putting out new growth it will be fine. ...
white mold on my front yard shrubs4/1/2011
  Q: my problem, my wife and i found a white mold all over the shrubs hedge that was infested with wasps? ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
red tip maple tree4/1/2011
  Q: My red tip maple is 8 years old and and a large limb at the crotch has fallen and torn the bark from ...
  A: In general I would say the tree does not need removing. Decay fungi get into the woody cells of a ...
dead arbovitaes3/29/2011
  Q: In live in Northern NJ and have 30 6' arbovitaes planted around my yard perimeter for about 10 ...
  A: Sounds like a foliage disease. Here are a few of the foliage diseases of arbovitae. Phomopsis ...
Southern Live Oak3/26/2011
  Q: We live in Williamsburg, Virginia and we have a Southern Live Oak that is about 8 years old. We are ...
  A: Looks like a leaf spot fungus. There are several leaf spot fungi that will infect an oak. Leaf ...
japanese maple3/12/2011
  Q: We had a real bad winter this year and after many feet of snow melted we saw our maple trees trunk ...
  A: After the snow is off the tree where you can pull the halves together without the weight of the snow ...
Bonita Ash Tree3/11/2011
  Q: We have a young Bonita Ash that has not begun to bud yet, even though everything else around has ...
  A: Ash pecan and hickory tree are usually later leafing out then the other hardwood tree. To determine ...
Growth on pecan tree limbs3/5/2011
  Q: I am trying to restore several old pecan tree orchards. I am having trouble with a green mossey ...
  A: Sounds like it could be resurrection moss or lichens. Here is a web link with pictures of both. ...
Flying ants living in bradford pear trees3/4/2011
  Q: Flying ants came out of mulch and entered bradford pears. I noticed wood peckers have drilled holes ...
  A: The ants are taking advantage of a tree that has decayed wood in it. Decay fungi enter through ...
arborvitae tree diseases1/2/2011
  Q: One of the evergreen trees (arborvitae or pine) along my back yard fence changed color from green to ...
  A: Looks like maybe Italian cypress. The drought did not cause this --drought damage would have shown ...
oak leaves10/23/2010
  Q: We have a very large pin oak and this year the leaves have developed unusual brown bumps on the ...
  A: These are leaf galls formed by an insect -tiny wasp. There are a variety of gall-forming species of ...
Pin Oak Disease10/21/2010
  Q: Our pin Oak trees have a ball the size of a walnut on the branches. We have heard that is a disease ...
  A: There are a variety of gall-forming species of small wasps that commonly infest oak, Quercus spp. ...
gray/white on upside of Japanese Red Maple branches (Georgia)10/19/2010
  Q: Our Japanese Red Maple has gray/white deposits on the upper side of its branches, and many of the ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
CURLY RED WILLOW10/18/2010
  Q: TWO YEARS AGO I PLANTED A CURLY RED WILLOW APPROXIMATELY 6' FROM THE LAKE THAT I LIVE ON. IT GREW TO ...
  A: Sounds like a scale insect probably willow scale. These insects attach to the twigs and suck the ...
Wasp? Unusual insect10/14/2010
  Q: In the past two weeks, I have seen an insect on my silver maple that looks like a large (2 1/2 to 3 ...
  A: Sounds like a clearwing borer. Clearwing borers are a group of day-flying moths with relatively ...
White spots on 10 ft jasmine tree10/4/2010
  Q: I worked as an agricultural pest control tech in CA for 7 years. I've found white spots on my 10 ft ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildew fungi belong to the group of plant pathogens called ...
Red Japanese maple tree10/2/2010
  Q: Why does one half of the leaves on one side of my tree look like they are parched,brown and wilted ...
  A: I would guess that the side with the damage is next to a building or a sidewalk or driveway and the ...
crepe myrtle leaves turning brown9/29/2010
  Q: Me and my husband recently planted 2 crepe myrtles that my husband brought home from his ...
  A: The spots on the leaves are just a leaf spot disease that is not a problem to the health of the tree ...
crepe myrtle leaves turning brown9/28/2010
  Q: Me and my husband recently planted 2 crepe myrtles that my husband brought home from his ...
  A: Sounds like shock form the planting. Check and see if the trees are still alive--start near the end ...
euwanomus, verigated9/24/2010
  Q: we have white scale what is the best spray to use and how often?
  A: It is best to treat with a product called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. It is ...
flowering plum9/20/2010
  Q: I live in Az. and my flowering plum tree has sap seeping from many ares on the trunk. I think ...
  A: Sounds like the Peachtree Borer Synanthedon exitiosa (Say) The peachtree borer is a major pest of ...
mimosa wilt9/14/2010
  Q: i have a mimosa tree that started losing its leaves limb by limb at the start of this summer, it was ...
  A: I am sorry to say this sounds like a disease that is fatal to mimosa. It could be one of two ...
Maple tree Infestation9/13/2010
  Q: There are now three very old large maples on our block (two regular and one red) that all have some ...
  A: Sounds like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ...
Black powdery substance on gardenia leaves. We are in Casino NSW9/6/2010
  Q: My Son has a lot of Gardenias and they have a Black podery substance coating the leaves like they ...
  A: Sounds like a scale insect problem. Various scale insects feed on gardenias, including the soft ...
Honey Locust trees9/4/2010
  Q: Three weeks ago, we had two honey locust trees planted by a local nursery in Richmond, VA. The trees ...
  A: This time of the year is about the worst time to plant trees due to the heat and lack of ground ...
Green Ash Tree in Central Minnesota9/2/2010
  Q: We had a very bad thunderstorm last night and one of my green ash trees broke in half. The tree ...
  A: Sounds like one of the heart rot decay fungi. Several wood-rotting fungi attack living green ash ...
Rid Meyer Lemon Tree of Fungus Gnats?9/1/2010
  Q: I have a Meyer Lemon Tree (2' + tall) that I purchased a few weeks ago from my local Lowes hardware ...
  A: More than likely they came from the potting soil--gnats like the high humus and damp potting soil. ...
Globe Willow oozing and turning black8/31/2010
  Q: We have a globe Willow that is about 3 years old that is oozing clear or white foam and the main ...
  A: The tree will be fine fluxes will not kill the tree and can dry up on their own. No need to remove ...
Fungus?8/30/2010
  Q: I am concerned about some wood I picked up from a friend of mine for wood turning. I am almost ...
  A: If the moisture content of the wood is high enough the fungus will grow these root like filaments ...
White powder on mulberry tree8/29/2010
  Q: Jim - I've seen similar postings previously, but we've got this white powdery substance coating ...
  A: Usually powdery mildew is on the leaves and the small stems near the leaves and not on the tree ...
White powder on mulberry tree8/29/2010
  Q: Jim - I've seen similar postings previously, but we've got this white powdery substance coating ...
  A: This is an insect called bark lice. Bark lice are small, brown insects that live on the rough bark ...
Italian Cypress Trees8/28/2010
  Q: We have a dozen 27 year old trees and some them have several of their branches bowing down towards ...
  A: Drooping limbs on Italian cypress is usually caused by over fertilization, over watering or both. ...
Italian (?) Cypress Tree8/27/2010
  Q: We believe we have Italian cypress (5) planted in a row 2 of them have dying branches the othr 3 are ...
  A: Looks like it could be a canker disease rather than an insect. Cypress canker is a spore-born ...
Large growths on oak trunk bark8/26/2010
  Q: We have had a 12" round bulging growth on the trunk of our oak tree, I didn't like the looks of it, ...
  A: These are called burls. Burls are abnormal growths on the trunks and branches of trees. The ...
Oak tree in florida8/17/2010
  Q: I live in Central Florida...I just noticed on my oak tree a blanket of cobweb, however, it's not ...
  A: Yes Florida does have bark lice as well as here in Alabama. It is found in most of the Southern ...
Mulberry Tree problem8/16/2010
  Q: We have a mulberry tree that apparently has a bore in it. The leaves on some parts of the tree are ...
  A: I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This ...
Our maple tree8/16/2010
  Q: Our maple tree which is approx. 20-30 yrs. old is losing limbs from the bottom up. We have lived ...
  A: Lower limbs self shed from being shaded as the tree grows older. The cracks sound like sunscald. ...
Dying Oak Trees8/15/2010
  Q: We have an oak tree that seems to be dying. It's acorns have not developed and the leaves appear to ...
  A: Any distrubance of the roots espectially near the tree trunk can cause die back of the foliage. The ...
river birch8/13/2010
  Q: I live in the Houston,Tx area.I have a birch that has been blooming later and losing leaves earlier ...
  A: Sounds like birch leaf blight. Defoliation caused by birch leaf blight has been extensive this ...
oak trees8/13/2010
  Q: the oak trees outside my house should be fine because it is raining a lot, but the bark is falling ...
  A: If you are saying that paving was put around the trees and what effect this has?? The paving ...
Shumard Oak8/9/2010
  Q: I hope you can help! We recently purchased a 30 gallon Shumard Oak and planted it. We followed the ...
  A: Oaks the first year of planting have a tendency to die back as they concentrate the growth on the ...
Oak tree leaves8/4/2010
  Q: I have a medium sized oak in my back yard here in NE Ohio that I noticed a few tent caterpillar nest ...
  A: The tents sounds like fall webworm --they will eat the leaves near the tent and some will not be ...
Scale on Magnolia Tree8/4/2010
  Q: We have a beautiful magnolia that is totally infested with scale. I wonder if you could tell me what ...
  A: Yes there is an insecticide that can be applied to the soil around the tree and the roots will carry ...
Willow tree fungus8/4/2010
  Q: I have a mature willow tree that has developed a light brown fungus on the trunk of several of the ...
  A: Well lets start over. I went the wrong way on your first question--the picture helps a lot. The ...
Web Worms in Tall Pecan Trees8/2/2010
  Q: I read your advice on web worms but none of it is going to work for me. First, mine are in the ...
  A: It is more than likely too late to spray Bt on the foliage since the caterpillars are already in the ...
Aloe vera plant7/31/2010
  Q: I have had my aloe vera plant for about 8 months. I water it weekly with Miracle Grow. It has put ...
  A: sounds like mealy bugs. Mealy bugs are similar to scale insects but are covered in fine white fluff. ...
Goodland Apple Tree - Fungal Growth7/31/2010
  Q: Two years ago in Manitoba we had a quick freeze and my Goodland Apple tree split in the main trunk. ...
  A: I am not sure which decay fungi this is but it is the fruiting body of a fungi that is growing in ...
Indian Hawthorn7/31/2010
  Q: My hawthorns' leaves are a mottled yellow and green. Many leaves also have small brown dots on the ...
  A: Sounds like Hawthorn Rust (pathogen: Gymnosporangium globosum): Hawthorn rust is very similar to ...
tiny black spots and yellowing oak tree leaves7/31/2010
  Q: Our oak tree that is about 3 years old has yellowing of the leaves and tiny black spots all over ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spot disease or leaf gall insect. Leaf spot is a common descriptive term applied ...
Damaged bark on maple tree!7/30/2010
  Q: I have a small sapling red maple about 8' tall and couple of inch diameter planted only about a ...
  A: It will be tough but I would give it a try. First remove any loose bark from the wound. The tree has ...
Oak Leaf Problem?7/28/2010
  Q: Good Afternoon Jim, I've just had a walk in the local fields, most of which have been recently ...
  A: They are all galls caused by an insect (small wasp) The wasp lays its eggs on the surface of the ...
Holly Tree Fungus7/27/2010
  Q: I have a white fungus infection on my holly tree leaves. The fungus is rectangular in shape on the ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as ...
Willow tree fungus7/25/2010
  Q: I have a mature willow tree that has developed a light brown fungus on the trunk of several of the ...
  A: Sounds like a decay fungus fruiting body--like the flower of a plant. One of the life stages of the ...
oak tree growth7/24/2010
  Q: there is a weird growth at the base of an oak tree. it is white, slimy, and dripping condensation.
  A: This is the fruiting body ("flower" ) of a decay fungi. The fungi is living on the woody cells of ...
crepe myrtles and upright elephant ears7/22/2010
  Q: I have planted "upright elephant" ears under my crepe myrtles as this is the only spot for the ...
  A: This caused by an insect either an aphid or a scale. Both of these insect suck the plant juices ...
growths on a pin oak tree7/21/2010
  Q: My pin oak tree up to now has been very healthy. It still looks good, but this summer we noticed ...
  A: These are gall insects. Galls are irregular plant growths which are stimulated by the reaction ...
Magnolia Tree7/13/2010
  Q: My Magnolia tree has white spots on the branches. There is something sticky dripping all over my ...
  A: Sounds like magnolia scale. These insects suck the plant juices from the plant an secrete a ...
Problem with Eastern White Pine7/12/2010
  Q: I have several pines that have developed an apparent disease that has covered most of the trunk with ...
  A: It looks like bark lice Archipsocus nomas, the webbing bark louse. Bark lice are small, brown ...
bagworms/pinetree worms7/12/2010
  Q: what can of spray can i use for them? i have 4 pine trees in my yard and one has died. the worms are ...
  A: Make sure this is bagworms first. ...
crepe myrtle leaves7/12/2010
  Q: on crepe myrtle appearence of white eggs? small white worms and what apears to be white delta ...
  A: Sounds like white flies. Whiteflies damage plants by sucking out plant juices. Because large ...
Arborvitae - green leaves dropping7/12/2010
  Q: I live in Durham, NC and have an arborvitae at the corner of my house. The tree was planted in 2004 ...
  A: Since you did not say what type of mulch I will assume that you are correct. Mulch should be organic ...
horned oak gall7/11/2010
  Q: My pin oak trees(3) have this gall and I saw in your answer on 7/8/2010 that this could cause death ...
  A: There are a variety of gall-forming species of small wasps that commonly infest oak, Quercus spp. ...
japanese maple7/11/2010
  Q: all the leaves are turning green and the tips are dying,also the leaves are bunching together. ...
  A: Japanese red Maple leaves turn from red to green when the intensity of light is decreased. Most if ...
galls7/11/2010
  Q: have apin oak that is covered top to bottom with galls ave 1"-3.5" in diameter any cure? any ...
  A: These are called horned oak galls. The horned and gouty oak galls may be seriously injurious to pin ...
Holly bush care7/9/2010
  Q: Two of our holly bushes that are close together have white spot(looks like a mold) and the lower ...
  A: It sounds like either an aphid or a scale type insect. Check and see if the leaves where the black ...
Green ash leaves curling7/8/2010
  Q: I have a green ash, about 35 yrs old, (I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada)the tree looks good but ...
  A: Ash leaf-roller enjoys leaves of all ash species, including green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), ...
Pin oak disease7/8/2010
  Q: There is a pin oak at my job that has big knots on the branches and limbs. Some about golf ball size ...
  A: There are a variety of gall-forming species of small wasps that commonly infest oak, Quercus spp. ...
kwanzan cherry7/8/2010
  Q: I take care of an estate in the foothills of North Carolina. The entrance to the property is line on ...
  A: Sounds like bacteria canker. Bacterial canker is a plant disease which has two other names. ...
Oak trees7/7/2010
  Q: Jim, How close to a fully grown oak should you plant broad leaf sycamores so as to guarantee no ...
  A: Plant the sycamore trees outside the dripline of the oak. The dripline is where the branch extend to ...
crape myrtle7/1/2010
  Q: i planted my tree 2 weeks ago and now the leaves are light brown and crumbling i don't no what to do
  A: The tree is in shock from the planting--summer is the very worst time of the year to plant a tree ...
ARISTOCRAT PEAR TREE7/1/2010
  Q: Last year we had a 20 ft. Aristocrat Pear Tree planted in our yard. It was beautiful with deep green ...
  A: Newly planted tree especially if they are large trees will concentrate the growth the first year on ...
Locust Tree6/30/2010
  Q: I have a large locust tree that has appeared happy and healthy for the past 11 years. However, this ...
  A: No I would not remove the hostas this may cause more damage to the newly forming tree roots. I would ...
Locust Tree6/30/2010
  Q: I have a large locust tree that has appeared happy and healthy for the past 11 years. However, this ...
  A: It depends on how much digging the prepare the bed for the hostas you did. The tree roots are in the ...
lilcacs and peonies6/30/2010
  Q: the leaves on both have a white powdery substance on them what could it be
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
Maple tree appears to be dying6/29/2010
  Q: I live in southeastern Michigan and I have several maple trees in my yard. They are approximately ...
  A: Looks like a problem with the root system--I would guess the roots are not growing out from the ...
Bradford Pear6/28/2010
  Q: We are located in Virginia's northwest corner, bordering W.VA.We have 2 Bradford Pear trees approx. ...
  A: Sounds like fire blight. Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a common and ...
Hole in pin oak tree6/28/2010
  Q: I live in Sw Missouri, and have a very large, and seemingly healthy pin oak tree on the east side of ...
  A: Sure sounds like slime flux. The oozing is called "slime flux" and is caused by a bacterial ...
Rose of Sharon6/27/2010
  Q: I have a purple flowered Rose of Sharon shrub that is now approximately just over 6' tall. This yr I ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildew fungi belong to the group of plant pathogens called ...
WILLOW FLEA WEEVIL AND IMPORTED WILLOW LEAF BEETLE6/26/2010
  Q: we have 4 or 5 willow tress and this year they have Willow Leaf Beetles. First time I have noticed ...
  A: If the tree is too tall to spray with liquids I would use Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect ...
Black knot disease6/24/2010
  Q: I have a plumb tree that bloomed beautifully this year and is hanging loaded with plumbs. I don't ...
  A: Black knot can be managed by pruning out and destroying all galls infecting the tree. Prune trees ...
Pecan Wood Borer?6/24/2010
  Q: I have well established Pecan trees in my front yard in central Missouri. There have appeared a ...
  A: Sounds like sapsuckers wood peckers Most woodpeckers rely on insects and tree sap as their primary ...
Maple tree and a red fungus6/23/2010
  Q: There is a red fungus looking material on the underside of the leaves on my sugar maple trees. It ...
  A: These are gall mites and do not realy effect the health of the tree. The life cycle of the mite ...
Plant Disease6/23/2010
  Q: My English Holly Bushes (2) have developed white mildew "spores" on the underside of the leaves. It ...
  A: The fungi which cause diseases known as powdery mildew attack a wide variety of ornamental plants ...
White spots on underside of maple leves6/22/2010
  Q: Does the tree have to be taken down if you have white cotton spots on the underside of the leaves?
  A: These sound like insect galls and are really not a major treat to the health of the tree. There is ...
Fungus on Japanese Maple6/4/2010
  Q: I have an orange gooey fungus about 2-3 in. from the ground that completely encircles the trunk. The ...
  A: It does not sound like anything that is harmful to maple, Sounds like a decay fungus that is growing ...
Marshmellow looking elm and maple tree disease?6/3/2010
  Q: I have two different trees that are showing weird signs of some type of disease. The confusing part ...
  A: looks like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ...
Reply to your email5/31/2010
  Q: You asked for a photo to be sent to help your diagnosis. Here is my previous email and your answer + ...
  A: This looks like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), ...
Bradford pear tree problem5/24/2010
  Q: We have a Bradford pear tree in our backyard that is about 4-5 years old. It has been growing great. ...
  A: I would spray the areas that have the mildew and adjacent areas. IF you can it would not hurt to ...
Bradford pear tree problem5/24/2010
  Q: We have a Bradford pear tree in our backyard that is about 4-5 years old. It has been growing great. ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
Japanese red maple5/22/2010
  Q: We have a mature Japanese red maple approx. (12 feet tall) that seems to have died this year, I say ...
  A: The growths are lichens and would have not cased the death of the tree. Did you happen to use a lawn ...
Maple tree leaf concern.5/21/2010
  Q: I have the what looks like warts on my maple tree leafs. By the end of the season they do put holes ...
  A: These sound like leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A ...
Chitalpa tree.5/21/2010
  Q: I have followed your instructions to scape the bark of my 5 year old chitalpa tree to find green. It ...
  A: I am not sure why the tree died back. But the root system seems to be alive and growing the sprouts. ...
Plum Tree problem5/21/2010
  Q: Our 3 year old plum tree is showing signs of being infested with something. The bark on about 3 ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called black knot. Black knot can be managed by pruning out and destroying all ...
Old locust trees5/20/2010
  Q: I have two very tall locust trees, perhaps 100 years old, in front of our adobe house in northern ...
  A: Sounds like it may need fertilizing. I would use 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of ...
Japanese Maple5/20/2010
  Q: i planted 2 trees 15 years ago and they have done very well(12 and 15 feet tall) without any ...
  A: Mulch should not be more than 3 inches deep and not piled up on the trunk. The black will absorb ...
Autumn Blaze Maple problem5/16/2010
  Q: I have 4 25foot tall Autumn blaze maples in my yard i planted 2 yrs ago. I noticed 2 of them have ...
  A: Thess are leaf galls. The upper surface of silver and red maple leaves often become covered with ...
Fruitless mulberry tree problem5/15/2010
  Q: I have a several fruitless mulberry trees that are over 25 years. One of them I think has armillaria ...
  A: If the tree has a root rot fungus it can be helped by fertilizing the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer ...
arborvitae5/15/2010
  Q: I planted 20-6' arborvitae's at the bottom of the plant some of the leaves have turned black? could ...
  A: Dog Urine is a problem on cedars when the tree is within a fenced area with dogs or along a walking ...
water oak or pin oak trees5/14/2010
  Q: i have 6 pin oak/water oak trees in my yard. all about 24" in diameter. i have notice hard ball type ...
  A: These are called horned oak galls. The horned and gouty oak galls may be seriously injurious to pin ...
pin oak gall5/14/2010
  Q: JIM, I HAVE A PIN OAK IN NORTHERN MISSOURI THAT HAS SOME TYPE OF GALL THAT GROWS AROUND THE STEMS. ...
  A: These are called horned oak galls. The horned and gouty oak galls may be seriously injurious to pin ...
Oak tree leaf with red spots5/9/2010
  Q: I live in NH and our oak tree leaves have reddish spots on one side and the underside is more white ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spot disease or leaf gall insect. Leaf spot is a common descriptive term applied ...
Krauter Vesuvius5/9/2010
  Q: We planted two twenty gallon Krauter Vesuvius trees 2 weeks ago. I have been watering 2 to 3 times ...
  A: The holes are usually an indication of insets feeding on the leaves. the leaves turning brown is a ...
pink dogwood tree diseases5/8/2010
  Q: We live in Central Okla.and have a pink dogwood that seems to be infected with some kind of blight. ...
  A: Sounds like dogwood anthracnose. Leaf symptoms are first noted on newly opened leaves in spring. ...
Maple tree5/7/2010
  Q: I have a Maple tree that has tiny orange balls attached to the leave. Just wondering what they are?
  A: The upper surface of silver and red maple leaves often become covered with small, red, round ...
Flower Plum Tree5/3/2010
  Q: My flowering plum blossomed as usual this April. Now I have noticed that there are not many leaves ...
  A: Sounds almost normal. The leaves sprout after the bloom fades away from the trees. With the approach ...
Aspen pines5/3/2010
  Q: Last year I paid TruGreen and they treated my dwarf Aspin Pines for mites and a "deep feeding". How ...
  A: Spider mites are controlled using a miticide which is different than an insecticide. There is a ...
eastern red cedar decline5/3/2010
  Q: I have a 50 ft high 16-20"DBH red cedar tree that appears to be dying. The foliage is very sparse ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called Annosus Root Rot. This is a root disease that cedar is highly ...
Holly Bush4/21/2010
  Q: I have a young holly bush we planted September 2009. It stands maybe 20 inches high and is about 24 ...
  A: Check to see if the plant is still alive it may just has reacted to the cold. Start near the end of ...
Magnolia Tree4/21/2010
  Q: I have white spots on the lower trunk, and black spots on almost all of my branches. I've used ...
  A: These are lichens and not a real problem. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between ...
Kingston Hardwood maple tree4/20/2010
  Q: We have subject tree and now that springs is here a couple of branches are dead. Also, there is ...
  A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ...
sap weeping in white oak4/19/2010
  Q: I have a 30' white oak that has a vertical line (crack) in the trunk (about 5-6' long). The crack ...
  A: Sounds like slime flux. Wetwood and slime flux are poorly understood tree disease problems. Wetwood ...
leaf-less branches on white oak4/18/2010
  Q: I'd been noticing branches failing to grow leaves on my white oaks - mostly the lower branches. I ...
  A: I agree with you. As a tree especially oaks mature they will shed the lower branches which is ...
Coral Bark Maple4/17/2010
  Q: I have a Coral that has been in the ground for 3 years. Today I noticed that half of the tree is ...
  A: With a tree this young it will recover and in 5 years you will not be able to tell that you cut one ...
sugar maple4/15/2010
  Q: The trunk on my sugar maple has turned black and the black is going up the tree. In addition to the ...
  A: If the holes are in a line the holes are from a bird called a sap sucker (wood pecker). They make ...
ROOT ROT4/12/2010
  Q: We purchased a couple of Variegated Willow Myrtle's approx 3 weeks ago and planted 2 weeks ago. One ...
  A: I do not think it was root rot. This is a disease that like most diseases will take a long time to ...
Prairie Fire Crabtree4/10/2010
  Q: My "Prairie Fire crabtree, which is located on the west side of our house in Plymouth, MA, is ...
  A: Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable ...
Maple Tree4/8/2010
  Q: We have a very old maple tree and each year we've noticed that there are a lot more dead branches ...
  A: I would try fertilizing it with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ...
My newly planted annuals are dying4/2/2010
  Q: Please help me in understanding what the problem is and how I can rectify that so that my flowers ...
  A: Aphids secrete a substance called honeydew which is high is sugar content and sticky to the ...
My newly planted annuals are dying4/2/2010
  Q: Please help me in understanding what the problem is and how I can rectify that so that my flowers ...
  A: Sounds like slug damage. Slugs have been described as snails without shells, though slugs have a ...
Grancy Greybeard Tree4/1/2010
  Q: I have a Grancy Greybeard tree (fringe tree) that is 6yrs old. Last year we had a late frost right ...
  A: Sounds like a root problem--maybe the roots a not spreading out enough and they are still in the ...
Little Gem Magnolia3/31/2010
  Q: Help, my little gems are having a problem. I'm attaching an image. We have 3 in this grouping and as ...
  A: Looks like the weather has effected the tree. I would first check and see if the stems with the ...
crabapple and dogwood trees are losing leaves right after mature size of leaves over aperiod of 6 + weeks, they just keep on falling3/31/2010
  Q: what can I do early in the seasonI have had these trees for at least 10-12 years, for the last two ...
  A: Sounds like dogwood anthracnose a disease. This can be controlled with fungicides and cultural ...
Arborvitae damage3/8/2010
  Q: During the recent snowstorms two large branches of this tree (over 20 feet tall) snapped. There is ...
  A: Depending on the size and the amount of breakage it may recover. You can either wait and see if the ...
Hickory tree diseases3/4/2010
  Q: My father has a farm with several woodlots on it. In one of the woodlots there is a large ...
  A: This sounds like a decay fungi called Inonotus obliquus. But there are several fungi that fit the ...
scale2/1/2010
  Q: We are having a problem with scale and sooty mold doing a number on our Cocoa Plum. This is about a ...
  A: It will depend on if you are going to eat the fruit. IF not then the Bayer Advanced product will ...
Krauter Vesuvius flowering plum11/15/2009
  Q: I have had a flowering plum for 12 years. Two years ago, I had it pruned, sense that time it blooms ...
  A: By "does not leaf out in the Spring' you mean that it has no leaves then it is dead. If you mean ...
Weeping Willow Disease11/11/2009
  Q: My old, formerly-healthy Alameda, CA weeping willow is suddenly exuding a clear, gelatinous ...
  A: Larger, reasonably healthy trees seem to outgrow the problem. A weaker tree may have frothy flux for ...
mulberry trees11/8/2009
  Q: Do large black blotches on the trunk of a Mulberry tree indicate some type of disease?
  A: Sounds like Lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ...
brown spots on maple leaves11/4/2009
  Q: I live near Philadelphia and have an almost 30-year-old maple tree in my backyard. This fall I have ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
green growth on maple tree trunk11/4/2009
  Q: I live near Philadelphia and have a treasured maple tree in my backyard that has a fairly heavy ...
  A: These are lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ...
Black Knot on Cherry Trees11/3/2009
  Q: My wife and I have a 7 acker lot on a lake in Northern Minnesota. A summer place and we will be back ...
  A: Black knot can be managed by pruning out and destroying all galls infecting the tree. Prune trees ...
Arborvitae Damage10/29/2009
  Q: Our trees had some bagworms that did some damage. One of the trees is still brown on top...can we ...
  A: Yes the foliage should grow back from bagworm feeding. I would wait until next spring and see how ...
Mimosa Wilt10/27/2009
  Q: Most articles talk about Maryland and south. Any history of this disease occuring on Long ...
  A: Yes the disease is on mimosa trees where ever they will grow. The mimosa tree's native range is ...
Crape Myrtle - disease10/20/2009
  Q: I have several mature crape myrtles in my front yard (morning to noon sunlight) which have a black ...
  A: It sounds like sooty mold, which is a fungus that grow on honeydew. Honeydew is high on sugar ...
Crepe myrtle is not healthy10/19/2009
  Q: I live in Ft. Worth,TX (Northern TX) I have a crepe myrtle that is approx 10-12 years old.It has not ...
  A: Sounds like a scale type insect. These insects suck the plant juices from the plant and usually ...
sago palms desease (scales)10/18/2009
  Q: Where do I purchase malathion or Hordicultural oil? I have my sago palms for years and now they are ...
  A: Malathion and Horticultural oil can be found at your local nursery. Oil sprays should be your ...
Crab Apple Tree in UK10/16/2009
  Q: We have an old crab apple tree and noticed white fluffy fungus which we believe could be bark scale ...
  A: If it is an insect (scale) you will need to spray it with an insecticide. I am not familiar with ...
Globe Willow Seeping9/29/2009
  Q: My older globe willow has the following symptoms: 1) shedding of outer bark, mostly on trunk and ...
  A: Sounds like a condition called Froth Flux. Honeydew will be on the foliage and under the tree on the ...
crepe myrtle trees9/29/2009
  Q: Our 2 crepe myrtle trees have developed sticky leaves and some dark blotching and are dripping the ...
  A: Sounds like aphids--the sooty mold is growing on the honeydew from the aphids. Crape myrtle aphids ...
web all over trunk branches of 40ft tree9/28/2009
  Q: i think it is a type of maple covered it silk like web the whole of the bark is covered with web . ...
  A: These are bark lice. Bark lice are small, brown insects that live on the rough bark of hardwood ...
Oak Tree Disease9/25/2009
  Q: I have property with about 50 oaks. The entire front of the house and side yard oaks are dropping ...
  A: A very common leaf spot disease this year is oak leaf blister. All varieties of oaks can get this ...
very old white oak tree9/25/2009
  Q: the bark is looking loose & small ferns are growing on some limbs is this tree sick?
  A: As long as the foliage is green and healthy looking the tree is ok. Ferns do grow on some older oaks ...
Disease of Fruitless Mulbury Tree9/24/2009
  Q: I live in the Dallas area. We have Fruitless Mulberry trees in our front yard. They are about 30 ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ...
tulip tree9/23/2009
  Q: the leaves on my tulip tree are turning white, almost powdery looking. do you know what this is
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. A powdery, fluffy white to light gray-colored fungus growth on succulent ...
Mimosa tree issue9/22/2009
  Q: I have a VERY large mimosa tree that is approximately 40 years old. In the last 3-4 years during the ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called an aphid. These small insect suck the plant juices from the plant and ...
Crepe Myrtle9/15/2009
  Q: Our crepe myrtle is about 10 years old. This year, the foliage is getting black spots. The leaves ...
  A: Yes the color of the spots will vary I do think it is a fungi leaf spot. Spots develop in mid-summer ...
Crepe Mrytle9/15/2009
  Q: I'm in Georgia my crepe mrytle has black on all it's leaves. It just started 2 weeks ago when it ...
  A: If the black is sticky this would be a sign that there is an insect called an aphid on the plant. ...
Crepe Myrtle9/14/2009
  Q: Our crepe myrtle is about 10 years old. This year, the foliage is getting black spots. The leaves ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called a leaf spot. Cercospora Leaf Spot: Leaf spots may appear on crape ...
oak tree9/14/2009
  Q: I live in north Texas and we have an oak tree that is at least 60 years old in out back yard. This ...
  A: From the description you gave,It could be anything from herbicide damage from a lawn fertilizer with ...
Black Oak Diseases9/13/2009
  Q: I live in southern California mountains @ 5000ft elevation.Several oak trees have dying leaves & are ...
  A: There is a disease that is effecting oaks in Calif. that is a major problem. It fits some of the ...
Pecan trees9/11/2009
  Q: Before my Dad passed away, he planted 2 pecan trees in the front yard of his Arkansas home. I just ...
  A: Sound like Fall Webworms. These caterpillars construct a web over the foliage in the late summer or ...
white sap on leaves9/8/2009
  Q: i have five Plumeria in my yard of diferent sizes and they all started to produce this thin sticky ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. Aphids are small (1/16-1/8 inch long), soft bodied insects commonly called plant ...
botony9/8/2009
  Q: Q.1 what is unisexual flower? can a unisexual flower be self pollinated? please clear my doubt.
  A: These unisexual flowers are on the same plant, the plant is "monoecious," meaning one house. If the ...
pine tree9/8/2009
  Q: I have serria's one is already gone from last year, it seems to be little circle holes, like a ...
  A: What you are describing is made by a woodpecker (bird) called a Sap sucker. These birds make the ...
Curled leaves on lilac.9/8/2009
  Q: I have a 3 year old lilac that has been growing very nice until last year. The leaves have started ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. These small insect suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and secrete a ...
crape myrtle8/25/2009
  Q: i have 4 crape myrtles 2 of which had become like a white powdery substance on them, so i kept them ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. If grayish-white areas recently appeared on the new growth of your ...
I have a white powder an the leaves of my lilac!!!8/25/2009
  Q: I have a white powder-looking substance witch i believe to be a fungus. I do not have a picture... ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. A powdery, fluffy white to light gray-colored fungus growth on succulent ...
pine tree8/25/2009
  Q: I have a Pine Tree that has a few branches that look like they are covered in black oil. Even the ...
  A: These are aphids--they suck the plant juices from the plant and secrete a substance called honeydew ...
maple tree8/24/2009
  Q: we have several maple trees on our property that have some form of disease the leaves are brown it ...
  A: Yes I think it is the rainfall if you have had more than normal amount. Too much rain is as bad as ...
crimson king maple8/18/2009
  Q: It is august and the leaves on my crimson king maple are turning from red to green and dropping.My ...
  A: Japanese red Maple leaves turn from red to green when the intensity of light is decreased. Red leaf ...
Caragana bushes with white leaves.8/17/2009
  Q: Our caragana bushes leaves have a white chalky look to them. They were fine 2 weeks ago, but have ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
tree8/17/2009
  Q: i live in Westminster Maryland and i think it's an oak tree small in size leaves are round on bottom ...
  A: Sounds like Slim Flux or wetwood. The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk of ...
Is my tree dieing?8/15/2009
  Q: Over the past 2 years our weeping cherry tree has been showing less and less blooms in the spring ...
  A: Sounds like a blight disease. If you take you finger nail or a small knife and scrape a small bit of ...
Crepe Myrtle Diseases8/15/2009
  Q: I live in Vacaville, California between San Francisco and Sacramento and have a Crepe Myrtle of ...
  A: The peeling of the bark of Crept Myrtle is normal and nothing to worry about. Too things that slow ...
black mildew on Crepe Myrtle8/15/2009
  Q: I live in Southern Alabama and I noticed some of my Crepe Myrtle have black leaves...the whole ...
  A: Check and see if the leaves are sticky or where the black is sticky. IF is it this is honeydew from ...
Moths or Spiders8/14/2009
  Q: A friend at work told me she has a very large whitish, cottony nest of some kind in one of her ...
  A: It is Fall Web worm. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is most often discovered when the ...
Magnolia Tree Scale8/13/2009
  Q: Our magnolia tree has white patches (looks like pussywillow) on its branches. A few of the branches ...
  A: You could scrape them off by hand and this will not harm the tree but would be a big job on a large ...
Quaken Aspen tree8/12/2009
  Q: I have noticed the last little while that the leaves on all of my quaken aspen trees have a white ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. A powdery, fluffy white to light gray-colored fungus growth on succulent ...
Black "fluid" dripping down bark of Chinese Pistache8/11/2009
  Q: We have a 2-3 year old Chinese Pistache which I just recently noticed has a black looking "fluid" ...
  A: It could be slime flux--in that case washing it off will help. Or it could be a borer an insect. ...
Oak Tree Bore Worms8/10/2009
  Q: We have a 30-year old oak tree that has been attacked by bore worms. What can I do to save 1/2 of ...
  A: Most borers attack only trees that are stressed due to drought, injury or disease. Consequently, any ...
maple trees in southwestern Michigan8/9/2009
  Q: I have 7-8 large maple trees. Two-three of them have sparse leaves that are prematurely turning ...
  A: I would fertilize them with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ...
pecan trees8/8/2009
  Q: I have no clue what to do. Please help. I live in central north carolina..
  A: To plan an effective schedule of prevention and control, it helps to understand the life cycle of ...
Crepe Myrtle8/7/2009
  Q: My Crepe Myrtle is the older variety bush and was just purchased and planted about 3 months ago. ...
  A: The sticky is a sign of aphids or scale insects. probably aphids. these insects suck the plant ...
RED SUNSET MAPLE TREES8/7/2009
  Q: We have two red sunset maple trees that are in their second year of planting. They are ...
  A: The root system has not caught up with the foliage growth. The roots can just support so much ...
diseased tree8/6/2009
  Q: I have a sugar maple that the bark is spliting about a foot off the ground and at seven foot.The ...
  A: The bark split looks like a lightning strike. The fungi are called lichens and do not harm a tree ...
crepe myrtle8/5/2009
  Q: I bought a crepe myrtle half price and thought I could nurture it back to health. I can see new ...
  A: Crept myrtle are very tough trees and can stand a great deal of abuse and still live. It sounds like ...
LIve Oak insects8/4/2009
  Q: I have a live oak in south florida that has a insect all over it. It has white on its backs and also ...
  A: Sounds like one of the tussock moth caterpillars. Tussock moth caterpillars are occasionally ...
Flowering cherry tree disease8/4/2009
  Q: Our son sent us a picture of his cherry bloosom tree with this ugly growth near the base of the ...
  A: Sounds like bacteria canker. Bacterial canker is a plant disease which has two other names. ...
Crape Myrtle8/3/2009
  Q: I have a new crape myrtle, planted approximately 2 months ago. I am now noticing that the ends of ...
  A: sounds like shock from the panting. If you have not done so mulch around the tree with not more than ...
CRIMSON/OCTOBER GLORY MAPLE8/2/2009
  Q: I LIVE IN LONG ISLAND, NY. I PLANTED A CRIMSON KING AND AN OCTOBER GLORY IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
Mature healthy carrotwood in L.A. oozing black from major limb8/1/2009
  Q: New in past few weeks: black stain on lowest and major horizontal limb of huge, beautiful ~40 yr. ...
  A: No pruning would not have caused the problem it is really not understood why some trees get slime ...
maple trees8/1/2009
  Q: The bark appears to be splitting and the leaves are curling up with flat brown spots on our maple ...
  A: Sounds like a borer insect. I would spray the trunk where the wound exists with an insecticide ...
Tulip Poplar Tree8/1/2009
  Q: I am trying to determine if our tulip tree is diseased and should be cut down. It was on the ...
  A: Yellow poplar has a long life span 150+ years. It sounds like a decay fungi that has entered the ...
Aspen Tree problems8/1/2009
  Q: I just noticed that several of our Quaking Aspen trees have sawdust at their bases and it appears ...
  A: US Forest Service researchers are looking into the problem of Aspen dying across the West. Sudden ...
Tulip poplar issue7/31/2009
  Q: we have several tall tulip poplars on our property and recently we noticed that a tree on our front ...
  A: Sounds like slime flux. Slime flux or Wet Wood is a foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from ...
Willow Leaves Spotting, Yellowing and Dropping7/31/2009
  Q: I have several weeping willows in my yard (south-central Tennessee). The largest is about 20' feet ...
  A: It does sound like leaf spots but this late in the year I would do nothing except rake the leaves ...
CRIMSON/OCTOBER GLORY MAPLE7/31/2009
  Q: I LIVE IN LONG ISLAND, NY. I PLANTED A CRIMSON KING AND AN OCTOBER GLORY IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. ...
  A: It is typical for hardwood trees planted out of the normal planting season to under go a stress form ...
Mature healthy carrotwood in L.A. oozing black from major limb7/30/2009
  Q: New in past few weeks: black stain on lowest and major horizontal limb of huge, beautiful ~40 yr. ...
  A: If this is a certified arborist I would take his word since he has seen the tree. It does sound like ...
Aspen trees7/28/2009
  Q: I have a rental house in Sandy, Utah with 4 Aspen trees in the front of the house. They were there ...
  A: Sounds like the tree maybe dying. You can check to see if the limbs are still alive by scraping a ...
Black fungus-like stuff running down Maple trunk7/27/2009
  Q: A few weeks ago, I noticed what at a distance looked like someone spray painted some black vertical ...
  A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ...
Autumn Blaze maple leaf "disease"7/26/2009
  Q: Live in Des Moines, Iowa. Was looking at otherwise healthy leaves on younger maple tree and noticed ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
water oak trees7/26/2009
  Q: Two of my water oak trees have developed many brown spots on their leaves. This is the first time to ...
  A: A very common leaf spot disease this year is oak leaf blister. All varieties of oaks can get this ...
sap bleeding from yoshino cherry tree7/25/2009
  Q: I just read a great answer about the gummy sap running from the bottom of a cherry tree, which could ...
  A: When a tree like cherry is wounded it will bleed. The wound will heal by itself but needs to be ...
Sunset maple disease7/25/2009
  Q: 9 year old sunset maple trees at sidewalk in 5 ft wide space between walkway and street. Bark ...
  A: The first thing to remember regarding borer control is that borers tend to attack trees under ...
Sunset maple disease7/24/2009
  Q: 9 year old sunset maple trees at sidewalk in 5 ft wide space between walkway and street. Bark ...
  A: This sounds like an insect called a borer. The bark is a result of the feeding of the insect. I ...
mulberry tree disease7/15/2009
  Q: the city planted a red mulberry tree in the front of out r house three years ago. this year we ...
  A: Sounds like the tree has an insect called a scale. These insect suck the plant juices from the tree ...
ornamental plum tree7/14/2009
  Q: My tree has japaneese beetles eating all the leaves and the branches are all covered with long black ...
  A: There are a couple of methods to treat Japanese Beetles --spray the foliage with an insecticide ...
Japanese Red Maple7/14/2009
  Q: My very young Japanese Red Maple leafs out just fine every year, but around this time develops dead ...
  A: I think you have a disease called leaf spots. Purple eye" leaf spot is a common disease and ...
Nutall Oak problem7/14/2009
  Q: ..I planted 50 Nutall Oaks on my place two years ago. I have done my best to keep them watered and ...
  A: Sounds like a problem with the root system. There are a lot of unknowns here such as-type of soil, ...
emarald green arbovitae7/14/2009
  Q: I planted my emerald green arbovitae last fall and this summer i notice that the inner part of the ...
  A: I'd be concerned that you are giving them too much water, especially if it is clay soil which ...
Red Japanese maple, mostly shade, in East PA7/13/2009
  Q: This maple about 20-25 years old, mostly shady area about 15 feet tall usually very healthy. It ...
  A: About all that needs to be done is remove any loose bark from around the wound and the tree will ...
corkskrew willow tree7/13/2009
  Q: I have a corkscrew willow that is dying...it seems to be covered in tiny black aphids? the bark on ...
  A: Treat the tree with an insecticide. Either spray the tree with an insecticide called Orthene or ...
Red Japanese maple, mostly shade, in East PA7/13/2009
  Q: This maple about 20-25 years old, mostly shady area about 15 feet tall usually very healthy. It ...
  A: Yes a photo would help I am leaning toward a lightening strike. There are many variables to ...
pecan tree bag worms7/12/2009
  Q: we have a big problem with bag worms/web worms using seven spray now a friend used a paste around ...
  A: The product you are asking about is called Tanglefoot. It is sticky and is spread either on the ...
weird pattern like holes in a willow tree7/12/2009
  Q: my parents bought a willow tree and about a year ago and now it has these funny hole like patterns ...
  A: These are hole made by a bird called a sap sucker. Sapsuckers will make the holes and the sap oozes ...
Autunm Blaze Maple7/11/2009
  Q: One of two maples we planted last year 08 has split bark in 09. The installers put black wrap on ...
  A: Sounds like sunscald. Sunscald often is called southwest injury because it most often occurs on the ...
cotton scale on magnolia tree7/10/2009
  Q: Read your answer regarding controlling aphids on trees, but can you tell us when we should be ...
  A: Aphids are small (1/16-1/8 inch long), soft bodied insects commonly called plant lice or ant cows. ...
willow tree7/10/2009
  Q: I have noticed yellow leaves with black spots on her. Not alot about 20 do I need to worry?
  A: It sounds like leaf spots but this late in the year I would do nothing except rake the leaves when ...
tri color beach tree / disease gull7/10/2009
  Q: i have a tri- color beach aprox. 30 years old the last 3 years it has had a strange almost like a ...
  A: I am not sure what you are asking. Galls are formations made by insects. The insect lays its eggs on ...
Moss or Green "stuff" on tree trunk7/9/2009
  Q: There is light green "stuff" on my tree trunks. The one tree/bush has sap seeping from the leaves. ...
  A: The sap from the leaves is caused by an insect called an aphid. These suck the plant juices from the ...
brown needles/white pine7/9/2009
  Q: My pine is about 20 yrs. old. All the branches have brown needles at the very end. What is going on? ...
  A: If the needles on the ends of the branches are turning then it sounds like the tree is dead. Sorry. ...
"Baby" Apple Tree Sapling Turned Fuzzy7/9/2009
  Q: Okay, here's the background: I live on the East Coast where it rains about every week... I had found ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery Mildew is the most common disease of apple trees. It is caused ...
Redbud Tree7/9/2009
  Q: I planted a Redbud about 4 months ago. It has been growing beautifully. However, lately I see the ...
  A: Looks like insect feeding on the leaves. I would spray the tree with an insecticide called Orthene. ...
LEAF SPOTS ON RED JAPANESE MAPLE TREE7/7/2009
  Q: I live in Tucson, Az. and have had this Acer palmatum for 15 months. In February I repotted it with ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
Extreme Pine Tree Brownness7/7/2009
  Q: I have a very tall pine tree that since I purchased the property 4 years ago has had a bulge in its ...
  A: The lower limbs of pines will shed as the tree self prunes and the interior browning of the needles ...
Extreme Pine Tree Brownness7/7/2009
  Q: I have a very tall pine tree that since I purchased the property 4 years ago has had a bulge in its ...
  A: The swelling sounds like a disease called Fusiform rust. It has nothing to do with the needles ...
red sunset maple tree7/6/2009
  Q: Our four year old maple tree has yellowish green leaves with small brown spots on top of leaves. ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
Crepe myrtle6/25/2009
  Q: My crepe myrtle tree leaves are turning white. Why?
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. If grayish-white areas recently appeared on the new growth of your ...
Crape Myrtle not blooming6/25/2009
  Q: I have had a crape myrtle for aprox 3 years and it never blooms. Each year I hope it will be the ...
  A: Too things that slow crept myrtle from blooming--not enough sunlight and the need for fertilizer, ...
Juniper Blight6/25/2009
  Q: Juniper bushes have an infestation of what looks like "spit", with tiny orangy eggs or what looks ...
  A: This is an insect called a spittle bug. The pine spittlebug, Aphrophora parallela (Say), is "often ...
black walnut trees6/24/2009
  Q: Hey, I have some land in south Al. that was once pine tree land , resently we cleared the pines off ...
  A: If these spots are on the leaves it sounds like one of the leaf spot fungi on maybe a insect gall. ...
leyland cypress6/23/2009
  Q: We have spit-like sacs on the branches of our trees. The trees are 5 years old and we have never ...
  A: The pine spittlebug, Aphrophora parallela (Say), is "often abundant on white, jack pines as well as ...
what is eating my tree6/23/2009
  Q: I think my tree is dying. I just notice that something is wrong with my tree. There are holes all ...
  A: If the foliage is still green you should be able to save it. Sounds like either a insect borer or if ...
Sunset Maple6/21/2009
  Q: Sir, We have a sunset maple that we planted two years ago. Last year it lost most of it's leaves ...
  A: If you dig under the mulch and the soil is wet (has water in it if you squeeze the soil in your ...
Maple Tree infectation6/20/2009
  Q: Our maple tree is approximately 65 years old and about 65 feet high. Something is boring into its ...
  A: I do not know of an organic spray that will work on borers. Sounds like an insect called a borer. ...
dying maple?6/18/2009
  Q: We've been in our house for 8 years, have a 20 foot maple that about 5 years ago started getting ...
  A: Several different fungi in the genus Rhytisma infect the leaves of maples and cause raised, black ...
WEEPING WILLOW PROBLEM6/18/2009
  Q: MY HUSBAND HAS HAD A WEEPING WILLOW TREE FOR APROX 5 YEARS THIS SPRING THE THE LOWER BARK ON THE ...
  A: Sounds like borer damage. I would spray the lower trunk with an insecticide called Merit. This will ...
Leaf disease(?) on my tree6/16/2009
  Q: I essentially live in the woods in the Pocono Mountains of NE PA. Attached is a picture of the ...
  A: These are galls caused by more than likely a mite feeding on the leaf or laying eggs on the leaf. ...
Vine Maple disease or fungus?6/16/2009
  Q: I have two vine maple trees that have yellowish brown spots spreading all over the leaves. I'm not ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. When lichen is wet from rain or dew, it grows actively. It also likes sunshine, ...
willow tree6/15/2009
  Q: I recently moved to northern Nevada (altitude about 5,000 ft) and I have a type of willow tree that ...
  A: Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood (slime flux) seen afflicting many other hardwood ...
Bug? Disease? or normal?6/14/2009
  Q: And thank you in advance for your answer. Your time and expertise is truly appreciated. I have a ...
  A: This is a elm tree and the growth is an Elm Pocket Gall (Aceria ulmi) The Elm Pocket Gall is ...
BIRCH TREE DEAD?6/14/2009
  Q: IN OUR FRONT YARD WE HAVE A 20-25 YEAR OLD PAPER BIRCH. LAST YEAR I NOTICED IT LOOKED A LITTLE ...
  A: Sounds like it is dead. Try scraping a small bit of bark off the end of an upper outer branch and if ...
Oak Tree is weeping6/14/2009
  Q: I live in Ellis County, Texas (North Central Texas). I moved here in November and this spring I ...
  A: Sounds like oak borer an insect. I would spray the area on the trunk with an insecticide called ...
gingko tree6/14/2009
  Q: Our home is 8 years old and had a 4 foot gingko tree in the front yard when we moved in. This year ...
  A: Too much water can give the same wilted look to the leaves as too little water. Since the water came ...
Fig Question5/18/2009
  Q: I live in NW Georgia and have a small fig tree appx. 3 years, 4 feet high and wide. This year it ...
  A: Sounds like one of the borer type insects the GRANULATE AMBROSIA BEETLE fits the description you ...
black lumps on newly planted aspens5/13/2009
  Q: I planted 16 Aspens last fall rangeing height of 10-15 feet tall. All have leaved out but 3. These 3 ...
  A: These are called gall insects and will not kill the tree. The insect lays its eggs on the twig and ...
Pin Oak Tree with bubble on stem5/11/2009
  Q: I live in GA and have a Pin oak that has swollen bubbles all over the stems. The bubbles break off ...
  A: They are called galls and are caused by an insect (small wasp) The wasp lays its eggs on the surface ...
pine worms5/11/2009
  Q: i have a blue spruce and "christmas tree type" of pine in my yard. both approx 18'-20' high. a ...
  A: Spruce and pine both shed needles. There is not any insect called a "pine worm". There are ...
problem with young Lacy Bark Elm5/9/2009
  Q: Our young Lacy Bark Elm has been growing wonderfully, in the last few days however the whole top ...
  A: Looks like the tag is still on the tree. I would take it back to the nursery and ask for a ...
diseases of emerald arborvitae5/9/2009
  Q: I live in NE PA and had several Emerald Arborvitae planted last Aug. I watered them thru Sept. and ...
  A: Diseases usually do not infect these often, There area couple of insects that can cause this type ...
Tooth fungus on my saw tooth oak tree5/7/2009
  Q: What can I do to get rid of this fungus off the branches of my 20 year old oak tree? Can this kill ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ...
willow tree dead?5/6/2009
  Q: ive a well established 20 year willow tree which this year has decided not to bloom or show any ...
  A: Trees can be damaged or killed by a wide variety of construction activities. Some practices lead to ...
Bark falling off live oaks5/6/2009
  Q: The bark on my live oaks appears to be splitting and falling off. More noticeable when you look at ...
  A: Cutting the dead limbs will decrease the amount of fungi spores but cutting the live limbs will ...
Spreading Juniper "fungus"5/5/2009
  Q: We have a large spreading juniper. A few days ago I noticed a small patch of bright orange "fungus" ...
  A: This is cedar apple rust fruiting bodies. During warm rainy days in late April and early May, cedar ...
white mold on bush5/5/2009
  Q: I have a bush in the yard that suddenly has a powdery mold speading on the leaves. It has space all ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
Oak Tree5/5/2009
  Q: Hey Jim, My name is David and I have a large oak in the front losing it's bark. There is a powdery ...
  A: Sounds like Hypoxylon canker. The most obvious early symptom of Hypoxylon is the sloughing off of ...
Japanese red leaf maple disease5/4/2009
  Q: I have a beautiful Japanese red leaf maple that is approximately 20 years old. It has never had any ...
  A: Sunscald is a form of winter injury that can cause cracks and splits. Sunscald occurs when cells in ...
weeping willow tree5/4/2009
  Q: The tree has not put on any new leaves spring. There is a green scale (I thank it's scale) on the ...
  A: Sorry there is a good chance that the topping did kill the tree or allowed fungi to enter the trunk. ...
Aspen Tree Leaf Disease5/4/2009
  Q: I have a very tall, 10 year old Aspen Tree which has always been healthy. This spring I am noticing ...
  A: Do these "caterpillars move?? Sounds like the flowers of the aspen--called catkins. see picture ...
Magnolia Tree5/4/2009
  Q: I have a 20' Magnolia I planted in NW Florida about 4 years ago when it was about 12'. It looked ...
  A: Magnolias do drop their leaves but usually not all at the same time. If the ends of the branches are ...
Bark falling off live oaks5/3/2009
  Q: The bark on my live oaks appears to be splitting and falling off. More noticeable when you look at ...
  A: Sounds like one of the canker diseases. If you could a picture would really help. Most cankers are ...
Maple Tree5/3/2009
  Q: We have a large maple tree that has lichen growing on many of the branches and they die and fall ...
  A: Lichens do not kill trees but they can be a sign of the tree under stress. I would fertilize the ...
crape myrtle disease or virus?4/29/2009
  Q: Hey Jim, I have a tree form crape and its about 3 yrs. old. I prune it every year like one ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called a leaf spot. Cercospora Leaf Spot: Leaf spots may appear on crape ...
holly bush fungus4/28/2009
  Q: Jim, i have three nice holly bush's none of them have berries on them,I'm not sure if their male or ...
  A: Since you said the black was all over the leaves it sounds like sooty mold. Sooty mold grows on a ...
bradford pear4/28/2009
  Q: I have a 14 year old Bradford pear that bloomed this spring in Missouri. After the blooms fell off ...
  A: I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ...
Gardenia plants4/24/2009
  Q: We have a gardenia plant that we have planted outside. its leaves have a black discoloration on ...
  A: Sounds like sooty mold. This fungus grows on the secretion of sucking type insects. The insect suck ...
willow tree4/23/2009
  Q: I planted a willow tree 1 week ago. It is about 6 feet tall and was in a ten gallon container. ...
  A: It is more then likely just the shock of the planting. Willows need more water than other trees so I ...
Fire Blight Chanticleer Pear Tree4/23/2009
  Q: I have four Chanticleer Pear Trees (3 of which have fire blight really bad...blackend whithered ...
  A: Fire blight development is influenced primarily by seasonal weather. When temperatures in the range ...
Chilatpa brown tip on new spring leaves4/22/2009
  Q: I have a 20' high 2nd year pink dawn Chitalpa tree. Right now all the new spring growth has brown ...
  A: Sounds like maybe herbicide damage. have you used a herbicide on the lawn? Possibly a weed and feed ...
Emerald Green Arborvitae4/20/2009
  Q: I have a emerald green arborvitae that was replanted due to some construction work. The arborvitae ...
  A: Arborvitaes benefit from fertilization especially as young plants, but often there are enough ...
yellowing of leaves on dwarf boxwood4/14/2009
  Q: I have dwarf boxwoods lining the foundation of my house. The leaves are yellowing, what is wrong?
  A: A sign of nitrogen deficiency is yellowing of leaves, particularly older leaves inside the plant. I ...
willow fungus4/8/2009
  Q: Further to previous email today, I am sending picture. The fungus is not drying out, in fact seems ...
  A: The picture was great without it I might have not IDed the conk. I only answered this one and let ...
Dying Everygreen Shrub4/5/2009
  Q: My Golden Euonymous are covered in what appears to be a white in color mite.I am experiencing a loss ...
  A: Sounds like the Euonymus scale. see web link for pictures. ...
leyland cypress disease4/5/2009
  Q: We have beautiful leylands maybe 40` tall and this winter we noticed a dead streak running up the ...
  A: Without looking at the tree it maybe difficult to diagnose the problem. I would suggest that you ...
Japanese Elm Fungi4/4/2009
  Q: I have a 15 year old, mature japanese elm. Looks healthy (leaves, growth etc). At the base there is ...
  A: It sounds like one of the powder puff fungi. The "smoke" are the spores from the fruiting body --the ...
maple "disorder"4/3/2009
  Q: I have 5 maples in a row in my side yard. The middle tree has budded two weeks later than the other ...
  A: The genetics of tree of the same species can be different and this would cause a tree to leaf out a ...
Japanese MapleBug Infestation4/3/2009
  Q: We recently discovered that our grafted Japanese maple had a lot of dead dry branches, even though ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. These insects suck the plant juices from the plant and will cause the leaves to ...
disease on japanese maple4/2/2009
  Q: My maples has just been planted. Over the last 5 weeks it have formed brown spots on the leaf edge ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
Buring Bush - something on Branches4/1/2009
  Q: I have 4 Burning bushes next to each other. Overthe the wintee they developed something on the ...
  A: It could be one of a couple of things--there is a woolly aphid that is covered with a white cotton ...
white oak tree3/31/2009
  Q: i live in South Jersey, and i've noticed that a few of the white oak trees in my yard have some ...
  A: Sounds like twig galls. Galls are abnormal plant growth or swellings comprised of plant tissue. ...
Disease on Loblolly Pine3/30/2009
  Q: Tree is 3.5 ft. in diameter. Bark is falling off around the base (approx. 25 percent of the base) ...
  A: From the picture it look as if there are holes in the wood which would mean some type of borer ...
Oak Tree Disease (NJ)3/30/2009
  Q: My oak tree has a greenish white looking scale. A limb fell and it had strings of brown rubbery ...
  A: A lichen is composed of not one, but two organisms: a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. The two ...
Oak Tree Disease (NJ)3/29/2009
  Q: My oak tree has a greenish white looking scale. A limb fell and it had strings of brown rubbery ...
  A: These are lichens and not a problem. Lichens are organisms consisting of a fungus and a green or ...
Aspen Trees3/29/2009
  Q: We just bought a young Aspen (2" trunk dia.)We would like to plant it in a raise bed about 3" deep ...
  A: Without seeing the site it is difficult to give you a precise answer. BUT --- At maturity Aspen have ...
TREES FUNGUS ???3/28/2009
  Q: I LIVE ON THE GULF COAST IN ALABAMA. I HAVE A WATER OAK, MAGNOLIA, AND A POPCORN TREE. THEY ARE ALL ...
  A: These are lichens and not a problem. Lichens are organisms consisting of a fungus and a green or ...
light green growth on all sorts of trees in yard3/28/2009
  Q: We moved into our house over a year ago, there are all sorts of trees in the yard, sweet gum, ...
  A: These are lichens and not a problem. Lichens are organisms consisting of a fungus and a green or ...
Foam around my trees!3/27/2009
  Q: I have some trees in my back yard, which I think started out as a privacy hedge, but I've lived in ...
  A: It looks like spittle bugs. These insect hide in the spittle. They can be found in the grass or on ...
Tree Disease3/27/2009
  Q: We have a development with many trees. Several of the trees have dark colored balls about the size ...
  A: Sounds like one of the gall wasp, an insect. These are common on oak trees. There are a variety ...
Italian Cypress (Washington State)3/26/2009
  Q: I live in Washington State, the wet eastside of it. I have 10 Italian cypress trees. I planted ...
  A: It sounds like the webbing from the spider mites. During feeding some mite species may inject ...
italian cypress3/26/2009
  Q: My Italian Cypress trees look as tho they are turning grey and have small webs on their leaves, what ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. Mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders. They are ...
Italian Cypress (Washington State)3/26/2009
  Q: I live in Washington State, the wet eastside of it. I have 10 Italian cypress trees. I planted ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. Mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders. They are ...
Old Mulberry Tree dying3/25/2009
  Q: Can I save my giant 30 year old bearing Mulberry Tree. Last year, this main shade tree in our front ...
  A: I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This ...
Gardenia bushes3/25/2009
  Q: My gardenia bushes has some Black substance on some the leaves I live in Florida
  A: This sounds like sooty mold. Sooty mold fungi grows on a substance called honeydew. Honeydew is ...
hollies3/24/2009
  Q: My young hollies had some black spots , then curling leaves, now all leaves are brown and dry but ...
  A: Sounds like a fungi called leaf spots. The soap will not have any effect on the fungi. There are ...
rose of sharon and crape myrtle3/23/2009
  Q: Hey Jim, I have several rose of sharon and crape myrtles' both seem to have a grayish/white looking ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. Lichens are organisms consisting of a fungus and a green or blue-green alga ...
Silver leaf maple3/22/2009
  Q: Something has eaten a large hole in the upper part of the trunk of my maple tree. I see no evidence ...
  A: About all that can be done to a open wound on a tree is remove any loose bark. The tree will heal ...
pecan tree - bark peeling3/21/2009
  Q: i have two pecan trees in my backyard in south texas. the bark is peeling, and another bark seems ...
  A: Yes it is normal. As the pecan tree grows in size with age, the oldest bark changes from smooth to ...
cottonwood trees dying black beetles in dead wood3/20/2009
  Q: please please hepl my entire 4 acreas are mowed and 25 cottonwoods, were beautiful like a park!! ...
  A: There is not enough information to ID the problem. The beetles in the dead trees are not causing the ...
Fruitless Mulberry3/18/2009
  Q: My Mulberry is approximately 40 yrs. old. It has always been beautiful and healthy. It gets ...
  A: This sounds like a rust fungi. Mulberry rust is common in China where they raise silkworms on ...
American Holly black spots3/17/2009
  Q: My holly is yellowing and the leaves have black spots. The berries are red. I know the leaves will ...
  A: Your plan is good--I would also spray the foliage with a fungicide. This sanitary step should be ...
varda valley and american boxwoods3/17/2009
  Q: My boxwood leaves are curling. They are not turning yellow, although their color could be better. ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called boxwood psyllid ,Cacopsylla buxi. The boxwood psyllid is a small ...
flowering plum tree disease3/15/2009
  Q: We are located in upstate NY. I noticed today that our flowering plum tree has dark growths on some ...
  A: This sounds like is black knot of plums. Plum trees infected with this fungus disease become stunted ...
Water Oak3/15/2009
  Q: Recently, my water oak tree has developed two black holes that are about i inch across each that go ...
  A: These look like hole created by an insect called a borer. It will bore into the bark and the wood ...
cedar-apple rust3/15/2009
  Q: I asked a question about cedar-apple rust Friday, and I appreciate your answer. Will this go away on ...
  A: The gelatinous stage of cedar apple rust is in the spring. This is how the fungi spreads by ...
Cedars3/14/2009
  Q: I bought a home which has four large mature{20+yrs.)in the yard.This spring I noticed a dark orange ...
  A: This is a disease called cedar apple rust. During warm rainy days in late April and early May, ...
Japanese Maple tree3/12/2009
  Q: I bought a beautiful Japanese Maple last year and it seems to be doing well. The other day I noticed ...
  A: Looks like sunscald. Young maples are particularly susceptible to sunscald. Sunscald is basically a ...
Quaken Aspen3/11/2009
  Q: I have a 3 year old Quaken Aspen about 30 feet tall that I have had to re-anchor to keep the tree ...
  A: It is not necessarily the dept of the root but the spread and amount of the root system. What is ...
plant growth3/10/2009
  Q: I really need help with my assignment.I need to know how long it takes for a tree to grow for the ...
  A: In will depend on the location, tree species, density of the planting and the product. Location--in ...
transplanted bald cyprus3/9/2009
  Q: Last February (o8)I transplanted a bald cyprus tree from the backyard to the front. In early April I ...
  A: Sounds like there was not enough root system saved to support the foliage. About all that can be ...
Coral Bark Japanese Maple Oozing Sap3/8/2009
  Q: I have a beautiful coral bark japanese maple that we planted in a sunny location location about 3 ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. The bark of maple trees in thin and any damage to the bark ...
Golden Deodora3/8/2009
  Q: We have a deodora in our pool area for 4-5 years now and it has always been beautiful, until now. ...
  A: It could be a couple of things. Conifers do drop needles naturally. Most every two years but some up ...
Black spots on branches3/8/2009
  Q: My Live oak about 5yrs old and about 7foot tall has black spots on the branches not on the leaves ...
  A: These are an insect called scales more than likely Lecanium scales. They live most of their life ...
maple tree disease/fungus3/6/2009
  Q: we have a really big maple tree. we noticed today that it has some strange white spots on some of ...
  A: IF the bark is not loose this is not a disease. I would guess it is a lichen. Lichens are an ...
TREE EXUDATE?2/28/2009
  Q: What is this material oozing form this tree? Photo taken in Mendocino National Forest.
  A: I can not tell the species of the tree BUT it looks like a conifer tree. Assuming this it looks like ...
Crape Myrtle2/24/2009
  Q: I purchased my home 2 years ago and have a crape myrtle in front yard approximately? 5 years old. ...
  A: The black is a fungi called sooty mold. It grows on a secretion from aphids. The aphids are small ...
Hickory tree cankers.galls2/23/2009
  Q: My neighbor has a fence row which has young hickory trees growing in it. Several of the trees have ...
  A: These sounds like gall wasp type galls and they will not cause the trees any health problems. They ...
tree holes2/21/2009
  Q: I have recently noticed that on my Cedar Spruce tree that there are holes in the bark. They go ...
  A: Sounds like sap sucker damage. These are wood pecker type birds that make the holes and when insects ...
leylandii diseases2/20/2009
  Q: The trees around my garden have started to go brown mainly on the inside. This is spreading through ...
  A: Sounds like a needles disease-Cercospora needle blight Caused by the fungus Cercosporidium ...
diseased crepe myrtle trees2/20/2009
  Q: I have two trees in my eastern facing front yard that appear to have a fungus, as the trunk and ...
  A: The black is a fungi called sooty mold. It grows on a substance called honeydew. Honeydew is ...
Maple tree bark coming off...2/19/2009
  Q: Greetings Jim. A maple tree in our yard has begun loosing it's bark at the base of the tree, a ...
  A: Mushrooms growing from the trunk are the fruiting bodies of the fungus--this means the tree is more ...
Not sure if it is black sooty mold...2/19/2009
  Q: I live in S. FL and have a long hedge of cocoa plum. It stand opposite a leafy shrub that is prone ...
  A: This sounds like a scale insect--take your finger nail and squash the "bump" and if a liquid comes ...
Soil disease2/17/2009
  Q: I have a problem with what looks like it may be a fungus attaching and growing on the roots of some ...
  A: Sounds like the roots have a abundance of Mycelium on the root system. Most of these are good fungi ...
euonymous has scale2/17/2009
  Q: We have a euonymous that has a problem with scale on a grand scale! I spray every spring for this ...
  A: Scales suck the plant juices from the plant and since they are under a shell they can be difficult ...
Orange Jasmine hedge2/17/2009
  Q: I have a hedge about ft. tall of Orange Jasmine that has been healthy but now is showing signs of ...
  A: I would think the white flies are the problem. Whiteflies damage plants by sucking out plant juices. ...
plumeria1/27/2009
  Q: Last year my plumeria tree got leaves , but never blumed , everything else in the garden did .
  A: For plumerias you should use a fertlizer with high phosphate content, such as Green Thumb Blossom ...
Leaf curl & leaf Miner - Citrus trees1/27/2009
  Q: I still have some fruit on the naval & grapefruit & getting leaf curl & leaf miner. Can I spray with ...
  A: Volck is used to discourage leaf miners--spray new growth every few days until the leaves mature. It ...
small holes in trunk1/12/2009
  Q: one of the 13 Maples i planted 2 years ago had water running down the truck today and the others did ...
  A: Looks like wood pecker holes. Maples have a thin bark so it does not take much damage for them to ...
tree bark1/12/2009
  Q: I planted 13 large maple trees 2 years ago... the trunk of one tree was damaged and does not have ...
  A: Looks like the tree is starting to heal over the wound good. I would watch the area for borer damage ...
Holly bush1/7/2009
  Q: We have Buford Holly bushes around our office building that keep getting a black covering on the ...
  A: It sounds like scale insects-they suck the plant juices and excrete honeydew and a black sooty mold ...
loquat trees blossoms turning brown1/6/2009
  Q: Sorry wrote the question in wrong box. Please let me know what fire blight looks like on loquat ...
  A: Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a common and frequently destructive ...
euonymus scale1/5/2009
  Q: I had an eyonymus that was heavily infested with scale - I removed it from the small flower bed that ...
  A: No scale insect that would infest eyonymus will not infest other plant species. IF you are concerned ...
is yucca smell?12/14/2008
  Q: I have a indoor yucca tree over a year, recently, the pot plant area smell like cat pee, I watered ...
  A: It sounds like you have over watered the plant and the roots are decaying. Here is a answer from the ...
Blue Boy & Blue Girl Holly Mold12/7/2008
  Q: I have a hedge in my front yard that consist of both Blue Boy & Girl Holly bushes, I have noticed ...
  A: The aphids suck the plant juices from the plant and some deposit a waxy material. They secrete a ...
scale on Hollyberry tree11/30/2008
  Q: Jim, I first discovered scales on my Hollyberry tree in Novato, Ca on 09/2007 and Clark's pest ...
  A: The product to use is Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. It is applied around the tree in ...
GROWTH ON GARDENIA11/29/2008
  Q: I HAVE A GARDENIA PLANT WHICH HAS SOME WHITE GROWTHS ON THE STEMS. THE WHITE BUBBLE LIKE THINGS ARE ...
  A: These sound like a soft scale. These are insect that suck the plant juices form the plant. Soft ...
Bradford Pear tree desease11/12/2008
  Q: I have 16 Bradford Pear Trees and there are lots of bored holes on the trunk of several trees. My ...
  A: If these holes are in a line around the tree trunk they are caused by a woodpecker called a sap ...
Crepe Myrtle Disease11/8/2008
  Q: Shiny, sappy substance on leaves. Stopped blooming. Dropping sticky dark brown substance. Looks ...
  A: this sounds like aphids. Aphids are small (1/16-1/8 inch long), soft bodied insects commonly called ...
globe willow11/7/2008
  Q: globe willow has black areas on branches and some weeping of a clear substance
  A: Sound like aphids or scale insects. Both will suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and ...
Weeping Willows11/6/2008
  Q: I have three mature weeping willows- about 30 years old- and about 1/4 of the branches are dead. I ...
  A: Prune only the dead branches. Branches die usually form shading and ones on the inner part of the ...
Pine Tree fungus... Can you tell me what it is?11/4/2008
  Q: I have a Jack Pine in my yard. It has a black powder that is covering the tree and killing it ...
  A: Sounds like sooty mold. If it is on the foliage and the area is sticky to the touch it is a fungi ...
rust color needles on norway spruce11/1/2008
  Q: I have some sick norway spurce where the needles are turning rust color on the inner branches. These ...
  A: If the outer needles are green and the tree shows signs of growth at the ends of the branches I ...
Japanese red maple10/31/2008
  Q: We are located in central eastern CT.(Columbia, about 24 miles east of Hartford.) Our Japanese red ...
  A: This time of the year it sounds like normal leaf drop. If the weather has not been "normal" the ...
Yellow needles in the fall10/30/2008
  Q: There is a large pine tree in my yard and every fall all of the needles turn golden yellow all at ...
  A: Although most conifer trees are considered evergreens, they all eventually drop their needles. What ...
holly tree10/29/2008
  Q: My holly tree has a white residue that has suddenly appeared on some of the limbs and branches. It ...
  A: It sounds like you have Powdery mildew, a disease of leaves of many plants. To control this disease ...
White fuzzy balls on banana plant/tree10/28/2008
  Q: I think that my indoor banana plant/tree is infected with bugs. There are white fuzzy balls on the ...
  A: These are an insect called an aphid. They suck the plant juices from the plant and some carry a ...
Dead or Not?10/26/2008
  Q: I have a 30' White Spruce that was damaged during construction in my neighbors yard. The city has ...
  A: If all the needles on the tree are brown the tree is dead. Hardwoods have the capability of budding ...
Tree disease10/23/2008
  Q: I planted 1-1/2 acres in pines in hopes of getting a small forest quickly. They were planted ...
  A: The spots on the leaves are from a fungi or more than likely different fungi on each species. These ...
Arborvitae tree10/20/2008
  Q: The past couple of weeks the leaves inside the tree are browning out and dropping. Is this a disease ...
  A: If it is only on the inside of the foliage this is normal. Even evergreens will drop needles and the ...
webbing insect on my mums10/15/2008
  Q: I notice a webbing covering the buds and leaves on my fall mums. I need a systemic ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. I would use a systemic insecticide called Bayer 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & ...
crapemyrtle disease10/14/2008
  Q: I have about 20 crape myrtle in our backyard.Something that looks like 'spiderwebs' is covering a ...
  A: Since it is sticky it sounds like a cottony aphid. These are small soft bodied insects that suck the ...
yoshino cherry tree10/14/2008
  Q: I am from Savannah, Georgia. I have 2 yoshino cherry trees. Both of my trees are having problems ...
  A: Not anything that needs to be done at this time of the year. The leaves will be dropping soon and ...
tree disease9/30/2008
  Q: We are considering pruchasing an Autumn Blaze Maple. Researsh tell us these trees are very desease ...
  A: Maple Anthracnose Anthracnose, caused by Discula spp., is a common springtime problem on maple, ...
Sycamore diseases9/30/2008
  Q: I've got a client with a 25 year old sycamore. The bark is badly popping off (in about an 18" ...
  A: This is normal fo sycamore tres. Although it may be disturbing to see bark strewn all over your ...
ant on plants9/29/2008
  Q: I just bought 3 Petunias, 1 Dahlia and a Potato plant(in an diffrent area) on 9/28/08 and I had a ...
  A: Use one of the ant baits. This will be eaten by the ants and not efect butterflies. For many ant ...
Ill Locust thornless tree9/29/2008
  Q: I live in Kansas City and it seems that a lot of the trees in the parks got this illness. Now mine ...
  A: Sounds like fall webworm. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is most often discovered ...
Holly bushes9/29/2008
  Q: There are small white mites on along the leaf veins of our holly bushes with larger white ones ...
  A: Southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis) is an important pest of hollies, especially I. crenata ...
crape myrdle brown edged leaves9/27/2008
  Q: My young crape myrtle hardly flowered this year and has had brown laced leaves for a few months now. ...
  A: The most common reason Crepe myrtles fail to bloom is a lack of sun. These trees need a lot of ...
privet problem9/27/2008
  Q: We have about about 400 ft of 80 year old, well groomed privet hedge. This week we discovered 3 ...
  A: This vould be a couple of things. An insect or a fungus. Check and see if there is movement when ...
Camellia9/27/2008
  Q: I have a camellia hedge that needs help. The leaves branches and trunk are covered with black ...
  A: This is called sooty mold. Sucking insects are the primary cause of sooty mold growth. Many plant ...
boxwood9/23/2008
  Q: I have several four foot boxwoods the air conditioning unit. One of the boxwoods in turning brown. ...
  A: Sounds like the Freon killed the foliage of the boxwood. I would prune the dead off (part that is ...
maple tree without many leaves9/22/2008
  Q: 2 years ago, I bought a house with a maple tree, which I guess is approx. 35-40 years old. Although ...
  A: The leaves on the inner part of the trees crown will die due to the shading effect. The leaves can ...
Aphids on quaking aspen trees9/20/2008
  Q: I have three quaking aspen I planted about six years ago which are not fully mature yet. Each of the ...
  A: Aphids are small (1/16-1/8 inch long), soft bodied insects commonly called plant lice or ant cows. ...
Crimson King Maple Tree9/19/2008
  Q: The leaves on my Crimson King have turned to a milky white color? Any idea of a cause and/or a ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called powdery mildew. The damage due to infection by the fungi causing ...
japanese maple9/16/2008
  Q: I have found individual brown lumps have developed on the underside of one of the branches of my ...
  A: Try scraping the "bumps" off and if they are soft and contain a liquid these are scale insects. ...
yellow/brown mushrooms9/15/2008
  Q: I found a whole lot of these mushrooms under some pine trees on the northern sides in Kansas City ...
  A: In general IF you are not sure do not eat them. Here is a web link that will give you information ...
How to kill bracket fungi9/14/2008
  Q: "I found what look like bracket fungi on the trucks of a few of my trees in my front yard (see ...
  A: The three main nutrients that have been identified as absolutely necessary for plants are nitrogen ...
dying leyandii hedge9/13/2008
  Q: OUR LEYANDII HEDGE HAS GONE BROWN AND LOOKS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE. IT IS ABOUT 8FT TALL AND 20FT LONG. ...
  A: More than likely it will not come back. Sounds like a foliage disease. Leyland cypress are being ...
How to kill bracket fungi9/12/2008
  Q: "I found what look like bracket fungi on the trucks of a few of my trees in my front yard (see ...
  A: What you are seeing is the fruiting body of a decay fungi. The fungi is living on the dead woody ...
American Bitersweet Diseases9/11/2008
  Q: My bittersweet has scale - I think. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (New Market). I ...
  A: Scale control can be challenging and may need to be repeated over several seasons. Proper timing of ...
Sick Weeping Cherry Tree9/8/2008
  Q: I planted a Weeping Cherry tree this summer. The tree is now oozing sap and has sprouted next to ...
  A: This looks like borer damage. These are insects that will bore into the tree and cause the swelling ...
giant poison ivy8/12/2008
  Q: How do I get rid of a poison ivy vine up my tree? This vine won't pull off and is about as thick as ...
  A: You can kill the vine with a herbicide called Roundup. IF you can reach the leaves spray them with ...
sap from trees8/12/2008
  Q: I have a tree that has been leaking sap for 4 years now. I noticed that my roof, car , driveway and ...
  A: Aphids can be treated any time of the year that the tree has foliage. The spring would be the best ...
sap from trees8/11/2008
  Q: I have a tree that has been leaking sap for 4 years now. I noticed that my roof, car , driveway and ...
  A: Sounds like either an insect called an aphid or a scale insect. Both insects will suck the plant ...
Pin Oak tree trunk discoloration8/11/2008
  Q: I would like to know why my pin oak seems to be crying a dark reddish brown color. We are in ...
  A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ...
Arborvitae Question8/10/2008
  Q: I planted a couple dozen arborvitae plants about four years ago that have recently been showing ...
  A: This is an insect called a bagworm. They are really not killing the plants but eating the foliage, ...
oak tree fungal infection8/9/2008
  Q: have a large legacy broad leaf oak tree in distress. tree has girth of at least 10 feet. lowest ...
  A: If it is not hollow it just means the fungi has not been there long enough to hollow the tree but I ...
oak tree8/9/2008
  Q: I have an oak tree that is about 60 to 75FT tall. The first signs of trouble was when the leaves ...
  A: Sounds like Hypoxylon canker. The most obvious early symptom of Hypoxylon is the sloughing off of ...
birch8/8/2008
  Q: Our two birch trees are oozing a red discharge from under the bark.I would like to know what this is ...
  A: Sounds like it could be Bronze Birch Borer. The bronze birch borer attacks paper (canoe), European ...
oak tree fungal infection8/8/2008
  Q: have a large legacy broad leaf oak tree in distress. tree has girth of at least 10 feet. lowest ...
  A: Sounds like what you are seeing is the fruiting stage of a decay fungi. I would suspect that the ...
Magnolia Tree8/7/2008
  Q: I have a 40yr old magnolia tree that has never had any problems until this summer. Here in Dallas we ...
  A: As long as the leaves and buds on the ends of the branches are still green the tree will survive. I ...
Cypress tree dead spot8/4/2008
  Q: I have a row of 15 Italian cypress trees about 12 ft tall. They are kept manicured, but the end tree ...
  A: Check and see if there maybe spider mites present. Take a piece of white paper and put under a ...
Alder tree problem8/4/2008
  Q: There is a series of holes, about one-quarter inch in diameter, that form a ring around the trunk. ...
  A: This is woodpecker hole from a bird called a sap sucker. The bird makes a line of holes and insects ...
japanese red maple8/2/2008
  Q: I have a Japanese red maple tree. The leaves have turned mostly green this summer and many are just ...
  A: Japanese red Maple leaves turn from red to green when the intensity of light is decreased. Most if ...
craape myrtles8/1/2008
  Q: I need to know why my crape myrtles leaves are turning black, and what can i do to fix this problem. ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. These insect suck the plant juices for the plant and secrete a substance called ...
Japanese Maple7/31/2008
  Q: My Japanese maple is at least 8 years old. Each year about this time in August the leaves bgein to ...
  A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungi. Leaf spot fungi do not really harm the health of the tree ...
red maple7/31/2008
  Q: We planted our maple tree last year and for some time now the bark has peeled away about 6in from ...
  A: This sounds like sun scald. The bark splitting isn't something you can really do anything about ...
Maple Red Sunset7/29/2008
  Q: I recently had a red sunset maple put in and noticed there are hard reddish raised dots on some of ...
  A: Sounds like gall wasps. The insect lays its eggs on the leaf and secretes a chemical that causes the ...
rust on walnut trees7/29/2008
  Q: Dark spots on leaves turn into larger black areas and growth seems stunted. Tree appears healthy ...
  A: Sounds like walnut anthracnose. Anthracnose is a general term used to refer to diseases caused by ...
dead tree limbs.7/28/2008
  Q: We just planted a fruitless snow crabapple tree about 3 months ago.it is about 10 years old. It's ...
  A: It is not getting enough water. A tree this large that is transplanted will under go a great deal of ...
limb dying on a large burch tree7/27/2008
  Q: I have a Burch tree it has some kind of spots on the leaves and is acting like it is dying only on 1 ...
  A: I would not worry about one limb dying. If the foliage on the other limbs is green and looks healthy ...
mulberry tree - carpenter beetles7/25/2008
  Q: I moved into a home that has a medium sized mulberry tree. There are dead limbs that the carpenter ...
  A: Sounds like borer damage. I would spray the areas on the trunk with an insecticide called Merit. ...
Mulberry disease/pest7/24/2008
  Q: We have what was a healthy Male Mulberry (we live in Salt Lake City, Utah), but now most of its ...
  A: Sounds like borer damage. I would spray the areas on the trunk with an insecticide called Merit. ...
web on oak tree7/23/2008
  Q: I have a large oak tree (I think it's a live oak) probably 40+ years old. It has a web that covers ...
  A: This webbing is produced by small insects called bark lice and though the tree is apparently not ...
Muskogee Crepe Myrtle Diseased7/22/2008
  Q: I recently purchased two Muskogee Crepe Myrtles and one of them started having yellow leaves with ...
  A: Sounds like sooty mold. Sooty mold grow on a secretion from aphids called honeydew. Honeydew is high ...
Bradford pear possible wood borers7/20/2008
  Q: Bradford Pear approx 9 years old. leaves are dying and falling off. Sawdust build-up around bases of ...
  A: Does sounds like borers. spray the trunk with an insecticide called Merit. This insecticide will ...
sugar maple disease7/19/2008
  Q: We live in Northfield, Vermont and have recently noticed that leaves on our sugar maple, and others ...
  A: Sounds like leaf scorch. Maple leaves often show a browning or drying at the outer margin of the ...
Korean Dogwood - Milky Way7/18/2008
  Q: I live in the Pacific NW. In Feb 07 this 5' tree was planted in the garden of our new home. In the ...
  A: I would cut back on the water--a tree needs about 1 inch of water per week--place a pan under the ...
aphids?7/17/2008
  Q: Don't know if Aphids are what my bushes have ....the are tiny white things all over my bushes and ...
  A: If it is aphids you will see or feel there is a sticky substance on the foliage where the aphids ...
Insects on plum tree leaves7/16/2008
  Q: There are some little tiny white insects on the bottom of the leaves on my plum tree that seem to be ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. these are small insects that suck the plant juices from the leaf causing the ...
oak tree7/16/2008
  Q: I have an oak tree that is about 75ft. Over the last 2 weeks the leaves on the tree started turning ...
  A: Does seem to be something environmental. Insects and disease rarely attack different species of tree ...
yellowing willow leaves7/15/2008
  Q: Saw your answer to a previous post that a "fertilizing" turfbuilder could be to blame for the ...
  A: If you used a fertilizer on the grass under and around the tree that contains a weed killer then the ...
maple tree7/15/2008
  Q: I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Six years ago I had a tree planted on my side walk it is a red ...
  A: Sounds like sun scald. Sunscald is a form of injury to the trunk of many landscape trees. Often ...
fruitless mulberry is sick looking7/14/2008
  Q: We have 2 fruitless mulberry trees in our front yard, They are about 20ft tall and beautiful, great ...
  A: Sounds like slime flux or wet wood. Slime flux or Wet Wood is a foul-smelling and unsightly seepage ...
maple tree d2ljunying7/14/2008
  Q: we have a maple tree on our property, and have several times had truckloads of rock delivered, ...
  A: The weight of the truck and the rock compacted the soil around the tree causing the roots to die and ...
cleveland pear tree7/14/2008
  Q: We moved into our home about one year ago. We planted a cleveland pear tree in our front yard. A ...
  A: It sounds as if you have a fungal leaf spot on your pear. With wet weather, leaf spots are a common ...
Burch Tree7/9/2008
  Q: I live in Maryland and planted two large river birch in our yard late last year that were doing fine ...
  A: Sounds like slime flux or wet wood. Slime flux or Wet Wood is a foul-smelling and unsightly seepage ...
Leaves on Birch tree cluster yellowing7/9/2008
  Q: We planted a new cluster of white paper birch in early June. The leaves are now turning a bright ...
  A: Stress from the planting. I would water with 1 inch of water every third day unless it rains. Place ...
Oak tree leaf fungus?7/9/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a cabin in Northern CA at ~5000ft elevation and noticed that the oak trees in ...
  A: A picture would be helpful. There should be a place at the bottom of the question page to attach a ...
Sycamore Tree "wet spots" on trunk7/8/2008
  Q: Southern California, tree at least 45 years old. It has been healthy for the 37 years we have been ...
  A: Sounds like damage from a flathead borer. These insect bore into the trunk and the tree exudes a sap ...
Oak Trees7/3/2008
  Q: We noticed the leaves on some of our oaks were developing "boils" or raised bumps, with no ...
  A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungus called leaf blister. Oak leaf blister is a fungal leaf spot ...
Black Oak Seeping Sap7/3/2008
  Q: Yesterday I noticed sticky sap seeping down the trunk of our Black Oak (at about 4 feet off the ...
  A: The oozing is called "slime flux" and is caused by a bacterial infection inside the trunk. There are ...
lilac bush with fuzzy white stuff on branches7/2/2008
  Q: My lilac bush is about 3 years old. This spring it finally bloomed and now in June it is covered in ...
  A: First touch the "fuzzy coating" If is does not move it is powdery mildew and can be controled with a ...
crepe myrtle infestation7/1/2008
  Q: I have a crepe myrtle tree. It is infested with insects that seem to be attached to the branches ...
  A: The insect causing the sap is a scale. These insects suck the plant juices from the twigs and ...
Macintosh Apple Tree - Pollination6/30/2008
  Q: I have 1 dwarf Macintosh apple tree and would like to know if there is some way to pollinate it ...
  A: Unless the tree specifically states that it is self-pollinated, you will need to get two trees of ...
slime flux in white oak - transmission to other plants6/30/2008
  Q: I have a 75-100 year old white oak in my front yard. My city is condemning the tree and making me ...
  A: Alabama has been under a drought for the last several years and has stressed the urban as well as ...
Crape Myrtle Disease6/29/2008
  Q: I have a Cra[e Myrtle about 10 years old. The leaves of the tree are turning yellow and falling off ...
  A: I would fertilize the trees with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ...
Possible White Oak Tree Disease6/28/2008
  Q: It's a mature tree that leafed out this spring with several dead limbs. The trunk exhibits black ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called hypoxolyn canker. Hypoxylon cankers are prevalent and highly visible ...
slime flux in white oak - transmission to other plants6/27/2008
  Q: I have a 75-100 year old white oak in my front yard. My city is condemning the tree and making me ...
  A: The slim flux will not spread form species to species. It is a bacteria disease which builds up in ...
flowering dogwood trees6/26/2008
  Q: We planted two flowering dogwood trees this spring and they had been doing real good, we hav noticed ...
  A: Sounds like planting shock. Dogwoods like semi shade and if planted in the sun they sometimes will ...
Green moss like growth on my trees6/26/2008
  Q: I have two young trees on the east side of the front lawn. One has its leaves turning yellow and ...
  A: This sounds like lichens. Lichens are unusual creatures. A lichen is not a single organism the way ...
evergreen bush6/24/2008
  Q: Does rust-colored dead growth on an evergreen bush indicate mite infestation...or could it be ...
  A: If the plants are turning a rust color, I would recommend checking them for mites. Shake the ...
Diseased Maple6/20/2008
  Q: I have, in Ohio, what I believe is a red maple whose leaves are covered (underside along veins) with ...
  A: These are gall wasps. The insect lays its eggs on the leaf and secretes a chemical that causes the ...
Maple trees with diseaed leaves6/19/2008
  Q: I have what I believe is a Autumn Glory Maple Tree. Different leaves on the same tree show two ...
  A: They could be but the brown spots could be a leaf fungi spot. Leaf spots from fungi are not a ...
Maple trees with diseaed leaves6/18/2008
  Q: I have what I believe is a Autumn Glory Maple Tree. Different leaves on the same tree show two ...
  A: These are leaf spots caused by a tiny gall wasp. They will not cause any real health problems with ...
wax myrtle6/17/2008
  Q: I live in north Texas (Dallas area) I had some wax myrtles planted at the back of my fence back in ...
  A: The berries are just that berries and not a disease. Wax myrtle like full sunlight and water. As ...
maple trees6/16/2008
  Q: My maple trees have little tiny red pin spots on the back side of the leaves? What is it and how do ...
  A: Ok I am going to guess that it is the early stages of a insect gall. These are galls caused by an ...
crepe myrtles6/16/2008
  Q: WE HAVE TWO CREPE IN OUR YARD AND AS I WAS WATERING THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. I NOTICED SOME BUGS ...
  A: Sounds like one of the leaf beetles possibly Galerucella pusilla. Leaf beetle feeding can be ...
Oak Tree has a big crack in the bark6/13/2008
  Q: I live in North Eastern CT and I have a large Oak tree (about 24 inches in diameter) in the front ...
  A: Sounds like a wound that fungi got into and is decaying the woody part of the tree. Decay fungi ...
October Glory Maple6/13/2008
  Q: I have an October Glory that is a couple of years old. At this point the leaves look like they are ...
  A: Trees need about 1 inch of water per week (place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and ...
maple tree disease6/12/2008
  Q: I have a 20 year old maple tree (bronze, I think) that has started oozing from the crotch about 6 ft ...
  A: It could be a couple of things. There is a bacteria disease called slime flux that causes a tree to ...
Elm Tree with Maple Bladder Gall Disease6/12/2008
  Q: Omaha, Nebraska Has Maple Bladder Gall Disease been found/identified on Elm trees before? I will ...
  A: Elm has a different leaf gall called a finger gall that looks very similar to the ones on maple but ...
YOUNG MAPLE TREE PROBLEM6/11/2008
  Q: I HAVE 12 YOUNG MAPLES WE PLANTED 2 YRS AGO ABOUT 12 FT TALL.SOME ARE HAVING VERY SMALL LEAVES AND ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. I would spray the wounded area with an insecticide called ...
black bugs eating my weeping willow tree leaves6/10/2008
  Q: how do i get rid of these? they are roound, black ,maybe 3/16 of an inch, and they are on a lot fo ...
  A: Sounds like WILLOW FLEA WEEVIL AND IMPORTED WILLOW LEAF BEETLE Willow (and poplar) leaves may be ...
Pecan Tree6/10/2008
  Q: I have a pacan tree in my yard. On the ends of a couple of the branches there are these spidery ...
  A: Sounds like webworms. These are insect (caterpillars) that will enclose foliage of branches and eat ...
Red/Crimson Maple Health6/10/2008
  Q: 4 years ago I planted two crimson maples on the east side of my house. The southern most tree is ...
  A: Sounds like the Weed and Feed has gotten to the tree. I would water with 1 inch of water every day ...
Jelly substance on tree branches5/25/2008
  Q: I have several trees in my yard that drop brnaches from time to time depending on the weather, i.e. ...
  A: These are types of fungi called decay fungi. The infect dead wood as part of the process of nature ...
Maple trees5/24/2008
  Q: We have a green leafed maple, about 30'+ high. We had it pruned last year.This May it has an ...
  A: The tree producing a large crop of seeds does not mean that the tree is declining. The amount of ...
crape myrtle5/24/2008
  Q: I have a beautiful white crape myrtle I believe it is a Acoma? It is 10-15' in height and the bark ...
  A: As a crept myrtle gets older they will shed the bark--this is normal. The bugs sound like a fungi ...
Arborvitae (Aurea nana) tips brown5/23/2008
  Q: Good morning and thank you for your help. Please bear with me and my scientific background if I give ...
  A: Sounds like a couple of things--when a plant is first planted it is under a great deal of stress and ...
Oak Tree Drippings5/21/2008
  Q: I live in Eastern Ontario, and have a property with many mature oak trees. Last year the trees ...
  A: I would guess it is either aphids or scale insects. Both are sucking type insects and secrete a ...
lace bark elm tree problems5/21/2008
  Q: 10 yr old tree, tiny holes in almost a circle on the trunk from the ground to about 4ft up. some ...
  A: If these holes are in a line around the trunk they are caused by a wood pecker called a sap sucker. ...
japanese maple diseses5/13/2008
  Q: what product will help with leaf spots
  A: Purple eye" leaf spot is a common disease and recognizable by the distinctive circular spots which ...
Maple trees5/13/2008
  Q: I live in Michigan and have 3 large maple trees in my front yard. One is getting leaves normally, ...
  A: I would try fertilizing the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk ...
Oak Tree5/12/2008
  Q: We have a 100+ year old oak tree in our front yard. We noticed several weeks ago that there was a ...
  A: This is called slime flux or wetwood. The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk ...
pine needle tips5/12/2008
  Q: Most of my pine trees have needles that are turning brown on the tip. what should I do??
  A: If you are talking about the needled on the very tip of the branches it is an insect called tip ...
webs on yaupon holly5/10/2008
  Q: I live in Thomasville, Georgia. I read with interest your response to a question involving webs on ...
  A: Here is a product that will work. Bayer Advanced™ 3-in-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control ...
dead spots on aborvitae5/10/2008
  Q: I have 15 emerald green aborvitae planted last year in September. 5-6 feet tall. Very green and ...
  A: As new foliage buds out the older foliage will drop. If the dead foliage is on the inter parts of ...
live oak tree disease?5/9/2008
  Q: I have a live oak tree planted about 8 years ago with stunted growth of limbs (on one side of the ...
  A: If there is a problem only on one side than this is usually environmental. Something is effecting ...
Leaf warts5/9/2008
  Q: I live in northern British Columbia, Smithers, and have a question about my maple tree. For the past ...
  A: These are leaf gall insects and they will not harm the tree. The tiny insect (wasp) lays its eggs on ...
Dwarf Weeping Cherry5/8/2008
  Q: I read your response regarding the roots of the willow tree. I actually bought two dwarf weeping ...
  A: There can be a couple of problems with the tree right over the septic tank. All tree roots can ...
Planting an October Glory Maple4/27/2008
  Q: We are replacing a cottonwood tree we had to remove 6 or 7 years ago and have decided to replace it ...
  A: The product you put on the cottonwood stump is long gone and will have no effect on the new tree. No ...
Red Maple Tree4/26/2008
  Q: I live in Littleton Colorado, 4 years ago I planted a red maple tree that is now about 25' tall. ...
  A: Sounds like borer attack. This is an insect that will infest the trunk and and where the branch ...
Question4/25/2008
  Q: how are you going? Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. My name is Christina and I ...
  A: You can try watering the pot and keep the soil moist but not wet and see if the plant will sprout ...
Magnolia tree desease4/25/2008
  Q: I have a young magnolia, the very large flower variety. I had to transplant it last winter and it is ...
  A: Any organic mulch would be good--bark. pine needles. Put not more then 3 inches deep and not piled ...
Magnolia tree desease4/24/2008
  Q: I have a young magnolia, the very large flower variety. I had to transplant it last winter and it is ...
  A: Sounds like shock from the move. Make sure you mulch around the tree with nort more than 3 inches of ...
Yellowing leaves on holly tree4/22/2008
  Q: We live in East Texas and have a mature holly tree (I don't know what species) that I just noticed ...
  A: If the leaves are on the lower branches or not near the ends of the branches this is normal leaf ...
king red maple4/22/2008
  Q: Jim, We have a king red maple that is about twenty years old and about 15 feet high. The tree is ...
  A: Sounds like a combination of the drought and tilling of the yard damaging the roots. Roots of trees ...
lilac bushes/insects4/22/2008
  Q: I have an existing lilac bush that has ladybugs in the grassy area around it. Is this healthy?
  A: Ladybugs will not harm the bush in fact they are a predator to aphids that feed on the bush. I would ...
Red Japanese Maple4/22/2008
  Q: I live 30 miles SE of Dallas, TX. With Sandy/Clay soil.My sister gave me a large pot grown Japanese ...
  A: I would leave the tree as is --the stress of moving it might kill it. I would leave the leaves alone ...
Holly bush4/21/2008
  Q: What causes black spot on holly bush leaves (male & female? The leaves turn black then turn brown & ...
  A: Sounds like tar spot fungus. Tar spot - Tar, or black, spot causes considerable damage to hollies, ...
Ginko Tree4/20/2008
  Q: Subject tree is stunted but has some growth. It has nail-size holes around the trunk circumference ...
  A: Sounds like sap sucker damage. These are wood pecker type birds that make the holes and when insects ...
Japanese Maple turning white4/20/2008
  Q: We have a Japanese maple tree that has been planted for at least 5 years. Last summer it was ...
  A: First determine if the tree is still alive--start near the end of a upper branch and scrape a small ...
scrub oak/live oak4/19/2008
  Q: We have ball moss on our oak trees and also fungus on the tree trunks. What is this fungus and how ...
  A: The fungus on the bark sounds like lichens. If you have lichen growing on the trunks or branches of ...
Injured maple tree4/16/2008
  Q: I have two 15 ft tall maple trees that were run over by a truck that crashed in my front yard. The ...
  A: I would try to straighten them upand brace them with cables holding the tree in position for about a ...
boxwood shrubs4/15/2008
  Q: I have one boxwood, out of many, that has developed white raised spots on the stems. You can scratch ...
  A: Sounds like one of the scale insects. These are insets that live their live under a shell like ...
Bradford Pear4/15/2008
  Q: Mr. Hyland: I have a wonderful 22-year old Bradford Pear tree which shades the entire southwest side ...
  A: This could be several things--from a leaf disease to root damage by ants to use of we lawn ...
globe willow4/10/2008
  Q: I live in Kingman Arizona and have a globe willow that has a hole where the main trunk starts to ...
  A: This is called slime flux caused by a bacteria. The bacteria builds up in the tree and the pressure ...
gypsy moth control4/9/2008
  Q: I purchased Volck oil to control gypsy moths. Is this product effective for this application? I ...
  A: Various mechanical control measures, such as egg mass removal or adult moth trapping may have some ...
Red Japanese Maple4/9/2008
  Q: I live 30 miles SE of Dallas, TX. With Sandy/Clay soil.My sister gave me a large pot grown Japanese ...
  A: May be too wet or not planted properly. too much water can be as bad as too little water. The hole ...
Bradford Pear in Fort Worth, TX4/9/2008
  Q: We have a 6 year old Bradford Pear tree that has always done well up to now. This year it bloomed ...
  A: Sounds like some kind of environmental problem since any disease or insect would not show up this ...
willow tree4/9/2008
  Q: I live in NC and have a willow tree that is over 4 years old. For the first few years it seemed to ...
  A: To check and see if the tree is still alive--start near the end of an upper branch and scrape a ...
2 year old weeping willow tree4/7/2008
  Q: My weeping willow tree was putting out green leaves about 3 weeks ago. I noticed last week the ...
  A: The ants will damage the roots of a young trees and could possibly kill it. I would control the ants ...
sunset maple lack of leaves4/7/2008
  Q: I've got a sunset maple that I planted about 4 years ago. The last 2 years I have noticed that ...
  A: As a tree grows the leaves appear to be on the outer part of the limbs and less near the trunk. This ...
peach tree4/7/2008
  Q: Our peach tree has "sprouted" numerous extrusions about 1/4 to 1/2 inches long. They look almost ...
  A: Sounds like Asian Ambrosia beetle. DAMAGE: Female beetles bore into stems and young trees. Visible ...
Japanese Maple tree bark loss4/6/2008
  Q: Jim: I noticed that the bark around the trunk(near the root) of my 30 years old Japanese Maple tree ...
  A: Sounds like you may have a insect called a borer infesting your tree. Spray the trunk with an ...
Crimson King Maple4/5/2008
  Q: We planted a crimson king maple about 15 years ago and it was beautiful with large leaves until ...
  A: Sounds like borer damage. These are insects that attack trees that are weaken or under stress. If ...
Arbor vitae4/4/2008
  Q: I am surprised that this is outside your expertise...given the information about you areas of ...
  A: I deal with more trees than shrubs but I did find a one reference of black foliage on Arborvitae. ...
Holly bushes3/30/2008
  Q: We have holly bushes in the front of our house. On the underside of the leaf there is a white ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
Maple Tree3/29/2008
  Q: I have a maple tree that is in my front yard, close to the road and to our driveway. The last 3 ...
  A: Here are a few thing that come to mind: Make sure that the fertilize you use on the lawn does not ...
crepe myrtle3/26/2008
  Q: I have 5 crepe myrtles in my yard. Three of them have great looking bark, but on two of them, the ...
  A: Sounds like the trees have or had an aphid infestation. Crapemyrtle aphids are pale yellow in color ...
Hackberry trees3/26/2008
  Q: I have 4 hackberry trees on my property,the 1 largest lost a limb in the ice storm,we had them all ...
  A: The sapwood of hackberry is pale yellow to grayish or greenish yellow, while the heartwood is a ...
Black tree trunk3/25/2008
  Q: We have a Live Oak approximately 15 ft tall and the trunk is turning black. The blackness is from ...
  A: I do not think it is a disease problem but as a tree grows older the bark will turn darker starting ...
Tree Moss? Infestation3/25/2008
  Q: I live in Central Florida and have a moss or some other type of plant parasite growing in my oak and ...
  A: Generally moss does not kill a tree but will grow on healthy as well as dying trees. I would suggest ...
Plum Tree3/15/2008
  Q: I have a plum tree that has a green mildewy coloring on the trunk. Is this a fungus or harmful? ...
  A: These are lichens and not a problem. Fertilize the tree and keep it healthy. Lichens are organisms ...
Dormant/Volck Oil Spray3/10/2008
  Q:
  A: Dormant oil spraying should be done on a clear day when there is little or no breeze. The ideal ...
black trunk on a sugar maple3/10/2008
  Q: I have, what I'm told is a relatively young, Sugar Maple in the front of my home (GA). When we ...
  A: Sounds like the normal growth of the bark. Wait until the tree leafs out this spring and if the ...
Georgia Tree bark problem2/25/2008
  Q: I have 2 trees in my front yard. the smaller ones limbs are completely covered in what appears to be ...
  A: You can send the pictures to jimhyland@yahoo.com and I will see if I can ID the problem. In the ...
plum tree2/23/2008
  Q: I just noticed three spots on our plum tree that looked like a clear jell. It was on the branches of ...
  A: This is a condition called Gummosis. The tree is reacting to some type of damage. I would either ...
manangment2/18/2008
  Q: What is the best methods for controlling Apple powdery mildew?
  A: Control Apple varieties vary greatly in their susceptibility to powdery mildew. Jonathan, Granny ...
Pine tree mystery2/17/2008
  Q: Jim: I live in northern Georgia (lots of pine trees). We just had a terrific storm (tornado ...
  A: Sorry I do not have any idea what this could be. The only thing I can think of is the pine has been ...
Sugar Maple2/15/2008
  Q: I have a 'Green Montain' Sugar maple that was planted several years ago. It is appx. 5 inches in ...
  A: A condition called bacterial wetwood (also called slime flux) is likely to blame. Bacterial wetwood ...
Cedar trees2/13/2008
  Q: I live on 19 acres in east Texas with many older Cedar trees. I have noticed that some to most of ...
  A: Sounds like several things maybe going on here. Older cedars do loose their lower branches, there ...
weeping cherry weeping.2/11/2008
  Q: We have a weeping cherry approx. 10yrs old in our garden, (south of Birmingham Alabama) which is ...
  A: Sounds like a 'disease" called Slime flux or borers. The presence of sap does mean that the bark has ...
Bradford Pear Tree2/9/2008
  Q: My 12 year old Bradford Pear died last spring for no apparent reason. I cut it down today and found ...
  A: The insect you have described is either a shothole borer or one of the ambrosia beetles. Although ...
Mulberry tree1/13/2008
  Q: I have a mulberry tree that is about 40 yrs old. The main trunk is only about 4 ft high with ...
  A: Sometimes as a tree grows the bark will sluff off growing limbs. If the foliage is green and thick ...
green moss/fungus killing trees1/11/2008
  Q: Many of the trees in my yard are being covered by a light green stuff that looks like moss or fungus ...
  A: These are lichens and are wide spread in the wet climate of Western Washington. Presently, no ...
Fungus in Douglas Fir?1/1/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a cord of firewood consisting of Douglas Fir and Alder. The wood was seasoned ...
  A: In the stem, Black stain Root Disease in cross-section appears as narrow bands following the ...
pine tree "mold"1/1/2008
  Q: On two of our pines there is a black hard growth on the trunk and limbs of the trees. It appears to ...
  A: It is not needle cast. Sounds like one of the gall rust diseases. If the pines are shortleaf or ...
Oak Trees12/1/2007
  Q: Hyland, I found you online while doing some research in an attempt to find out what is wrong with my ...
  A: There are many different caterpillars that will eat the leaves of oak. From your description I can ...
Pin Oak spider webs11/11/2007
  Q: Our pin oak tree has what look like spider webs all over the leaves (not on the bark). There are no ...
  A: Sounds like fall webworm an insect. The fall webworm is a widely distributed native pest of shade ...
ball-like growths on tree11/11/2007
  Q: I have what I believe to be a hickory tree that is at least 35 years old. It has these dark, round ...
  A: These are gall insects caused by a small wasp. The insect lays its eggs on the twig and secretes a ...
White Oak Diseases11/10/2007
  Q: In my neighborhood, there are plenty of Oak trees. Many of them are oaks. The Oaks, particularly ...
  A: These are oak leaf galls made by an insect a small wasp usually. The insect lays its eggs on the ...
Oak Problem11/9/2007
  Q: We live in NW Austin, TX and have an Oak tree that has a growth about the size of a small orange. It ...
  A: Just cut the growth off and leave a clean edge around the wound. The tree will heal over the wound ...
Unknown Tree10/24/2007
  Q: I have a tree in my back yard that we here when I moved in. I have noticed since I moved in that the ...
  A: These are called leaf galls they are made by an insect. Generally the insect lays its eggs on the ...
Crepe Myrtles and decorative pine10/22/2007
  Q: Jim, I need some help on two different ornamental trees I have in my yard. We live Texas north of ...
  A: I would recommend that you fertilize the crept myrtle. A complete general-purpose garden fertilizer ...
fungus on leaves10/21/2007
  Q: i have noticed that my magnolia and hydrangea have a silvery slightly powdery dust on their leaves ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called powdery mildew. A powdery, fluffy white to light gray-colored fungus ...
Disease of Walnut10/21/2007
  Q: Our Walnut tree has small white worm like insects beteen the nut and the green coverning. Can you ...
  A: Sounds like the walnut husk fly. The walnut husk fly and the walnut husk maggot both occur commonly ...
Pine Tree Disease?10/20/2007
  Q: We have a cluster of three quite tall pine tress in the backyard. One began losing foilage or the ...
  A: Sounds like a lightning strike. Lightning damage is a life-threatening situation. Lightning either ...
Spider webs on evergreen shrub/Holly10/19/2007
  Q: i have a Holly that has a spider web problem. I don't see any bugs.I do see clusters of webs with ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. Spider mites have tiny mouthparts modified for piercing individual plant ...
White specks10/18/2007
  Q: A portion of each of my Euonymus"Blondie" bushes have white specks on them and these areas are ...
  A: Sounds like Euonymus scale. When abundant, these armored scales can completely encrust twigs and ...
October Glory Maple tree question10/18/2007
  Q: Some of the bark on our Oct. Glory Maple (planted 4 years ago)has turned black, feels a little slick ...
  A: Please send the pictures to jimhyland@yahoo.com and I will see if I can ID the problem. Put in the ...
Red Sunset Maple10/18/2007
  Q: My Red Sunset Maple trees aren't turning their usual brilliant Fall color. I live in zone 6 in ...
  A: The manure may be burning the roots--normally it is not recommend to fertilize trees for a year ...
Red Sunset Maple10/16/2007
  Q: My Red Sunset Maple trees aren't turning their usual brilliant Fall color. I live in zone 6 in ...
  A: Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the pink, red, and purple leaves of sugar and red maple, ...
spider webs on dwarf yaupon holly10/15/2007
  Q: My dwarf yaupon holly have spider webs all over them. The leaves turn brown near the webs and fall ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites and whiteflies. Spider mites have tiny mouthparts modified for piercing ...
Fruitless Mullberry10/11/2007
  Q: I have 2 fruitless mullberries probably 5 years old. The last two years the leaves have been very ...
  A: Sounds like it needs fertilizer. Fertilize with 1 lb of 10-10-10 fertilizer per inch of tree ...
fruitless mulberry tree10/10/2007
  Q: My trees leaves are starting to look like they are wilting . I live in the soutwest and we have so ...
  A: Too much water will effect a tree the same as too little--leaves wilting and turning prematurely. ...
Discoloration of Oak Tree Bark10/10/2007
  Q: We have an Oak Tree in our back yard, I believe it is an English Oak, and I have been finding a lot ...
  A: The small twigs sounds like damage from an insect called a twig girdler or twig Pruner. These ...
Waterfall Japanese Maple10/8/2007
  Q: I have a Waterfall Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Waterfall') tree growing in full sun. It was ...
  A: Sounds like it does need water-- first if you have not done it mulch around the tree with not more ...
black spots on leaves10/7/2007
  Q: We just planted a sunset maple this summer and it seemed to be doing just fine, but we just noticed ...
  A: These are leaf spot fungi and really not a problem. The worst that can happen is the fungi will ...
Holly Infection10/6/2007
  Q: my holly bushes have small white grub like infection on the underside of the leaves,and on the ...
  A: Sounds like leaf miners. Leafminers: Leafminers (Phytomyza species) are common pests of hollies. In ...
Whiteflies on redbud10/4/2007
  Q: I have a newly planted (18 months) redbud in Zone 5B (Chicago, IL) that seems to have a heavy ...
  A: Whiteflies damage plants by sucking out plant juices. Because large amounts of sap can be removed, ...
oak tree problems10/2/2007
  Q: I have what I believe is a large white oak in my front yard,with several others in the back yard. ...
  A: This sounds like a leaf gall insect. These insects will secrete a chemical on the leaf and lay eggs ...
maple leaf disease?10/1/2007
  Q: the maple leaves on the 40' tree have what looks like spikes coming out of the top of the leaf. the ...
  A: This is a gall mite called Maple spindle gall. Maple Spindle Gall Mites (Vasates aceris-crumena ...
Crepe Myrtle9/30/2007
  Q: I have several crepe myrtles that have been overtaken with what I thought was aphids or powder ...
  A: Sounds like aphids--the sooty mold is growing on the honeydew from the aphids. Crape myrtle aphids ...
Thick white fungus on sycamore tree9/28/2007
  Q: We recently moved into a house with what we think is a sycamore tree (with maroon-ish broad leaves ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
lilac tree9/28/2007
  Q: i have 2 lilac trees about 2years old tey are starting to to get what looks like grayish mold and ...
  A: This sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
Disease on my fruitless muilberry?9/26/2007
  Q: I have a fruitless mulberry tree in my backyard which has leaves with brown splotches all over them. ...
  A: The leaf spots will not kill the tree just cause some growth loss by the premature leaf drop. There ...
maple tree9/25/2007
  Q: Jim, what might be causing black soot or fungus on my tree? Its on the main trunk of tree & on the ...
  A: They is a fingi called sooty mold. It grows on honeydew that is excreted by aphids. Aphids suck the ...
miniature dogwood9/25/2007
  Q: The tips of the leaves on my dogwoods are turning brown. Is this a disease or does it need more ...
  A: It is lack of water and heat scorch. If you do not have it now mulch around the tree with not more ...
Disease on my fruitless muilberry?9/24/2007
  Q: I have a fruitless mulberry tree in my backyard which has leaves with brown splotches all over them. ...
  A: This sounds like a leaf spot fungi. For now rake the leaves up and move them off site. This will ...
Leylandii Hedge9/24/2007
  Q: I don't know if you can help me on this, I have a leylandii hedge, and this year it has turned ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called Seiridium canker. The under lying cause is stress on the tree by ...
Fall Webworms9/21/2007
  Q: I have a mature Papershell Pecan tree in the back yard and I cut out all of the tents I saw this ...
  A: Sounds like Walnut caterpillar. The caterpillars develop in large clusters and rapidly defoliate ...
mulberry9/21/2007
  Q: I have 2 mulberry trees that have no leaves on the ends of the branches. I had a tree service come ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spot fungi. these will infect the leaves and cause the leaves to drop pre maturely. ...
hybrid willow hit by weed and feed9/17/2007
  Q: I have a hybrid willow in it's first year grown from a root. It has grown 5 feet tall. It was hit ...
  A: Start near the end of a upper branch and scrape a little of the bark off and if the color under the ...
Pine Tree Disease9/11/2007
  Q: Our neighbor has what looks to be a Lodgepole Pine. We noticed the needles are turning red and there ...
  A: Sounds like a bark beetle attack. These beetles will emerge and attack nearby trees. If there are ...
catapillars/butterflies9/10/2007
  Q: This might not be your expertise but I can't seem to find any one else to answer this question. ...
  A: After the caterpillar is fully grown, it becomes a pupa. This is a resting stage which helps it grow ...
Gardenia Plants9/8/2007
  Q: I live in SW Florida and have two gardenia plants near my front door, the leaves have a dark colored ...
  A: White flies Whiteflies are tiny, soft bodied insects. They are not true flies, but belong to the ...
fine webbing on my trees9/3/2007
  Q: "I see it is some kind of lice in texas, would it be the same in south carolina? I iave a gigantic ...
  A: The webs on the trunk is bark lice. The webs in the pecan tree covering the leaves is Fall Webworm. ...
dogwood tree9/2/2007
  Q: My dogwood tree is losing it's bark. The tree was here before we moved in 3years ago. This summer ...
  A: It sounds like a reaction to the weather. Also sometimes the tree reacts to the mulch being piled ...
oak tree ,excessive sap9/1/2007
  Q: I have an Oak tree that has been dropping excessive sap. I can't see any sap oozing from the tree. ...
  A: Sound like aphids or scale insects. Both will suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and ...
Oak Tree8/31/2007
  Q: I have a small oak tree and the leaves are turning white on the bottom. What is causing this and ...
  A: Did not say which oak you have. Check and see if the "white stuff" will rub off--if so it is a fungi ...
garden fungus8/31/2007
  Q: I seem to have a general problem with fungus. I have a semi-shade garden that gets various types of ...
  A: When you spray the plants completely spray all the foliage with a fungicide. Completely cover the ...
Dying mature Willow tree8/31/2007
  Q: I live 30 miles west of Boston and I have a willow that is over 50 percent dead in my back yard. It ...
  A: The willow likes water and it got used to the steam being close and when the stream bed was dug ...
Crepe Myrtle8/24/2007
  Q: I've noticed lately that my crepe myrtle has a ton of wasps and bees and other insects on it. It ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called aphids. These insects suck the plant juices from the leaves and excrete ...
trees8/23/2007
  Q: we live in NW Conn and have trees that have a "cotton candy" type webbing around several branches. ...
  A: Sounds like an insest called Fall Webworm. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is most often ...
walnut tree with huge spider web like bags full of worms spanning several branches8/23/2007
  Q: What are these and how can I kill them?
  A: Sounds like an insest called Fall Webworm. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is most often ...
sycamore tree8/22/2007
  Q: i have 3 mexican sycamore trees and 2 american sycamore trees. I live in las cruces, NM (lately it ...
  A: I think they are mainly lacking water. Sycamore trees grow naturally near water but since people ...
Lemon/Lime tree fungus8/21/2007
  Q: I have a lemon or lime (the citrus are green but my landlords say it's a lemon tree) in my backyard. ...
  A: For the aphids there are couple of treatments these work less than the insecticides. For the powdery ...
Lemon/Lime tree fungus8/21/2007
  Q: I have a lemon or lime (the citrus are green but my landlords say it's a lemon tree) in my backyard. ...
  A: Sounds like you have aphids and powdery mildew. Aphids are small insects that suck the plant juices ...
Yellowing leaves on hackberry8/20/2007
  Q: I live in southern Arkansas and have three large hackberry trees in my backyard near an above ground ...
  A: Sounds like aphids and they excrete the honeydew. Control the aphids and the honeydew will go away. ...
Dead Pine Tree and Ferns?8/19/2007
  Q: We live in Houston, TX, the weather was unusually cool for Houston this year, we have had a LOT of ...
  A: You did not say what was sprayed on the stump so I assume that it was a herbicide of some kind. The ...
fruitless weeping mulberry tree8/19/2007
  Q: Just a few days ago I notice my once beautiful young tree with yellow leaves and black spots on one ...
  A: Sounds like a leaf spot fungi but this late in the year the tree will soon start shutting down for ...
Crepe Myrtle insects8/16/2007
  Q: All of our crepe myrtle's in our yard have white insects(largest are the size of an eraser on a ...
  A: These are an insect called aphids. Aphids suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and ...
pesky plant sucking tick8/9/2007
  Q: help!! My crate myrtles are being invaded by these ladybug size critters. They are attached to the ...
  A: The insects that are attached to the plant are called scale insects and the white "bugs" sound like ...
Maple tree8/7/2007
  Q: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I have a maple tree in my yard that has some sort of white/tan stuff ...
  A: Sounds like slime flux or wetwood. The foul smelling liquid that oozes from wounds in the bark or ...
Oak tree8/5/2007
  Q: My oak tree, (water oak, I think) has a white web on the main trunk and child branches. What is it? ...
  A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ...
Fruitless Mulberry Tree8/5/2007
  Q: We live in Austin Texas. I saw your reply to a previous question about the black spot on the leaves ...
  A: The Fruitless Mulberry is a tough landscape tree that will tolerate many urban conditions, such as ...
Locust Tree8/5/2007
  Q: Our Locust Tree leaves are turning yellow and falling off, like it is fall and it is only August. ...
  A: We often see a lot of leaf drop in June as a result of the increasing heat and dryness. Leaves ...
Flies in my tree8/4/2007
  Q: I have a tree in front of my house that recently started spraying a sticky substance all over my ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called aphids. Aphids are small (1/16-1/8 inch long), soft bodied insects ...
sticky webby substance growing on tree trunks8/3/2007
  Q: Location Houston There is a white sticky, web-like substance growing around the TRUNK of my trees. ...
  A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ...
live oak webs8/2/2007
  Q: our live oak tree has suddenly been overtaken with fine webbing running parrallel to the trunk from ...
  A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ...
White discoloration on leaves of our Crimson King8/1/2007
  Q: On the North side of our house is our problem Crimson king Red maple. A couple of years ago I ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Almost all landscapes have plants that become diseased with one of the ...
Maple bark oozing white foam7/28/2007
  Q: Our crimson king maple is about 20 years old and appears very healthy with this exception. There ...
  A: This is called wetwood or slime flux. The bacterial wetwood is found in the roots, branches, and ...
Crabapple tree7/28/2007
  Q: I have a problem with leaf spotting on the tree and also from the top of the tree moving down the ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called Fall webworm. This is a caterpillar type insect that lives in a web but ...
My Mimosa7/27/2007
  Q: I read your reply to Carol from Oklahoma about her mimosa tree which oozed white slime that you ...
  A: If it is near the driveway I would move it (the flowers of mimosa will stain the paint of a ...
My Memosa7/26/2007
  Q: I read your reply to Carol from Oklahoma about her mimosa tree which oozed white slime that you ...
  A: The difference is with wetwood or slime flux the foliage is not effected BUT with mimosa wilt the ...
Maple: Lots of Sap7/26/2007
  Q: I have a mature maple near the driveway that is oozing an excessive amount of sap. The sap is ...
  A: Sounds like two problems. If the sap getting on your car is sticky this is called honeydew a ...
Pine tree disease7/25/2007
  Q: I have a huge (old) pine tree in the backyard. Recently some branches have swollen - like baloons ...
  A: These galls are typical symptoms of one of the gall rust diseases, most likely western pine gall ...
Mimosa7/23/2007
  Q: I have a mimosa tree in Kansas and it has grown quickly and has bloomed every year. This year, the ...
  A: I am sorry to say this sounds like a disease that is fatal to mimosa. It could be one of thwo ...
Holly Bush7/22/2007
  Q: Holly bush was here 11 yrs. ago when I bought this house and it does get berries; however leaves are ...
  A: Sounds like Cylindrocladium Leaf Spot. Thsi fungi can be contolled by the use of a fungicide. ...
Mamosa diseases7/22/2007
  Q: I read your post about mamosa trees fluxing. I have 4 large mamosa trees. One of them recently ...
  A: I am sorry to say this sounds like a disease that is fatal to mimosa. It could be one of thwo ...
Webs in my holly bushes7/21/2007
  Q: I have several holly bushes that have what appear to be spider webs in them. What would be causing ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. Spider mites have tiny mouthparts modified for piercing individual plant ...
Locust Borer7/20/2007
  Q: I have a client who has 2 trees already infested with the Locust Borer. The first one has already ...
  A: Soil-applied Systemic Insecticides Systemic insecticides applied to the soil are taken up by the ...
Fungus On Miniature Weeping Willow7/19/2007
  Q: My Miniature weeping willow has developed a yellow fungus on the leaves and the wood, it looks ...
  A: It sounds like powdery mildew. This is a fungus that infects a large number of different plants. On ...
maple tree issue7/19/2007
  Q: My Mountain Maple has vertical splits in the trunk and a couple of the branches. It looks like the ...
  A: Maple has the tenancy for the bark to split due to the thin bark and fast growing nature. It is ...
live oak leaf problem7/17/2007
  Q: I have a 15ft-20ft tall live oak in NE Florida. The tree appears healthy (new growth and green) ...
  A: I can not ID the problem from the information you sent. I would suggest you contact the Florida ...
Maple Tree Disease7/16/2007
  Q: I live in Maryland and have three Maple Trees in the front yard. All are about 25-30 ft. Two of ...
  A: My guess would be sooty bark disease. Sooty bark disease, caused by Cryptostroma species, can kill ...
white foam from Oak Tree7/15/2007
  Q: I have a huge beautiful white oak close to my home that has a small hole at its base. From that hole ...
  A: The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk of shade trees is commonly called ...
Maple Disease7/14/2007
  Q: My 4 year old Maple tree has black spots from ground to about 8 inches up on trunk. Also two three ...
  A: The black spots and the "bluish fungus"on the bark sounds like just some type of bark fungus or ...
tea scales on euoymus7/12/2007
  Q: What is a good insectide to use on the shrub to kill the tea scales? How often do you use it?
  A: A major problem with tea scale control is that often damage has been done before the scale ...
leland cypress7/12/2007
  Q: each year there is some browning on the inside but this year seems worse. also, some trees have some ...
  A: It could be one of two things Seiridium Canker and Twig Dieback or Botryosphaeria (Bot) Canker. The ...
conifers7/12/2007
  Q: I have 6 conifers in my back garden one of them on the end is starting to change colour like a burnt ...
  A: I would call your local Forestry agency and have one of their Foresters come out and check your ...
My mimosa7/11/2007
  Q: I have a large mimosa, in Skiatook Oklahoma,just north of Tulsa, this year we just noticed there is ...
  A: Wetwood, or slime flux, is a bacterial disease. The bacterium usually enters the tree through ...
Web7/10/2007
  Q: I have webbing on every part of our tree except the leaves, I would like to know if it is harmful to ...
  A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ...
Magnolia Tree7/10/2007
  Q: I have a Magnolia Tree that has developed white fungus spots all over the tree and branches, along ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called aphids. They suck the plant juices from the plant and excrete a ...
Identifying green growth on the trunk of a Maple tree7/10/2007
  Q: I live in South Eastern WI and I have a medium colored green growth covering much the trunks of my ...
  A: Sounds like one of the lichens. When lichen is wet from rain or dew, it grows actively. It also ...
Japanese(red) Maple disease?7/8/2007
  Q: Mr. Hyland, We have a Japanese Maple about 3 feet tall, approx. 9 years old that has been doing ...
  A: The symptom known as leaf scorch results when the roots are unable to supply enough water to replace ...
maple tree7/8/2007
  Q: our big maple tree has shinny leaves, almost like it had been sprayed with pop, but it's spreading ...
  A: This is caused by an insect called aphids. These insects suck the plant juices from the plant and ...
scale on a weeping willow tree7/8/2007
  Q: We have a 5 year old weeping willow that has been doing great until this year. We live in Kyle, ...
  A: I products you mentioned will not work on scale insects. i would suggest using an insecticide. Treat ...
Plum tree7/7/2007
  Q: I have a plum tree that I planted last year. It was doing great until about a week ago. The leaves ...
  A: It sounds like a water problem. I would water it once a week but put about 1 inch of water on the ...
trees7/7/2007
  Q: We have recently moved to NW Arkansas. We have a heavily treed back yard and I noticed that several ...
  A: Sounds like one of the insects called leaf skeletonizer. These insects eat the "green" off the leaf ...
crepe myrtle trees7/5/2007
  Q: I live in Central Florida. I have a white crepe myrtle tree that is not happy. When it finally ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. If grayish-white areas recently appeared on the new growth of your ...
Fungus on my weeping willow7/5/2007
  Q: I have a weeping willow in my front yard. The tree it self is doing great, but there looks to be a ...
  A: You did not say if the growth was on the trunk or the leaves. If the growth is on the leaves it is ...
red spots on our maple tree7/4/2007
  Q: We just noticed that the leaves of our Autumn Blaze maple tree are covered with little raised, red ...
  A: These are galls caused by an insect relative a mite. Maple, Acer spp., leaves are often infested ...
Weeping Willow7/4/2007
  Q: My 2-3 yr. old Willow is excreting white foam from tiny pin holes in the bark of the trunk. Can you ...
  A: Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood (slime flux) seen afflicting many other hardwood ...
Red Maple Tree7/3/2007
  Q: Three year old tree in front yard, trunk about 4-5 inches thick, 15 feet high. Was doing great, and ...
  A: To check and see if the tree is dead start at the end of a upper branch and scrape a small bit of ...
insect pods on arborvitae7/3/2007
  Q: help please, I have a problem with a few of my emerald green arborvitae, it looks like they are ...
  A: These are bagworms. Bagworms are caterpillars that make distinctive spindle-shaped bags on a variety ...
Locust tree new growth wilt7/3/2007
  Q: I believe we have a locust tree, although we do not have thorns on it. The new growth out on the ...
  A: Sounds like locust leaf miner. The locust leafminer is primarily a pest of black locust. Adults ...
Maple tree6/29/2007
  Q: I and my neihbor accross the steet have large maple trees. They both are droping some white ...
  A: Sounds like wooly aphids. The aphid is an insect that sucks the plant juices from the leaves and ...
California Live Oak6/29/2007
  Q: We live in the San Diego area and recently had to have a Live Oak removed leaving a stump. How do we ...
  A: Let the growth grow about six inches tall and then spray the foliage with Roundup. Roundup is a ...
Maple Bladder Gall Disease6/28/2007
  Q: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plant-Diseases-715/maple-tree-disease.htm I noticed that the answer ...
  A: Onece the galls are formed by the gall midge or mite there is no real way to get the insecicide to ...
White spots on honeysuckle6/28/2007
  Q: We recently added two climbing honeysuckle to our landscape. The one gets light almost all day and ...
  A: I assume you have tried to wash off the "spots' if it is some kind of deposit it will wash off. If ...
Sudden death of Sunset maple6/27/2007
  Q: ..we are upset....we planted 3 large sunset maples three years ago. They've been doing great. They ...
  A: For spider mites I would treat only where they are causing a problem on the foliage of the trees. ...
Maple tree black ooze6/27/2007
  Q: I live in lower Alabama. My maple tree is bleeding a black ooze. It is very bitter to the taste. ...
  A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ...
crape myrtle6/25/2007
  Q: Jim, Approx. half of one of our Crape Myrtles (Nanchez)has completely browned and dried up. It has ...
  A: The weed and feed is what is causing the problem with your crept myrtle. It is much better to use a ...
Sudden death of Sunset maple6/25/2007
  Q: ..we are upset....we planted 3 large sunset maples three years ago. They've been doing great. They ...
  A: Sounds like it maybe something environmental. Have you used a weed and feed product on the lawn? ...
Japanese red maple6/25/2007
  Q: Our japanese red maple is losing the bark where the ground meets the tree its about 6 inches up and ...
  A: There are many varieties of Japanese maples some do shed their bark starting near the ground. If the ...
Maple tree5/26/2007
  Q: My silver maple tree has red oval seed like clusters attached to the leaves. Do you know what these ...
  A: These are leaf galls caused by a small insect that lay its eggs on the leaf and secretes a chemical ...
crepe myrtles5/25/2007
  Q: ! Thanks for being there. I have two huge crepe myrtles (over roof high) that I never cut back and ...
  A: Bark peeling on mature crept myrtles is normal. The bark peels leaving smooth bark underneath. These ...
mildew rose5/22/2007
  Q: There is a powdery substance on the leaves of my rose bush. what can I do to take care of it.
  A: This is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew fungi belong to the group of plant pathogens called obligate ...
Fruitless Mulberry Tree5/22/2007
  Q: My tree has brown spots on the leaves which turns the leaves yellow and fall off. What can I do to ...
  A: These are leaf spot fungi. I would treat the tree with a fungicide. First rake up any fallen leaves ...
Treatment for slim flux mold on white oak tree5/22/2007
  Q: Hyland: Last week, an arborist inspected a fungus growing on our white oak tree and identified it ...
  A: Wetwood and slime flux are poorly understood tree disease problems. Wetwood is an internal bacterial ...
Giant poison ivy5/21/2007
  Q: How would i kill very thick poison ivy vine(that will not pull off) that are on and enbeded in the ...
  A: Spray the foliage of the poison ivy with a herbicide called Roundup. In about 10-14 days you should ...
holly bush5/20/2007
  Q: I live in southeast Mass. It has been raining for several days. I just noticed that my 3 Holly ...
  A: Sounds like tar spot fungus. Tar spot - Tar, or black, spot causes considerable damage to American ...
sick ivy5/19/2007
  Q: I love my Ivy that coveres a big part of my house. It is on the north side. I trimm it and talk to ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. They suck the juice for the plant and produce the sticky honeydew. Yes the Rose ...
small green bumps on sugar maple leaves5/18/2007
  Q: I've noticed clusters of small green bumps on our maple tree's leaves this spring. What could it be?
  A: These are galls caused by an insect. Galls are abnormal growths of plant tissue induced by insects ...
MAPLE TREE5/16/2007
  Q: we have had a maple tree in the front of our house for about 20 years....every year it has had ...
  A: It may just be late leafing out this year. Check the outer branches for life--scrape a small bit of ...
mulberry tree5/12/2007
  Q: I have a two year old mulberry about eight feet tall. The lower trunk has white powdery protrusions ...
  A: These are insect called borers. They bore into the wood and the "pencil lead" is the frass from the ...
Yellow leaves on holly5/11/2007
  Q: from Morgantown, WV: A mature holly has taken to having random yellow leaves with brown spots since ...
  A: Cylindrocladium leaf spot, commonly on 'Burford', Japanese, American, and yaupon holly, is seen ...
Holly fungus5/9/2007
  Q: I have several holly bushes around the front of my house and there is a white powdery fungus that ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ...
dogwood disease?5/8/2007
  Q: Our 40+ year old pink dogwood has only two petals rather than four. I noticed that last year two of ...
  A: Sounds like it needs a little fertilizer. use a fertilizer like Camellia-Rhododendron food, acid ...
Problem with fruitless mulberry5/7/2007
  Q: I live in the High Desert of Southern CA and have a 7 year old fruitless mulberry. This spring when ...
  A: There are several factors which could be causing reduced leaf production in your tree. The most ...
Mulberry Tree5/3/2007
  Q: Our Mulberry Tree has "wounded" spots at the beginning where the trunk splits out into branches. It ...
  A: It sounds like one of the wood borers. These insects bore into the wood and usually fungi gets into ...
Gardinia Bushes5/2/2007
  Q: Leaves on Gardenia Bushes have a dry, black powdery coating on them. It will come off by rubbing. ...
  A: The black is sooty mold that is growing on the excrement of one of the sucking insects more than ...
Caribbean Copper Plant4/29/2007
  Q: I have a few Caribbean Copper Plants in Los Angeles, and we had a particularly cold (freezing) ...
  A: You can determine if the tree is dead by starting at the end of a branch and scraping a small bit of ...
Green Scale4/28/2007
  Q: My flowering crab tree has almost always had been 1/2 covered with this green scale growth on the ...
  A: These are lichens. A lichen is an unusual organism composed of a fungus and an alga living together ...
Declining Norway maple4/26/2007
  Q: We have a mature Norway maple (~80 years)in our back yard in Eastern Pa.. It's a wonderful tree ...
  A: No paint material will actually slow down any wound healing. The tree will try to grow the cells ...
holly bush4/24/2007
  Q: my holly bush in central arkansas,has many black leaves,can you tell me why?
  A: Sounds like tar spot fungus. Tar spot - Tar, or black, spot causes considerable damage to American ...
Declining Norway maple4/24/2007
  Q: We have a mature Norway maple (~80 years)in our back yard in Eastern Pa.. It's a wonderful tree ...
  A: Trees as people do get old and the age allows them to start showing signs of the old age. The tree ...
holly tree disease4/23/2007
  Q: I have several holly trees- I don't know which species. They have black crispy looking tips on the ...
  A: Sounds like tar spot fungus. Tar spot - Tar, or black, spot causes considerable damage to American ...
Willow Tree4/20/2007
  Q: I have a Weeping Willow tree in my front yard. It has been in the ground for app 3 years. It is well ...
  A: Scotts weed and feed is a product that contains a fertilizer and a herbicide. A herbicide is a ...
So my Friend and I were Talking...4/20/2007
  Q: And all of a sudden, we were wondering whether or not plants (Any plant, trees, bushes, etc.) can ...
  A: No not the same type as animals. But they get similar diseases. Cancer Agrobacterium tumefaciens is ...
Holly branches dieing at random4/20/2007
  Q: I have at least 3 varieties of holly. China girl, Foster, and I don't know the other one. all ...
  A: Could be one of a couple of things. Anthracnose The common holly hosts of anthracnose include ...
Plum tree problems4/17/2007
  Q: My husband and I have a plum tree in our back yard. It is planted close enough to a Sweet Gum tree ...
  A: This is called black knot. Black knot of plums and cherries is a widespread and serious disease ...
Maple (and other) tree dying4/17/2007
  Q: We have 2 trees in our new yard , one is some type of maple , the other is something else thats ...
  A: One is a maple the other looks like maybe a elm or hackberry (without the leaves it is hard using a ...
Willow Trees4/16/2007
  Q: I have a weeping and a globe willow in my Yard. (SOUTH TEXAS) They are both infested with bugs.They ...
  A: These insects are called bagworms . The common bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth), is ...
TAR FUNGUS4/11/2007
  Q: I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE TAR FUNGUS ON MY LARGE AZALEAS. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO RID THEM OF ...
  A: For tar spot The fungus survives the winter in fallen leaves. Rake up and discard the leaves in ...
3 questions about plants4/9/2007
  Q: What can I do to rid my camillia bushes of black spots? What can I do to keep Ivy from growing ...
  A: Egg shells and coffee grounds. Crushed eggshells are very useful in the garden. They can be ...
Old Maple Tree3/30/2007
  Q: I have three maple trees that are atleast 60+ years old in my yard. One of the trees is not looking ...
  A: Mushrooms growing on the ground around the tree are not a problem- even if they are growing from the ...
question3/28/2007
  Q: I have a question about a tree problem I am having. I have a tree in my backyard that I believe is ...
  A: Sounds like a disease called Scab. Scab is one of the most common and serious disease of flowering ...
Bradford Pear3/22/2007
  Q: My father in law has 2 bradford pear. The bark on each tree appears to have a fungus in my opinion ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. These cause no problem with the health of the tree. The foliage blooms and ...
mossy fungus on crepe myrtles3/16/2007
  Q: I have several crepe myrtle trees that are about 12 yrs old and they have a mossy like fungus ...
  A: These are lichens and not a problem. Fertilize the tree and keep it healthy. Lichens are organisms ...
Frozen trees3/8/2007
  Q: We live in the Phoenix outlying areas where an unusual cold snap came through this winter. It got ...
  A: I would wait and see what develops. The trees may have the tops killed back but the root system is ...
elm tree3/5/2007
  Q: Have an elm tree that lost branches during storm. I noticed the branches are very dark in the center ...
  A: The only living part of a tree (branch or trunk) is the outer layer of cells called the cambium. The ...
dwarf nectarine gummosis3/4/2007
  Q: If I do "tree surgery" as suggested in that site, how much "healthy bark should I leave? I ask ...
  A: With a 1 inch diameter there is not much that you can do in removing a canker for the main trunk. I ...
Apparant Growth Buds On Live Oak3/4/2007
  Q: What food do you recommend and how often should I feed/water the tree during the spring/summer?I ...
  A: I would not fertilize it the first year. Water is the single most important need of newly planted ...
dwarf nectarine gummosis3/4/2007
  Q: Last summer I noticed the amber sap lesions on this 2 year tree. I didn't think much of it. I was ...
  A: Here is a web site that describes what I think is the problem and some control measures. I would ...
Apparant Growth Buds On Live Oak3/3/2007
  Q: I have a live oak tree that was planted less than a year ago at my new home. While looking over the ...
  A: There are gall insects that will make galls on the limbs of oak but these are fairly large and can ...
japanese maple tree2/19/2007
  Q: We live in South Carolina and have 3 japanese maples. We just noticed on one tree a "black goo" ...
  A: Sounds like it could be slim flux or borer damage. With out a picture I would not be able to ID ...
lemon tree under attack1/21/2007
  Q: I have two lemon trees that keep losing their leaves. Have searched for pests but apparently they ...
  A: Water the plant thoroughly and place it in bright, direct light. A western or southern exposure is ...
Japanese Red Maple Tree1/15/2007
  Q: My tree has white dome shape spots on the branches. I have been very careful to scrape some of them ...
  A: These are called scale insect. They live in these "domes" and suck the plant juices from the plant. ...
black clumps of stuff on my plum tree branches1/2/2007
  Q: I have a plum tree that has numerous clumps of black stuff on the branches, I live in the lake ...
  A: Black knot of plums and cherries is a widespread and serious disease throughout the United States. ...
Black Spot on Water Oak Tree12/31/2006
  Q: my mother has three 40 foot Water Oaks in her back yard. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ...
  A: These are HYPOXYLON CANKERS. Hypoxylon canker causes a dark brown discoloration of the sapwood. With ...
hollow tree disease?12/30/2006
  Q: I am a court reporter and took a deposition of a tree removal man and he said the word (phonetic) ...
  A: Let me tell you up front I am Not a fan of "tree removal men" who are not foresters telling ...
Black spots on camillia12/26/2006
  Q: Recently I have noticed black spots on one of my camellia bushes in front of my house. Comparing it ...
  A: Sounds like tea scale. These can be controlled in the spring using an insecticide. The most common ...
Iive oak diseases and parasites11/29/2006
  Q: I recently took over maintenance of an RV park in the Coastal Bend area of Texas. There are ...
  A: I would recommend cutting the grape vines, cow itch vines and the yaupons. Then thinning the dead ...
tree dead?11/15/2006
  Q: Why is just being hollow not a sign that a tree is ready to fall? Isn't it dead already?
  A: No a hollow tree is not necessary a dead tree. The only living part of the tree is the layer under ...
powdery mildew?mold? fungas?11/13/2006
  Q: On the underside only of all my holly bush leaves- I tried different sprays,all to no avail. I have ...
  A: Might check with the N.C. Forest Service and ask their Forest Health staff for assistance. The ...
Corkscrew Weeping Willow Tree11/13/2006
  Q: I found these tiny worms on some of the leaves of our tree. There were probably 10 on one small ...
  A: Without a description it would be hard to ID which caterpillar insect this maybe. But all can be ...
Peach tree11/11/2006
  Q: I have a problem with the fruit rotting on the tree before they are ripe. It starts out like a ...
  A: BROWN ROT Brown rot is one of the most common and serious diseases affecting peach fruits. It is ...
willow tree diseases11/9/2006
  Q: I have a 3 yr old willow tree which is developing brown spots on its leaves this fall. Is this ...
  A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungus disease. I would not be concerned with these. Most leaf ...
Remove dead tree11/7/2006
  Q: My Japanese Zelkova is dead, I'm going to cut. How can I remove root? Can I plant same tree at same ...
  A: To completely remove the root system you will have to dig up the roots from the dead tree. Go out ...
Lilac not flowering11/1/2006
  Q: I bought two small lilac buxhes two1/2 years ago and niether have flowered at all. Any suggestions? ...
  A: The lilac may not be blooming because it is getting too much shade or nitrogen-rich fertilizer. You ...
Maple Tree Disease10/27/2006
  Q: I live in a suburb of Chicago and I have been raking my leaves and see that many of my leaves have ...
  A: Sounds to me like a leaf fungus. Many of these leaf spots infect late in the year just before leaf ...
Willow Tree10/27/2006
  Q: I have a willow tree in front yard at the beginning of summer the branches started to dye and hardy ...
  A: If there is saw dust then the tree has been attacked by an insect called a borer. These insects can ...
leaf disease10/25/2006
  Q: I planted a couple of small montmorency sour cherry trees in pots to get them to a good size before ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew, a fungus that infect many plants. It can be controlled with the use of a ...
white spots on leaves of king crimson maple tree10/25/2006
  Q: IL right outside of Chicago; our beautiful King Crimson maple tree has had white powdery-looking ...
  A: These are a leaf spot fungus and are not a real concern to the overall health of the tree. When the ...
Black Disease on Waterfall Maple10/17/2006
  Q: There is nothing sticky on the leaves or branches. Tempatures have been dropping into the low 30s ...
  A: Then it is probabally a leaf spot fungus. Fungi : Leaf Spots Leaf spots are caused by fungi or ...
Black Disease on Waterfall Maple10/17/2006
  Q: I need your help!!! I just recently noticed a black coloring on my Waterfall Maple. I think this ...
  A: Check and see if the leaves are stick if so the problem is aphids. These small soft bodied insect ...
Ponytail plant-base rotting or disease? Time to repot?10/3/2006
  Q: I have had a ponytail plant for 15 years. I live in southeastern PA just a few miles from the ...
  A: Ponytail's are native to the dry Mexican climate, this habitat allows it to survive interior winter ...
Willow tree10/1/2006
  Q: w/o reading you response to a previous question posted regarding a "haircut" for the weeping willow, ...
  A: If the wire went all the way around the trunk and you pulled it free it may have girdled the trunk ...
weeping willow spots10/1/2006
  Q: we have a weeping willow about 4 yrs old, i have noticed some black spots on the leaves, some of the ...
  A: It does sound like leaf spots but this late in the year I would do nothing except rake the leaves ...
bag worms9/28/2006
  Q: I have some pecan trees, they are covered with bag worms. what can I do to kill them?
  A: I do not think these are bagworms but they sound like Fall Webworms. These caterpillars construct a ...
black sooty mold9/25/2006
  Q: I have sprayed my plant and kill the bugs(I think), but the leaves still have the black sooty mold. ...
  A: If the leaves aere still sticky after a good rain then you may still have some aphids. Check and see ...
fungus on jasmine9/24/2006
  Q: My jasmine has a powdery mold-like substance on it. What is it and what can I do to get rid of it?
  A: This disease is called powdery mildew. A commmon problem on plants. It can be controlled with a ...
Crepe Myrtle Disease9/23/2006
  Q: I have a Crepe Myrtle that is about 7 yrs old. It has done well except this year, which was hot and ...
  A: This disease is called powdery mildew. A commmon problem with crepe myrtle. It can be controlled ...
maple tree disease9/23/2006
  Q: I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. and have a maple tree that has obvious disease. It has a blue green ...
  A: The blue green sounds like lichens and are not a problem. The spots are a leaf spot fungus which ...
THE MAPLE TREE9/22/2006
  Q: please tell me what to do? My huge maple has a black round spots on the leaves, and tree ...
  A: The spots are a leaf spot fungus which infects the leaves. This fungus normally does not effect the ...
Willow tree9/21/2006
  Q: Two years ago I planted a Weeping Willow in my yard about 10 feet from the house. It is now about 20 ...
  A: Weeping willows can be a problem with foudations if they are planted too close. A tree's root system ...
Crape Myrtle9/20/2006
  Q: I have a crape myrtle that I'm sure has sooty mold. The leaves are black and wipes off with my ...
  A: The problem is aphids. These are soft bodied insects that suck the plant juices and secrete a ...
Dead Hedge - due to weed killer9/16/2006
  Q: There is a hedge(approx. 30-40 years old) between our house and a neighbor who just moved in last ...
  A: More then likely the herbicide was one that kills on contact and not a soil active herbicide. If so ...
Ponytail Palm Disease9/13/2006
  Q: My palm has white, cottonie substance on leaves. Do you what it is and how to treat? I can send ...
  A: Send the pictures to jimhyland@yahoo.com and I will see if I can ID the problem . Got the pictures ...
Pecan do not develope to maturity9/12/2006
  Q: I live in southern middle Tennessee. I have two pecan trees that are 20 years old. They seem to ...
  A: From the discription I am not really sure. I would suggest you call your local Extension Service ...
army worms9/12/2006
  Q: Is there a safe, natural way to eliminate army worms in newly laid sod? We have a small dog and are ...
  A: There are several safe insecticide that will control armyworms but I am not sure what you might mean ...
Maple Tree Decease9/11/2006
  Q: My Maple tree has developed large dark Brown spots on it's leaves. These spots are hard to the ...
  A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungus. These normally infect the leaves late in the growing season ...
Maple Tree Disease?9/10/2006
  Q: I live in Southestern Michigan and we have a large maple tree in our front yard. The majority of ...
  A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ...
diseases of crepe myrtle trees9/7/2006
  Q: ..I live in central louisiana (a town called Mansura) I have very clay soil.(hard stuff) All my ...
  A: The black powder sounds like sooty mold. This fungus grows on honeydew from aphids. Aphids are small ...
Fruit Trees/Maple/Walnut9/6/2006
  Q: I always read about spraying trees with insecticide, but they don't name what to use. What kind ...
  A: You do not spray incesticides on tree BUT spray on insects that are on the trees. Each insect is a ...
sticky substance from pecan tree9/4/2006
  Q: We are Americans living in Southern Greece. About 12 years ago we brought a pecan in the shell ...
  A: Pecans are easily attacked by an insect called aphids. These soft bodied insects suck the plant ...
Pecan Tree disease8/31/2006
  Q: Located in northern Alabama. We have 2 pecan trees with dark/wet spots (sores) - oozing a "jelly" ...
  A: I am not sure it sounds like slime flux a disease that oozes out of the bark due to pressure. I ...
Weeping Willow8/31/2006
  Q: I have a mature, gorgeous weeping willow along a lakeshore home in SE Wisconsin. I noticed recently ...
  A: It sounds like beaver damage or another water type animal (otter). The "white material" sounds like ...
Pecan Tree Disease8/30/2006
  Q: I live on the Gulf Coast below Houston and it is the end of August and my pecan tree looks like it ...
  A: There are numerous causes of premature pecan drop. Some varieties such as 'Desirable' shed ...
lilac bush disease8/29/2006
  Q: I live close to Calgary, Alberta. I have a few lilac bushes in my yard and they all started this ...
  A: I think this maybe your problem: Bacterial blight of lilac is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas ...
Quaken Aspen trees8/28/2006
  Q: I have two quaken aspens in my yard. I have mushrooms growing all around one of them. The other ...
  A: Sounds like what we call fairy rings. Old folk lore that fairies danced there during the night. ...
tree infestation8/27/2006
  Q: I live in North Georgia. Several branches on a tree in my yard are covered with what looks like ...
  A: This is an insect called Fall Webworm. These caterpillars rarely cause health problems to a tree but ...
plant disease8/26/2006
  Q: I have a recently planted miniture weeping willow tree, I have noticed it now has a coverage of a ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. This disease will infect many different plants but can be controlled by ...
Boring Insects8/25/2006
  Q: Jim, I have three weeping willows in my backyard (Cincinnati, Ohio). One of the trees has some ...
  A: There are several borer insects that will attack willow. I would suggest that you spray the area of ...
Mulberry Tree Problem8/23/2006
  Q: I have a problem with my fruit bearing mulberry tree. It have been in my grandfathers backyard for ...
  A: The oozing of sap from old wounds or the crouch of branches is more then likely wetwood or slime ...
Lacebark Elm8/22/2006
  Q: We purchased a Lacebark Elm about four yrs ago with a trunk diameter about 3 inches. The tree has ...
  A: I am not sure what caused the problem but if there is still some green under the bark when you ...
one very sick little tree8/22/2006
  Q: I live in Maryland and I have an apple tree that looks very sick. There are lots of yellow brown ...
  A: Sounds like cedar apple rust. This disease takes two hosts to complete a life cycle--apple and ...
worms in cocoons - pine tree8/22/2006
  Q: Balitimore, Maryland I have 4 small pine trees in front lawn. The pine on one tree began to ...
  A: These insects are called bagworms. They will spend most of their life in the bag eating the foliage ...
Crepe Myrtle Trees8/10/2006
  Q: I live in the Piedmont region of North Carolina,[Hickory]. We have two large Crepe Mytrle trees that ...
  A: Soundsd like a wood borer. Thes insects bore into the tree and live in the inner wood. They will ...
Tree Webbs8/9/2006
  Q: Throughout our neighborhood there are webs surrounding the end of the tree branches...like a cocoon ...
  A: This is an insect called Fall webworm. Since they attack in the late summer or fall and have one ...
Sunset Maple Tree Problem8/9/2006
  Q: NY. The past two summers one of my Sunset Maples has experienced premature browning and withering ...
  A: Any time a trees roots are damaged it shows up as foliage dying. There is almost a direct ...
Holly disease8/9/2006
  Q: We live outside Indianapolis, IN. We planted some small holly bushes about 2 months ago. The leaves ...
  A: Sounds like tar spot fungus. Tar spot - Tar, or black, spot causes considerable damage to American ...
Quaking Aspen Question8/8/2006
  Q: My Mom has a small group of Quaking Aspen that she brought from Utah and planted here in Southern ...
  A: I am not sure which canker you might have or if what you are seeing is a result of the borer damage. ...
crab apple trees8/8/2006
  Q: how do i stop the after growth from trees that hve been cut down and shoots come up?yes! that is ...
  A: IF a tree is cut (hardwood trees) to keep the root systems from sprouting you need to paint the ...
crab apple trees8/8/2006
  Q: ------------------------- yes! that is what i asked! Followup To Question - Bradford Ontario ...
  A: No the crab apple tree is not killing the neighbors plants. Now some plants live better in full ...
weeping willow trees8/7/2006
  Q: I have 4 weeping willow trees that are about 5 foot tall and healthy and weeping to the ground. I ...
  A: The best times to prune willows trees are in the late summer or early fall. This variety bleeds sap, ...
maple tree in Springville, AL8/6/2006
  Q: We have several 11 to 9 year old red maples with circumferential bark damage that we are realizing ...
  A: It will depend on the extent of the damage-if the damage is all the way around the tree trunk the ...
Pecan tree that is dropping its nuts8/6/2006
  Q: Choctaw 9 year old tree in Livingston Texas, Polk county has been dropping its green nuts ...
  A: There are numerous causes of premature pecan drop. Some varieties such as 'Desirable' shed ...
Lilac Bush, white leaves8/5/2006
  Q: My husband planted a lilac bush in out back yard in May of this year. In the last couple of weeks ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. This is a fungus that will infect many species of plants. The plant ...
Diseased Crepe Myrtles8/3/2006
  Q: Can you answer questions about Brush Kill? This is a brand name that my husband saw on TV and I can ...
  A: There are several herbicides that will kill brush--here is alink to one that is called Brush Killer. ...
Diseased Crepe Myrtles8/3/2006
  Q: I live in Coldwater, MS. (about 25 miles from Memphis, TN). I have two crepe myrtles that all of a ...
  A: Yes it does sound like aphids. No the aphids will not kill the tree at worst they make the tree ...
spots on crepe myrtle leaves8/2/2006
  Q: We live in Houston and have a crepe myrtle in our backyard that has recently developed yellow and ...
  A: Cercospora Leaf Spot: Leaf spots may appear on crape myrtle that are caused by the fungus Cercospora ...
oak tree trunk webs7/22/2006
  Q: I live in SE Houston, TX, and have a medium-sized oak tree (approx. 20 feet high, trunk about 15-in. ...
  A: These webs are harmless and are being caused by barklice rather than spiders. Barklice occur on the ...
Crepe Myrtle Pests7/18/2006
  Q: my crepe myrtles appear to be "reining". I know I have heard abouth this being a pest as opposed to ...
  A: Sounds like aphids. These are soft bobied insects that suck the plant juices out of the leaves and ...
Japanese Maple7/16/2006
  Q: Mr Hyland, I have a Japanese Maple tree that is over ten years old and twenty feet high and ten to ...
  A: Sounds like you are doing what I would recommend --pruning the dead or dying branches off. The Red ...
Weeping Willow Tree :-(7/14/2006
  Q: I have a 2 year established, weeping willow tree, it has done well and doubled in size in the 2 ...
  A: To check of the tree is dead start at the top and scrape some of the bark off the branch and if the ...
golden maple7/13/2006
  Q: Purchased just a few years ago, the leaves of my golden maple are slowly turning brown. These brown ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spots. There are two common ones. Phyllosticta Leaf Spot: This disease, also known ...
October Glory Fungicide7/13/2006
  Q: I have a newly planted October Glory (Maple). How often should I be watering it and the leaves ...
  A: Normal watering means that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly, as conditions ...
Dutch Elm Tree Disease7/12/2006
  Q: If your tree has been diagnosed with Dutch Elm Disease and the city has notified you to cut it down, ...
  A: Dutch elm disease can spread through root grafts-it depends on if the dying tree was cut as soon as ...
Tree killing fungus?7/5/2006
  Q: I recently moved to a 30 acre parcel in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Most of the trees are pine ...
  A: From what you discribe it sounds like lichens--if so these normally do not kill the tree. I would ...
leaf mold7/4/2006
  Q: Jim, We have a Redbud tree that has been identified with having leaf mold.Two seperate nurseries ...
  A: I do not know the term "leaf mold" I would think what you have is called powdery mildew. This is a ...
name of fungi7/4/2006
  Q: what causes loose smut of wheat and corn
  A: Like common bunt, loose smut, caused by Ustilago tritici, also is a seed-borne disease of wheat. U. ...
sticky plants7/3/2006
  Q: What is the clear sticky substance that seems to be seeping out of the leaves and stems from some ...
  A: Sounds like the problem is aphids (a soft bodied insect that sucks the plant juices) the sticky is ...
Fruitless Mulberry7/3/2006
  Q: I live in the High Desert of California. We have a very large fruitless mulberry tree that seems to ...
  A: The trees are jsut reacting to the pruning. You did not say when they were pruned. Trees such as ...
snowball bush7/1/2006
  Q: I live in southern indiana, and I have a snowball bush I had purchased fom springhill I carefully ...
  A: Don't prune it anymore until it blooms. Usually, too much pruning or pruning at the inappropriate ...
Tree disease7/1/2006
  Q: I have a tree, of unknown species, that has a black bark stain running down from a main divide in ...
  A: The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk of shade trees is commonly called ...
Fruit tree disease6/30/2006
  Q: I planted a new apple tree this year in the Slave Lake, Alberta area. The tree seems to be growing, ...
  A: Sounds like powdery mildew. I would suggest using a fingicide spray on the effected foliage. Here is ...
Oak Tree Insects6/30/2006
  Q: Our oak tree is about 5 years old and we have noticed some of the branches have lost their leaves. ...
  A: It sounds like one of the gall making insects. These normally do not harm the tree unless they are ...
Sunset Maple Tree Bark6/29/2006
  Q: Our sunset maple is approximately 3 years old. The leaves seem to be fine, however the bark has ...
  A: Sunset maple has the tendancy for the bark to split due to the thin bark and fast growing nature. If ...
Shrub Diseases6/28/2006
  Q: I live in Memphis Tennessee. My question concerns a shrub that I believe is a similiar to a Leland ...
  A: From what you discribe it is difficult to ID the problem withour seeing the tree. I would suggest ...
diseased shrub and plants6/27/2006
  Q: I have very very small white insects that fly on my shrubs and going to some of my out door plants. ...
  A: Sounds like Whiteflies. Whiteflies are tiny, soft bodied insects. They are not true flies, but ...
Thinning Locust Tree6/26/2006
  Q: Locust tree..15 years old...has lots of dead limbs..main limbs look fine..but tree is getting very ...
  A: Yes it sounds like the trre could use a cleaning pruning to take out the dead limbs. The best time ...
Powdery Mildew on Crimson Sentry Maple6/25/2006
  Q: I get powdery mildew EVERY YEAR on the leaves of my three (3) crimson sentry maple trees. This ...
  A: Since I do not know what TruGreen ChemLawn is using it would be hard to comment on if the fungicide ...
crepe myrtle6/24/2006
  Q: I have two crepe myrtle bushes (25years+) that have icky sticky leaves. Always cut them down at ...
  A: This is caused by aphid feeding. Aphids are small soft bodied insects that suck the plant juices ...
Maple Tree - Oozing Sour Smell, Bare Branches6/19/2006
  Q: We live in Maryland and have a large maple tree in our backyard that we think is about 20 years old. ...
  A: Thsi is a disease called slime flux or wetwood. It is caused by a bacteria that enters a wound and ...
Quaking Aspen Trees - Diseases6/19/2006
  Q: I live in Northern Utah and have a couple Quaking Aspen trees that are planted separately (not ...
  A: Sounds like leaf spot. Leaf spots are caused by fungi or bacteria. Brown or black spots and patches ...
Oak Tree Disease6/18/2006
  Q: My very large (50ft) tall tree has developed alot of dead leaves. When I checked the tree trunk, on ...
  A: I can not ID the problem from what you discribed I would suggest you contact the Dallas Urban ...
Infestation6/17/2006
  Q: I live on the North Eastern side of PA, and I have an indoor mini rose plant. It has been growing ...
  A: Sounds like spider mites. These can easily be controlled with an insecticide. Check with your local ...
Honeysuckle pests and disease6/13/2006
  Q: My honeysuckle is about 5 yrs old and this is the first year I have noticed tiny black insects on ...
  A: Sounds like powdery Mildew. This is a disease that if not controlled may cause serious damage. I ...
Dogwood6/12/2006
  Q: I planted a dogwood tree about 4 weeks ago. I live in middle NC. I notice about a week ago a few of ...
  A: It sounds like the trre is shocked from the planting. Dogwoods like partial shade and do not do well ...
crape myrtle disease6/11/2006
  Q: I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE A CRAPE MYRTLE IN A HOUSE NEW TO US THAT HAS LOST ...
  A: Sounds like a borer (an insect), I would check with your local garden/nyrsery type store and ask for ...
locust tree6/11/2006
  Q: The honey locust tree in my yard has little green bugs eating the leaves,what to do?
  A: Honeylocust plant bugs commonly infest honeylocust in late spring. This common damaging species of ...
problem with snowball bush5/31/2006
  Q: I have a snowball bush that's over 20 years old. Last year, the leaves developed a problem. They ...
  A: Yes switch to Diazinon the "soap" is only making the insects "clean". Dishwashing liquid is added to ...
crabapple tree disease5/30/2006
  Q: Would the insecticide hurt the ladybugs?Hi, Our crabapple tree is having a bad season. The leaves ...
  A: Yes the insecticide will kill the lady bugs. An alternative is to just let the lady bugs do their ...
crabapple tree disease5/30/2006
  Q: Our crabapple tree is having a bad season. The leaves are turning yellow and falling off and it ...
  A: Sounds like wooly apple aphids. These are small soft bodied insects that suck the juice from the ...
sick holly bush - maryland5/29/2006
  Q: Any idea why the aphids have not yet harmed the other plants I have nearby?I have 2 holly bushes and ...
  A: In general--Specific Insects feed on specific plants. Exp.: tomato horn worm feeds on tomatoes--elm ...
Holly Bushes5/29/2006
  Q: We live in CT and have two holly bushes by our back porch. They looked great when we moved here last ...
  A: Sounds like Cylindrocladium Leaf Spot. Thsi fungi can be contolled by the use of a fungicide. ...
problem with snowball bush5/28/2006
  Q: I have a snowball bush that's over 20 years old. Last year, the leaves developed a problem. They ...
  A: Sounds like an insect called viburnum leaf beetle. This an insect feeds on the laef giving it a lacy ...
sick holly bush - maryland5/27/2006
  Q: I have 2 holly bushes and they both are suffering from insects or fungus of some sort. Some of the ...
  A: Sounds like aphids--I would check with your local garden/nursery type store and buy an insecticide ...
name of fungus5/27/2006
  Q: what causes loose smut of wheat, oat, barley?
  A: Each has a different species of a fungus that "causes" loose smut: Wheat--loose smut - Ustilago ...
Silver Maple is dying -- mushrooms5/26/2006
  Q: We have five mature silver maples in our yard, one of which has several dead branches. I didn't ...
  A: The trees problem could be almost anything from a disease, insect to root danage to just old age. It ...
GREEN FUNGUS ON BRANCHES5/26/2006
  Q: I live in Northeastern Ohio and have a few black walnut trees in my yard. One of them has a greenish ...
  A: Sounds like lichens. These are common and are not a problem to the health of the tree. Lichens are ...
Tree Diseases5/25/2006
  Q: I have something white and seemingly moving in my oak tree (not sure what kind of oak it is). It ...
  A: The oozing is called "slime flux" and is caused by a bacterial infection inside the trunk. There are ...
Japanese Maple Trees5/25/2006
  Q: Yes, I have a Japanese Maple Tree that I planted last year. It done real good last year. This year ...
  A: Phyllosticta Leaf Spot of Maple. Pathogen: Phyllosticta minima Like many fungal leaf spots, this ...
Holly Tree5/24/2006
  Q: I live in Eastern part of CT. My holly tree has developed black leaves and the whole tree is ...
  A: What you have is an insect cslled aphids--these small insects suck the juices from the plant and ...
Japanese Red Maple damage5/24/2006
  Q: My Maple's bark was damaged by my gardner's weed wacker. Here's a photo: ...
  A: Yes the cambium is damaged. And it looks like severe. If the damage goes all the way around the tree ...
My tree has Maple spindlegall mites!5/23/2006
  Q: I love my tree! I would cry if it ever died! Literally.. I am worried because it has Maple ...
  A: You can spray an insecticide on the newly opening leave buds. this will reduce the population of the ...
Willow Tree Problems5/23/2006
  Q: I live in Fort Worth, TX and have a beautiful Willow Tree in our backyard that overhangs our ...
  A: Hard to tell from your discriptions. I would suggest you contact the Fort Worth Urban Forestry ...
Arborvitae Emerald Green Trees - Disease5/22/2006
  Q: I have black patches/spots appearing on the bottom of my newly planted Arborvitae Emerald Green ...
  A: Sounds like just the shock of the planting. If the tree has healthy looking foliage on the rest of ...
Blackened leaves on maple5/21/2006
  Q: My large maple tree has about half of it s leaves turning black, and wilting. Some have fallen off. ...
  A: Sounds like Maple anthracnose a disease that effects the leaves and is intensified in wet spring ...
Roses not opening5/21/2006
  Q: Jim, I live in South Louisiana.I have a hybrid rose and it's growing really well with lots of ...
  A: Your roses have thrips- Thrip. Buds turn brown and do not open, or are distorted. Thrip are feeding ...
Pine tree - infested with insects?5/19/2006
  Q: We live in a townhouse in Connecticut and have a very large white pine (about 100 ft tall) behind ...
  A: Sounds like borers are attracted to the old pruned limb sites and are entering the tree. The tree ...
White pine disease5/18/2006
  Q: I have a white pine, that leak white fluid from the connection of branch and trunk. It only happens ...
  A: I would first think it was a insect called white pine weevil--these bore into the tree and the tree ...
weeping willow leaves turning brown5/16/2006
  Q: I have two two year old weeping willows in my yard. They have been beautiful until this week. I ...
  A: My guess is some type of environmantal damgae. Check the Turfbuilder bag and make sure it did not ...
maple tree disease5/16/2006
  Q: I have a few young maple trees that have developed small red,hard, bumps on the leaves. The tree ...
  A: These are called gall mites and normally will not harm the tree. Normally control is not needed ...
holly black leaves5/16/2006
  Q: I have the same problem as the question asked on 5/3/2006/. I also live in the same area(delaware). ...
  A: It sounds like either aphids or scale insects-both suck the plant juices and excrete honeydew and a ...
bugs infesting my Quaken Aspen5/15/2006
  Q: I live in Northwestern Wyoming. I have a grove of quakies that have bulges on the branches. I cut ...
  A: These are called gall insects and will not kill the tree. Normally they will be controlled naturally ...
Evergreen with jelly like substance5/13/2006
  Q: I live in CT and I have an evergreen bush (I don't know what kind) that has orange, jelly like balls ...
  A: What you discribe is cedar apple rust. Normally it is a small green or brown ball on the cedar limbs ...
Tree branch black mold5/12/2006
  Q: I have 2 flowering _____ trees in a house I just bought in January. Only the top had white flowers ...
  A: It sounds to me like Black Knot--a disease that effects plums and cherries. It is common on these ...
camealias5/12/2006
  Q: i have a large double flower deep pink camealia, i have noticed on the leaves, a black tar like ...
  A: The problem sounds like an aphid infestation rather then disease. Aphids are small insects that suck ...
Disease on camelia leaves5/12/2006
  Q: I live in Belgium with a heavy soil garden. My camelia bush is about 5 years old but has never ...
  A: The problem sounds like an aphid infestation rather then disease. Aphids are small insects that suck ...
Camillia5/8/2006
  Q: I live in the county of Kent, and have a large Camillia at the bottom of my garden (approx 5 ft high ...
  A: It os more than likely aphids or scale insects, these insects suck the plant juices. The black is a ...
Powdery mildew on my sage plants5/7/2006
  Q: .... I live in the Pacific Northwest, Port Townsend, Washington to be exact, and I am a novice ...
  A: Baking Soda Spray: for anthracnose, early tomato blight, leaf blight and spots, powdery mildew, and ...
tree fungus5/7/2006
  Q: Can you identify this? Pearly white sack-like attachment to a Dead Western Red Alder tree: six ...
  A: I can not ID this from your disription but I would lean toward one of the Heart rots (if this fungus ...
Black on holly leaves5/3/2006
  Q: I have a row of older holly, that have been trimmed into a large hedge, 4 feet wide, 6 feet high ...
  A: What you are seeing is powdery mildew. This fungus grows on the sugar extract producd by aphids. ...
Holly Bush4/28/2006
  Q: Wilmington,NC. Under leaf only- killing the bush, a powder like substance, whitish, non sticky, in ...
  A: This sounds like Powdery Mildew. It is a fungus that will grow on the leaves of a wide varity of ...
Italian Cypress4/25/2006
  Q: We'd like to dig up our italian cypress. Are the roots deep or shallow. Because we're seniors we ...
  A: Italian cypress has a deep tap root and a pretty good dense laterial root system. So it depends on ...
fungus on impatients4/24/2006
  Q: I live in Franklin, TN and have been having trouble the last several years with a type of fungus ...
  A: This sounds like Rhizoctonia crown rot. Rhizoctonia solani. Infection first appears as a general ...
white flowering dogwood4/24/2006
  Q: I live in eastern North Carolina. I have two white dogwood trees that bloomed beautifully this ...
  A: It may have a disease called Dogwood Anthracnose, I would call the local office of the NC Forestry ...
Holly Bushes4/17/2006
  Q: I have several holly bushes planted in a bed at the front of my house in Murfreesboro, TN. All of ...
  A: Sounds like aphids--the black is a sooty mold that grows on the extrement from the aphids. The ...
Identifying Tree Disease4/8/2006
  Q: ...I found you through Google. We have 13 magnificant magnolias and 4 dogwoods in our yard. They ...
  A: What you discribe is Lichens. This is a plant that is a combination of a fungus and a algea and ...
Italian cypress tree4/1/2006
  Q: We have 3 italian cypress trees and part of each look like it is dying. The dying part is in the ...
  A: If you are talking about the "middle" being the inner leaves (needles) this is not a problem. If the ...
bush problem3/18/2006
  Q: we are in middle Georgia, inherited a large hedge around house. Not sure what it is but probably ...
  A: Without knowing the kind of "bush" you have it is hard to make a recommendation. I would sugest you ...
Norway Spruce dropping needles3/18/2006
  Q: Canada. I will also email Mr. Marshall with my question, but I thought it was interesting that the ...
  A: Needle drop can be normal. In conifers the old needles are shed each year and replaced by new ones. ...
sago pine care2/25/2006
  Q: Today I notices that the leaves on one side of my 7 year old sago pine are turning yellow. What is ...
  A: I have not heard of a "sago pine" but I think you may be referring to a sago palm. Here is a link to ...
Fruitless Mulberry Infected2/15/2006
  Q: I live in California in the desert region. We have an old fruitless mulberry that seems to have ...
  A: I am not real sure what this could be but I lean toward a disease called Black Knot. The best ...
spanish moss2/8/2006
  Q: Can you please tell me if spanish moss that is found all through the Sountern US is harmful to Oak ...
  A: Yes it does grow through out most of the Southern states. It is not harmful to the oak it grows on ...
Fraxinus excelsior2/7/2006
  Q: Have a common Ash which is for all intense and perposes pretty much alive, but it's trunk is very ...
  A: The orginal wound could have been caused by any number of things--I would guess mechanical damage. ...
Lilac bush1/15/2006
  Q: I need help with my lilac bush. We just bought a house last summer in the Pacific Northwest with a ...
  A: I think January is early to see new growth--this usually occurs in the spring so just relax and ...
Diseased cherry tree12/18/2005
  Q: and thanks for your assistance. I live in Cupertino, Ca. I have two cherry trees, one red variety ...
  A: Sounds like it maybe black knot. Here is a web link that discribes diseases of cherry and the ...
Plant disease10/28/2005
  Q: I think I'm looking at a fungus on a 25 year old Sago growing in Rialto, CA., but I'm not sure. A ...
  A: I am not real sure what this is but if it is effecting only one frond that is declining-- there may ...
spraying plants8/28/2005
  Q: someone sprayed my plants with a cleaning spray, some are ok (just) and some have died. What can i ...
  A: If you had washed the leaves off (use plenty of water) right away then there should have been little ...
Crepe Myrtle Problems8/22/2005
  Q: My Crepe Myrles get a black moldy stuff on their leaves and the trunk & limbs have a curly type bark ...
  A: The "black moldy stuff" is a fungus called black sooty mold. The fungus is growing on the Honeydew ...
Maple tree disease7/22/2005
  Q: I live in central Michigan, I am trying to find out what kind of disease my maple tree has. The ...
  A: These are maple spindle gall mites. They will not kill the tree but may if enough of them make the ...
Pecan trees6/28/2005
  Q: I have a very large pecan tree in my front yard. I have lived here for one year and last year was a ...
  A: I think you may have an insect called Pecan Phylloxera. Here is a web link to a discription of the ...
ants on trees6/23/2005
  Q: Do you have any idea why ants go up and down orange trees at this time of the year.I live in Malta ...
  A: Ants normally are harvesters. In this case they are more then likely harvesting the sugar that is ...
White Flowering Dogwood6/19/2005
  Q: We live in a suburb of Chicago.The White Flowering Dogwood in our front yard seems to be in ...
  A: Sounds like a leaf type fungus I am guessing Dogwood Anthracnose or it could be a common leaf spot ...
weed killer6/4/2005
  Q: my room mate used weed killer- Round Up on the weeds in the grass and now the lilac bushes that are ...
  A: Yes Roundup will kill almost any green plant. What has happened is the spray "drift" got on the ...
fungus/growth on a crape myrtle5/15/2005
  Q: Last fall we trimed our crape myrtle right back. I have noticed this spring that the new growth is ...
  A: The tree has a fungus called powery mildew. It can be controlled with the use of a fungicide. Here ...
blackspot on roses5/9/2005
  Q: What is the cause of black spot, I have a climbing rose that suffers badley from blackspot every ...
  A: Black spot can not always be completely prevented, but with proper care it can be kept to a ...
Can Black Knot affect maples and birch,5/5/2005
  Q: Answer - No black knot dose not effect Maples or Birch but the prunus species. There are several ...
  A: If you could send me the digital photos and I will see what I can do with them. Also if you could ...
Can Black Knot affect maples and birch,4/26/2005
  Q: My inlaws live in southern Nova Scotia and they have quite a few trees which seem to be infected ...
  A: No black knot dose not effect Maples or Birch but the prunus species. There are several canker ...
Italian cypress & Euonymus question4/26/2005
  Q: I live in Dallas. I have an Italian cypress that had spider mites. They are gone but the bottom 1/3 ...
  A: The spider mite can be controlled by the use of Insecticidal soap or insecticides. I prefer using ...
Bradford Pear Trees4/23/2005
  Q: I live in Bossier City, Louisiana,adjacent to Shreveport. My 7 year old Bradford Pear tree's leaves ...
  A: It is diffucult to ID this problem without seeing it. I would suggest that you contact the La ...
growing plants4/6/2005
  Q: My name is Jessica Goines. I am in the 8th grade and I am doing a science fair project on growing ...
  A: Here is the answer from the MadSciNet----http://www.madsci.org/ The proteins, fats, and sugars in ...
Are plants alive?3/27/2005
  Q: I don't know if your the person to ask... but here goes, I made the mistake of buying grape vines, a ...
  A: The green you speak of is just under the bark. Take your finger nail or a small knife and starting ...
Pine tree fungus3/25/2005
  Q: Jim- I have a long-needle pine tree stump (about 2-1/2 feet high) in my front yard. The tree was ...
  A: There are a number of fungi that are called decay fungi. Their purpose is to speed the break down ...
what can diseases that can kill my plant3/24/2005
  Q: I am Amy Aupperle. I am 12 years old. and I LOVE SCIENCE!!!! i wanted some imformation on the plant ...
  A: Sweet peas require regular watering, especially as the temperature increases. They prefer a somewhat ...
sunflower diseases3/24/2005
  Q: My name is Lindsey Fletcher and I am a seventh grade student doing an experiment to see if frosting ...
  A: There are 30 or more known sunflower diseases but nine diseases are the most commonly seen. Six of ...
bagworms/webworms3/24/2005
  Q: Thus far, I have been unable to eradicate bagworms and fall webworms in my pecan trees. What ...
  A: Here is a link to the Control recommendations from the Texas Extension Service: ...
Crepe Myrtle trees?3/20/2005
  Q: I have always had to spray my crepe myrtle trees in the summer because the beetles love them.This ...
  A: The black is sooty mold that grows on Honeydew that is produced by aphids, an insect. Aphids are ...
Dead trees and shrubs3/2/2005
  Q: This is a strange one for you--There was a car fire in the street in front of my home in San Diego, ...
  A: I suspect the heat from the fire scorched the plants. To see if the plant is dead--start at the ...
Mealybugs - Indoor Plants2/8/2005
  Q: I have a problem with mealybugs & wish some specific advice. I have an extensive indoor plant ...
  A: Here is some information on mealybugs and nicotine-- I think it will work but remember to wear ...
norway spruce2/5/2005
  Q: I live in Carmel, Indiana (near Indianapolis) and I have a couple of mature norway spruce trees ...
  A: It is hard to say what the problem is with out seeing the tree. I suggest you contact Phil ...
Preventing ginkgo blooms1/17/2005
  Q: Do you know if it is possible to treat a female ginkgo tree to prevent flowering and avoid the ...
  A: No not really. Most experts say that the smell from the fruit can be avoided IF the fruit is ...
very tiny bugs on indoor plant1/16/2005
  Q: My schefflera has very, very tiny black bugs or a fungus all over it. Would a mix of dawn and ...
  A: Yes sometimes it only takes a good washing to rid plants of pest problems. Here is a web link that ...
Conifer diseases1/7/2005
  Q: I have a loblolly pine that has a black sooty discoloration on its needles. Can you tell me what is ...
  A: The mold you are seeing is called sooty mold. It grows on the excrement (honey dew) from aphids. ...
Sago Palms1/4/2005
  Q: I'm trying to clean lichen off of fruit trees with copper sulfate in very close proximity with sago ...
  A: Copper sulfate may be used at the rate of 4 teaspoonfuls per gallon of water to remove unwanted ...
Disease in pine trees1/4/2005
  Q: There is a disease killing the pine trees in my neighborhood. I have the largest pine, well over 50 ...
  A: From what you discribe it will be hard to determine IF you have a problem and what the problem might ...
Deer1/3/2005
  Q: Why are some many foresters, such as yourself, intent on reducing deer numbers to such low levels? ...
  A: You have somewhere in your past been mis-led as to what is good deer habitat and how foret ...
name of a plant species12/11/2004
  Q: I would like to aske why there is sometimes (L.) after a plant species name? What is it for? Does it ...
  A: The "L" comes from a Botantist called Carolus (Carl) Linnaeus. He developed the system for naming ...
Sick Boston Ivy12/7/2004
  Q: The Boston Ivy on an entire two-story brick wall of our home, looks and acts awful. It's been there ...
  A: Several things you may need to know about Boston Ivy-- It has the potential to damage masonry walls ...
septoria leaf spot and powdery mildew11/16/2004
  Q: I live in southwest kansas. We have had an atypical wet spring summer and fall. My garden was ...
  A: Septoria leaf spot is best controlled using preventative measures. Destroy infested plants by ...
Shrub Disease10/11/2004
  Q: I have a problem with a disease on my shrubs. It looks like a white powder substance, is going from ...
  A: It sounds like you have an infestation of aphids. These insects have a cottony appearance and ...
Camellias10/10/2004
  Q: I have a large camellia bush that produces pink blossoms. Recently I have noticed white residue on ...
  A: You have an insect called tea scale. It is common on camelias. Here is a link to a couple of sites ...
sycamore tree10/5/2004
  Q: I germinated seeds from a 300 year old Sycamore tree. I have one sapling about three feet high, it ...
  A: From your discription it is hard to ID the source of the problem. IF you are in the US I would ...
Strange plant disease9/16/2004
  Q: I have had a Schefflera for about 1 1/2 years. It stays indoors during the winter months and ...
  A: Schefflera form a stalk like growth that is the flower of the plant called an inflorescence. I think ...
Pomegranet9/12/2004
  Q: We have a pomegranet tree in our garden.every year when the pomegranets grow , they crack and their ...
  A: Generally pomergranates tend to crack open when they are over ripe. Splitting and cracking are ...
sooty leaves9/8/2004
  Q: i have a crepe myrtle in my front yard and two gardenia bushes in my back yard. all three have what ...
  A: I would suspect you have aphids on the leaves. These are small isects that suck the juice out of the ...
Boston Fern9/6/2004
  Q: We have a very healthy Boston Fern 4 to 5 feet in size. We have just discovered small brown lumps ...
  A: The "lumps" are Sori or the "fruit" of the fern. Ferns produce by spores, not fruit. These spores ...
fruit tree diseases9/4/2004
  Q: Have two cherry, two apple, one pear fruit trees. My problem-Have black spots on the apple tree, ...
  A: Sounds like you ahve a leaf spot type fungus on your trees--they can affect both the leaves and the ...
Honeysuckle disease8/30/2004
  Q: My honeysuckle has lost all its leaves. It looks as if winter has arrived early.No sign of pests on ...
  A: It sounds like one of twp diseases. Leaf Blight, Herpobasidium. Leaves are deformed, thickened, and ...
career in biology8/29/2004
  Q: hyland, my name is chet murthy, and for a career exploration project in biology, and i would like ...
  A: 1. The education requirement for a Pathologist or Entomologist is generally at least a BS in Plant ...
damage to large oak tree root8/28/2004
  Q: While securing a 6" x 6" piece of treated lumber for a landscape border I think I nailed a 12" spike ...
  A: Let it be. You would do much more damage to the root system by tring to "medicate" it then the spike ...
Plant Disease8/18/2004
  Q: Nematode - Plant Fungus that is killing my tomatoe Plants. Is there as chemical that will kill this ...
  A: There is not a chemical that is effective in controlling nematodes, the most effective method is ...
Dead Trees8/16/2004
  Q: We just traveled from Washington State through Idaho and Montana. Between Northern Idaho and Montana ...
  A: During the past several years, the West has been under a drought situation and the conifers have ...
SAFE WEED CONTOL & Dogs??7/10/2004
  Q: I live on the East Coast. Can you suggest to me what option(s) I have when it comes to a Safe (store ...
  A: The use of herbicides around dogs is not a problem. The only slight thing could be IF they were ...
spots on Japanese Red Maple leaves7/8/2004
  Q: I received a Japanese Red Maple tree last year. It's small but doing well. It has a lot of leaves ...
  A: I think you have a disease called leaf spots. Purple eye" leaf spot is a common disease and ...
Carrotwood tree problem7/3/2004
  Q: I planted a Carrotwood tree about a year ago. It seemed to have been doing ok in the full sun with ...
  A: Check the pictures on the web site I sent and see if it is the same tree. ...
Carrotwood tree problem7/2/2004
  Q: I planted a Carrotwood tree about a year ago. It seemed to have been doing ok in the full sun with ...
  A: I would not recommend planting Carrotwood it has been classified as an invasive plant and banned in ...
blight/mold6/19/2004
  Q: Three out of four of the bushes in front of my house are fine. One, however, has its leaves ...
  A: Without knowing what plant you have or the area you are located in I am going to guess you are ...
PROBLEM EVERGREENS6/10/2004
  Q: Jim Hi, what you discribed is what I have, the spittle Bug, what do I do to destroy this and how do ...
  A: You can control spittlebug with an insecticide here are a few that will work: Dursban, Decathlon, ...
PROBLEM EVERGREENS6/8/2004
  Q: Jim Hi, I have a large number of different types of evergreens, hemlocks, fir, etc. They all have ...
  A: Without a picture this could be a number of things BUT I am going to take a guess that it is Pine ...
Plant Disease6/1/2004
  Q: I've recently encountered a problem with one of my plants. The plant is a Cupressus Goldcrest and ...
  A: Here is a Web link to information on Coryneum canker--unfortunately you maybe correct. I would first ...
Holly Disease5/12/2004
  Q: We have a few American Holly trees on which the leaves turn yellow and become covered with black ...
  A: My best guess would be CYLINDROCLADIUM LEAF SPOT Cylindrocladium leaf spot, which is most ...
Rose Pruning5/9/2004
  Q: When is the right time to prune roses & what sprays should be given after pruning
  A: There are several web sites for roses here is one on ...
holly diseases4/30/2004
  Q: I read your advice about aphids on holly and think I have seen that on mine. The new growth on my ...
  A: No aphids do not cut holes in the leaves they suck the juice and make the leaves curl. Sounds like ...
Plant disease4/26/2004
  Q: What is white fly? All I know is that it can take over the entire landscaping. I want to know is ...
  A: Whiteflies are insects that will suck the juices out of plants. They are easily killed with an ...
how to save a potted evergreen tree4/21/2004
  Q: I recieved a potted evergreen tree it looks like some sort of pine tree. I do not know where it came ...
  A: It maybe too late but you can try- take the plant out of the pot and remove most of the wet soil ...
bower attacking tree4/1/2004
  Q: I live in Indiana near Louisville Ky. Six years ago I added a tulip tree to my lawn. Last year it ...
  A: You are more than likely correct-root collar Borer would be my guess. I would reccommend you spray ...
Camellia disease3/24/2004
  Q: I read your reply to the recent question about diseased Camellias. We have a similar question about ...
  A: It sounds like you are doing the right thing for the scale--the spots are result of the scale ...
bugs????3/7/2004
  Q: I was pruning in my garden today and was trimming back one of my ever green bushes (has green and ...
  A: Yes it sounds like an insect--more than likely cottony aphids or another sucking type insect. These ...
Holly tree defoliation3/6/2004
  Q: We have two holly trees in our S. New England back yard. Each is 15-20 feet tall and are planted ...
  A: It sounds like you have Powdery mildew, a disease of leaves of many plants. To control this disease ...
diseased garden3/1/2004
  Q: Last summer while I was away for 2 weeks, my small garden developed a major mold/disease problem ...
  A: As long as you remove the old plant parts (stems, leaves etc.) and turn the soil you should not have ...
pre maturing of the flowers and veges2/19/2004
  Q: .. when i plant a flower ( sunflower) it plooms before having its known hight (1.5 - 2 m),it plooms ...
  A: If I understand your question--the sunflower plants are not growing to the height they should? The ...
Insects on Gardenias2/12/2004
  Q: There is a sticky substance on my Gardenia. The buds are also affected and are turning brown and ...
  A: I would think your gardenia has either scale insects or aphids. Look for small bumps on the twigs or ...
fungus on trees1/31/2004
  Q: We have many trees on our property and we live in Oregon where we get lots of rain. I have noticed a ...
  A: Normally the lower limbs on trees die and drop off due to shading. This is a normal process. The ...
Lichen11/12/2003
  Q: I was doing some research on lichens on Google and all I came across was how beneficial they were. ...
  A: No products are labeled for lichen control, but copper fungicides labeled for ball moss, or the home ...
Tree infestation8/24/2003
  Q: we are the proud owners of a very large shaggy bark hickory tree in the front yard. For some time ...
  A: The "yellow, green bugs" are aphids. The aphids suck the sap out of leaves and deposit a sticky ...
pine trees8/9/2003
  Q: I have a row of assorted young pine trees and just recently 3 of the same kind of pine tree started ...
  A: I suggest that you call the local Penn Bureau of Forestry a State agency, Their web site is: ...
Dry Rot7/30/2003
  Q: I have a fir free in my yard and a friend said the tree was suffering from 'dry rot' What is it, ...
  A: I do not think your trree has what is commonly called "dry rot". The enter part of a tree (woody ...
black spot7/21/2003
  Q: What is the best way to control or eliminate black spot on my roses without using chemicals? I ...
  A: I would use a systemic fingicide to rid the roses of leaf spots. Yes it is a "chemical" but so is ...
Mulberry Tree Disease7/9/2003
  Q: We have a fairly old Mulberry tree (trunk circumference approx. 12-14 ft) that has slime flux. Two ...
  A: It sounds like the leaves have a disease called leaf spot. During moist seasons the fungi will grow ...
holly disease6/24/2003
  Q: My holly shrubs have turned black as though layered with a dull coat of spray paint, there is ...
  A: Sounds like the holly has an infestation of aphids. The black is from the aphids-they suck the sap ...
termites6/24/2003
  Q: How come termites don't attack trees?
  A: Termites live on "dead" wood cells. In a living tree this wood is on the inide protected by the bark ...
Is Tree dead?5/17/2003
  Q: We live in central AZ high desert and planted 2 chitalpa trees 2 summers ago. One never leafed out ...
  A: If you take you finger nail or a small knife and scrape a small bit of the bark off a branch and it ...
peach tree5/16/2003
  Q: IS it to late to spray a fruit tree if the fruit has set on? If not what can I spray this tree ...
  A: It is not too late to spray a fruit tree after fruit is set. Any fungicide residue can and will be ...
rose bush pruning4/28/2003
  Q: I pruned all of my rose bushes yesterday and noticed that some of the stems were almost black. ...
  A: Pick up all pruned pieces and any leaves from last year. Spray the canes with liquid sulfur. When ...
Camelia leaves disease showing4/4/2003
  Q: I have a couple of Camelia trees that are very healthy, save for some spotting that has started to ...
  A: The spotting on the leaves could be an insect problem or a disease problem--either way it will not ...
necterine tree w/disease2/21/2003
  Q: I have a necterine tree that has some kind of small pin holes,or worm holes,an a jelly like stuff ...
  A: The pin holes are the entry holes of a borer (insect). I would spray the area with an ...
honey suckle disease9/10/2002
  Q: I would be grateful for your advice please concerning a recently purchased honey suckle plant. ...
  A: Sounds like you may have powdery mildew (a Fungus disease). I would check with your local ...
Tree and shrub diseases4/26/2002
  Q: We have two white dogwoods that seem to have developed anthracnose this year. They put on flowers ...
  A: Sounds like the dogwood has dogwood anthracnose. Here is a good site that gives ID and control of ...
Lightning Wound attracts Insects, Disease10/29/2001
  Q: Jim, Have a 30 inch diameter, 40 feet tall elm which took a lightning strike 4/01, destroying a ...
  A: As far as prognosis--I would wait until next spring and see if the tree is still alive and how ...
Insects eating birch bark9/5/2001
  Q: Jim, If you're a "disease" guy, not an "insect" guy, could you pls pass our question to the ...
  A: From your discription it would be hard to guess what insect is your problem. I would suggest you ...
charred leaf tips7/13/2001
  Q: I have an amur maple that I planted in early June,about I yard high now and growing ok.But the tips ...
  A: Sounds like dryness. I would water every five days if it does not rain. Do what I call deep ...

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30 years experiance in the ID and management of forest diseases and ID of landscape tree diseases.

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