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| Subject | Date Asked |
| tricolor beech | 2/9/2012 |
| Q: I have a tricolor beech tree in my front yard in northern California purchased several years ago ... A: Looks like it started out from a branch that was taken off and this wound did not heal over well. A ... | |
| Elm Damaged and big leaks | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: I have the most beautiful elm on my street and a recent rare ice storm here in the Seattle ripped it ... A: I would not worry about the leaking--it will stop on its own. With spring soon arriving the upward ... | |
| Wild cherry trees | 2/2/2012 |
| Q: I have 300 walnut seedlings (2 to 4 yrs old) snd the deer pruned the tops out of all of them a year ... A: Can be an indication of an infestation of borers,a peachtree borer, and cherry trees are the primary ... | |
| walnut seedlings | 2/1/2012 |
| Q: I have 300 walnut seedlings (2 to 4 yrs old) snd the deer pruned the tops out of all of them a year ... A: I would think the best thing is to let them grow taller--above where the deer can reach the terminal ... | |
| Raywood Ash tree | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: I live in the Phoenix area. I have four Raywood Ash trees. Two seem to be doing well. One is ok and ... A: Most Hardwood trees ash being one of them will drop their leaves in the winter. IF the tree had ... | |
| Powdery Mildew on Magnolia Trees | 12/11/2011 |
| Q: We live in western Oregon, and have spent two summers in our current home. There are two small-ish ... A: Yes warm humid weather will give the fungi the conditions it needs to grow. No need to treat this ... | |
| Fruitless Weeping Mulberry Tree | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: We didn't plant our trees, they were here when we moved in (Ontario), I expect they're maybe 5 years ... A: At this time I would just cut the branches off that are hitting the ground and leave the others ... | |
| smelly olive tree | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: one of my neighbours has a tree in their front yard that produces these little green olive looking ... A: This is a tree called Ginkgo. The ginkgo tree, or Ginkgo biloba, is sometimes known as the ... | |
| Mimosa wood | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: Once the Mimosa wood is split, when can it start to be burned? Right away, after a couple of months ... A: Mimosa wood burns clean and will have no problems with sparking and residue buildup. It is a fairly ... | |
| calipeers | 11/11/2011 |
| Q: How can I measure the caliper of a tree with a standard tape measure? Do I go all around the ... A: Tree-trunk diameters are measured at breast height (termed diameter at breast height or DBH), ... | |
| Fruitless Mulberry Growth | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: 3 years ago we planted a young Fruitless Mulberry Tree. We planted it in the center of our ... A: I would not recommend pruning this tree now. Hardwood trees have the tendency to grow a root system ... | |
| creasote | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: i was just wondering if anyone has a chart for creosote,by wood type ? i know softwood has much more ... A: It is not a function of the type of wood but creosote buildup comes form unseasoned wood burning. ... | |
| Transplanting Japanese Maple | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I just purchased a 5 foot Japanese Maple for a 10' x 12' planting area in front of my house located ... A: In NC I would go ahead and plant it now. It really does not matter but it will be easier to take ... | |
| Tree fungus deadly? | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: Is tree fungus deadly? I am in Houston Tx, land of drought and humidity. I have a very old pear tree ... A: It is one of the decay fungi--the growth is the fruiting body much like a flower. These are the ... | |
| Redwood tree root danger | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: Our redwood tree has expanded over 40 years and now has utility lines, gas, electric and phone ... A: I am sorry there is just not enough information to give a good answer. A picture might help but it ... | |
| Leaning tree | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: My neighbors red oak tree is leaning toward my house. It is a very large tree. I think it is very ... A: The pictures were great but it is still very difficult to truly say whether a tree is a hazard ... | |
| Magnolia snow damage | 11/1/2011 |
| Q: I am also a UD Grad Bus79 We had about 4 inches of very heavy snow on Saturday and it devastated ... A: Since this tree is young it will respond to heavy prune. BUT it will need to be done in the early ... | |
| Maple tree in the south | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: Do you know which variety of red maple last the longest with the leaves on in fall (in the South)? ... A: The most popular maple that is planted is Autumn Blaze Maple, Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’. This ... | |
| Leaning tree | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: My neighbors red oak tree is leaning toward my house. It is a very large tree. I think it is very ... A: A leaning tree may or may not be a substantial hazard. It is necessary to distinguish between two ... | |
| transplanting 5 | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I live in north central Missouri. I am purchasing 7 large maple trees. Autumn blaze and October ... A: Sand will not hold water but is used to help allow water to drain. If you do add sand to the bottom ... | |
| tree root damage | 10/23/2011 |
| Q: We have a mature blue spruce approx. 12' from our house. It is about 15" in diameter and 35-40' ... A: No there will be NO problem with the roots from the blue spruce. At maturity the tree will have a ... | |
| transplanting 5" base maple trees | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I live in north central Missouri. I am purchasing 7 large maple trees. Autumn blaze and October ... A: Usually purchased trees will come with the root ball wraped in burlap and sometimes wire. These will ... | |
| Paper Bark maple | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: We have a paper bark maple in our landscape that has been in for about 6 years.The tree is about 13 ... A: Sounds as if the tree needs a fertilizer application. Fertilize with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the ... | |
| Woodpecker tree damage | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: A woodpecker has drilled a hole, about 1-1/2" in diameter about half way through one of my oaks, ... A: The woodpecker nests is a sign that the tree maybe hollow or at least soft in the middle due to ... | |
| liquid Amber Trees | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: We have two liquid amber trees that are 45 feet tall. What is the max. we can top it without killing ... A: I do not recommend cutting any of the top off. The crown (amount of foliage) produces the food for ... | |
| oak trees and fallen twigs | 10/2/2011 |
| Q: I live in the cape cod area of Massachusetts, and have noted that there are branches falling from a ... A: I do not think it is the squirrels. Sounds like an insect called a twig girdler or pruner. There ... | |
| losing leland cypress trees | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: I am having difficulty with my leland cypress trees. We planted these eight trees in the back yard ... A: 'Green Giant' arborvitae is virtually maintenance free, as well as pest and disease-resistant, ... | |
| river birch | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a river birch planeted about 4 feet from corner of foundation and 4 feet from driveway. ... A: This being a river birch, there should not be a problem with the roots. You should not have a ... | |
| Bark Off Tree | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: We built a tree house for our kids in the backyard. The tree is a post oak. One of the ... A: Unless the bark has been removed down to the wood all the way around the tree trunk the tree will ... | |
| Weeping cherry tree | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: I have planted a weeping cherry tree last may. It seems very thin in branches. Is there a way to ... A: Do not prune it. Hardwoods usually will grow a root system before they grow foliage and branches. A ... | |
| losing leland cypress trees | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: I am having difficulty with my leland cypress trees. We planted these eight trees in the back yard ... A: Leyland cypress trees are subject to a couple of canker type diseases that effect the foliage. ... | |
| Kill Live Oak Shoots | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: I live in the Tampa area Florida. Four months ago I had a live oak near my patio cut down because ... A: Unfortunately the sprouts will continue until the tree root die. The tree has stored energy in the ... | |
| bag worms in maryland | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a large blue sprice and just noticed I have bag worms. I have been pulling them off and ... A: Hand picking for small tree is the best method.Insecticides work well if the spray can be gotten on ... | |
| dogwood question 2 | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: Let me revise to you my question that you couldn't have the answer to earlier: In January, I ... A: First check to see if the branches are still alive. Start near the end of an upper outer branch and ... | |
| iron source | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I am familiar with the types and brand names of iron sulfate sources. I have read in your post ... A: Here is one source. http://www.ironite.com/ Chlorosis is typically associated with one of three ... | |
| plum tree borers | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: My plum trees are infected with larvae under their barks, making them ooze sticky liquid. I have ... A: There is a newer systemic insecticide called Merit that works well on borers. It is sprayed on the ... | |
| pussy willow tree bees | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a pussy willow tree about 15' that has tons of bees all over it and when you look at the ... A: It sounds like these bees are feeding on the willow not have a nest in the tree?? IF so they are ... | |
| live oak roots | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a follow up question please sir. When I apply the 10-10-10 fertilizer, and remember I have ... A: Sounds like quite a bit of the root system was cut off. What the tree will show will be die back of ... | |
| cottonwood trees | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I have several cottonless cottonwood trees. They are on a drip system, once a week for two hours. ... A: I assume you planted these this year. Hardwood trees tend to grow a good root system before they add ... | |
| Do growth zones include weather as a factor? | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I have come to you seveal times and you have always been very helpful. My HOA is finally ... A: Yes the hardiness zones are based for the most part on climate--(freezing weather and hot ... | |
| Tulip Tree | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: The leaves on my tulip tree are turning black. A small branch broke off several weeks ago and I put ... A: This sounds like Tulip poplar scale. The black is a sooty mold that grows on the honeydew and will ... | |
| live oak roots | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: We had the protruding surface roots of our mature sweetgum, cypress, and live oak trees shaved or ... A: Well several problems here--the 1/3 of the root system damaged without killing the tree did not ... | |
| Redwood tree pests | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: I noticed my redwood tree (about 80ft) has twice more brown leaves this year and I am concerned that ... A: Evergreens have two sets of needles on them--they will drop the oldest set of needles once the new ... | |
| Blue spruce dying from the top down | 9/17/2011 |
| Q: Good Eveving I'm in NW Ohio and have approximately 50 assorted blue/green spruce trees that are ... A: Cytospora canker of spruce is the most common and damaging disease of spruces in the East. The ... | |
| Redwood tree pests | 9/17/2011 |
| Q: I noticed my redwood tree (about 80ft) has twice more brown leaves this year and I am concerned that ... A: If the needles that are turning are on the inside of the crown this is normal. The outer needles ... | |
| How to remove pine tree stumps, (many of them) | 9/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in Montpelier, Va. and the the pine trees on the road I live on has become invested with the ... A: Well first It is hard to believe that pine beetles killed that much trees. I do not know of this ... | |
| magnolias | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: What species of magolias are found in Southeast Kansas? A: Here are the Magnolias that are found in Kansas Magnolia macrophylla ---bigleaf magnolia ... | |
| spruce trees | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: can you use 8 yr old horse manure when planting potted colorado spruce trees 20 inches tall for ... A: I do not recommend any fertilizer applied at planting. It runs the risk of burning the roots and the ... | |
| Norway Maple tree | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: After researching some more, I think it looks more like black lichens (close up on 2nd pic – you can ... A: Looks like borer damage. The tree tries to drown the insect by exuding sap. Spray the are with an ... | |
| Oak Trees | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: Last year I collected acorns and did the necessary steps to raise Red, White & Burr Oaks. They are ... A: You can plant your young oaks in the fall before a freeze or overwinter and plant them the following ... | |
| crimsom maple | 9/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a crimson maple tree about eight feet tall. It has sprouted three or four extra long ... A: Let them grow for now. Young trees need to be allowed to grow and set a shape. The top branches will ... | |
| Banyan/sewer pipes | 9/13/2011 |
| Q: We are putting a purchase offer on a home with a very large Banyan tree relatively close to the ... A: Well this tree is invasive and will grow about 100 feet tall and at least that wide. It needs a lot ... | |
| laurel oak tree roots | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: We were told that the laurel oak tree roots and the palatka tree roots had to grow up through the ... A: False. Some species of trees that grow in water or wet soil do send up "root" for oxygen --cypress ... | |
| Douglas Fir Water needs | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a stand of about 15, approximately 80 year old, Doug Fir scattered over my 1/2 acre piece of ... A: No trees this age and size do not need watering. They have already established and sound root system ... | |
| Globe Willows That are "weeping" sap and dieing | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: I am a local "handy man" and have had multiple calls concerning Globe Willows that appeared healthy ... A: If the tree still has green foliage I would try treating the trees with an insecticide called Bayer ... | |
| Tree covered in spiders web | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: We have a couple of trees at the end of the field they are covered in what look like a moth's cocoon ... A: Sounds like the spindle ermine moth. They will spin their web over the tree and eat the leaves. ... | |
| worm sacks | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: Our daughter has a walnut?? tree in her yard in Dayton Oh., that has foot long "webby" sacks hanging ... A: Sounds like an insect called Fall Webworm. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is most ... | |
| CATALPA WORM | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: I READ YOUR COMMENT ON HOW TO START CATALPA WORMS, BUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THEM FROM ... A: Herbicides will not kill insects. Herbicide are chemicals that kill plants (herbs).The chemical that ... | |
| allergy itching from hairs of sac worms | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: i felt something crawing on my neck i slaped and rubbed it down for the last 13 hrs. ive been ... A: The hairs on these caterpillars have a chemical on them that causes the itch. The hair will stick ... | |
| transplanting a red maple | 9/2/2011 |
| Q: I live in upstate ny and was wondering if its to late to transplant red maples, I have 5 that I ... A: No it is too early. Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. ... | |
| Maple leaf falling | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I like to think that the extreme heat and lack of rain is causing the leafs on my maple trees to ... A: water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on when the pan has 1 ... | |
| Dogwood leaves are firing? | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I have another problem with another of my dogwoods. This one is approx. 4" in diameter. It's ... A: Looks like leaf scorch. Leaf scorch is caused by environmental conditions that are too dry. Leaves ... | |
| Tree possible menace. How to prune. | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: My neighbor planted a row of what I believe are Lombardy Poplar trees near my house 7 years ago. ... A: 1 I would cut all the branches on your house side up to where they are above the roof line. 1 a You ... | |
| Tree possible menace. How to prune. | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: My neighbor planted a row of what I believe are Lombardy Poplar trees near my house 7 years ago. ... A: Topping is not an option. It will damaged the tree and cause the tree to bush out at the top. AND if ... | |
| Bradford Pear Split during Hurrican | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: We have a Bradford pair tree that split during hurricane Irene over the weekend. The tree split ... A: All that needs to be done is just remove any loose bark or wood from the wound and let the tree heal ... | |
| Catalpa worms | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a catalpa tree and noticed some worms. When I went to get them, I found several with white ... A: No these are not eggs but the pupae of a wasp. the Catawba worm is constantly under attack by the ... | |
| Pus*y Willow Tree Bug Problem | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a huge pus*y willow tree in my back yard and it's now covered in these little black bugs. ... A: These are the Giant willow aphid. The Giant Willow Aphid is one of many species of aphids. The ... | |
| Bradford Pear disease | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: Approximately four years ago we noticed a lot of dead, black leaf drop from the six 15 year old ... A: Your pears have fire blight. This disease is caused by bacteria rather than fungi, so fungicides do ... | |
| growth on Black Walnut Tree | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I have attached pictures taken of my black walnut tree, in my back yard. My tree is 5 years old and ... A: It is one of the leaf gall insects but there are many and I can only guess which species this is--I ... | |
| Catawaba Worms | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I LIVE IN SALEM, I KNOW THERE ARE TREES AND WORMS IN THE OPELIKA, AREA, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN A WORM ... A: I would check with local bait shops and see if they have any or can tell you where they get their ... | |
| river birch trim and moval | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: We have a 12ft tall river birch tree that we want to move ourselves its starting to grow into some ... A: Yes but it may be a large job and some what heavy. Spring would be the best time, just before the ... | |
| will live stump kill new baby tree? | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: I want to plant a baby persimmon tree so I had to cut down the elm tree to give the baby a place to ... A: Paint the top of the stump with a herbicide called Roundup. Use an old paint brush and use the ... | |
| Blue Spruce | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: I live near Vail Colorado and have several blue spruce trees in my yard which are approximately 30 ... A: These are pine needle scales. This insect sucks the plant juice from the needle and turn the needle ... | |
| Split in Maple Tree | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: We have a maple tree in our backyard that began growing from a seed from the maple tree in the front ... A: I would install a bracing Rod through the forks and tighten them so the forks can not separate ... | |
| will live stump kill new baby tree? | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I want to plant a baby persimmon tree so I had to cut down the elm tree to give the baby a place to ... A: I assume you have already cut the elm down and treated the stump to stop sprouting. The chemicals ... | |
| regrowth after thinning | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: We have family land that is mostly in a creek bottom. It was thinned out in the early 1990's. When ... A: This question has too many variables to answer without looking at the land--what species are growing ... | |
| Root Sprouts | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: We are from southern Iowa and have a crab tree that is sending out what I term "root runners" that ... A: Unfortunately, controlling root sprouts will be an ongoing, but ultimately futile task. Grubbing ... | |
| weeping cherry tree leaf problems | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: I planted my weeping cherry tree in April and it had grown beautifully until about 3 weeks ago; ... A: I would use a product called Bayer Advanced tree and shrub Protect and Feed. This contains an ... | |
| dogwood tree | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: I live in S.C. and have a tree with moss looking stuff on the trunk and the leaves turned brown ... A: First check and see if the tree is still alive--start near the end of an upper outer branch and ... | |
| globe willow tree | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: my globe willows are approx. 5 years old and during the summer the leaves are sticky and shiny and ... A: Sounds like either an insect called an aphid or a scale insect. Both suck the plant juice from the ... | |
| cypress knees | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: I have cypress knees under my house and wondering the best way to get rid of them before they get ... A: IF you want to keep the cypress, about all that can be done is just cut them off at ground level. It ... | |
| yellow pine tree needles | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: If a pine tree has yellow pine needles, has it died? This tree has received inadequate water. Thank ... A: IF the needles on the tips of the branches and top are brown--not green than I would say yes the ... | |
| ID climbing tree | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: Ok, it's kind of just been part of the yard for the last 5 years. Every year it gets bigger and ... A: I think it is Ampelopsis cordata Common name: Heartleaf peppervine, Heart-leaf Ampelopsis, Racoon ... | |
| Colorado Blue Spruce soil requirements | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: The area I am planning on planting a Colorado Blue Spruce has only approximately 2 -4 inches of soil ... A: There is not really much that can be done--a tree needs about 2 feet of soil to grow well. Tree ... | |
| worms on birch trees | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: If I do not spray the caterpillars on my birch trees, what will be the result. If they loose leafs ... A: It will depend on which insect did the defoliation. The tree will recover-hardwood trees have the ... | |
| trimming weeping cherry | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a weeping cherry (about 10 to 15yrs old) that has been let go for years. Last year I cut it ... A: I hope this is what you are asking. When you prune the weeping cherry you need to have a strong, ... | |
| Overgrown mulberry trees | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: After reading your answer to a person owning a large mulberry tree, as well as reading "The Tree" ... A: I am not real sure I get what you are asking. IF you are wanting to cut the branches that over hang ... | |
| Silver Maple Tree Bark splitting | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: My approximately 7-8 year old silver maple's bark started to split this spring. It has continued to ... A: It sounds like a case of sunscald. Young maples are particularly susceptible to sunscald. Sunscald ... | |
| Raywood Ash | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Early spring I bought a big box Raywood Ash tree from Moon Nursery for our yard. Up til now, its ... A: First check and see if the tree is still alive--start near the and of an upper branch and scrap a ... | |
| Locust tree leakage | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Ive had sap on my car all summer from a 35 yr. Locust tree. Is this normal or is it Diseased or ... A: I would wash the car weekly and try to find a parking place as far from the tree as possible. At ... | |
| Dying red Oak | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: One more Picture A: Looking at both pictures this is an insect called a oak borer. They attack the tree and bore into ... | |
| Dying Red Oak | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: I had contacted you earlier on a different matter at AllExperts.com. Your advice was dead on and I ... A: Looking at both pictures this is an insect called a oak borer. They attack the tree and bore into ... | |
| Locust tree leakage | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: Ive had sap on my car all summer from a 35 yr. Locust tree. Is this normal or is it Diseased or ... A: Sounds like the tree is infested with aphids or scale insets. These insect suck the plant juices ... | |
| Hornets living inside oak tree | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I have noticed dozens of yellow jackets coming in and out of a hole about 3 ft above ground level in ... A: If the yellow jackets are actually going in a hole in the trunk this is a nest. IF they are just ... | |
| Young Maple tree | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a young maple tree that is 4yrs, that was started from a seed. It's growing great, but the ... A: I would not prune it right now. This is a young tree and the terminal has not really expressed ... | |
| Some type of bug eating my Crimson King Leaves | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: Good Afternoon, I planted a Crimson King about 6 weeks ago and noticed that some of the leaves had ... A: This is a Japanese beetle. You can either spray the foliage with an insecticide called Orthene ... | |
| Problem with Chinese Pistache Trees? | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: Jim, I recently receivesd an e-mail from a friend who was telling me about a problem with her 25 ... A: I would leave it alone for now. One branch has already started to exhibit dominance and will be the ... | |
| Problem with Chinese Pistache Trees? | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: Jim, I recently receivesd an e-mail from a friend who was telling me about a problem with her 25 ... A: yes it can be common--in the nursery the tree is top pruned and it develops several "tops", If these ... | |
| Shumard (Red) Oak leaking sap | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: Last fall I planted two 150 lb Shumard Oaks. In June, when temperatures in Dallas soared and the ... A: You can check to see if the tree is still alive by starting near the end of an upper outer branch ... | |
| locust leaking sap | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: i have a 35yr old locust tree and it's been leaking sap all summer and all over my car. is this ... A: I would wash the car weekly and try to find a parking place as far from the tree as possible. At ... | |
| cottonless cottonwood problem | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: We have a cottonless cottonwood that has been on our property for over 20 years. It has always been ... A: Sounds like one of the sucking insects--aphids or scales. These insects suck the plant juices from ... | |
| sycamore tree loosing leaves | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: Sycamore Tree Loosing leaves and some limbs are showing signs of dying. Hello, I water the area ... A: A mature tree can lose hundreds of gallons of water a day through its leaves, especially in hot or ... | |
| locust leaking sap | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: i have a 35yr old locust tree and it's been leaking sap all summer and all over my car. is this ... A: Check and see if the sap is sticky and seems to fall is small mist like droplets. I would think that ... | |
| tree galls | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: my five year old chinaberry tree did not get leave this year. It has knots all over. Is this galls ? ... A: Galls are irregular plant growths which are stimulated by the reaction between plant hormones and ... | |
| globe willow | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: tree is 30 yrs.for the past 3 yrs about 50 % of the tree leaves turn yellow an fall off .the other ... A: It sounds like it is not getting enough water. Willow trees need more water than other tree species. ... | |
| trees | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a swimming pool but at one side i have only 4ft in width from the pool to the fence i know ... A: Musa Basjoo banana is a perfect leafy banana for creating the tropical look in marginal climates. ... | |
| Mimosa tree wilt (fusarium | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: I have one tree dying with this fungus. It is near two more mimosa trees that did not bloom well ... A: Fusarium wilt is a common and lethal disease of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)1, also commonly known ... | |
| White Foam on lower trunk of a Sugar Maple | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: We have 2 maples on the south side of the house, Ohio, planted about 2.5 years ago. One is ... A: I can not tell from the description what killed the tree but the white are fruiting bodies of a ... | |
| Southern Pine Beetle Outbreak-Richmond, Texas | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: We are having a terrible loss of pine trees on top of the horrible drought (one leads to another ... A: The beetles will definitely NOT attack the cedar siding on your house or the pine inside. They ... | |
| oak tree | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a old ? oak tree that is very large and round. I have been in the house for 4 years and it ... A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. Spray the trunk with an insecticide called Merit now and again ... | |
| Weeping Willow Borer Damaged Tree | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: one started dropping leaves like crazy found out after some investigation it had borers. Pulled out ... A: If the tree still has green foliage I would try treating the trees with an insecticide called Bayer ... | |
| fast growing trees | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: I am having a swimming pool in my back yard,i am overlooked on all sides of my house so i need fast ... A: If I am reading you right the walkway around the pool is 4 feet from the fence. That leaves 4 feet ... | |
| pin oak | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: What are the hard brown knobs on the leaf A: This sounds like a leaf gall insect. These insects will secrete a chemical on the leaf and lay eggs ... | |
| Damage to Chinese Pistache Sapling | 8/4/2011 |
| Q: Jim, Thank you for taking my question. I have a young Chinese Pistache tree. This morning I made ... A: I will be fine. Young trees will heal over wound fast and in a year or so you will not be able to ... | |
| Columnar Swedish Aspens | 8/4/2011 |
| Q: I bought a house 2 years ago (Calgary Ab) and there are 2 Columnar Swedish Aspens that were planted ... A: Sorry these are entirely too close (1 1/2 feet away). These trees have a spread at maturity of about ... | |
| Weeping Cherry Tree | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I just noticed this soft cream like and cream colored substance coming out of a rather large branch ... A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. These insect drill into the bark of trees and the wound causes ... | |
| fast growing trees | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I am having a swimming pool in my back yard,i am overlooked on all sides of my house so i need fast ... A: I would suggest you look at two tree that will make a good hedge and are fast growing. Thuja Green ... | |
| Laburnum tree | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: My mature laburnum tree, we've had it 40 years when it was already mature, has for the first time ... A: To determine if the tree is dead check one of the highest branches you can reach--start near the end ... | |
| wood for carving | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: Where can basswood be ordered (for carving purposes) to be shipped t0o Canada? A: Here are a couple of places basswood can be ordered--one is in Canada ... | |
| RED MAPLE LEAF DROP | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: MO HAS HAD 3 WEEKS OF 100 DEGREES, AND I JUST NOTICED MY RED MAPLE OF 16 YEARS HAS DRY CRISPY ... A: Hardwood trees like maples have the capability to leaf out after they drop their leaves. I would ... | |
| oak tree | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: My oak tree is less then a year old, the leaves are very sparse and they are beginning to turn fall ... A: I would guess that it is lack of water and the heat. Water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under ... | |
| Sick Bradford Pear Tree | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a Bradford Pear that is about 15 years old and is thinning drastically. I dont see leaves ... A: I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of ... | |
| tree dripping | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: I believe it is a birch tree of some sort. Is is dripping like raindrops. Why? Do I need to do ... A: Sounds like aphids. These small insect suck the plant juices from the twigs and leaves and secrete a ... | |
| Ash tree or not? | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a few trees I believe are ash. They have the opposing branches, very thick, cork like spongy ... A: I am not real sure so I checked with a forester who is well versed in ortamental trees and here is ... | |
| yellowing globe willow tree | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: In the spring, my globe willow, 3 years old, comes out so green and pretty. During the hot desert ... A: Willows need more water than most tree species so I would guess under watering is the problem, I ... | |
| maple tree | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: i live in northwestern ontario next to the manitoba border. I have maple trees in my yard and they ... A: Sounds like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ... | |
| hybrid willow tree stem turning black | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: One of my hybrid willow tree which I planted a year ago is about 15 feet tall, I noticed one of the ... A: Try this home made mixture. mix up a one gallon batch of a bordeaux mixture. Take a gallon of ... | |
| MAPLE TREE, | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: I HAVE A MAPLE TREE THAT OVER THE PAST 4 TO 5 WEEKS I'VE NOTICED THE LEAVES CHANGING LIKE IT WAS ... A: It could be several things from Borers to sun scald to possibly antracnose. There is just not enough ... | |
| hybrid willow tree stem turning black | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: One of my hybrid willow tree which I planted a year ago is about 15 feet tall, I noticed one of the ... A: I really can not tell how bad the situations is--if the 75 % of the foliage is dead and the most of ... | |
| A 9 yr.old river birch. | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 9 year old river birch that is a single river birch not a clump river birch. We are ... A: You should have no problems with a river birch that far from a pool. The width of the branches at ... | |
| Replanting fruit trees that already have fruit | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: I have 6 citrus trees and 1 apple tree in pots and I want to replant them in the ground. All of the ... A: Yes replanting them more than likely will cause them to drop their fruit due to the stress of ... | |
| sap dropping from maple tree | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: We have tiny yellowish spots over out entire car which is parked partly under a maple tree in ... A: Sounds like an insect either aphids or scales both suck the plant juices and secrete a substance ... | |
| ash tree | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: I have an 25' ash tree that has had some kind of black looking substance growing in a depression in ... A: No it sounds like the tree may have a decay fungi on the inside of the tree. What you are seeing are ... | |
| hybrid willow tree stem turning black | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: One of my hybrid willow tree which I planted a year ago is about 15 feet tall, I noticed one of the ... A: Sounds like black canker. Black canker results from the fungus Glomerella miyabeana and afflicts ... | |
| october glory maple | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: I live in Central Texas. I just received my tree from fastgrowingtrees Thursday. The tree looks ... A: Well there is a major problem with trying to plant trees in the summer months especially in the ... | |
| re Mountain ash trunk damage | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: WE have young Mountain ash Trees there is some trunk damage I would like to save the tree. How do I ... A: Do not pout any wound dressing paint on the wound this will slow the healing process down. I would ... | |
| waterfall japanese maple tree | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: I've had this tree for about 3 years, and it was growing beautifully until either kids, or a deer ... A: think you are saying the tree was broken entirely off and no branches with leaves are left (a ... | |
| Stressed out maple tree! | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: We live in La Crosse, Wi. and experience extreme temperatures on both ends of the scale. Our maple ... A: Looks like sun scald damage which can be a problem on thin barked trees like Maple. I would ... | |
| BLUE SPRUCE TREE-FALLEN NEEDLES | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: MY BLUE SPRUCE IS ABOUT 40YRS OLD, HEALTHY. IT ACCUMULATES INCHES OF FALLEN NEEDLES WHICH CAN BE A ... A: I am trying to picture where the tree is growing and am taking the view that is is growing in your ... | |
| Pin oak leaf disase - with pictures | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a young pin oak (10 years). On the underside of most leaves is what appears to be a fungus ... A: it is not the vein pocket gall. Looks like possibly a mite. I looked at some trees here and did fine ... | |
| birch tree cuttings with black on the bark | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I took a bunch of cut white birch branches from a neighbor, some three to four feet in length. I am ... A: Sounds like the fruiting bodies of one of the many decay fungi that begin working when a limb is ... | |
| Oak trees | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: On one of my Oak trees, I have a web-like covering growing down one of the limbs towards the trunk. ... A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ... | |
| bark stipped by squirrels | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: i have several trees that the squirrels have stripped the bark. they have done this to several ... A: You should be able to get the tree tape (Wrap) from a garden/ nursery type store. Amazon also has ... | |
| Pin oak leaf disase | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a young pin oak (10 years). On the underside of most leaves is what appears to be a fungus ... A: A picture would help a lot. Please attach a picture to the question. One of the pest problem on ... | |
| bark stipped by squirrels | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: i have several trees that the squirrels have stripped the bark. they have done this to several ... A: There are repellent that can be used to discourage squirrel damage. Ro-pel is a taste repellent ... | |
| Rooting new trees from bradford pear trees | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: Can you root trees from the limbs that are being pruned off of the tree? If so, what would you need ... A: You can try but I think what you will get is not the same "bradford tree" since normally bradfords ... | |
| White Worm Boring in cut wood | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: I recently cut up an oak tree from another property in MD. About two weeks later after I brought it ... A: Sounds like a beetle called Roundheaded beetle. Firewood often houses beetles, both under the bark ... | |
| Live Oak Surface Tree Roots | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: Jim, I have two Live oaks in front of my house with two or three surface roots on each tree that ... A: Do NOT cut the tops of the roots off this will damage the root system and could cause dieback off ... | |
| Oak Tree Missing Leaves | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a fairly large oak tree in my front yard that's been there for 18 years. It's been a fairly ... A: As a tree grows older the inner small branches will self prune mainly due to a shading effect. As ... | |
| Crepe Myrtle | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a crepe myrtle that was transplanted in early April. The leaves have died, but the scratch ... A: Sounds like there was not enough root system dug when it was transplanted. The tree is under going ... | |
| Live oak pruning | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 live oak trees that were planted approx: 5 years ago from a nursery when they were about 6 ... A: I am not sure what your desired outcome you want. Some folks want live oaks that the branches reach ... | |
| Laurel wilt-ambrosia beetles | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: Jim, We are losing all our bay trees we believe due to the ambrosia beetle. What can we do or spray ... A: Since this is a unusual and exotic insect and disease complex I would suggest that you contact the ... | |
| magnolia tree | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: my question is i have a white flowering magnolia tree that is located at the rear of our home it is ... A: Sounds like Magnolia scale, an insect. This small insect lives in a scale and sucks the plant juices ... | |
| gold spotted oak borer | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: i have recently planted 17 oak trees ranging from 60" box to 84" box two of the 84" boxed trees have ... A: The researchers In Calif. have not come up with a prevention tool--researchers are real slow in ... | |
| saving split oak tree | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: I had two trees fall in my yard after last week's storm. The neighbor's oak tree fell into my yard ... A: Do not cut it down. It does not look like a fatal injury. At the very worst I could see that the ... | |
| red oak tree | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: I have two recently planted red oak trees (April 2011) in my front yard. There is sap oozing from ... A: It sounds like a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or flowing ... | |
| cupressus tree | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: we have a 20feet cupressus which is leaning 20-30deg to the left have tried tieing a rope around ... A: This a hard work but can be done. Drive two stakes into the ground on the side of the tree that is ... | |
| Inured Weeping Cherry Tree Oozing Sap | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: My 9-year-old cut about a 1" ring of bark away from the base of our Miniature Weeping Cherry tree ... A: If you are saying that a 1 inch ring all the way around the trunk was cut then there is a good ... | |
| Yellow Spotty leaves | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: My husband & I planted a flowering crabapple tree (Robinson) this spring. It is about 8 - 9 feet ... A: Looks like one of the leaf spot fungi. A common reaction is to run for the sprayer and quickly ... | |
| blue spruce root balls | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: Should I purchase colorado blue spruce trees that have been sitting out of the ground with root ball ... A: NO A couple of reasons--entirely wrong time of the year (hot weather is the worst time to plant a ... | |
| Japanese Red Maple | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: I wanted to get back to you quickly to answer your questions regarding my tree. The tree was moved ... A: If the question was did the "landscape" folks cause the problem the answer is Yes. Several problem ... | |
| weeping Mulberry | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: How should i prun my weeping Mulberry? I should have pruned it sooner. The branches are growing up ... A: At this time I would just cut the branches off that are hitting the ground and leave the others ... | |
| Ponderosa Pine damage | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: Attached is a pic of a ponderosa pine in the Black Hills of SD. Its damage is different than the ... A: These are sap sucker(wood pecker) holes. The bird makes the hole in lines along the trunk or ... | |
| maple tree | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: SOMEONE HIT TWO OF MY TREES AND TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OF BARK OFF THEM.THEY'RE ABOUT TWENTY FEET TALL ... A: They will live. I would remove any loose bark from around the wound and then spray the area with an ... | |
| Root removal under house | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I've read your other root answers but they didn't touch on my few points I have. Douglas Fir, 250 ... A: The time it takes for roots to decay will depend on the climate where you live. Here in the Southern ... | |
| Digging by trees | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I want to install an in-ground swimming pool. How close can I dig to a mature Oak tree without ... A: Digging inside the dripline will cause dieback of the foliage. The dripline is the distance the ... | |
| copper beach tree | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a mature copper beach tree 30ft high the leaves are being eaten by a very small whitish aphid ... A: Aphids are controlled with the use of an insecticide. Most trees are too large to spray the entire ... | |
| Cut down arbor vitas | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: I have 2-25 foot Arbor Vitas I want to cut 5 feet off the tops,will this kill the trees> A: It will not kill them but will not do them too much good. IF you want a hedge looking "tree" that is ... | |
| How to cover /treat a Hole in Calif "live oak" tree | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: A live oak with a ~5 foot diam trunk, which branches out into three 2 foot diam limbs, which in turn ... A: Benefits from filling the cavity are questionable at best. Since the fill material will expand and ... | |
| Afgan Pines | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a ranch in Willow Springs CA. It is very dry and hot in the summer here.Almost no rainfall ... A: Too much water--over watering will have the same effect and signs as too little water--browning ... | |
| recently planted river birch tree yellow leaves and then the yellow leaves all drop offs | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: the flowers fell about 1 week ago. I went to prune it and saw holes,brown patches on the lower ... A: Sounds like stress from the lack of water and the fertilizer. A couple of things could cause the ... | |
| tulip tree | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I read you answer about tulip trees but am not sure it would apply to our tree. We received a tulip ... A: Cut the dead top off and the new sprouts will grow. One usually will grow taller than the others and ... | |
| Aphids | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a large maple tree probably 40 years old. We have these white objects floating in the air and ... A: Sounds like one of the wooly aphids. These insect suck the plant juices from the tree and secrete a ... | |
| Dead pin oak | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: We had our 63 yr. Old pin oak trimmed last summer And now it appears to be dead. Initially after ... A: IF you have no green foliage the tree is dead. Did the trimming kill it--it depends on when it was ... | |
| Possible insects in Bradford Pear Trees | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I have 11 Bradford Pear trees about 20' tall lining my driveway in Central Massachusetts. They are 8 ... A: Sounds like sapsuckers wood peckers Most woodpeckers rely on insects and tree sap as their primary ... | |
| Royal Empress Tree Roots | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I am planting a Royal Empress Tree in my front yard. The tree will be 9.5 feet from the street and ... A: Yes it should be OK as far as the roots go. You may as years go by need to prune the lower limbs as ... | |
| Blue Spruce Close to the House | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: We live in north-central NM about 10 miles from the CO border in a newly purchased house. There are ... A: No there will be NO problem with the roots from the blue spruce. At maturity the tree will have a ... | |
| ants eating our tree roots? | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: We have lovely globe and weeping willow trees about 5 years old. We live in Santa Rosa, NM. It has ... A: Willow trees need a lot of water. I would think the drought is the cause of the leaf fall not the ... | |
| laurel oak problem | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: i live in ft myers fl.my 12foot laurel oaks leaves recently started to turn brown on about 1/5th of ... A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ... | |
| Hawthorn | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 hawthorn trees, over 20 years old with a stem circumference of about 10 inches. About 15 ... A: The root system is more fibrous but will not cause any problems with the foundation. The spread of ... | |
| Japanese maple eaten by beetles | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: After killing off the beetles on my japanese maple, what should I do with the tree? Should I prune ... A: Do not do anything. Hardwood trees which maples are one will put on new leaves when an insect eats ... | |
| Insect eating chokecherry blossoms | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: We live in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. We have just discovered that our chokecherry tree is ... A: Sounds like Japanese beetles. Many insecticides are labeled for Japanese beetle control on ... | |
| disease on English Oak | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have an English Oak approx 50 ft. tall that has developed some type of disease. Does the attached ... A: Looks like an oak borer. The insect borers into the bark and the tree exudes sap and many other ... | |
| white oak Anthracnose or oak wilt? | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: My very large white oak appears to have some leaf blight problem. Attached are a few pictures of the ... A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungus called leaf blister. Oak leaf blister is a fungal leaf spot ... | |
| Willow Tree | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a willow tree which has been in by backyard for 4 years, about four days ago I started to ... A: I would say water may be the main thing. Willows like water and require more than the average tree ... | |
| oak tree | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a very large oak tree, and on one side of it from about 20 feet up its has a black streek ... A: Sounds like slime flux. The oozing is called "slime flux" and is caused by a bacterial infection ... | |
| Sap from laurel oak | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: Our old laurel oak has suddenly started dropping heavy quantities of sap, which has never happened ... A: I am going to assume you are talking about the sap raining down like a mist not pouring down the ... | |
| white oak trees | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: IHAVE SEVERAL OLD HUGE WHITE OAK TREES.RECENTLY ONE OF THEM FELL DURING A WINDSTORM.I CHECKED THE ... A: If the foliage is green and full the tree is healthy. It sounds like the wood in the center of the ... | |
| My Rabid Willow Tree | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm in Albuquerque, NM and I noticed that my Willow tree I planted 5 years ago seems to be "rabid". ... A: Sounds like a disease called Frothy flux. Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood ... | |
| weeping cheery ornamental | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: the flowers fell about 1 week ago. I went to prune it and saw holes,brown patches on the lower ... A: Sounds like a couple of different problems--A borer insect has infested the trunk and a leaf eating ... | |
| Japenese Red Maple | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: My tree has new growth at the bottom. But at the top of the tree does not looks dead. do i need to ... A: Young Japanese maples tend top have winter burn and the upper branches are killed back. Yes prune ... | |
| tree sap | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I havv a tennis court close to a forest. what tree sap would cause a nasty black residue on a ... A: Check and see if the sap is sticky and seems to fall is small mist like droplets. I would think that ... | |
| Mature Spruce Tree | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a approx. 60 foot Spruce tree in my yard and I would like to put a pond in next to it. I was ... A: The roots of a tree extend out about 1 1/2 times the branches. Generally you can cut 25% of a trees ... | |
| Pruning | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a six year old King Crimson Maple. It is really starting to take off this year. The very top ... A: No cutting the terminal off will at the least damage the tree and at the worst kill it. It is never ... | |
| pin oak tree weeping sap | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: A thirty year old pin oak in our backyard has begun to weep sap from two holes in the tree about ... A: Sounds like slime flux. The oozing is called "slime flux" and is caused by a bacterial infection ... | |
| Fort myers pin oak webbing on thick branches | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: PLEASE let me know how to control pin oak webbing on my thick branches, the webbing is like nothing ... A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ... | |
| Different limbs coming out on bottom of tree | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a fruitless weeping mullberry tree, we have had it for about 2 yrs. This year I have oak ... A: Usually fruitless weeping mulberry is formed by grafting onto an American mulberry root stock. It ... | |
| river birch root system | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: We need to cut away some large roots around our river birch its raised the landscape and is causing ... A: The percent of the roots that are cut is the determining factor. The roots of a tree will extend ... | |
| brown needles on spruce | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I live in Alberta Canada and have 15 foot plus spruce trees on my acreage. The last few years I ... A: Looks like a disease. The most important disease of spruce in landscape plantings is Cytospora ... | |
| Weeping purple beech suffering leaf curl | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: We have a weeping purple beech which is at least 12 years old and 8ft high. ALl of a sudden the ... A: The roots of tree are within the top 1-2 feet of soil. IF you dug down when you "cleared" the flower ... | |
| catalpa umberela tree | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: i really pruned this tree almost to the trunk in the fall ,now its 24th may and no sign of buds or ... A: You may have over done the pruning. Leave buds are on smaller branches and twigs and when a tree is ... | |
| Japanese Magnolia strange infestation | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I have yellow round spots on the bark.. some leaves of this young tree are getting what I beleive to ... A: Please send the pictures especially of the bark. The sooty mold sounds like a scale problem. Scale ... | |
| Cottonwood tree roots | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 huge cottonwood trees in my front yard. 3 gigantic roots are at ground surface and even ... A: Cutting large roots will cause some dieback or the foliage. The amount will depend-- On how close ... | |
| Weeping Willow Tree | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: A couple of months ago I ordered a dwarf variety of Weeping Willow tree - Salix Flamingo - which ... A: Without seeing the conditions it is growing in I would say it is a water issue. It looks especially ... | |
| Sunburst Locust | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I planted a Sunburst Locust tree last November. The tree was a "bare root" provide for free from my ... A: Sounds like a case of planting stress. There is not really anything that can be done to "wake up " ... | |
| Bare oak tree limb | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: A few years ago an "expert arborist" did a hatchet job on my big, beautiful old oak tree. I won't ... A: I would check to see if the bare branch is still alive. Scrap a small bit of bark off near the end ... | |
| tulip tree disease/ can it be saved | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: We live in Md.and have a tulip tree that has bloomed successfully for @ 5 years. This spring it ... A: Yes Prune the dead branch off about 1/4 inch from the trunk. This will leave a branch collar and the ... | |
| Florida trees | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: How many native trees does Florida have and what would one be A: There are approximately 90+ native trees in Florida. There has been many more exotic trees moved ... | |
| crypte myrtle | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I have sprayed systemic fungicide 2 times , about 10 days apart and applied general pesticide but ... A: Sounds like an insect called aphids. These insects suck the plant juice from the plant and secrete a ... | |
| Ewuro tree | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I hoped you could give me information about the african ewuro tree, I have searched online for ... A: I do not know this tree by that name. The problem comes with common names for trees. The same tree ... | |
| Purple Arctic Weeping Willow | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I planted the above tree by my garage about 3 ft.from the side. The garage is about 22 ft. long and ... A: Willow roots are more fibrous and have not been known to be a problem with foundations and walkways. ... | |
| unknown tree | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I recently moved into a new home and there is a tree in my backyard we are considering removing to ... A: It is a cherry tree but I am not sure of the variety. Almost need the flowers and fruit to get a ID ... | |
| Flowering Cherry Tree | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: Last spring 2010 I had a flowering cherry tree which sunk in the area it was planted. I had it ... A: You can tell if the tree is alive by scraping a small bit of bark off the end of a branch and if the ... | |
| Globe Cedar - Root system/Transplant | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I have a Globe Cedar in my front yard,I would like to transplant. What time of year, how deep or ... A: Evergreens should be moved earlier in the fall than deciduous plants so they have time to form new ... | |
| Planting Emerald Cedar in Front Yard | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I recently planted two Emerald Cedar trees (and a Dwarf Alberta Spruce) about 2 1/2 feet from the ... A: Emerald cedar grow about 3-4 feet wide meaning they will extend about 2 feet from the trunk. And ... | |
| white birch tree | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: We recently planted a birch tree and about 3 days later, our daughter, sweet child that she is, ... A: As long as the loose bark was peeled off and not the tight bark it will be OK. I doubt that the ... | |
| Blue spruce tree | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I live in central MN. We planted a blue spruce tree last May. The tree looks OK but has not yet ... A: Newly planted trees sometimes will put all their growth energy into growing roots and the stems will ... | |
| Magnolia | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I have an old 40 ft magnolia tree. Had some leaf spots and treated with copper solution and epson ... A: No I would not treat with anything. Sounds like just normal bark sluffing. As long as the tree is ... | |
| removing pine tree stump | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: my lawn service removed a dead white pine tree. it was about ten inches in diameter and twenty feet ... A: Yes it is possible to dig a 10 inch stump up BUT it will take some work. You will need to dig down ... | |
| dogwood tree | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a 6 ft dogwood tree that came out and bloomed this spring and noticed the leaves are dying, ... A: Sounds like dogwood anthracnose. here is a web link to information on this disease. ... | |
| ash tree in Minnesota | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: We have 4 ash trees (MN) that are about 25 years old. This year two of them do not have any leaves. ... A: Sometimes the early leaves of hardwood trees are killed by a late freeze but hardwood tree have the ... | |
| best way to treat bagworms in pine trees | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: Jim I have about 40 acres of long needle pines. The bugs are killing quite a few trees, so what ... A: There are several options for control of bagworms. If the trees are not too tall you can spray the ... | |
| Splitting tree | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a tree that is 5-10 years old & we just noticed that one of it's two main branches has a long ... A: The foliage of the trees look healthy. I would install a bracing Rod through the forks and tighten ... | |
| russian olive | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: I have read pruning of the Russian Olive tree in general but nothing mentions the shoots budding ... A: it is best to cut back any sucker growth on the main trunk or from the tree's roots as soon as it's ... | |
| new growth on Colorado Blue Spruce | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: Last fall, I purchased two small Colorado Blue Spruces 'Baby Blue' and overwintered them in their ... A: As long as the needles are green the tree will be OK. It sounds like just shock from the planting. ... | |
| Cherry Tree | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a mature sweet cherry tree that is showing signs of stress this spring. Last summer we had ... A: First make sure the lower branches are dead before you cut them. Start near the end of the branch ... | |
| Ceder Tree | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a 10 inch cedar tree in middle Missouri that has rows and rows of very small holes going all ... A: IF these holes are in a line this is a woodpecker called a sapsucker. Most woodpeckers rely on ... | |
| carpenter ants in maple tree | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: You mentioned that Terro can be effective. I looked at their site and there are many different types ... A: I would use the Outdoor Liquid Ant Baits. It will last longer outdoors. Here is the web link ... | |
| pear tree | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: I planted a cleveland pear three years ago. This year the tree bloomed real good.But after the ... A: I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ... | |
| magnolia tree- yellow changing to star | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a magnolia tree I purchased about 10 years ago that was sold to me as a yellow magnolia by a ... A: Most of the yellow magnolias are crosses between magnolia species with yellow flowers and ones with ... | |
| Weeping cherry | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have an old weeping cheery tree that was let go for years. The branches from the root tree had ... A: No grafting to a main trunk will not work. About the best you can do is fertilize the tree with ... | |
| Poplar Trees | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: A neighbor came into our yard and hammered copper nails into 3 large 14 yr old poplar trees. He put ... A: No the wound paint will slow the healing process down. Fir trees have enough sap that the wound ... | |
| Poplar Trees | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: A neighbor came into our yard and hammered copper nails into 3 large 14 yr old poplar trees. He put ... A: I would stop the fertilizer if the foliage is full. Leaf spot fungi make the leaves look off color ... | |
| aspen tree | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I live in northeast MO. I have a Aspen tree I brought here from CO. It has done well tell this year, ... A: There are two insects that cut off twigs of hardwoods: the twig girdler and the twig pruner. Both of ... | |
| False Cherry Tree is SICK! | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm THRILLED to find you on internet and need your advice desperately! I have a false cherry (I ... A: I do not think the damage to the trunk killed the tree. This type damage will allow decay fungi into ... | |
| Holes in the trunk of my tree,...? | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: I have what I think are several flowering or ornamental pear trees on my property. One of them has a ... A: Sapsuckers are a type of woodpecker. They make the small holes in rows around the tree trunk. Some ... | |
| Blue Spruce - root system - front walk repair | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a 30 ft Colorado blue spruce in my front yard. Its root system has cracked the front walk, ... A: The root system is with in the first 2 feet of soil. You can get by with cutting up to 25 % of the ... | |
| Raywood Ash trees | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I inherited 3 Raywood ash trees from a fried. They are about 15 feet tall already and are in large ... A: No topping is one of the worst things you can do for a tree. Topping is the drastic removal or ... | |
| Questions about our 20 year old "live'oak" with galls on it | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: We have a beautiful large oak tree in our front yard, which after looking up all the different types ... A: There are a variety of gall-forming species of small wasps that commonly infest oak, Quercus spp. ... | |
| Crimsom King Maple Tree | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: We are in Western North Carolina. Our tree is beautiful but the roots are above ground, can I mulch ... A: You can mulch around the tree which is a great idea but do not use more than 3 inches deep of ... | |
| Oak Tree Rot | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 large oak trees, don't know what kind of oak, perhaps you can identify them from the ... A: Looks like decay fungi more than likely from a wound maybe from an insect called a borer. There is ... | |
| Raywood Ash trees | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I inherited 3 Raywood ash trees from a fried. They are about 15 feet tall already and are in large ... A: By all means take the tree out of the box. It is or beginning to get root bound in the box. Dig the ... | |
| bugs eating at our pine trees | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: There is something eating away at our 40+yr old pine trees. Just a year or so ago they were healthy ... A: I do not know of any disease or insect that would effect just the lower needles. It sounds like ... | |
| Unusual object growing on Oak Tree | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: When looking at a new oak tree in our garden my wife pointed out what appears to be a pear shaped ... A: These are Sower oak galls. The wool sower gall is caused by secretions of grubs of a small gall ... | |
| Tree/shrub as privacy fence | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I live in Indianapolis, IN and am looking for some sort of evergreen to line one side of a fence ... A: There are several that would work. Here is one that grows about 6 feet tall and flowers. Spring ... | |
| magnolia tree | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: The last 2 years my tree has bloomed les and less. Last year I noticed very little buds and the ... A: Nitrogen will cause the buds to abort and since this is the main component of lawn fertilizer, it ... | |
| pin oak boring insect | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a pin oak in my yard that every spring gets attacked by some insect. The insect is probably ... A: Just not enough information to ID the insect causing the problem BUT borers and the like can be ... | |
| Cedar Tree Bores | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I have about 2 acres of cedars w/ borers. I know I need something like a Merit systemic treatment ... A: There are granular Merit type insecticides that should work. One of these is Ferti-lome Tree and ... | |
| Dying baby white pine or normal? | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: i moved a young white pine (pretty sure that's what it is) from our backyard to our front yard to a ... A: It looks like shock from the transplant. Maybe the roots were damaged during the move. IF there is ... | |
| Redbud Tree | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I have a weeping redbud tree that is about 2-3 years old. It's about 3-4 ft. tall. It has brown ... A: Leaf spots can be a problem during wet weather. The spots appear as small brown or black spots on ... | |
| Yellow Tabubia Treeq | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I planted a yellow Tabubia last year after blooming season and this year it lost all of it leaves ... A: Usually the flowers will bud out with the leaves or a little before the leaves. The freeze killed ... | |
| Leaky tree | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I live in Minnesota and have a tree, I am not sure the species, that has acquired a leak in one of ... A: Several tree species will leak if pruned especially in the spring. The worst is River Birch. This is ... | |
| Weesatch and Mesquite | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: We are planning to start killing and removing these nasty trees. Is there a best time to do this? We ... A: I would soon after you cut the trees treat the stump with Roundup. You do not have to treat right ... | |
| sawdust from pruning | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: Our neighbor very graciously let us trim several branches from 3 oak trees and let us have 2 pine ... A: No the saw dust or chip will not kill the trees. I have heard of fresh chips causing the newly ... | |
| Bradford Pear Roots | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: After applying Roundup to the stump and any sprouts how long should I wait before planting another ... A: You actually can plant right away as long as the herbicide has dried. Roundup is used to control ... | |
| Sick Pin Oak? | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: I have two pin oaks. One of them seems to be sick or have a parasite. For the last two summers, it ... A: Sounds like either aphids or a scale insect--both insects will suck the plant juices from the plant ... | |
| Magnolia tree diseases | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: Very large beautiful magnolia tree in front yard in Austin TX. It does not produce many white ... A: More likely, the plant is missing some essential trace elements, or micronutrients. Nitrogen-rich ... | |
| Norfolk pine | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: Are the roots system of norfolk pines invasive. Can they cause structural damage if planted close to ... A: No that far a way from the house you will not have a problem with the root system. The Norfolk has a ... | |
| Wilting leaves on tree after transplant | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: Jim, My name is Tim in Kingman, KS (zone 6a). I transplanted a 6 foot potted Chinese Pistache tree ... A: I disagree. The problem comes in the type of soil--heavy clay soil is a definite NO but you might ... | |
| young maple trees | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I planted three young maple trees that are only 6 inches tall and already have their leaves when the ... A: It is a good possibility that the trees could be damaged especially if there is a frost. At night I ... | |
| Wilting leaves on tree after transplant | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: Jim, My name is Tim in Kingman, KS (zone 6a). I transplanted a 6 foot potted Chinese Pistache tree ... A: Since I do not know how this trees were handled during planting I am making an assumption--Normally ... | |
| Bugs on Royal Empress Tree | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: I have been getting a bug that looks like a dark red lady bug on my Royal Empress trees. Is there ... A: Ladybugs eat other insect--their favorite is aphids. Aphids suck the plant juices from the plant a ... | |
| redbud clump tree | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: i am landscaping around my inground pool and want a very small accent tree and dont mind if its ... A: You should be ok--the minimum distance recommended by a pool is 6 feet and also 6 feet from a ... | |
| shamel ash tree | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: i have a shamel ash that is about 8 years old. In the last few years the bark on the trunk has ... A: Sounds like Sunscsld. Sunscald is another form of winter injury that can cause cracks and splits. ... | |
| Magnolia Trunk Damage | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: Right after we moved into our new house in Quinto Vicentino, Italy, my husband began to cut down a ... A: The wound will heal over--it may take a year or so depending on the growth of the tree. No need to ... | |
| global willow tree | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: we live in payson arizona, elevation 5,000ft. planted willow tree about 20 years ago, has done well ... A: I do not think you have an insect issue. Borer damage either has sawdust near the hole or the bark ... | |
| Orange tree care | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: We recently purchased a home in Southern California which has a lot of beautiful plants in the ... A: Sounds like you have transplanted the orange tree and want to know the effect of the fruit to the ... | |
| pine bore beetle | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: We are in Iowa, we have had seven mature cedar trees die every other year since we've moved in. They ... A: No need to spray the mulch--not a problem with pests. Evergreen trees and shrubs may be planted ... | |
| japanese red maple | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: i have baby Japanese red maples about 2 inches tall and i want to know how to transplant them and ... A: I would let them grow where they are until they reach about 12-18 inches tall. By that time they ... | |
| fascista cercerisella | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: Prevention and/or control of Fascista Cererisella on Red Bud Tree Don Egolf A: The most common insect to destroy the leaves of the redbud, the redbud leaffolder, can cause severe ... | |
| pine bore beetle | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: We are in Iowa, we have had seven mature cedar trees die every other year since we've moved in. They ... A: Unless you plant cedar back the new tree species should be ok. I would lean toward a spruce or pine ... | |
| Very slow growing Linden tree | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I have two Linden trees 20ft apart, one has grown very nicely while the other has not had any new ... A: It could be root bound if the soil is heavy clay. It may just need a little spark to get it going. I ... | |
| Eucalyptus pest | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I just like to ask whether the attached eucalyptus tree pic is infested by borer insects. I have ... A: Borers can kill a tree if left untreated. I am not familiar with what type of insecticides might be ... | |
| transplanting young pines | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: We have a cabin in the mountains and live about20 miles from it. The cabin driveway has 50+ pines, ... A: When you want to dig up a tree or shrub for transplanting, retain as much of the root system as ... | |
| black mullberry root, how to kill | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a black mullberry that has been here for five tears and has become quite the nuisance, what ... A: Cut the tree down and within the hour of cutting treat the strump with a herbicide called Roundup. ... | |
| Planting Leyland Cypress | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I am preparing holes to plant new 2' tall Leyland Cypress. At my last home I prepared the holes for ... A: Your method will work it maybe a little over kill on the size of the hole but the concept is sound ... | |
| Bradford pear tree | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a bradford pear tree about 20 years old next to my deck and it has the small pears on it ... A: If you want this tree to be an ornamental flowering pear instead then spray Gibberellic acid (Ga3) ... | |
| unsightly "little oak trees" | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: after cutting it, small "trees" seem to be springing up in the yard where the main roots of the ... A: Take a cloth or sponge and wet them with a herbicide called Roundup. This herbicide will kill any ... | |
| broken branch | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: This is a receipt for a question you recently asked at allexperts.com, in category Trees. Most of ... A: I am sorry there is not really anything that can be done for that branch. It broke too close to the ... | |
| Will Leyland cyprus roots hurt basement wall? | 3/20/2011 |
| Q: Jim,I just bought a house with several large and beautiful leyland cyprus trees around the house. ... A: I am sorry I lean with the inspector. This is a fast-growing evergreen when young and will quickly ... | |
| Live Oak root sustainability | 3/20/2011 |
| Q: I am building a rock pond, basically under a live oak tree in and around the burnet tx. area. My ... A: You can cut up to about a 1/4 to 1/3 of the root system and not kill the tree. The roots extend out ... | |
| FluxingOak Tree | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I have recently read a question/answer about seepage from Oak Trees. Would a natural gas line by, ... A: No a gas line under a tree has nothing to do with slime flux--flux is a product of bacteria buildup ... | |
| leland cypress | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: Evidence of sap running out of entire trunk of tree. Signs of woop peckers pecking tree. Entire ... A: No it is not a borer--sounds like the sap is running from the woodpecker damage. Most of these ... | |
| transplanting conifers | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: Jim; I have two conifers I am thinking about transplanting. One is a grafted globe blue spruce that ... A: Evergreens should be moved early in the fall so they have time to form new roots. They need at least ... | |
| pine | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: I'm so very sad to say that my white pine has the blisters that spew yellow-orange powder in the ... A: Several that fit your description. Here are some pictures of the two needle pines in your area. ... | |
| white pine rust fungus | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I'm so very sad to say that my white pine has the blisters that spew yellow-orange powder in the ... A: IF the rust gall has encircled the trunk there is little that can be done. You can try fertilizing ... | |
| Blue Spruce Prunning | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in southern Ontario. I've planted a row of about 22 spruce trees that went in at about 6 to 7 ... A: One great asset to having a spruce in the landscape is that they very rarely need pruning. They ... | |
| poplar roots | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: we are having 4 large poplar trees removed from our garden as the roots are spreading onto the ... A: Yes it should work ok IF you treat the stump before he covers it with the chips and/or soil. Have ... | |
| poplar roots | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: we are having 4 large poplar trees removed from our garden as the roots are spreading onto the ... A: Grinding the stump is to get the stump below the ground surface. Usually the woody part is ground to ... | |
| Dogwood tree | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: About 7 days ago I trimmed off small branches from my dogwood tree. The tree is about 10 to 15 ... A: No what you are seeing is sap. In the spring the sap will rise from the root system toward the ... | |
| 3 Clump Canadian Maple | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: Jim, First of all thanks for any help you can provide. As shown in the attached pictures I have ... A: You have a couple of options--the tree will live fine like they are but you will have to put up with ... | |
| leland evergreens | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: i have 30 of them and have starting noticing light brown pacthes on the limbs i know it could be the ... A: Pick up a bag of "Espoma Hollytone". This is an acidifying fertilizer for plants which like acidic ... | |
| pruning | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: I have bartlett pear tree and live on Cape Cod ,when should I prune them? A: Bartlett pears can be pruned in late winter or early spring, before there is any evidence of growth. ... | |
| willow tree | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a young willow tree <5 years ago that was planted inbetween two driveways. The tree is ... A: Willow tree have a fibrous root system and can cause problems with sewer pipes but the roots out at ... | |
| Liquid Amber tree root invasion | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: There are two tall liquid amber trees in my front yard. They are about 25 years old. I have had a ... A: At maturity it can reach 60-75 feet tall and have a spread of its branches of 40-50 feet. The roots ... | |
| Magnolia Tree leaves are spars & brown | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: I have live in East Texas and have 2 magnolia trees. The very few leaves on both trees, and one ... A: I am sorry it looks like the tree is dead. Check by scraping a small bit of bark off a outer upper ... | |
| dogwood tree | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: My dogwood tree has a black substance on the bark and it has not bloomed for the past two years, ... A: I would suggest you fertilize the trees and water. Any general purpose fertilizer, such as 16-4-8 ... | |
| Crooked Willow cutting | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: I have what I believe is a crooked willow cutting that I took from a floral arrangement that was ... A: Yes you can grow it in pots for a while. Usually the pot size (height) is 1/3 the height of the ... | |
| Live Oak problem | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: I am attaching a photo of the trunk of our Live Oak tree to see if you can identify what the problem ... A: These are sapsuckers (wood peckers) feeding holes. Most woodpeckers rely on insects and tree sap as ... | |
| Eucalyptus pest | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: I just like to ask whether the attached eucalyptus tree pic is infested by borer insects. I have ... A: From what I can see I would say that the holes are from borers. The limbs should be dying?? Borers ... | |
| cottonwood branches | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: We removed a cottonwood about 3 months ago that had fallen down do to wind and to much water!! Now ... A: Cottonwood will root fairly easily. Take soft wood cuttings that are 6-8 inches long (shorter ones ... | |
| incubating catalpa worms | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: Hyland, My son is interested in incubating catalpa worm eggs and hatching them so he can sell them. ... A: I am sorry I do not know of a place where you can order live moths or eggs. I would suggest that you ... | |
| incubating catalpa worms | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: Hyland, My son is interested in incubating catalpa worm eggs and hatching them so he can sell them. ... A: Well the short answer is you can not raise catalpa worms in an incubator. You might speed up the ... | |
| spanish moss removal | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: Who makes a decent sprayer to apply the copper solution? Brand, model etc. A: Usually copper sulfate is recommended to be applied by a professional. The reason the copper sulfate ... | |
| Japanese Maple split trunk | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old Japanese Maple which has been damaged by the weight of the snow. One of the ... A: Oh yes a picture is worth a thousand words. After the snow is off the tree where you can pull the ... | |
| leaking? dogwood | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I have never seen this before. We have a mature dogwood tree that seems to be leaking liquid from a ... A: My first thought was slime flux and bacteria disease that causes the sap to flow down a trunk but ... | |
| aptos blue redwood | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: A week ago we planted 5 aptos blue redwoods on 3 acres in Acampo, CA. Four of them have dried, dead ... A: I think the excess water in the soil maybe the problem. These trees like moist but well drained ... | |
| Japanese Maple split trunk | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old Japanese Maple which has been damaged by the weight of the snow. One of the ... A: I would let the snow melt on its own and then remove the broken branches and any split areas. The ... | |
| Bloodgood Japanese Maple; Branch splitting from trunk | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: I am one of the garden club sponsors at our high school. Two years ago we planted a Bloodgood var. ... A: I do not think that grafting this large a branch will work. When grafting we use fresh small ... | |
| royal empress tree | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: didnt flower A: Empress Trees typically bloom in their 3rd year. They bloom for a 6-8 week period in April-May. The ... | |
| blue spruce | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: I live in the catskills of new york. I brought the tree up here 11 yrs. ago.Its been growing just ... A: This is normal --as a conifer grows older the inner and lower needles are dropped mainly due to the ... | |
| Leyland Cypress | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I live in Georgia Jim, 3 years ago I planted a border of leylands not expecting them to do so well ... A: This maybe a large job to transplant this large a tree to thin the spacing. I am assuming this is ... | |
| Maple tree with holes in limbs | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I live in Maryland. I have a maple tree in my yard that is more than 60 years old. The tree has ... A: Sounds like a decay fungi has entered the tree through a wound and has caused the tree to start to ... | |
| rooting cherry tree | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I want to root some cherry trees from and existing tree. When is the best time to begin rooting the ... A: The best time would be early spring. Cherry is one of the hard trees to root. If it was me I would ... | |
| River Birch and Foundation Issues | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: We have two beautiful River Birch trees in our yard that are within five feet of our home. They are ... A: This being a river birch, there should not be a problem with the roots. You should not have a ... | |
| Water Oak: Covered in brown fungus | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a 44 year old water oak. This tree appeared perfectly healthy and fine up until ... A: Please send a picture of the leaves with the fungus and the bark. Also tell me what part of ... | |
| WIllow tree roots | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a willow tree planted 25 yrs ago at 25 mts away from the house. It is planted on left hand ... A: That far away from the house there will not be any problems with the roots and the foundation. ... | |
| cypress knees | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: how to get rid of cypress knees A: The "cypress knees" usually only develop when grown in or near water for most of the year. In wet ... | |
| girdling reversal | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: Is there any way that I can save a young hickory tree that was girdled? Thanks for your help! A: It will depend on how young the tree is and if the girdle is all the way around the trunk down to ... | |
| shamel ash tree | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: how can I tell if a recent freeze has kiled my trees? how long before they will start toi bud again? A: It will depend on where you are located in the US. Here in the Southern US hardwood trees will begin ... | |
| maple tree beetles | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: Now that the beetles have found their way into my home what (besides crushing them) can I use to ... A: I assume you are referring to boxelder bugs. Boxelder bugs, sometimes called maple bugs, are medium ... | |
| Live Oak bark problem | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a large Live oak close to the house. It has started shedding some bark on the trunk. Started ... A: Looks like a borer has infested the bark. Borers are insects that drill into the bark and wood and ... | |
| Sycamore Tree Roots | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a 12 year old sycamore tree planted in a border area near my yard. The roots have invaded my ... A: The overall concern is the amount of the root system that is cut. The root system extends out beyond ... | |
| Douglas Fir Root Health | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: Would there be an effect on my Douglas Fir trees if soil was added above the established root ... A: Smothering Roots by Adding Soil. Most people are surprised to learn that 90 percent of the fine ... | |
| Japanese Maple | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: here is a picture further away. i also have the branch that broke off in water. do you think it will ... A: I think this spring and summer that side of the tree will put on new growth (re-sprout) and re-grow ... | |
| Using Roundup on Cypress roots. | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: We have a water well system and septic system, will using Roundup contaminate our well water? A: No Roundup is a contact type herbicide and does not move though the soil. It affects the green part ... | |
| Live Oak Tree | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I live in Sarasota Fl and am now required to hook up to the city sewer sytem. My septic tank is ... A: It will not be fatal BUT you may get dieback of some of the limbs on that side of the tree crown. ... | |
| Sick Poplar trees | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I have searched the web, went to several garden businesses, and went to the library for help on this ... A: I am sorry your question got misplaced so I am late answering it. It sounds like a leaf spot fungus ... | |
| ligustrum and chinaberry trees | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: I have several ligustrum and chinaberry trees that I'm cutting down. Can I use this mature wood of ... A: chinaberry---Use as Firewood The species is often planted for fuel supply in the Middle East as well ... | |
| My pink Dogwood tree, | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: Am worried , the bark at the bottom of my tree started peeling last fall late . any ideas or is ... A: If you are talking about the bark near the ground cracking--this is normal as the tree grows. The ... | |
| tree roots and construction | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: i live in california i will be planning on rebuilding on a current home site with a basement there ... A: The roots under the house would grow under the perimeter foundation but would still be present. ... | |
| tree roots and construction | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: i live in california i will be planning on rebuilding on a current home site with a basement there ... A: A couple of things come into play here--the loss of root from the foundation digging and the ... | |
| Tulip Poplar Tree and Aphids | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: Jim, Welcome back. I live in Kingman, Kansas, which is in South Central Kansas (hardiness zone ... A: Since the experts near you have not seen any problem with aphids or scales in that area I would go ... | |
| save our tree! | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: my school planted an oak tree next to the gym about 50-60 years ago. the roots are starting to make ... A: It will depend on how close the tree is to the building. IF you go to the edge of where the branch ... | |
| Fruitless Mulberry | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: My fruitless mulberry has been damaged by beavers. How can I save it. A: As long as the bark all the way around the trunk has not been chewed off the tree will survive. I ... | |
| ?Dying tree | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: We have a Japanese black pine approx. 30 feet tall. We live very close to the Atlantic ocean. The ... A: I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ... | |
| Dripping liquid | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: We have a Norway Maple and last spring we attached a zip line to it which included tapping a few ... A: Yes the attachment of the zip line caused the sap. It would be the same as tapping into a maple to ... | |
| planting a blue spruce | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: I recently got a blue spruce from a display at work and want to plant it in my yard. It's been ... A: I would plant as if it were a living Christmas tree. I would put it on the porch for a week and make ... | |
| pruning oak trees in texas | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: when is the best time to prune and clean out oak trees to minimize acorn production.... the acorns ... A: Pruning will not work since this over time increases the foliage production and the flowers. There ... | |
| autumn blaze maple | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: I have an autumn blaze maple that had two main trunks when I purchased it. I did not know at the ... A: My first thought about the forked maple is leave it alone. But a picture would help give a better ... | |
| tree pruning | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: I read the answer when to prune a Bradford pear. It was after it bloomed. This is a tree that is ... A: You can prune it any time after the leaves fall until the spring. Now would be ok. Bradford pears ... | |
| Pecan tree damage | 12/11/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I bought a house that has a pecan tree in the front yard. I have noticed that some kind of ... A: This is not beetles. It is a bird called a sapsucker--woodpecker. they make the holes and insects ... | |
| Black Walnut Toxicity | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: My dog ingested about a mouthful of black walnut sawdust. I had cut up the fallen tree an hour or ... A: Walnuts. When dogs eat the seed hulls, they can get an upset stomach and diarrhea. The real problem ... | |
| Hackberry tree | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: We have a old hackberry tree, it has always appeared to be healthy, until this year. We noticed the ... A: Sounds like a decay fungi. Heart rot in living trees is caused by fungi which have the ability to ... | |
| weeping Laurel Oak | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: My Laurel oak is weeping something. It is very obvious all under the canopy. We are in Sarasota Fl ... A: Sounds like a scale insect. IF the sap dropping is sticky then this is a secretion from the scale ... | |
| landscaping around a large doug fir | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: Because we like the looks, we built tree rings around our large douglas firs 3 years ago. The rings ... A: Fill dirt is frequently added around existing mature trees so that a level or more visually ... | |
| maple tree bumps | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a young Sienna Maple tree.5" dia. This summer it had little red bumps on the leaves. What are ... A: These are leaf galls caused by a small insect that lay its eggs on the leaf and secretes a chemical ... | |
| Water lodged trees | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: we have a type of gum tree which we planted about 5yrs ago. 1 tree has developed really well but the ... A: Too much water is as bad for the tree roots as too little. If you can not change the water sitting ... | |
| tree | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I planted a cleveland pear tree about a year and a half and I noticed that the tree ball is still ... A: Normally after a year of growing the tree roots have grown outward and the tree is stable. IF the ... | |
| Trimming/Pruning a mature blue spruce | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: our tree is old and mature and very large and is in need of the lower ring of branches to be cut. ... A: Pruning the branches will not harm the tree. Prune them back to the trunk about 1/4 inch from the ... | |
| twig gridler | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: is there aspray to apply to standing elm and pecan trees to kill twig gridler A: No there is not really a spray that works well. These beetles cause very conspicuous damage in late ... | |
| Dieing Cherry Tree | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: Good morning, I have a cherry tree which I am told is dieing and it surely looks like it is. One of ... A: Cherrys are one of the hard trees to root. If it was me I would try. Use new growth and cut these ... | |
| Post Oak Tree Disease or fungus | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: Our post oak tree has been covered with tiny pea-sized orange fuzzy balls. They are on the leaves ... A: These are called Oak wooly galls. They are caused by a tiny wasp insect. The wasp lays its eggs on ... | |
| tree | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a tree which was infested severely with aphids. It was producing a lot of honeydew that was ... A: The Roundup would not have killed the tree unless there were cuts in the bark that allowed the ... | |
| Can you stake a 15 foot leaning aspen tree | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: Is there a way to stake a 15 foot tall aspen tree with a 6 inch trunk - that is starting to lean as ... A: Sometimes tree just grow in a lean. Check the ground on the side away from the lean--if the ground ... | |
| Fuzz balls under leaves | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: Fruitless olives have multiple orange fuzz balls on the underside of the leaves. Two applications ... A: It looks like a leaf gall. Galls are abnormal growths on leaves, twigs and flowers, appearing as ... | |
| live oak tree diseases | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a live oak tree which suddenly has a white grwoth all over the leaves and branches. It looks ... A: Could be a couple of things--Powdery mildew or wooly oak aphid. Check and see if the fluff moves ... | |
| Willow tree in poor health | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have two willows in my front yard in VA that keep loosing leaves, most of their leaves. They are ... A: Do not use stakes --they tend to burn the roots since they concentrate the fertilizer in one spot. ... | |
| lime tree roots | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: can lime tree roots cause subsidence in sandy soil A: Trees only cause subsidence on shrinkable soils. In practice, this means on clays. If you are on a ... | |
| Laurel Oak Pest | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in south central Florida on the east coast. I have a Young Laurel Oak (2 years old) about ... A: If you did not see any insect on the leaves it is more than likely the life cycle has pasted the ... | |
| SMALL RED WORMS/CATEPILLARS | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Schertz, Tx. We have several live oak trees, a few other varieties of oaks and some elms. ... A: Sound like Fall Webworms. These caterpillars construct a web over the foliage in the late summer or ... | |
| bradford pear trees | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a home in Little River SC. My brother says the tree in my front yard is a boy ... A: This is the fruit. Bradford pear fruit doesn't look pear-shaped, but instead is small-less than 1/2 ... | |
| Pine tree disease | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: the problem is with the long needle pine tree, not sure what kind, maybe scotch pine? Needles and ... A: Since you are seeing the black on the needles and twigs it sounds like a scale problem. Scale insect ... | |
| girdling trees | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: When is the best time to girdle a tree? especially thorny locust. A: You can girdle the tree at any time if you want to kill it. IF you do this in the spring you can see ... | |
| Garnet Japanese Maple | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I bought a Garnet Japanese Maple this summer and noticed that before I even put it in the ground, ... A: The top of the rootball should have been at the same level as the ground surface. Sounds like more ... | |
| sprout | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a healthy crabapple tree with multiple spouts coming up. I'd like to transplant one to ... A: You will need to dig down around the sprout and see if it is connected to a large root from the ... | |
| root system of flowering pear tree | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I and everyone on our street have a flowering pear tree on my park strip. It was very well ... A: The roots are in the first 12-18 inches of the soil. If you dug 9 inches deep on two sides of the ... | |
| flowering cherry transplant | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: i need to transplant six foot tree that has been in the ground three years.some lateral roots just ... A: Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be ... | |
| River Birch Concerns...Root damage. | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: i have a river birch tree that is approximately 3-4 years old with an approximate height of 25'. ... A: Just cutting one root should not seriously damage the health of the tree. You will get some reaction ... | |
| Blue Spruce trees | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: My question is when would be the last time before winter to give the blue spruce trees mir-acid ... A: I would not use any fertilizer until spring. Applying fertilizer will promote new growth and the ... | |
| root system of flowering pear tree | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I and everyone on our street have a flowering pear tree on my park strip. It was very well ... A: You can cut up to 25% of a trees root system without killing it. You may get some foliage dieback ... | |
| Severe bark peeling off Shamel Ash trees | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: We have 2 Shamel Ash trees in our front yard. The trees were here when we purchased the house in ... A: If they still have some green foliage I would fertilize them with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of ... | |
| water oak tree | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Jim I live northeast of Dallas Texas and have two water oaks in our front yard, both about 30 yrs ... A: I would treat the tree for the scales--they suck the plant juices from the tree and over time can ... | |
| japanese red maple | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: question i have 4 japanese red maple tree these tree are about 4 feet tall the leaves have white ... A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ... | |
| dying golden chain tree | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: Our young golden chain tree is dying; leaves withered. It resembles what happened to our wisteria ... A: There is no disease that would infect both the wisteria and the golden rain tree. Without seeing the ... | |
| Red maple that lost its leaves | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: I got a reply saying it could be caused by drought. (leaves dried up and fell off tree early fall) I ... A: If the color under the bark is green the tree is still alive. Do not know the answer about why your ... | |
| What Causes Bark on Mature Sycamores to Look as if it's Drooping? | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: The city I live in has many old sections where the Sycamore was a popular tree both in the city and ... A: These are called burls. Burls are abnormal growths on the trunks and branches of trees. The ... | |
| Shamel ash | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I read an earlier question about a shamel ash and am in teh same situation with mine, but hate to ... A: The Shamel Ash becomes a very large tree, up to 80 feet tall (24 m) in 30 years and almost as wide, ... | |
| What Causes Bark on Mature Sycamores to Look as if it's Drooping? | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: The city I live in has many old sections where the Sycamore was a popular tree both in the city and ... A: I think you are referring to the bark of the sycamore tree. An American sycamore tree is easily ... | |
| greenish growth on maple tree bark | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: My tree lawn maple tree had a greeny-silverish patchy growth all over the tree limbs. My tree was ... A: These are lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ... | |
| Forest Pansy Redbud | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for a tree like this that only grow 15'H (max 20'H). Is there a variety of this that ... A: Here are some varieties that may fit your needs. Cercis canadensis 'Covey' Lavender Twist Redbud ... | |
| Willow tree in poor health | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have two willows in my front yard in VA that keep loosing leaves, most of their leaves. They are ... A: Sounds like abiotic damage. Wind/air moving across the leaf surface will increase transpiration. ... | |
| Osage Orange | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: Are these trees native to the US, if so what is there range. Thank you. A: Yes Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) are native to the US. The natural range of Osage-orange is in ... | |
| root system problems | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: I am interested in planting a Autumn Blaze red maple and a sycamore trees. What type of root ... A: Both of these tree have a spread of about 40 feet meaning the branches and the majority of the roots ... | |
| California Oaks- roots | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in a community with about 1,000 oak trees. There are city ordinances that prevent cutting ... A: Tree roots can be cut. In general cutting roots will show up in the foliage with die back of limbs. ... | |
| blue spruce | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: i have blue spruce trees less than 10 years old and i'm wondering if i should fertilize them in the ... A: They really do not need fertilizer unless the foliage is starting to thin out. IF you want to use ... | |
| Oak Tree Stump removal | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: Is it necessary to completely remove a stump from a cut down diseased oak tree? The remaining stump ... A: The stump will not be a source of any disease that would spread to living trees. Decay fungi will ... | |
| Fuzzy balls on fallen oak leaves | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: I read the question from Terry wondering about the fuzzy ball like structures on the underside of ... A: These are leaf galls caused by tiny wasps. A gall is an abnormal growth on a plant. The life of a ... | |
| Pine trees are dying | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: My pine trees are dying. I live in northwest ohio just southwest of Toledo. We moved to my present ... A: The information is really not enough to id the problem. BUT check and see if the needles on the ends ... | |
| weeping cherry tree | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: We have a 10 year old weeping cherry tree. This year the leaves seem to have been eaten by a bug of ... A: Several insects will do this--caterpillars, Japanese beetles etc. I would treat the tree with a ... | |
| When to transplant Crab Apple Trees | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: I just read on this forum the same situation in which I am currently. My trees are with about 6" ... A: Deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous ... | |
| Oak Trees | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: Sir, I live in central Texas, most of our Live Oaks have these ball looking things, about the size ... A: Sounds like oak apples. Oak apple galls are sometimes mistaken for an actual crop of the tree, such ... | |
| spruce roots | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a 30' sitka spruce (my best Internet aided I.D. guess) 10' from my house. Large roots have ... A: The roots will not be a problem since they are mainly on the first two feet of soil. The foundation ... | |
| Red Maple Manganese Deficiency | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: Is it too late in the year to apply manganese sulfate (29% total manganese) to a Red Maple or is ... A: I would wait until next spring that way the roots as they absorb the manganese will transport it to ... | |
| Tree Roots and House Foundations | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: A previous reader asked a question about tree routs causing problems to a house's foundation, you ... A: There are several species of Popular tree. The poplar trees in North America are all members of the ... | |
| Damaging roots | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a very tall and old tree in front of my house that provides plenty of shade. The roots have ... A: The walkway is damaged from the up lifting of the cement of roots near the ground surface. House ... | |
| weight of tree branches causing tree to be unhealthy | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: can the weight of tree branches be unhealthy for trees, or do the branches need to be trimmed? They ... A: No the weight of the branches will not adversely effect the health of a tree. The branches and their ... | |
| Black Scour (?) | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: We have several different types of trees (oak, maple, redbud, crepe myrtle, lemon) that are all ... A: I could be scale insects--they like aphids will suck the plant juices from the plant and secrete a ... | |
| Bag Worms | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: I read some of your answers regarding this subject. Do you think the worms are still active in late ... A: It is possible but you can tell by looking at the bags and you should see caterpillars pocking their ... | |
| spiderwebs in branches on live oaktree | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a large live oak tree and it is full of what looks like spiderwebs. They are not on the bark ... A: The webs if they covering the leaves sound like Fall webworm a caterpillar type insects. The fall ... | |
| willow tree pests | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: We are deluged with little black bugs from our backyard willow tree...it happens every year about ... A: Sounds like willow flea beetles. Spray the foliage with an insecticide. Garden insecticides ... | |
| Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: This tree was planted approx. 1 year ago. Only recently I noticed quite a bit of sap draining from ... A: It does not sounds like an insect but possibly a disease called slim flux. The foul-smelling and ... | |
| delimbing magnolia tree in Florida | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a wonderful magnolia tree 12'high x 10' wide. I must take off a 4" to 6" diameter limb and ... A: It would be best to wait until the hardwood trees drop their leaves--this would mean the trees are ... | |
| Water Oak Leaf Eaters | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a water oak tree which is about 20 years old and appears to be healthy except for leaves new ... A: No generally insects that defoliate a tree will only cause growth loss unless the tree is stripped ... | |
| oak tree | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: What are the hard star shaped 'balls' that fall from the oak tree in late summer. They are from ... A: These are gall caused by a tiny wasp. Most galls are caused by cynipid wasps and gall midge flies. ... | |
| fruitless weeping mulberry | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: we have fruitless weeping mulberry tree app 10 feet from our above ground pool. This is the 2nd ... A: The roots should not be a problem with the above ground pool. The root system will grow about 1 1/2 ... | |
| ELM BARK | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: MY ELM BARK WAS PLANTED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO ABOUT FOUR FEET FROM MY HOUSE.THE TREE STANDS ABOUT 20 ... A: Yes it is possible being this close to the house. The spread of an elm is about 30-40 feet and the ... | |
| Small fuzz balls on my oak trees? | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: What are the small yellowish fuzz balls on the underside of most of the leaves on my oak trees. ... A: It sure sounds like it. If the population is high then there would be more signs. ... | |
| Chinese pistache transplant | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: We have Pistache, -3years, need to transplant, too close to kitchen wall. When would be best ... A: Trees may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring ... | |
| Cottenwood tree | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: i have 6 large cottonwood trees in my backyard, which providing a lot of shade, and we love that. ... A: The best time would be after the tree lose their leaves up until the leaves bud out in the spring. ... | |
| Mulberry Tree Pruning | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: I am in West Texas out on a ranch. I have Mulberry trees with out berries, around the house. (this ... A: The best time to prune a Mulberry tree is in the dormant season when there are no leaves on the ... | |
| trees | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: i need to know the approximate weight of a 40 ft italian cypress tre A: It will depend on the size of the trunk and the height. You can calculate the weight by using a ... | |
| river birch and foundation damage | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: We planted a new (10 inch) river birch in our front yard about 22 years ago. At the time it looked ... A: If I am reading his correct the cracks are 10 feet below the surface of the ground the tree is ... | |
| Small fuzz balls on my oak trees? | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: What are the small yellowish fuzz balls on the underside of most of the leaves on my oak trees. ... A: They sound like galls caused by an insect (small wasp) The wasp lays its eggs on the surface of the ... | |
| fruitless mulberry tree | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: it's leaking a dark brown fluid from the base of the one of the branches. clear dark brown and ... A: Sounds like a borer has attacked the tree. I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer ... | |
| tree lichen/Fungi | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: Recently I have been asked to identify a reddish lichen/fungi that seems to grow on the bark of both ... A: Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable ... | |
| Dryed out Japanese Maple Tree | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a home that had a severely dried out Japanese Maple tree. I have been giving it ... A: It should bud out next spring. I would not fertilize it any more for a year but if you have not ... | |
| silver maple | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Eau Claire, Wi. area, and we have five adult silver maples and they have these little ... A: This is a gall mite called Maple spindle gall. Maple Spindle Gall Mites (Vasates aceris-crumena ... | |
| magnolia seed germination | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: Do you have to freeze (simulate a winter) before planting/germinating magnolia seeds. I have plenty ... A: No you do not freeze the seed but keep them in the refrigerator to what is called stratify them. ... | |
| Gumball Tree Root | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: I had a sweetgum tree taken down and want to plant arborvitaes near and around where the sweetgum ... A: You will have almost solid wood from the center of the stump out about 12 inches around. Beyond that ... | |
| TREE CAUGHT ON FIRE | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: We have 2 tall Christmas trees at our home in San Antonio Texas, they are almost 10 years old, about ... A: I would water it with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when ... | |
| Trimming Oak Trees | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: Does it hurt to trim out the suckers on oak trees? I thought this would be good for the tree. Does ... A: By suckers I assume you mean the sprouts from the main trunk. These can be pruned off any any time. ... | |
| prized oak tree: tree pruner disease | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: I read your diagnosis of tree pruner/tree girdler regarding the oak tree dropping leaf clusters all ... A: The eggs and larvae are in the fallen twigs and branches. Gathering then fallen branches and burning ... | |
| Transplanting Oak Trees | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: It is mid September and we are making some changes in my parents back yard. In the center are two ... A: Depending on where you are in the US the time could be close that would be ok. It is best to wait ... | |
| Maple Tree | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a maple tree in a 2 gal container...doing nicely. I can't plant it 'till next spring. What ... A: I would keep in it the garage where the temperature is near freezing. The light is not a problem but ... | |
| best shade tree near house & septic system | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: May I ask for a list of your favorite recommendations for planting a fast growing shade tree near a ... A: There is not really a good large tree that would be good within 40-50 feet of a septic tank. Tree ... | |
| Blue Spruce Tree | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: We (today) just had a 5' Blue spruce planted by a nursery. It is leaning toward the East. Will this ... A: It may but will take a long time and you may always have a lean. I would call the nursery back and ... | |
| Large hole in Oak tree | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I have a large Oak tree that is primarily horizontal in its growth direction and it has a huge ... A: Your case is unusual and I think I would try draining the water with a hole drilled low in the ... | |
| Large hole in Oak tree | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I have a large Oak tree that is primarily horizontal in its growth direction and it has a huge ... A: Traditionally, homeowners have attempted to clean decay from the cavity and to add a material, such ... | |
| spruce pruning on top | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: My neighbor thinks the spruce tree between our property is too tall. He wants to cut the top off so ... A: Topping is the practice of removing major portions of a large tree's crown by cutting branches to ... | |
| Scrub oak looks sick | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: This is 100 miles North of Sacramento, Ca. outside Red Bluff. There are at least 100 of these oak ... A: Looks like borer damage. I would spray the area of the trunk with an insecticide called Onyx or ... | |
| Sycamore tree plantings look dead | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I contacted you last year about Sycamore trees being in my small front yard and my HOA refusing to ... A: I would mulch around the tree about 3 feet out from the trunk. Make a donut like shape so that the ... | |
| the dahlbergia sissoo root shoots | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: Is it true that the root shoots will penetrate a in-ground pool wall or cause otherwise serious ... A: This is entirely too close to the pool for this tree. It has a spread of about 30-40 feet and the ... | |
| Sycamore tree plantings look dead | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I contacted you last year about Sycamore trees being in my small front yard and my HOA refusing to ... A: Sycamore trees have a high susceptibility to drought, and can fall victim to insect pests when not ... | |
| Infected leaves of a Cherry Tree? | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: Greetings, My parents live in Monument, Colorado. They have a cherry tree and the problem is that ... A: These are Cherry pouch galls Cherry Pouch Galls A mite forms cherry pouch galls, fingerlike ... | |
| Oak tree leaf bumps | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: My oak tree has yellow and red small bumps on it's leaves Some on both sides. Is this normal or is ... A: They are called galls caused by an insect (small wasp) The wasp lays its eggs on the surface of the ... | |
| evergreen tree | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: we have a mature spruce approx. 40 yrs old in our backyard. we are building a retaining wall around ... A: The roots of a tree will extend about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches. A tree can survive root ... | |
| Sap leaking from Honey Locust | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: Have a 20' Honey Locust planted 2 years ago and it is now leaking sap from, I guess little holes, ... A: Since there are no holes it sounds like slim flux. The seeping sounds like slime flux. Wetwood and ... | |
| Salt Damage | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: We just got hit by Hurricane Earl. All the leaves of our trees have turned brown and are falling ... A: Salt damage will cause the leaves to turn. If the trees are hardwood trees they have about shut down ... | |
| Information about specific trees | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I have picked out three trees that I would like to plant in my back yard in Kingman, which is ... A: You should not have any problem as far as weather related in growing any of these three trees in ... | |
| Dying cedars | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: Greetings! We planted a row of 6' cedars along the rear of our property line this past May. They ... A: The dust would not cause the foliage in the center of the trees to be damaged --you would have the ... | |
| locust trees | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: If I use rootx on exposed roots left from removing a locust tree will that stop the regeneration of ... A: Do not use rootx--this is used to kill roots in septic lines and will kill all roots including the ... | |
| Old oak tree rotting | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I just recently moved into my house in Alabama. I have an old oak tree in my backyard that is ... A: It sound like a decay fungi has entered a wound on the trunk many years ago and has grown up the ... | |
| planting | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I planted a Laurel oak that was in a pot . it was about 12ft and healthy I waterd it and now it ... A: This is about the worst time of the year to plant a tree. The heat and dry weather are a major ... | |
| Maple Tree dripping | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: We have a huge maple in our back yard that shades our deck. I've noticed localized areas of ... A: Sounds like slime flux or wetwood. The foul smelling liquid that oozes from wounds in the bark or ... | |
| Mimosa seedlings | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I'm really puzzled. Having chopped down our yellow mimosa tree two years ago, we've been inundated ... A: Yes they do sprout from seed and these young plants if mowed will usually die and since there is not ... | |
| Red Oak | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a huge red oak tree in the front yard that has been losing green leaves and big limbs. The ... A: It sounds like the drought. IF the limbs that fell were solid and not hollow than it is not a decay ... | |
| Crape Myrtle Tree | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Dallas, Texas and our Crape Myrtle Trees are not blooming. We have lots of pods but ... A: You can remove old, dried seed heads during the winter if you wish, but it is only cosmetic. Crape ... | |
| pine tree infestation | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: My brother & sister in law have a pine tree in their back yard (she thinks it's called southern ... A: These "pods" are the house of an insect called Bagworms. Bagworms are moths that lay their eggs and ... | |
| in defense of weeping willows | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: My neighborhood association wants me to remove two young weeping willow trees from my back yard for ... A: Weeping Willow grows best when its roots have a good water supply which is why they are often found ... | |
| Empress Tree | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: My empress tree is six months old and 10' tall. I pinched the suckers in the beginning. I was gone ... A: Branch Pruning Large leaves grow in pairs up your Royal Empress Trees (one on each side). Every few ... | |
| Mimosa seedlings | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm really puzzled. Having chopped down our yellow mimosa tree two years ago, we've been inundated ... A: A parent tree will sprout new growth when it is cut (especially hardwood specie). The sprouting will ... | |
| Transplanting | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I have several young Royal Empress Trees in my yard,would like to know when is the best time to ... A: Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be ... | |
| Crape Myrtle Tree | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Dallas, Texas and our Crape Myrtle Trees are not blooming. We have lots of pods but ... A: Too things that slow crept myrtle from blooming--not enough sunlight and the need for fertilizer, ... | |
| Red Maple Mold | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: The leaves on my red maple are covered in a white substance. What is this? Is treatment necessary? ... A: This sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildews, as the name implies, often appear as a superficial ... | |
| Unknown tree in our yard | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: We moved into a new house and noticed that in addition to an apple tree we have another tree that ... A: Without a picture I would guess that this is Flowering Crabapple Trees. Crabapple trees are closely ... | |
| lindon tree | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: The linden tree I have is drawing bee's. What can I do and is this common to linden tree's? A: More than likely the tree has either a scale insect or aphids. Both of these insects suck the plant ... | |
| Globe Willow insect infestation | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in Western Nevada (30 miles east of Reno) at 4200 feet. I have a large Globe Willow tree ... A: Sounds like a disease called Frothy flux. Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood ... | |
| diruption of tree roots | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: We are building a new house and trying to respect/maintain all large trees. We need to lay pipes to ... A: If you damage more than 30% of the trees roots the trees foliage will show major die back or maybe ... | |
| Damaged Maple | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: We have a Norwegian Maple that developed a freeze crack on the west side after last winter. It has ... A: If there are no green leaves at this time of the year I would say the tree is dead. You can scrape a ... | |
| Maple | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: When do I plant my maple trees? (If it helps I live in Oregon) A: Plant shade and ornamental trees during the dormant season when there are no leaves on the tree. In ... | |
| Red Oak Dripping | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: Good morning. Our Red Oak has been diagnosed with tree aphids. The honeydew is coating ... A: Aphids are controlled during the growing season not usually during the dormant season. Scale insects ... | |
| Black Knot on Plum trees | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: Can you eat the fruit from a black knot infected plum tree? My tree is laden with fruit for the ... A: Yes it does not effect the fruit so enjoy the fruit. Tree under stress usually produce more fruit ... | |
| liquidambar trees exude sticky substance | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: The leaves of the Liquidambar trees in our neighborhood in the South Bay Area of San Francisco seem ... A: More than likely it is a scale insect not aphids. Both will suck the plant juices from the tree and ... | |
| Mushroom type fungus | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: I have mature pecan trees that have a mushroom looking fungus at the base part of the trunk. Will ... A: These are the fruiting bodies of fungi. If they are connected to the trunk or roots then this a ... | |
| Soquel Redwood trees | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: Would a moderate Boron count (1.8ppm) in the irrigation water have a negative effect on a new ... A: Any effect from Boron should show up as yellowing of the needles around the tip of the needle at ... | |
| linden tree | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: My tree has insects on the leaves which leave holes in the leaf.The nursery told me no cure with ... A: Sounds like a gall mite--a picture would help ID the problem. The mite will lays its eggs on the ... | |
| Diseased Cottonwood Tree 100+ Ft. Tall | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: I have recently noticed an oozing coming from my cottonwood tree which appears clear like water. ... A: Sounds like it could be a disease called slime flux. The pressure of the gases from the flux are ... | |
| Walnut trees | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: However, I have both grape vines and apple tress which are diseased(pretty sure black rot). Is it ... A: You should not have any problem with black rot fungi on mature black walnut trees. There has been ... | |
| oak tree roots | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: i have a dog that is tied at the base of a big oak tree in ohio, she likes to dig to get cool dirt ... A: No it is not going to hurt the tree or weaken the root system. Most of the roots are with in the ... | |
| Red Maple | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: is there a best time to trim a red maple? A: Major pruning should be done during the dormant season after the leave have fallen, from late ... | |
| saving a blue spruce tree | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: Help, I planted a blue spruce in spring this year in N. E. Arkansas, a beautiful blue tinted accent ... A: Sounds like too much water. Decrease the amount of water to the tree--a tree needs about 1 inch of ... | |
| Poplar | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: There is a large poplar tree on my property that puts out a lot of suckers that come up through the ... A: The sprout if left will become a tree. The size will depend on the location--if the sprout is under ... | |
| SLIME FLUX | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I asked a previous question concerning our Ponderosa. We live in Central Oregon and recently ... A: No! The ooze should not hurt her--it is generally just sap and sugars--that is why insects like ... | |
| stinging caterpillarseating mimosa tree | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I think I have identified this caterpillar as a hackberry leaf slug, but it only said to use a leaf ... A: You can spray the foliage with an insecticide but will need to be able to reach all the foliage in ... | |
| SLIME FLUX | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I asked a previous question concerning our Ponderosa. We live in Central Oregon and recently ... A: The bacteria associated with wetwood and slime flux are common soil and water inhabitants. These ... | |
| Willow too close to pool? | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: can you tell what the min. Distance a weeping willow should be planted, in relation to a pool. Mine ... A: A weeping willow at maturity has a spread of about 35 feet which means the roots could reach 15-20 ... | |
| dying pin oaks | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I live in western Maryland and have a grove of 16 pin oak trees that are approx. 17 years of age. I ... A: I think you have several thing going on with your trees none of which cause much health problems ... | |
| web worms | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I have several large Pecan Trees and I have trouble getting rid of these webworms. On the low ... A: Since the tree is too tall to break open the webs so birds can feed on the caterpillars about the ... | |
| bugs on weeping willow ??? | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I live in the BC Interior, Canada, and have recently purchased a house with a weeping willow. Also a ... A: Sounds like WILLOW FLEA WEEVIL Willow (and poplar) leaves may be severely browned by these small ... | |
| Dogwood dying | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a dogwood with about a 6 inch diameter trunk and a very nice shape. We just moved to this ... A: Probably will do more damage if you remove the dirt unless you gentility remove it with by hand. ... | |
| sepparating Twin Pinoak trees succesfully | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: We have a pair, joined, of 50 ft.Pin Oak trees in front of the house. We can see a diffinent split ... A: A picture would help a great deal to determine just where the trunks are joined and the split that ... | |
| cottonless cotton tree | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: We purchased from a local nursery and planted it the same day as instructed. Two days later most of ... A: You did not say when this tree was planted. If it was planted this spring and the leaves have not ... | |
| Hickery nut prevention | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to prevent hickory nuts from developing on a tree? My decks look like a war zone ... A: There are chemicals but timing is the thing--usually the flowers will be formed as the new leaves ... | |
| Mountain ash tree | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: We purchased a mountain ash tree in spring of '09; while it has grown and the foliage looks healthy, ... A: Usually tree the first year or two after planting will concentrate the growth on the root system and ... | |
| split trunk Maple tree(s) | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: Jim., I have two maple trees with severely split trunks. I saw your response to a previous question ... A: Maples have a thin bark and any wound or injury can cause the bark to make a wound like this. The ... | |
| Height of Douglas Fir | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: I am in Portland, Oregon and I need to know the estimated height of a Douglas Fir tree considering ... A: Here is one web link to information as it relates to DBH diameters and height showing a 7 inch Doug ... | |
| mesquite tree | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: Is there a way to prevent a mesquite from having pods A: An option is to use a growth regulator such as Florel®. Florel® is the brainchild of Monterey and ... | |
| White oak trunk infection | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: While the upper branches remain in full leaf, the base has long, sealed, vertical "wounds". Some ... A: The wounds look to be made sometime in the past and are starting to heal. The wet places look like ... | |
| Acorns on oak trees | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: Part of my property in Jack county has a thick canopy of oak trees that does not let any sunlight to ... A: I am guessing that you are talking about acorn production for wildlife --mainly deer. Yes it is ... | |
| Cypress Problem | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: Jim. . .Similar problem as Laurie in Dallas: My Cypress is about 18-inches in diameter / 35-40 feet ... A: I do not think you will have any problem with the knees under the foundation. They need the oxygen ... | |
| tree sprouts | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in Boulder/Denver, Colorado and I have these trees that I call weeds because they sprout up ... A: the problem is that some species react to different herbicides and one herbicide will kill a tree ... | |
| Injured Live Oak Tree | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: I lived in South Florida. I have a 16ft Live Oak tree that was recently hit and knocked over by a ... A: Looks good to me. The long wound looks like it is beginning to heal and the foliage looks good. I ... | |
| Tree looks dead however has small new growth? | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: Currently in the proccess of building a new house and we have an oak tree approx. 30ft away from the ... A: What often happens during construction is equipment will run over the root system and compacts the ... | |
| Damaged pine trees | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: How does the sap leaking from a damaged pine tree help it? A: If you are asking what does the sap from a wound on a pine trunk do--it helps seal the wound and ... | |
| willow tree | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: after pruning a willow can I root a branch to make another treeL A: Yes willows root easily. Take a cutting from second year twigs about 12 inches long. Dip the ends ... | |
| willow globe tree | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I believe I have branches from a globe willow tree. I removed the leaves and placed the branched in ... A: If you are asking about growing this tree indoors --you could for a short time but it is a fairly ... | |
| Re: trimming silver maple in Fall | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: Our neighbor wants us to trim our silver maple now in August, with temps hovering at 100 degrees ... A: I would wait until the middle of September--the tree should have begun to slow down in growth and ... | |
| Oak Trees | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I have 4, 25 to 30 yr old oak trees, Kansas city , MO area, country setting. When all of the trees ... A: I can not tell from the picture so I am going to give you several things to consider. 1 IF you ... | |
| globosa colorado blue spruce shrub | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to purchase this type of plant to go in the back of a bed at the front of my house. ... A: This is the worst time of the year to plant a tree or shrub. Dig the hole twice the size of the 3 ... | |
| Neighboring Willow Tree | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Inland Northwest, in Washington State, in a neighborhood where each house in on a 1/4 ... A: The roots spread about 1 1/2 time the width of the branches. So a willow 50 feet from the poll ... | |
| Bagworms on Blue Atlas | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I read your answer about bagworms and found it very informative. I'd like a little more explanation ... A: Do not worry about the ones you put into the trash. They could crawl back out but the trash should ... | |
| bradford pear tree | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a problem with fire ant hills we poured gas on it.But, it was right at the trunk of the ... A: The gasoline killed the roots and caused the foliage to turn. Sounds like there are still some roots ... | |
| globosa colorado blue spruce shrub | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to purchase this type of plant to go in the back of a bed at the front of my house. ... A: I would water if the soil under the trees is dry down a couple of inches deep. Then try to water ... | |
| Correct way to trim back a limb to trunk? | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: We need to have our silver maple trimmed back as one large, long limb is growing directly over our ... A: It needs to have a branch collar left not a stub. These are only about a 1/4 inch from the trunk. ... | |
| When is best time of year to trim silver maple | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: Our neighbor wants us to trim our silver maple now in August, with temps hovering at 100 degrees ... A: Some trees have free-flowing sap that “bleeds” after late winter or early spring pruning. Though ... | |
| silver maple, best way to trim back rotting stump? | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: How to Trim a large stump off a silver maple tree? Our silver maple, which is about 60 feet tall, is ... A: It should be cut off flush with the living trunk so no stump remains. No need to coat or paint the ... | |
| globe willow tree | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: We live in northern utah, in a neighborhood with fenced yards and moderate sized lots. My problem is ... A: Navajo globe willow has a spread of about 35-40 feet and a height of 35-40 feet when mature. This ... | |
| tree galls | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: This is similar to one you just answered. I recently noticed bulbous growths about 7 or 8 inches ... A: These since they are large sound like burls. Burls, spherical woody growths on the trunks of ... | |
| Cottonwood Tree Issue | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a mature 50+ ft cottonwood which normally loses its leaves in early Sept. This year it ... A: I think the stress of too much water that stood around the roots for more than a day would cause the ... | |
| Tree brances covered in weblike cocoons | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: One of my large crab apple trees, and my weeping cherry tree have whole branches that have been ... A: Sounds like Fall Webworms. These caterpillars construct a web over the foliage in the late summer or ... | |
| Small Acer Tree | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a small Japanese Acer tree in my garden in England mainly for its' colors in the fall. I want ... A: Major pruning should be done during the dormant season after the leave have fallen, from late ... | |
| When to trim a dwarf blue spruce shrub | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: What time of the year would I be able to trim back a Dwarf Blue Spruce Shrub. It is getting too ... A: One great asset to having a dwarf Alberta spruce in the landscape is that they very rarely need ... | |
| staking new trees | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I have Swedish Aspens that I planted in the summer of 2009. Now they are 9+ ft tall. I staked ... A: Most trees will not need to be staked longer than a year, but should be left for at least one ... | |
| Brown spots and weeping sap on the leaves of my aspen trees | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a grove of Aspen trees in my backyard............Hillsboro, OR. The leaves have developed ... A: Sounds like aphids. These small insects suck the plant juices form the leaves and small twigs and ... | |
| magnolia tree | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: My husband planted a magnolia tree right next to our house. I am wondering if this might later ... A: Many magnolia trees have a wide root system that stretches out as much as four times the width of ... | |
| SawDust at the base of my Swedish Aspens | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed sawdust on the ground around the base of our Swedish Aspens. Also have noticed small ... A: I can not find where Dimethoate will do much in the way of control. Found one site where it was used ... | |
| SawDust at the base of my Swedish Aspens | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed sawdust on the ground around the base of our Swedish Aspens. Also have noticed small ... A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. The trees can be sprayed with an insecticide called Onyx or ... | |
| northern california oak tree | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I live in northern California and recently our oak trees have been "buzzing". I can't see any ... A: Sounds like minute wasps called Jumping gall wasps. Here is a web link to information about these ... | |
| watering mature liquid amber trees | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: How often do I need to water my liquid amber trees which are approximately 17 years old, growing in ... A: Mature trees do not really need watering unless the weather is dry and the soil around the tree is ... | |
| Tree Revised | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a tree in the back yard that was butchared from providing shade through out the back yard, to ... A: Well one of the worst thing that can be done for a tree is top it and cut all the limbs off. What ... | |
| Raywood Ash - Sap dripping | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: We live in Riverbank California, in the San Joaquin Valley. We have a raywood ash that is 18 years ... A: Sounds like the problem is a scale insect. Scale insects are so prolific that they quite often cover ... | |
| weeping cherry tree | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I read an answer about the weeping cherry tree, japanese beetles and the spray. I had the beetles ... A: Too much water is as bad for the tree as too little and this can cause the leaves to turn. There are ... | |
| Oak trees | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: We have many, many oak trees in our city yard-front and back. One just suddenly died. Absolutely no ... A: A tree system is a sealed system and normally does not drip sap. For sap to get out there needs to ... | |
| Tree with no leaves | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a tree that has to be close to 60 or 70 feet tall. I don't really know what kind of tree it ... A: This time of the year if a large tree has not leaves on it it is dead. The small twigs should start ... | |
| Oak trees | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: We have many, many oak trees in our city yard-front and back. One just suddenly died. Absolutely no ... A: There is not enough information to determine the cause of the tree dying. The dripping of sticky is ... | |
| small-leave linden tree problem | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have an 40year old linden that has developed small holes at the bottom of its trunk under which ... A: Sounds like Linden borer. Linden borer, Saperda vestita. Small-sized linden trees are often injured ... | |
| Willow tree | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: The leaves of my large willow tree are covered by tiny black ants. On the back of the leaves there ... A: The ants are tending aphids. The aphids are sucking the plant juice from the plant and secreting a ... | |
| What is it???? | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I rescued a couple of "dead" trees from the dumpster of my favorite big box store, planted them ... A: The Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud, 'Cercis canadensis "Covey", also known as Twisted Lavender ... | |
| Dying Oak | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I had 3 Oaks growing in a cluster for the past 7 years...they are probably 30 years old and we lost ... A: Just not enough information to answer this question correctly without looking at the situation. It ... | |
| Transplanting Purple Leaf Sand Cherry | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: We are having some construction done on our home and will have to move three Purple Sand Cherry ... A: As you already know the best time would be in the Fall so you will need to be careful with the roots ... | |
| weeping cherry tree | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I read an answer about the weeping cherry tree, japanese beetles and the spray. I had the beetles ... A: Several things going on here. Trees planted in the summer have a hard time with the heat and lack of ... | |
| yellow leaves | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: my carragana tree leaves are turning yellow, is this from too much water or not enough, or could it ... A: Sounds like over watering. Moderate during growth. Keep soil fairly dry in winter. If the leaves ... | |
| sick evergreen tree | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I am hoping you can give us some advice on what to do with this sick looking tree. It is in front of ... A: It looks like a bad case of a disease called a canker--more than likely Seiridium canker. Foliage on ... | |
| Ficus trees | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have about 15 ficus tress very tall around my property. They were planted before i moved in and ... A: Cut the trees and paint the fresh stump with a herbicide called Roundup. Use a cheap brush and use ... | |
| live oak tree roots | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: My next door neighbor has a gorgeous huge Live Oak Tree, however the roots from the tree have grown ... A: You can install a root barrier along the house and this will keep the roots from going under the ... | |
| Maple tree Sap | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have lived in my home for 15 years and have never had a year like this one. The sap from the maple ... A: Sounds like either an insect called an aphid or a scale. Both of these insects suck the plant juices ... | |
| Mimosa Tree I over fertilized? | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 5' mimosa tree that was planted a year ago. It survived a winter frost and flowered in ... A: I would cut back the watering to every third day and water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under ... | |
| mesquite tree pods | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: We have a mesquite tree that drops thousands of pods per year. Is there a solution to stop the pods ... A: You will need to stop the flowering to keep the fruit from forming. Florel Fruit Eliminator will ... | |
| Removing 5 year old oak tree | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5-6 year old oak tree, growing well, not too big yet, but probably 4-5 inch trunk. Wrong ... A: Use the Roundup straight form the container--paint it on the stump. It is better to go ahead and do ... | |
| Cottonwood Trees | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: We want to buy a condo that has a cottonwood tree about 7-8 feet from the foundation of the home. ... A: I would have it removed before you buy. This is too large of a tree to be this close to the house. ... | |
| Magnolia tree-Seattle | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: and understand that they have shallow root systems. The trees are about 30 feet high. In putting ... A: You can get a way with cutting 25-30% of a tree root system without causing serious damage more than ... | |
| moths on my spruce trees | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Southern Minnesota, we have a wind break made up of many Colorado Spruce trees, and the ... A: Sounds like spruce budworm. The western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, is the ... | |
| yellow leaves | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I live in Flint, Michigan and I planted a cherry tree and I was having a problem with Japanese ... A: Adults feed on the upper surface of foliage, chewing out tissue between the veins. This gives the ... | |
| Locust Trees | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a pasture that is being taken over by locust trees. Everyone I've talked to says I should cut ... A: About the only thing they are good for is some shade and fence posts. The wood does not rot easily ... | |
| Eradicating box elder tree suckers | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I'm at my wit's end. Four years ago I had a mature box elder tree in my yard cut down, and the ... A: I would treat the sprouts with a herbicide called Roundup. This type herbicide will be carried to ... | |
| dead pine tree | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a neighbor with a dead pine tree about 60' high. If it falls my way, it will hit my house. ... A: Dead Pines usually break from the top. The limbs will fall off first then the top section will break ... | |
| Removing 5 year old oak tree | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5-6 year old oak tree, growing well, not too big yet, but probably 4-5 inch trunk. Wrong ... A: IF you decide to move the tree it is going to take some work. IF you cut it I would paint the fresh ... | |
| fruitless pear | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a well established, 25-30 ft. fruitless pear tree in my southern ca. front yard. Several ... A: The root carry the water and nutrients to the foliage. The root system extends out about 1 1/2 the ... | |
| Raywood Ash surface roots | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: My 35 ft Raywood Ash is lovely but it has many surface roots growing from its base. Many of them ... A: IF you remove the roots this will damage and may kill the tree depending on the amount and size of ... | |
| blotches on mountain ash leaves | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have a mountain ash tree in my south facing back yard that has ... A: Two diseases that affect mountain ash trees (Sorbus americana) are fire blight and Cytospora canker. ... | |
| cottonwood leaf drop | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a large cottonless cottonwood tree in my front yard, I believe that it is about 10-12 years ... A: By a dark discharge I am assuming you mean that something is dripping from the tree and the leaves ... | |
| Oak Trees | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I lost six large oak trees last year due to what I presumed was stress from drought conditions. ... A: I would contact the Texas Forest Service (state agency) and ask one of their Foresters to come take ... | |
| ree root | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a large oak tree that I cut a 10" limb off about 10 years ago. It has rooted out. I took my ... A: Benefits from filling the cavity are questionable at best. Since the fill material will expand and ... | |
| Topping a Honey Locust | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a very mature Honey locust but am starting to notice that it is getting very thin and I have ... A: Topping a mature tree can kill it I would not recommend that. From the description I can not tell ... | |
| further info on mesquite tree | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I will look into the arborist's credentials. I have noticed that my neighbor's pine trees are losing ... A: Pines will drop needles. Pines have two sets of needles on them and as the newer ones grow the older ... | |
| Save my Oak (please!) | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I live in Central Florida and recently bought a house on a corner lot with a large number of ... A: Send the other pictures if you would. You can send them to my e-mail jimhyland@yahoo.com. OR attach ... | |
| FIG LEAF PRUNING AND USAGE | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I trimmed my figs 2 day. I noticed that they seem to wart off pests. Nice dark green leaves. A ... A: You are correct there are not many pests that bother figs. Insect Pests •Nematodes are a common ... | |
| swedish columnar aspen | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: we have a small yard. 1 year old swedish columnar aspen trees. notice that the leaves are chewed in ... A: The ants are more than feeding on a substance called honeydew--the problem is an insect either an ... | |
| Effect of Dichlobenil on Magnolia Trees | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: Will Dichlobenil placed on top of the ground near a Magnolia tree (before installing a hot tub to ... A: No the Dichobenil will not harm the tree. BUT if more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the roots are damaged the ... | |
| Leland Cypress | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I have several 16 foot tall Leland Cypress trees. Several of the trees are infected with Circospora ... A: It will have it on the label. On a label I found it says: Junipers: Cercospora Needle Blight- ... | |
| Weeping Willow Trees | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I have conflicting answers from different local arborists and would appreciate a third independent ... A: Hybrid willows are crosses between two or more different willow species or cultivars. These crosses ... | |
| Bore Worms in Dogwood Trees | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I have several young dogwood trees that have bore worms that were planted in our yard approximately ... A: A soil applied insecticide is Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This is applied to the ... | |
| trimming bottom branches on young redwoods | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: Please advise...our trees are about 13 feet tall now and we are not sure what is best for the tree. ... A: You can prune the lower limbs from a redwood without harming the tree. Make the cut about 1/4 inch ... | |
| Maple bark borers | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a maple tree that has been killed by these borers. My concern is how likely are they to ... A: The trees can be sprayed with an insecticide called Onyx or Merit. The trunk as far up as possible ... | |
| Mulberry Planting | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: I cut a clipping off the end of a mulberry tree, 10" to 12" branch and dipped it into root hormone, ... A: The sand if kept moist should have been ok for rooting. I would not give up yet the roots maybe ... | |
| pine and spruce needles | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: I have two pine and one spruce trees in my front yard. I have trimmed them up from the bottom about ... A: It can be a function of acid and lower Ph of the soil as well as lack of sunlight. There are plants ... | |
| Hole in tree branch | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: Read advice suggesting not to fill holes in for instance limbs. What about covering hole with ... A: The trees living cells are just under the bark and the tree will try to grow over a hole if it can. ... | |
| Redwood Burl Issue | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: Picked up a redwood burl for my daughter in California on vacation. It was doing great on our trip ... A: Yes these are living organisms and if left in a hot car the temperature in the summer will cook ... | |
| Pin Oak with galls | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a 25 year old pin oak with some gall growth. This is the first time I have noticed the ... A: Well one of the treatments is to cut the galls off and IF the squirrels are doing this they are ... | |
| oak tree | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: my oak trees have horned oak gall.Is there any chemical that will treat this condition? Thanks A: The horned oak gall wasp, C. cornigera, attacks the twigs of pin, scrub, black, blackjack, and water ... | |
| Oak trees | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an 100-year old tree that exudes a gum starting about May and finishing about August, it ... A: Sounds like the tree has an infestation of scale insects. These small insect suck the plant juices ... | |
| branches from roots | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: The roots on my 26 year old Bradford Pear trees are above the ground in places. They have been ... A: You can spray them with a growth retardant and this will stop the growth. One of these is called ... | |
| PINK DOGWOOD | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: My 31 year old pink dogwood looks terrible! The leaves are mostly brown. The tree bloomed late ... A: Sounds like the dogwood has dogwood anthracnose. This disease of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) ... | |
| Cotton Wood Trees | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I live on a lake in Loveland colorad with 3 large cottonwood trees. One has died, the other two are ... A: Since other cottonwood trees nearby are ok and yours are not I would suspect either a change in the ... | |
| How do I identify a sugar maple? | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I think I have a red-leaf maple growing in my yard from a neighbor's tree, but it's too small to ... A: It is one of the maple species -- it is a boxelder. Acer negundo is a species of maple native to ... | |
| plum tree struggling | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I'm in MN with a plum tree that was going set to produce a lot of fruit last year. It didn't. Then ... A: Sounds like a blight disease. If you take you finger nail or a small knife and scrape a small bit of ... | |
| Spots on Maple Leaves | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a maple tree in my back yard, its 3 years old and I have noticed that there is a black spot ... A: These are leaf spots caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf ... | |
| Sealant on Tree | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: My October's Glory Maple trees' bark split over the winter. Now I live in Fl. so the temp. never ... A: Sunscald is a form of winter injury that can cause cracks and splits. Sunscald occurs when cells in ... | |
| Japanese weeping cherry tree | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: My tree is about 15 yrs old, bought at a nursery,grafted and planted by experts. The roots spread ... A: Cutting the sprouts is usually the best method. If you were to use a herbicide the parent tree may ... | |
| dead cherry tree? | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: after blooming and producing a large crop of cherries, the tree (in a matter of days) appeared to ... A: Sounds like a blight disease. If you take you finger nail or a small knife and scrape a small bit of ... | |
| Italian tree spacing | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I planed 6 Italian cypress trees in two rows. Three tree on each rows. the trees are 3' to 4' apart ... A: The Italian cypress trees can grow to 60 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The width spacing is fine when ... | |
| cutting the top off a maple tree | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I planted a maple to help brace a retaining wall.If I cut the top will it tend to grow wider as ... A: No it may kill the tree. The top is the source of terminal growth and if it is cut off you stand a ... | |
| Removing Italian Cypress and Roots | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: We have four Italian Cypress trees that have been planted since the 70's that must be removed. I ... A: The root system will be more deeper than spread out. They should have a tap root that will extend ... | |
| trimming ficus trees | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I believe ficus trees should be trimmed yrly to contain roots and manage growth. Our 4 ficus are 25' ... A: No I do not believe trees should be extensively pruned yearly to keep them small. Lower limbs should ... | |
| damage to purpleleaf sandcherry tree | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I need your expertise........I was pruning my purpleleaf sandcherry tree and I cut toooo close to ... A: Do not put anything on the wound It will heal on its own. The pruning paint will slow the healing ... | |
| blue spruce disease | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: We believe our blue spruce has the Rhizosphaera needle cast disease. Half of the bottom branchs ... A: No the branches that have lost their needles will not leaf out again. Hardwood trees have the ... | |
| birch tree bark | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: please help! my birch was hurt by my landscapers in 2008. the bark is peeled back about 14 inches ... A: I would cut any loose bark from the wound and spray the wound with an insecticide for Borers called ... | |
| falling leaves | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: Why would leaves fall from our freshly pruned mature maples? We did cut back quite a few branches. ... A: IF you cut the ends of the branch off this is the growing part of the branch and this will cause ... | |
| Additional picture for last post re: oak tree | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Please see this picture as well A: Sounds like gall wasps. The insect lays its eggs on the leaf and secretes a chemical that causes the ... | |
| Oak tree spots, root growths | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Our oak tree has developed some orange and red globular spots on the leaves. Also, there are knotty ... A: This also is a gall more than likely a crown gall. Crown gall first appears as small round ... | |
| bag worms-spruce tree | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I wrote to you beforeand these bagworms have definetely eaten most of my blue spruce. Their are ... A: More than likely the bagworm caterpillars are not active now and have laid eggs in the bags so ... | |
| Maple Tree | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: My daughter started a maple tree in a cup. It's not very big to plant in its permenant location. ... A: It as all hardwood trees do will drop its leaves in the fall. I would keep in in a place where the ... | |
| Oak Tree disease | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: The attached photo is from a dead oak tree in the upstate of SC. My concern is that the disease will ... A: This is a disease called hypoxylon canker. Hypoxylon cankers are prevalent and highly visible ... | |
| Splindly blue spruce | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Now 10 years old, nearly 15' high,straight as can be but is spindly with 6-8 in. between what looks ... A: I would try fertilizing the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate OF 1 LB per inch of trunk ... | |
| patmore ash roots | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a 50 foot ash that is leaning at a 5 degree angle to the east and I'm concerned it will fall ... A: Mist trees have some lean to them. A 5 degree lean is not a problem. IF a tree was leaning 30-or ... | |
| live oak | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a +100 yr old oak with large holes that fill with dirt and leaves. Should I seal these ... A: There is no need to fill the holes. A decay fungi has entered the woody dead cells of the trunk and ... | |
| magnolia bark damage | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: We have a 10 year old magnolia tree in our yard. My husband got in a bind with our boat trailer and ... A: The wound will heal over itself. Cut off any loose bark from around the wound. Do not apply any ... | |
| Italian Cypress | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: I had about 33 trees. All the trees on the North Side of my house thrived. The ones on the South ... A: I think you are correct about the water-they do not like a lot of water. A few limbs especially ... | |
| Transplanting a very old pear tree | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: would you please tell me if it is possible to transplant a very old, large pear tree. There are no ... A: It is possible but will take a large effort. Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon ... | |
| tower poplar tree | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: Where do these trees originate? A: These are hybrids. A "hybrid" plant is produced when pollen of one species is used to fertilize ... | |
| edible | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: Are the plums from a ornamental purple tree edible A: Plum trees are divided into fruiting varieties and ornamental or flowering varieties. Every kind ... | |
| Staking White Pine trees necessary? | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: Please forgive me if this question does not fall into your area of expertise. We recently had two ... A: I agree with the planters. Since the trees are 7 feet tall I would leave the stakes until next ... | |
| Linden Trees | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: How do I get rid of pests that are boring into the trunk of my mature trees? The bark has peeled off ... A: Malathion will not penetrate the bark and is not the right insecticide to use. This is a borer type ... | |
| Webs and worms in weeping cherry tree | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: Our wheeping cherry tree has developed webs with little worms inside of them which are killing the ... A: These are web worms --caterpillar type insects in webs. They live in the web for protection from ... | |
| Many damaged trees | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in deep south Texas and have many trees in my yard that have been damaged from storms over ... A: The heartwood consists of the growth rings in the center of the trunk. They are aged sapwood and ... | |
| Cherry tree roots cut after construction | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: My mature cherry tree had some of its roots cut and exposed after construction about 3.5 weeks ago. ... A: First check and see if the tree is dead--start near the end of an upper outer branch and scrap a ... | |
| oak tree dropping acorn and leaf tips | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: This old oak is dropping acorns, smaller ones in June and now larger ones in July. It is also ... A: Acorn take two years to reach mature size. Weather plays a big part in how many reach maturity. ... | |
| Sycamore tree | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: Can i pile up dirt around the base of my Sycamore tree without hurting it or them? A: YES and NO! You can add soil around a tree as long as the amount does not exceed 2 inches in depth ... | |
| oak tree | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I have very large oak tree at the bottom of the garden, over the years I have kept it cut to stop it ... A: Sounds like slime flux. Wetwood and slime flux are poorly understood tree disease problems. ... | |
| Maple tree disease | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a maple tree over 30 yrs old and the branches have white cotton balls on them and leaves are ... A: Sounds like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ... | |
| Cottonwood tree with white bugs | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: last autumn our large 20ft cottonwood tree got struck by lightning. recently, we noticed that is ... A: It looks like a disease called slime flux. The insects are coming to the sap for food. You can rid ... | |
| aspen roots & new shoots | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 aspen trees in one area of my yard. Is there any way to kill new shoots? Also, the ... A: It is really difficult to control aspen shoots that develop on aspen roots. When they're little you ... | |
| 45 yr old maple with white cottony spots | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a 45+ yr old maple in my yard and this is the first year it has white cottony spots on some ... A: Sounds like cottony aphid or scale insects. Aphids will move if touched and the scale will not move. ... | |
| aspen tree sucker growth | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: how do i stop the sucker growth from my aspen trees from popping up in my lawn? seems like i am just ... A: It is really difficult to control aspen shoots that develop on aspen roots. When they're little you ... | |
| Golden Chain Tree - worms | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I've had my golden chain tree for 3 yrs now and this year I noticed that chunks of the branches were ... A: These are caterpillars and can be controlled with liquid Sevin --an insecticide that will not harm ... | |
| gambles oak acorn worms | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a number of gambles oak trees on my property and was interested in harvesting the acorns for ... A: Do not know of an organic that will work on there insects--try an insecticide called Orthene. It ... | |
| cutting tree roots | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I am almost ready to start excavation for the foundation of a house in East Texas. One end of the ... A: The roots of a tree will extend about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches. A tree can survive root ... | |
| dual trunk tree splitting apart | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a 20 ft blue spruce tree that has always had two adjacent and parallel trunks. It is now ... A: Not really anything that can be done that would help the tree. IF one of the forks were cut when it ... | |
| popular trees | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: My neighbour has asked me to cut them down because they roots of the trees are causing problems ... A: The roots of this tree will spread about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches and if this is within ... | |
| gambles oak acorn worms | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a number of gambles oak trees on my property and was interested in harvesting the acorns for ... A: The adults mate during the early summer months, high in the oak trees. Once the females are ... | |
| transplanting mature fruit trees | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to transplant fruit trees that are 15-20 years old? A: Deciduous trees may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved in ... | |
| Pesticides | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a young weeping willow tree that was planted about a year ago. I am having problems with ... A: I would use two methods to control the beetles. The best long term control/preventive is an ... | |
| yellowing leaves | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: Help..we had to transplant our weeping cherry tree last week..a professional company dug out a hole ... A: You are right the worst time of the year to transplant a tree but it can be done. If you have not ... | |
| what is happening to my maple tree leaves? | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I live in Central Illinois and have 3 maple trees that are about 35 years old. I am noticing leaves ... A: These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot ... | |
| another tree | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: Casper Wy here, I've uploaded a picture of our poor tree this time. It's not that leaves grow but ... A: From this distance I can not tell what species of tree this is. But since there is a fair amount of ... | |
| Dying Pussy-Willow Tree | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Thumb of Michigan, and have a pussy-willow tree that started the season by not much of ... A: I do not think it is emerald ash borer, but a borer on willow. A cryptic weevil as an adult, the ... | |
| caterpillars | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: Katy, Texas There are caterpillars dropping off live oak trees. Yellow stripes on their side. Can ... A: It is either the yellow neck caterpillar or the Orange-striped oakworm. Both have strips but have ... | |
| dying cottonwood | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: Casper Wy here, I've uploaded a picture of our poor tree this time. It's not that leaves grow but ... A: The tree has numerous cankers caused by a stem disease and I am sorry it looks like there is no way ... | |
| Magnoial tree roots | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: My neighbor planted a magnolia tree, 5 feet on the other side of a fence, near my swimming pool. I ... A: Magnolia trees has the potential for getting quite large (30-40 ft. ht. %26 about 20 feet wide - ... | |
| yellowing leaves on Maple Tree | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I've called Home Depot, Lowes, Mulch 1st and Oakland Nursery and no one has Dolomite Lime. The ... A: They are not the same. Ground limestone is almost almost pure calcium carbonate and comprises the ... | |
| Globe Willow split and fell | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 year old globe willow tree (approximately 25' tall)that recently split at the base and ... A: IF it does have a decay fungi in the woody cells it does not mean the tree is doomed but the decay ... | |
| oak tree dropping 1000's of small acorns in June | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a large an seemingly heathy red oak that over the period of just a few days this week in June ... A: Acorn take two years to reach mature size. Weather plays a big part in how many reach maturity. ... | |
| yellowing leaves on Maple Tree | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: Jim, my lawn service guy just sprayed my shrubs and trees but didn't do my Maple tree. He said it ... A: Yes but with out a soil test you may be guessing about the amount of manganese that you need. Also ... | |
| Globe Willow split and fell | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 year old globe willow tree (approximately 25' tall)that recently split at the base and ... A: IF the wood inside the down split is solid the tree is ok. If the inside is mushy then a decay fungi ... | |
| Oak Tree Fungus | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I have what looks like a bur Oak tree with light green worm like extentions growing out of the ... A: The short story is that certain behaviors (such as feeding or laying eggs) of certain insects cause ... | |
| Moving small sumac trees to another location. | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: How can I transplant sumac trees which are movng by around my property to another location without ... A: Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be ... | |
| bay tree disease | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I have an apparent fungal disease on my bay laurel. White sticky fungus spots about 1cm in diameter ... A: Looks like cottony scale --an insect. These suck the plant juices from the tree and secrete a ... | |
| Pine tree health | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: Hyland: I purchased an "alive" Christmas last season. It was not a noble fir but another type of ... A: It maybe anything from natural needle shedding to a foliage disease--not really enough information ... | |
| Blue Spuce | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: Two years ago we planted six blue spruce trees, each about 5-6"tall. Two of them seem to be thinning ... A: It maybe anything from natural needle shedding to a foliage disease--not really enough information ... | |
| Crepe mrytle - too young to bloom? | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: In mid-June '10 I bought a crepe myrtle (natchez variety) which is about 3 ft. tall and from seeing ... A: I would think early next summer it will bloom. Since it was planted late it will need time to set a ... | |
| cleveland pear | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: About 2 yrs ago, we planted 2 Cleveland pear trees in our back yard, both with same growing ... A: Sounds like fire blight. Fire blight is one of the most devastating and difficult-to-control ... | |
| tree beetles on Japenese Red Maple | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: How to treat tree and kill beetles which have burrowed into tree. A: Spray the wound area with an insecticide called Merit or Onyx. OR you can apply an insecticide ... | |
| Maple Trees | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: We transplanted maples last year, this spring they looked dead, now I see new growth at the bottom. ... A: First check to see if the branches are dead--start near the end of the branch and scrape a small bit ... | |
| dwarf weeping willow infestations | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: My weeping willow has had an infestation for last season and it has begun again this year. There ... A: I would use a spray insecticide called Orthene. Make sure you spray all the foliage. IF the tree is ... | |
| leaf problems | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a weeping and a yoshino cherry tree. Both of which have little holes in the leaves. It looks ... A: There are several insects that feed on cherry leaves--caterpillars to beetles. Look for these late ... | |
| pine tree/evergreen | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: My evergreen tree has bores how can I chemically treat them, or is there an organic way? I opened ... A: This sounds like tip moths. The adult moth lays its eggs on the tip bud of a branch and the egg ... | |
| Weeping Willow Tree | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: We just had a severe storm in our area that uprooted our willow tree. Is it possible to trim it ... A: Willow trees can take a lot of damage and still survive. First, distinguish between a tree that is ... | |
| horizontal holes on magnolia tree | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: In reading your answers to other "holes in trees",I think my tree is being besieged by ... A: Sapsuckers are a type of woodpecker. They make the small holes in rows around the tree trunk. Some ... | |
| Globe Willow Frothy Flux and infested with larvae | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: We live on the eastern slope of Colorado. We have a 7 year old Globe Willow that has developed ... A: The Bayer Advanced will more than likely not kill the larva under the bark since they are feeding on ... | |
| magnolia tree | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a sick magnolia tree.My tree has big flower,leaves are green but the branches have some kind ... A: Sounds like magnolia scale. These insects suck the plant juices from the plant an secrete a ... | |
| Maple Tree White worms | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: was wondering if you could help me identify my white worm problem. I noticed that Branches would ... A: Sounds like the Maple twig borer, Proteoteras aesculana Riley Larvae hollow out dormant buds and ... | |
| Type of Tree | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: My husband brought me a seed pod from a tree that he had never seen before and was quite fascinated ... A: Sounds like northern catalpa, Catalpa speciosa. Leaf: Whorled (or opposite, when whorled one of the ... | |
| crimsion maple tree | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a crimson maple that has what i would call a wound,the tree itself is vary old,but still to ... A: Looks like the wound is infested with a borer insect. I would spray an insecticide called Merit or ... | |
| Catabawa worms/tree | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: My son transplanted a Catabawa tree last year. He put a lot of worms on it last season. This year ... A: The ants are not killing the caterpillars but there is a wasp that will lays its eggs on the ... | |
| tree stump trouble | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: we had our sick tree cut down a little over a month ago and now it is oozing slime and orange stuff ... A: The tree was still alive when it was cut and the roots are still trying to pump water and nutrients ... | |
| Redbud transplant | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I read your previous answer re transplanting a redbud in the spring after the ground thaws. I live ... A: The heat and lack of wet weather is the reason trees are not transplanted in the summer. I would ... | |
| Ornamental Plum Tree | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Our Ornamental Plum Tree produces plums that create a huge mess. Is there any way to sterilize it ... A: If you want this tree to be an ornamental flowering plum instead of bearing friut then spray ... | |
| Globe Willow root system | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Can you give details about the root system? How extensive does it get? A: The root system extends about 1 1/2 times the width of the drip line (where the ends of the branches ... | |
| Globe Willow Frothy Flux and infested with larvae | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: We live on the eastern slope of Colorado. We have a 7 year old Globe Willow that has developed ... A: Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood (slime flux) seen afflicting many other hardwood ... | |
| Spruce Tree & Volck oil | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I think that I scorched my 10 year old 20'Colorado spruce with Volck spray last fall trying to get ... A: Some plants are sensitive to oil sprays especially if the rate is higher than normal. Be sure to ... | |
| Canadian Red Cherry Dry Leaves | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: We planted a row of 5 Canadian red cherry trees about 1 month ago. Recently I've noticed that one ... A: I would try watering the tree every third day with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and ... | |
| worm or moth on cypress trees | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I have two cypress trees in my back yard and have discovered this hanging like cocoon that makes you ... A: These are called bagworms. The common bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth), is an ... | |
| birch tree root - cutting (expanded query) | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: An expansion of the sameif the roots that we want to cut are aprox. 5+ feet from the trunk, will ... A: It is not necessarily the distance from the trunk but the % of the root system that is cut. IF you ... | |
| Holes in old oak tree | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: These puzzling holes have appeared in an old oak tree at my lake house. One looks like it might be ... A: It looks like either a wood pecker or maybe a squirrel is trying to make a nest in the tree. The ... | |
| yellow-brown ooz on maple tree bark (diagnosis)? | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I noticed a yellow brown sticky puffy ooz near the base of my maple tree. The tree otherwise seems ... A: I would think this is a condition called slim flux. Slime flux is the name given to the oozing or ... | |
| liquid amber tree | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a liquid amber tree that is about 18 years old and about 40 feet tall, located in San Diego ... A: The problem is the lawn fertilizer Weed and Feed. This contains a herbicide that will kill trees. ... | |
| Wisconsin Weeping Willow | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: My parents have a Wisconsin weeping willow tree planted on the banks of their 1-acre pond. The tree ... A: I would think either the simazine or the Karmex at higher than normal rates will damage the roots of ... | |
| two types of trees | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: How tall does an arapahoe crepe myrtle grow the first year and should it bloom? New question-I have ... A: Arapahoe crepe myrtle grows 3-5 ft. per year and it should bloom the first year. You can prune ... | |
| Leader Broken off Young Coast Redwood | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: Two years ago we planted our prized Aptos Blue Coast Redwood which is now about 10 feet tall. Last ... A: It will out grow the broken top since the tree is young. A side branch will over time become the new ... | |
| Bark splitting and branch shearing | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I have two rather young (approx. 3 years old) trees in my front yard which I've noticed have ... A: Sounds like an insect called a twig girdler or pruner. There are two insects that cut off twigs of ... | |
| mulberry tree | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I bought a house in the winter time with what I know now is a mulberry tree,. It stands about 10ft ... A: Sorry you are going to have to remove the tree. The easiest thing to do to keep the root system from ... | |
| all brown leaves--what happened? | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: We had a $300 live oak planted and staked back in November. It thrived and put on lots of growth ... A: I agree with you IF it were herbicide from the spraying of the adjacent fields all the nearby ... | |
| Scales on Mimosa | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I see you replied to this subject on a house plant size mimosa. I have two quite large trees. One, ... A: The easy thing to do is treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub ... | |
| Trimming a dwarf blue spruce | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: We planted a dwarf blue spruce last year in the Invermere, British Columbia are and this year it is ... A: One great asset to having a dwarf Alberta spruce in the landscape is that they very rarely need ... | |
| cedar trees | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: how do you kill cedar trees that are overtaking our pastures and hills? A: There are several options to control cedar. They can be killed with the use of prescribed fire, ... | |
| mulberry tree | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I bought a house in the winter time with what I know now is a mulberry tree,. It stands about 10ft ... A: Yes a tree that will grow large will cause a problem this near the house. The roots will be a ... | |
| orange 'rust?' slowly covering all trees and bushes | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I live in Northern California and noticed that (one of many different types of trees), the fruitless ... A: This sounds like a rust fungi. Mulberry rust is common in China where they raise silkworms on ... | |
| trees and vinegar | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if household vinegar or salt kill trees. We have ant nests near the roots of the ... A: I would think a gal would be too much but a pint or so near the trunk of a mature tree should not be ... | |
| shagbark hickory diseased | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: We have a shagbark hickory tree that seems to have an aphid infestation. It has small green balls ... A: These are insect galls. In general the small wasp like insect lays its eggs on the twig and secretes ... | |
| Early leaf loss on oak. | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: They appeared to be very healthy until a few weeks ago in May I noticed brown fallen leaves all over ... A: The pellets are called frass. This is the excrement from caterpillar type insects that feed on the ... | |
| trees and vinegar | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if household vinegar or salt kill trees. We have ant nests near the roots of the ... A: Yes if enough of either vinegar or salt is applied in large quantities around a tree this can kill ... | |
| Green worms in Maple tree | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I notice every year the leaves start growing there are little green worms that eat the leaves down ... A: Sound like one of the looper type caterpillars. They can be controlled by spraying the foliage with ... | |
| Red maple tree | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I have two red maple trees in my backyard that have small, hard orange or red bumps on the top of ... A: These are called bladder galls. The upper surface of silver and red maple leaves often become ... | |
| tree vandal? | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: About 5 years ago, a little sumac tree just started growing in the little back courtyard of my ... A: Sorry there is not much that can be done to save the tree, The living layer of cells is just under ... | |
| weeping cherry tree | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: my weeping cherry tree is 35-40 years old alot of her branches are rotted but they still produce ... A: No these sprouts will not live well since they are from the main root system of the parent tree. If ... | |
| black knot in oak trees | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: We have several mature(60-70 ft.)Oak trees on our lot in Northern Wisconsin. Some of them have large ... A: Sounds like a gall insect. Galls are irregular plant growths which are stimulated by the reaction ... | |
| Norway Spruce problem | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: We raise evergreens (arborvitae, white pine, Norway Spruce) on 5 acres of land here in PA and have ... A: Looks like Diplodia Tip Blight. Symptoms: Diplodia tip blight of pines is a relatively easy ... | |
| young red oak | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: Last fall planted 15 foot red oak. We had a very cold and long winter. This spring the bark, near ... A: Sunscald and frost cracking of trees can occur in any winter, but the effect of dramatic temperature ... | |
| Red Maple & white puffy things on branches | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: We have a young red maple and we noticed on many of the branches at many of the intersections of ... A: Sounds like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ... | |
| weeping cherry tree | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: We have an approximately 6 year old weeping cherry tree. This spring it got just a very few flowers ... A: You can tell if the tree is alive by scraping a small bit of bark off the end of a branch and if the ... | |
| Maple tree pests with white gooey, pods | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I think that I have the gall pest, white gooey pods on all my maple trees. I think that I had them ... A: Sounds like cottony maple scale. The cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon), is a ... | |
| Ash tree | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I have an Ash tree planted in the front yard. About a year ago, the tree was struck ... A: You are more than likely referring to the Emerald ash borer (EAB). This insect was introduced into ... | |
| Bladder Gall Mites on Maple Tree | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: How do I get rid of or protect against the mites next year? From the information gathered so far, I ... A: Once the galls are formed by the gall midge or mite there is no real way to get the insecticide to ... | |
| Debarking a pin oak | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: We have a pin oak tree (approx 8-10 years old) in a field with livestock. Recently, the livestock ... A: Bark eating is seen most often during the late winter and early spring months. Chewing the bark off ... | |
| weeping cherry disease | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: My weeping cherry has brown leaves on one branch extension and is getting worse. There is orange ... A: Cherry trees (especially sweet and weeping types) are highly susceptible to bacterial gummosis, or ... | |
| apple tree/ peach x disease | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: what can I use to spray my apple and peach trees? they both have spot- like rust on the leaves. they ... A: Sounds like cedar apply rust. Cedar-Apple Rust on Apple: Pale yellow spots appear on the upper ... | |
| Oak Tree Granuals being dropped from Tree | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have an oak tree that is dropping significant amounts of black granuals - very simialr to coffee ... A: Could be a couple of things--caterpillar feeding on the leaves and secrete droppings (frass) waste ... | |
| bald cypress roots in a yard | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: Hyland: I have a Home I wish to purchase. This house has Three Bald Cypress Trees in its yard. The ... A: Cut the trees and the knees off and paint the cuts with Roundup. Use a cheap brush and paint the ... | |
| Maple Tree fungus? | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: We have a young maple tree about 2 yrs old but every year the leaves start out OK but then get tiny ... A: These sound like leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A ... | |
| Purple ash lateral root | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: We have a mature purple ash tree (20-25 year we estimate based on previous owner's stories) in our ... A: It is better to cut the root than to shave the top off. Shaving will allow fungi to enter the root ... | |
| Maple tree transplant, development and care. | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a Maple tree growing 12 inches from my house. It is between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. It is ... A: You can stake it until the tree can hold its self up right. The branches will come as the tree gets ... | |
| Kids playing on lower limbs | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: Because I am out of town a lot, I have missed the little culprits who have been swinging on the ... A: You can prune the lower limbs off at the trunk on maple. Maples are known as "bleeders". This means ... | |
| Maple Tree Rot | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: We have a maple tree that is rotting where a branch was removed several years ago. How and what ... A: There is not anything that can be done for the decay fungi. This fungi infects the woody cells and ... | |
| fungus on oak tree | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: On just one of our oak trees in our backyard, there is a light green scaly fungus that I haven't ... A: It kills the lichen --it is sprayed on the lichens on the trunk and branches of the tree. Moss and ... | |
| Maple | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18'-20' tall Autumn Blaze Maple. The trunk is about 4" in diameter. Not sure of exact age. ... A: This is yellow-poplar http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=54 Yellow ... | |
| Native trees for central Fl yards | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: Is there an easy maintenance tree, possibly with flowers,that is suitable for the Ocala, FL area? ... A: I would suggest that you contact the Florida Division of Forestry and ask one of their Foresters the ... | |
| oak tree | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a small oak tree in my back yard. Every spring it starts out looking healthy and the leaves ... A: It depends on the type system the pools has. Chlorine should not be a problem but salt will be. The ... | |
| Oak trees | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: I am writing about our two massive oak trees in our backyard. This year in particular, apart from ... A: The tree more than likely has an insect called aphids or scales. Both of these insects suck the ... | |
| fungus on oak tree | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: On just one of our oak trees in our backyard, there is a light green scaly fungus that I haven't ... A: These are lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ... | |
| Flowering cherry tree | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a pink flowering cherry tree with the double blossoms - the kind that looks like cotton candy ... A: Sounds like the root system was damaged with the "knicking" of the root. More than likely a root ... | |
| flowering crabapple tree | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: we have a flowering crabapple tree that was given to us by a neighbor about 6 years ago. it's about ... A: That should not be the case for crabapple. Age and size are more important. Also the type of soil ... | |
| Maple | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18'-20' tall Autumn Blaze Maple. The trunk is about 4" in diameter. Not sure of exact age. ... A: Major pruning should be done during the dormant season after the leave have fallen, from late ... | |
| Oak tree | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: We have a well-established Oak in our yard. The leaves look very healthy. However, we have found ... A: I think you have a couple of things happening. The clusters of small branches with leaves sounds ... | |
| pruning a dogwood tree | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I have pruned my dogwood tree previously, now it has a bunch of small sprouts all over the ... A: Well there is not a real good way of saying this--dogwood trees do not need pruning except maybe ... | |
| salix willow (golden curl)? | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: i have it about 13ft from the front wall of my semi-detached house(duplex). my neighbour is ... A: There will not be a problem with the foundation--the roots are fibrous and will not harm ... | |
| dogwood tree | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a varigated Kousa Dogwood Gold Star and it has quite a few green branches and is blooming ... A: Leave it alone it should as the new leaves mature have the variegated look. Dogwoods require little ... | |
| Dogwwod | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Is a dogwood disease or blight prevalent in Charlotte, NC? My neighbor and I have both lost several ... A: Sounds like dogwood anthracnose. here is a web link to informatio on this disease. ... | |
| Planting a tree very close to a tree stump | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I'm in the S.F. bay area, and last year a decent sized (about 18" diam.)Coast Live Oak fell ... A: There will not be a problem with fungi or insects that maybe growing in the dead roots. But you may ... | |
| Seiryu maple | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Every year since I planted it, (about 3), my seiryu maple has had the same problem that someone ... A: Sounds like it is dead. Check by starting near the end of a branch and scrape a small bit of bark ... | |
| diseased oak tree | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: It is autumn in South Africa %26 my beautiful oak tree's leaves are infected with a black fungal ... A: Sounds like either aphids or a scale insect--both insects will suck the plant juices from the plant ... | |
| cherry blossom tree all leaves eaten | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: My cherry blossom tree bloomed as usual this spring but after the blooms had fallen we noticed that ... A: There are several caterpillar type insects that could have cause this. I would spray the tree with ... | |
| Black Walnut Tree- Leaf Disease? | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: Jim, Our Black Walnut tree, planted in the desert of AZ, has developed little red and green growths ... A: These are insect galls formed by insects (more than likely small wasps or mites) that lay their eggs ... | |
| chilean mesquite bark | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: In southern Arizona, I planted an approximate 5 ft tall Chilean mesquite two weeks ago. Noticed ... A: As long as the bark was not chewed all the way around the trunk the tree will be ok. I would remove ... | |
| nectarine and peach trees | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I planted a nectarine tree ( i think its a nectarine but it might be a plum) but in any case its ... A: Prune all rootstock suckers and water sprouts starting at the bottom of the tree and working up ... | |
| Maple Sap | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: Is there something I can or should be doing to slow/stop excessive sap from our Maple tree? It is ... A: Check to see if the leaves are sticky. If so the problem is an insect called aphids. These soft ... | |
| transplanting pecan tree | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I want to share a few pecan trees that the squirrels thought I needed with a friend. One of the ... A: Not a good idea--IF you dig it now go ahead and plant it out where you want it--potting it will ... | |
| Oak Tree with spongy area | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: We have a very old oak tree in our back yard that appears healthy. We noticed a spongy area on the ... A: Looks like borer damage and a decay fungi has entered the wound. The decay fungi will over a long ... | |
| Young Maple, damaged by idiot landscaper | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I'm an expert in another category. I have a young Maple tree, planted when I moved into my present ... A: If you are talking about cabling as the cables used to brace a tree from the trunk to the ground --I ... | |
| Beetle infestation and the fungus that is accompanied | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in the eastern foothills of Colorado. The beetle kill is slowly moving towards our area. In ... A: I assume you are taking about the Pine Mountain Beetle. These insects attack a pine and construct ... | |
| Rootstock for Acer pseudoplatanus var brilliantissimum | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I bought a small tree of Acer pseudoplatanus var brillinatissimum which didn't do very well- the ... A: Sycamore maple is the root stock. Acer pseudoplatanus is the botanical name of the Sycamore Maple ... | |
| Blue Spruce tree root system | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: We own a beautiful Blue Spruce that is needing to have the mounded area cut down as much as ... A: The root system is in the first two feet of soil so removing the first two feet of soil from around ... | |
| nectarine and peach trees | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I planted a nectarine tree ( i think its a nectarine but it might be a plum) but in any case its ... A: Both of these have a branch spread of about 16 feet meaning the branches could reach about 8 feet on ... | |
| Weeping Cherry | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: We have a beautiful weeping Cherry and something is eating the trunk or the tree. I would say it is ... A: Spray the foliage with an insecticide and this will kill the caterpillar feeding on the foliage. ... | |
| Tree Tops | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I don't see that you specifically answer questions on logging, but maybe you can help send me in the ... A: Tops and limbs are sometimes chipped up and used as either mulch or used by paper mills. But 10 ... | |
| Laurel Oak | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: What kind of roots does the Laurel Oak have? Do the roots go out or is it a ball? Does the tree ... A: They have lateral roots that will extend out about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches . They are ... | |
| Massive oak tree maint | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: central texas,15 ft circumference double trunk. this tree has brush, cedars, misc trees growing into ... A: Ok If I understand the situation --you have an oak tree that the limbs are touching or almost ... | |
| Raywood Ash | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased a Raywood Ash (the tag says Redwood) and I'm unsure how often it requires watering ... A: Use 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 ... | |
| growing a willow from an older tree | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: There is an aged willow that has a significant connection to my family historically. I would like to ... A: Willows contain a plant hormone that promotes rooting so they are easy to propagate. A cut branch ... | |
| Dogwood pruning | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a dogwood tree planted fairly close to the end of my driveway. It was there when I bought ... A: Dead and diseased branches should be removed as soon as they are noticed. You can the thin the ... | |
| pine cones | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: Our ponderosa pine trees in northern Calif. have produced the largest number of pine cones this ... A: Usually pines will produce large numbers of cones if the tree is under stress. I would fertilize the ... | |
| established tree | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: My question is about clarifying when is a tree considered established? We planted an Edith Bogue ... A: Trees are usually established by the second year and really do not need water added unless it is dry ... | |
| Catawba worm trees | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I have two catawba worm trees, each about 15' tall and about 8 years old. When I was a kid, we ... A: Your best bet for starting the worms is to harvest eggs from a tree that is already established and ... | |
| peticole borer | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: i have a maple that drops leafs in the spring due to the borer..my question is can any kind of ... A: Petiole boring by a small wasp larvae may cause sudden drop of many sugar maple leaves may during ... | |
| Shamel Ash | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I planted a Shamel Ash about a year ago on the west side of our house in Phoenix, where it receives ... A: Curling leaves are a sign of herbicide damage. IF this just begun this year--have you used a ... | |
| Willow trees | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: please tell me the difference between : Weeping willow Salix Blanda and Weeping Willow ... A: They are different varieties of willow. Salix blanda; Salix pendulina; Salix pendulina blanda; ... | |
| daisy trees | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: i got my grandma a daisy tree for mothers day. do we need to trim it? and is there any special food ... A: The plant gets its name from the daisy-like flowers that it produces through the year. If you live ... | |
| Round, soft white sphere on oak tree | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in Okatie South Carolina, about 8 miles from the Georgia border...about 20 miles from the ... A: I am sorry I mis read the question--now I se the part about being on the end of the branch. Sounds ... | |
| Round, soft white sphere on oak tree | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in Okatie South Carolina, about 8 miles from the Georgia border...about 20 miles from the ... A: This is one of the decay fungi fruiting bodies Hericium erinaceus The common name is Lion Mane, ... | |
| transplanting a seedling | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in the northeast. I have a JM seedling that has been under my big Japanese Maple tree for ... A: Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the ... | |
| Emerald cedar tree | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: What should be done to prevent the cedar from getting two main branches? My cedar looks like it has ... A: It sounds like the tree is a forked tree. This is genetic and IF the tree is young you can cut one ... | |
| cypress knee beach area | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I live along a Florida lake and have several Cypress trees on the "beach area". How do I keep weeds ... A: If you spray a herbicide called Roundup on the green weeds and this will kill the weeds and other ... | |
| What is bt insectiside | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: our trees, fruit, rose bushes but apple trees are fine. They are getting eaten by 1" x 1/8th inch ... A: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a live microorganism that kills certain insects and is used to kill ... | |
| Southern Magnolia Recovery from Snow Damage | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I live in Wilmington, DE and experienced record snowfall this winter. The majority of ... A: You can go ahead and prune the dead branches off. To make sure the branch is dead or alive--start ... | |
| maple bark | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a coral bark maple that has been shedding it's bark at the base. I thought at first it was ... A: Cracks and splits in tree trunks are fairly common and may occur for various reasons, but are ... | |
| Tree bark splitting | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in central Alberta Canada and in cold hardi zone 3a. I have planted a weeping crab, mayday, ... A: I still think it is winter injury. Bark splitting appears as loose bark in various areas on the ... | |
| wheeping cherry trees | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: are the cherries safe to eat and what else can you do with the fruit thank you A: Weeping cherry trees are considered ornamental flowering trees. The cherries they produce are not ... | |
| Blue Spruce Roots | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I just purchased a home that has 2 lovely Blue Spruce trees in the front yard. They are both ... A: No there will be NO problem with the roots from the blue spruce. At maturity the tree will have a ... | |
| Tree bark splitting | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in central Alberta Canada and in cold hardi zone 3a. I have planted a weeping crab, mayday, ... A: Sounds like sunscald. Cracks in the Trunk, Sun Scald. Sunscald is a form of injury to the trunk of ... | |
| bore holes in pine trees | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed prefectly round half inch bore holes in my 30 foot tall pine trees. Could they be ... A: IF these holes are in a line this is a woodpecker called a sapsucker. Most woodpeckers rely on ... | |
| Borer Worms | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 young maples and they are getting little holes around the trunk of the tree. Is this Boer ... A: Sounds like sapsuckers wood peckers Most woodpeckers rely on insects and tree sap as their primary ... | |
| Crabapple Tree Problems | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I planted two Royalty Crabapple trees in my backyard along with a weeping Crabapple (not sure of ... A: The caterpillars more than likely ate the foliage off the trees. Start at or near the end of a ... | |
| misquite tree replanted | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: The tree is back up, one root would not go back down. I surrounded the tree with decorative ... A: Sounds like you did well. I would not prune the tree now wait until it has a chance to get itself ... | |
| woodpecker ? holes in a pear tree | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a customer with a similar problem of holes in their bradford pear. The holes are almost ... A: Sounds like sapsuckers wood peckers Most woodpeckers rely on insects and tree sap as their primary ... | |
| killing tree seedlings | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: We have thousands of weed/volunteer trees growing in a large area of rock in the back yard. What is ... A: Roundup has a surfactant in it already but I have found that if you add a teaspoon per Gal. of ... | |
| Watering trees. | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I have about 10 different species of trees in my 1 1/2 acre yard (I love trees). Every single tree ... A: I would let the soil dry out some before watering again. This will cause the roots to grow deeper ... | |
| chinese dogwood - fertilizing | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: Location - 55+ active adult community in PA Poconos Many Chinese dogwoods 7' - 8' tall planted about ... A: If they are healthy and green I would not fertilize them at all. IF you feel the need I would use ... | |
| tree question | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: We recently moved into a home on the mid-west coast of Fl. there is a "greenbelt" behind everyone's ... A: There are a variety of gall-forming species of small wasps that commonly infest oak, Quercus spp. ... | |
| Crabapple tree damage | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: My crabapple tree has started dropping the ends of its branches this spring. The smaller branches ... A: These are the only insects that I know of that cut branches. It could be squirrels. The cut may not ... | |
| transplanting a crabapple tree | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a five year old crabapple tree that I moved from one area of my yard to another in late ... A: Here is the proper way to transport a tree--even with this you will get some shock from the move. ... | |
| removing willows near septic | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: We have a willow (not weeping) that grew very close to our septic field. It seems to be shooting out ... A: These are sprouts from the root system. The sprouts will not harm the septic lines but the roots ... | |
| Crabapple tree damage | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: My crabapple tree has started dropping the ends of its branches this spring. The smaller branches ... A: There are a couple insects that can cause the twigs to break off. Twig girdler--A species of long ... | |
| is my maple tree dying? | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I just purchase my home, and I have a maple tree and the tree looks like it was burnt; the bark is ... A: The bark of maple does turn darker as it ages. Sometimes one side of the trunk will be darker than ... | |
| Live Oak tree | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to convert a limestone(water permeable) driveway to asphalt at my home in South Louisiana. My ... A: It should not be a problem as long as you do not do any digging just lay the asphalt over the ... | |
| willow over fertilized | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: what can i do i put to fertilized steaks around my willow and its leaf growth stop just as it was ... A: If you can find the stakes pull them out. Fertilizer stakes have a tendency to concentrate the ... | |
| River birch near foundation | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a beautiful 30 ft river birch off my back patio. It is 12 ft from the house at the nearest ... A: The roots will spread about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches and be mainly in the first 2 feet ... | |
| Shamal Ash tree | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: Our backyard, in Scottsdale Arizona, has a Shamal Ash that was planted 6 years ago. It stands about ... A: I think it is getting too much water. Too much water gives the same symptoms as too little water. I ... | |
| white birch trees and septic lines | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I read a response you gave to someone about planting white birch trees. You made a comment about ... A: birch trees likes water and will grow roots toward the water and the roots will clog the tank and ... | |
| A good Tree | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: We live in Lexington KY. and would like to buy a good tree for our new house. Our yard is not very ... A: I would go with the dogwood. Small herbaceous plants and shrubs, as well as small trees; large, ... | |
| southern live oak root damage | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a southern live oak in coastal NC. The specimen is about 30' tall with a 45' canopy; a 2' x ... A: As long as you did not cut more than 30% of the root system the tree should be ok. The root system ... | |
| Weeping Willow Trees | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: How fast does a weeping willow tree grow per year on an average? And is it true it's not good to ... A: The are fairly fast growing about 18-24 inches per year depending on the soil type they are planted ... | |
| uprooted mesquite tree | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: is it possible to save a 10 year old misquite tree this is the second day partially out of the ... A: For some smaller trees (25 feet or less in height), it may be possible to straighten the tree and ... | |
| red maple damage | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: last june a tornado came thru and took off 1/3 - 1/2 of the leaves from the tree. I was hoping that ... A: First check and see if the branch is still alive--start near the end of the branch and scrap a small ... | |
| poor leaf out on transplanted J.Maple | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I moved a 5yr old 7ft bloodgood Japanese Maple last April. Not best timing as it had already leafed ... A: First check and see if the branch is still alive--start near the end of the branch and scrap a small ... | |
| jap maple | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: MY JAP MAPLE GOT TO COLD AND SOME OF IT'S LEAVES HAVE FALLING OFF WILL THEY GROW BACK THIS SEASON I ... A: If the twigs and branches that the leaves were on did not get killed by the cold the branches should ... | |
| poor leaf out on transplanted J.Maple | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I moved a 5yr old 7ft bloodgood Japanese Maple last April. Not best timing as it had already leafed ... A: With this large of a tree I would expect some foliage response since you did reduce the root system ... | |
| Cedar Tree Gall | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: We have two cedar trees that appear to have "warts" or gall and want to know what if any danger ... A: This is a disease called cedar apple rust. The gelatinous stage of cedar apple rust is in the ... | |
| river birch trees | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: We want to plant several river birch trees. Do we need to worry about planting them where the water ... A: They will not be a problem with water lines. The water lines are under pressure and sealed and the ... | |
| Weeping Cherry Tree | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a 15 year old weeping cherry; approx 9 ft tall that has been very healthly....until last ... A: You can prune all the dead branches off and see what happens --hardwood tree have the capacity to ... | |
| Post oak damage | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: See attachment for pictures. This large double-trunk post oak was hit by high wind/tornado in April ... A: With that much decay in the main trunk the chances are the other part of the crown could also be ... | |
| Cypress Knee Problem Between Tree Bed and Plant Bed in Front of House | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: Jim, I have read your posts on what to do about Cypress knees and have talked to or read posts by ... A: Yes it is safe to cut off the knees to ground level no matter where they are located around the ... | |
| live oak tree | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: at the base of my oak tree there appear to be tiny oaks originating from the ground, immediately ... A: More than likely these are from the roots of the parent tree and if so they will not have a large ... | |
| lots of bored holes on blue cedar tree | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: recently noticed maybe 50-100 bored holes on my blue cedar tree. Tree is about 15 yrs old,Bucks ... A: IF these holes are in a line around the tree trunk this is caused by a woodpecker called a sap ... | |
| Mountain Ash issue | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a American Mountain Ash tree that all of a sudden has something growing on it. We don't know ... A: These are lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ... | |
| Blue Spruce | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a blue spruce that was planted 6 years ago at 12 inches high. As the present, it is only ... A: Colorado Blue Spruce is the slowest growing of the spruce family, if you are looking for a fast ... | |
| Cottonless cottonwood leaf issue | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a cottonless cottonwood tree that I planted 3-4 years ago. It grew wonderfully and looked ... A: Advertisement You are here: Experts > Homework Help > Trees > Trees > Cottonwood tree ... | |
| tree removal | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I am having a tree service cut down an old pine tree in my backyard. It is probably at least 60 ... A: You will not be able to plant it in the exact same spot as the old tree. The grinding just removed ... | |
| Pear Tree | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I live in NYC and our neighbours have a large pear tree that is at least 10 years old. The tree sits ... A: Trees can survive as much as 30 % of their roots being cut without the tree having damage. The ... | |
| Catawba Worms | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: How do you keep from getting catawba worms on your trees? We don't fish and would rather they not ... A: IF you really need to you can either spray the foliage when the caterpillars are small and this will ... | |
| Moving trees from state to state | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I want to take some saplings I have grown in pots from where I currently live in New Jersey to ... A: There are some restrictions for some trees species but not maples. The ones restricted are Oak-- ... | |
| Oak tree | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: We have a laurel Oak in central Florida and the leaves were just beautiful and a couple days later ... A: A very common leaf spot disease this year is oak leaf blister. All varieties of oaks can get this ... | |
| scales water oaks | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I SAW THE QUESTION PRIOR.I TOO LIVE IN GEORGIA..OUR WATER OAKS ARE ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT 50 ... A: Yes it will. It takes longer for the roots to move the insecticide to the foliage and twigs if the ... | |
| Bald Cypress - Roots & Tip | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I have two questions about the two 9-yr-old Bald Cypress trees in the front of my Dallas, Texas ... A: The pictures helped a lot. Yes these are cypress knees. This is what they look like when they first ... | |
| tree parasite (?) | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: We have a small cedar tree (perhaps an arborvitae?)) that has inch size "things" growing off the ... A: What you describe is cedar apple rust. Normally it is a small green or brown ball on the cedar limbs ... | |
| grass fertilizer burn willow tree | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: i recently fertilized the lawn twice because our female dogs were burning lawn; leaves were fine on ... A: If the fertilizer was one called Weed and Feed it can harm trees. These type fertilizers contain a ... | |
| Large maple trre dying | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: We have 2 large maple shade trees one died this year. We thought ligntning hit it, but the big tree ... A: Sounds like a decay fungi has entered the woody cells of the tree trunk. When a tree has a injury to ... | |
| green giant trees | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: We live in eastern North Carolina and would like to make a hedge row with the green giants.When ... A: The best time would be early spring as the hardwoods are budding out. But if you use potted plants ... | |
| Double Flowering Cherry Tree | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a double flowering cherry tree that's about 5 years old. I started having smaller trees or ... A: It can be done but make sure you do not injure the roots when the sprouts are cut. Here is a method ... | |
| Bald Cypress - Roots & Tip | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have two questions about the two 9-yr-old Bald Cypress trees in the front of my Dallas, Texas ... A: These sound like the beginning of cypress knees. Knees can be cut off at ground level but roots will ... | |
| Raywood Ash Tree | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: Can I top a young ash at say 8 or 10 feet and expect a shorter more bushy tree? A: Topping trees is not a good idea. It can kill the tree. Raywood ash trees commonly be 40 to 50 feet ... | |
| Big Maple tree roots growing visibly towards our house | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: We have a huge and old Maple tree (belongs partly to the District) that sits about 12 feet away from ... A: Tree roots have a spread width of about 1 /1/2 times the branch spread. Larger roots can damage ... | |
| poisonous honey locus trees | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I was doing a little pruning of a path leading to a creek on our property when I got stuck in the ... A: There is not really a poison in the thorn but being stuck by any number of thorns (rose. locust ... | |
| Hole in oak tree | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a 200-250 yr old beautiful and tall oak tree on my land with two main limbs rising up from ... A: Leave it alone. I would imagine that an oak this old would have some hollow space in the center of ... | |
| tree trimming | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: 2 different tree trimmers came out to top my 2 of my black locust trees but instead of topping them ... A: No it is more than likely not dead BUT when it buds out you will have a tall bush. Topping of trees ... | |
| Mesquite pods | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: We live in Arizona between Phoenix and Prescott where it is very warm most of the year. The only ... A: Might try Florel® brand Growth Regulator It works well on sweetgum and other trees in stopping the ... | |
| dogwood trees never bloomed | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 Dogwood trees that a kind neighbor planted for me 2 years ago. They are now going on 3 ... A: I suspect they're simply too young at the moment. The odd few flowers in the first year is a fairly ... | |
| digging near young maple | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I had my husband recently dig away all the grass that was growing up around two young maple trees in ... A: If all he did was take the grass out there should not have been enough root damage to cause a health ... | |
| douglas fir root system | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I plan to excavate some land and would like to know what a douglas fir root system generally looks ... A: Generally the roots system is within the first 24-36 inches of soil and extends out about 1 1/2 ... | |
| arizona cypress | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have an arizona cypress that is beginning to turn brown at the top. I found a place near the top ... A: Sounds like an insect called a tip moth. The adult moth lays its eggs on the tip bud of a branch and ... | |
| paper bark maple | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I planted a paperbark maple in oct 2009 and it has yet to produce any leaves. I live in central, Pa ... A: Some maples are slower than others in budding out leaves. We have one her among 15 or so that has ... | |
| birch bark peeling | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: we bought a house with 3 birch trees 20-30 ft high they were peeling extensively and have looked ... A: Birch trees do have bark that peels off as the tree gets older. Sounds normal to me. You can remove ... | |
| Is my magnolia tree dead? | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: We have a 3 yr. old magnolia in Atlanta, GA. Last year it did really well, grew a lot and flowered ... A: I would just wait and see if the tree will put on new leaf buds. The cold caused the foliage to die ... | |
| Soft Maple Tree | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: We have a mature soft maple tree that is growing on a slight slope and the roots are on top of the ... A: 90 percent of a tree's roots occupy the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. These fine feeder roots spread ... | |
| bald cypress knees | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: Can you cut the knees off at ground level without killing the tree? I have about 10 above grass ... A: These knees are really part of the roots system and are used by the tree to gather oxygen especially ... | |
| willow tree | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I planned a willow tree yesterday and i was told that they are bad trees! What can i do for the ... A: You did not say what type of willow tree you have so I am guessing weeping willow. These are fairly ... | |
| dwarf flowering dogwood tree | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I live in Connecticut and I am having difficulty finding a white dwarf dogwood tree. I had one but ... A: I would try your local tree nursery and ask them to order one for you if they do not have it. Here ... | |
| Autumn Blaze vs Siver Maple | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I planted what I thought was an Autumn Blaze Maple several years ago. The tree has done great. ... A: This is a hybrid cross of red maple and silver maple. Acer x freemanii, rubrum x saccharinum. It has ... | |
| oak tree near house | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an oak tree, 40+ feet growing 4 ft from the front corner of our home. In the last 8 months ... A: I do not think the tree has anything to do with the floor--the tree has been there a long time and ... | |
| root damage/douglas fir | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: We have had some root damage a few months ago (I would estimate 4-5 clock hours) to a ~120 ft tall ... A: The damage should show up the first growing season and maybe the spring following the damage. After ... | |
| trees and watering | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I planted three trees that were in pots in my yard a week ago (East Tennessee), a Blue Spruce, ... A: IF they are still in the pots transplant them to the ground. Yes this is too much water. In pots ... | |
| Honey Locust thorns poison | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I didn't see an answer to the question about the honey locust thorns being poison. I just got ... A: There is not really a poison in the thorn but being stuck by any number of thorns (rose. locust ... | |
| trim weeping cherry tree | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old weeping cherry tree, last year my husband took it upon himself to "trim" it, ... A: Weeping Cherry trees get from twenty to forty feet tall and they have a fifteen to thirty foot ... | |
| broken branch | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: we have a poplar tree that has a pretty big branch that was snapped in a storm. do we need to get ... A: If the limbs is still hanging in the tree I would cut it off. It will fall and it is best to get it ... | |
| garnet japanese maple | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: will the roots of a garnet japanese maple damage a asphalt driveway. A: IF planted close to the driveway I would say yes. The roots system expand out about 1 1/2 times the ... | |
| trees | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: exactly what is fibrous and how does it relate to trees and how do i identify this whit a tree and ... A: A fibrous root system (sometimes also called adventitious root system) is the opposite of a taproot ... | |
| Lime tree roots and water pipes | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: My neighbour is concerned that the roots of lime trees which were planted 19 years ago may interfere ... A: Water pipes are sealed and tree roots will not effect them Very rarely do tree roots up lift water ... | |
| Water Oak - Insect or Disease? | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I live in GA. I have a water oak that has small, dark, reddish-brown bumps about the size of a pea ... A: These are scale insects. The insect lives under the "bump" and sucks the plant juices from the ... | |
| giant arborvitae | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: what is the difference between a thuja green giant tree and one called giant arborvitae? I ordered ... A: Thuja Green Giant is a hybrid cross between Thuja plicata and Thuja Standishii Arborvitae,Thuja ... | |
| Willow Trees | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: No sign of pests, etc., but it has so much dead wood on it. I water and fertilize and baby it, but ... A: On of the bad characteristics of willows. Weak limb structure causes problems not only with the ... | |
| Damaging roots with road work | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: we have a beautiful 35 year old Colorado Blue Spruce in our front yard. The city is widening the ... A: A trees root system is mainly in the first two feet of soil (some conifers have a tap root also) If ... | |
| water oak tree | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a 30 year old water oak tree that shows no signs of buds or leaves, should I be worried ? A: It depends on where you are located in the US. Here in Alabama the oaks have leafed out but I would ... | |
| Tri Color Beech Transplant Shock?? | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: We moved a tri color beech coming up on three years ago in May. The tree was originally planted ... A: when a tree is moved the roots are cut back during the transplanting process and when it is re ... | |
| Arborvite Browning | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: my question is this. Last year I planted 8 Arborvitae trees along the fence line for privacy. They ... A: The main problem with spikes is the fertilizer is concentrated into a spike. Roots are spread out so ... | |
| Exposed ASH tree roots & unhealthly bermuda | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I have two Ash trees on each side of my front yard. There are quite a few exposed roots on the ... A: You can cover the exposed roots of trees as long as you do not add more than 2 inches over the top ... | |
| Oak tree roots | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a gorgeous, very well established, 100' plus oak tree at my home. I also have some old maple ... A: No I would do this-- it I think would cause more problems by re exposing the roots to the air. IF ... | |
| Birch Tree Pest | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 white paper birch trees and noticed a couple of days ago that an orange stain was showing ... A: Sounds like it could be Bronze Birch Borer. The bronze birch borer attacks paper (canoe), European ... | |
| Buckeye trees | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: Would you recommend planting a yellow buckeye tree in Houston, Texas? Thank you. A: Yes it should not be a problem There are several buckeyes growing in Texas. Here is a link to those ... | |
| Blood Good Maple | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a blood good maple that is 8-10 years old. The tree consists of a main trunk with 8 1.5" ... A: I am having a problem with terminology--maples do have flowers and produce seed pods from these. The ... | |
| magnolia tree | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: My father has a magnolia tree that was trimmed/pruned by someone he hired to cut palms and mesquite. ... A: About all that can be done is keep is watered. I would water with 1 inch of water-place a pan under ... | |
| walnut tree sapping | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a walnut tree (over 30 yrs. old), we noticed an area near the bottom that has started ... A: The seeping sounds like slime flux. Wetwood and slime flux are poorly understood tree disease ... | |
| Oak tree roots | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a gorgeous, very well established, 100' plus oak tree at my home. I also have some old maple ... A: How far out do the branches extend from the tree? I agree that feeder roots are mostly on the first ... | |
| Oak tree roots | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a gorgeous, very well established, 100' plus oak tree at my home. I also have some old maple ... A: I would not worry about it. Tree roots are in the first 2 feet of the soil and if the trench was ... | |
| hollies | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: we planted 2 ilex 'Red Beauty' in early fall last year. I sprayed them with anti-dessicant, and they ... A: Since the stems are still green it means there is still life in the plant. I would wait and see what ... | |
| Lichen | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: How do I get rid of it? A: Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable ... | |
| Spruce Tree too close to bushes | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a new house in Northern Virigina and the previous owners planted a beautiful spruce ... A: The limbs that have green needles will produce more foliage but where the limb has died the tree ... | |
| Pruning Trees | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a home with two nice maple trees in the front yard, I think that they are ... A: Choose when you're going to prune. Since maple trees bleed sap when their branches are cut, the ... | |
| Live Oak Galls | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: My two year old oak trees have galls on various limbs. Are these caused by a tiny wasp called a ... A: Galls are irregular plant growths which are stimulated by the reaction between plant hormones and ... | |
| Blue Spruce Globosa | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I fertilized my Globosa last fall and it tuned dark green, there is no blue. I know that I put too ... A: According to the Conifer experts "The blueness is a waxy coating. After initial budding it is its ... | |
| bark on bradford fruitless tree | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a Bradford Fruitless Pear tree that my dog chewed the bark off of. There are some small areas ... A: No if the wound does not extend all the way around the trunk the tree will survive. I would cut any ... | |
| Suckering | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in Ontario Canada and have a few Soft Maple trees in my yard. They continue to sucker year ... A: There is a product called Stop Sucker that can be sprayed on the area of the trunk that is ... | |
| cawtaba worms | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: why do some trees get worms and others do not? i planated 2 trees 15 years ago and have never had ... A: To get the worms on the tree a certain Moth/Butterfly has to lay its eggs on the leaves and they ... | |
| Red Maple | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: We have a red maple tree that we bought when it was very small. A neighbor kid broke the top off a ... A: If the tree is young you can go ahead and cut the lessor fork off and over time the tree will grow ... | |
| yellowing magnolia grandiflora | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: i have a 13 ft magnolia grandiflora with pure green leaves(under and top). I planted it from pot to ... A: I think you are over caring for the tree. Do not fertilize any more for a year. Most folks do not ... | |
| dead top of cherry tree | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I planted my cherry tree last May, watered it daily, but it didn't get enough water for about 10 ... A: I would try taking it back to the nursery and see if they will replace it. BUT I would guess that it ... | |
| Douglas fir on property line - privacy hedge | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 150 ft douglas fir on the property line in the Pacific Northwest. On one side is my ... A: Sorry I think the space would be best for a fence--any tree will hang over the walkway and cause ... | |
| Drake Elm | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a Drake Elm appx 8" dia, 8 yr old has block of holes about 1/4" dia appx 3' off ground @ main ... A: With out seeing the damage I can only guess. So IF the holes are in a line on the trunk I would say ... | |
| Douglas Fir tree | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a similar question to the one you answered in 2007. We are adding an addition to our home and ... A: If you not dig up more than 25-30 % of the root system this will damage the tree and cause dieback ... | |
| caterpillars & weeping cherry tree | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have this problem every year and I am losing the beauty of my tree--how & when do I treat the tree ... A: If you are sure it is insect feeding then you can either spray the foliage with an insecticide or ... | |
| scrub oak bulbs | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: i am in az 40 years i have always noticed on scrub oak trees and i belive all species of oak except ... A: There are several different kinds and species depending on the size and looks of the galls. here is ... | |
| pruning | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a Crimson King And a Silver Birch tree in my garden (Lancashire) but they block a lot of ... A: The crimson King Maple can be pruned now but the Birch can not. Pruning Crimson King Maples Step ... | |
| curly willow | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a curly willow that I have rooted from a branch. Is it possible to keep it as a patio potted ... A: Really too large to grow in a pot for a length of time--at maturity they have a spread width of 15 ... | |
| scrub oak bulbs | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: i am in az 40 years i have always noticed on scrub oak trees and i belive all species of oak except ... A: These are insect galls. A tiny insect lays its eggs either on the surface of a leaf or on a twig and ... | |
| Non fruit bearing mullberry trees | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I was just wondering about the damage the roots of a mulberry tree can cause. I have a friend who's ... A: They have a spread of about 2-30 feet when mature and the roots will be about 1 1/2 times the spread ... | |
| Tree question | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I was at my friend's house in Jackson, NJ and she asked me to look at her trees. I don't know what ... A: please attach a picture of this growth--it sounds like it could be a gall caused by a tiny insect or ... | |
| pussy willow tree | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a pussy willow tree planted a few feet from my home. It is approxiamately 10-12 feet tall. ... A: The roots will not be a problem unless it is over a septic line--then the roots can clog the lines ... | |
| aphids on mayday tree | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: Every spring I get aphids on my mayday tree. I spray it every year with insecticide and kill them. ... A: There is a product but am not sure you can get it in Canada. The product is Bayer Advanced Tree and ... | |
| Transplanting oak trees | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I live in Tucson AZ. Last weekend I moved my oak tree its about 10 Feet tall and an inch in ... A: Here is the proper way to transport a tree--even with this you will get some shock from the move. ... | |
| Black Walnut & Maples | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I would like to plant either an Autumn Blaze maple or a Sienna Glen maple tree in the vacinity of a ... A: As long as the two root zones do not over lap you will be fine I would try to leave about 10 feet ... | |
| cherry willow | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: My cherry willow has buds but it has not bloomed yet ? A lot of the other trees have bloomed. we had ... A: You can check to see if it is still alive by starting near the end of a branch and scrape a small ... | |
| Black Walnut & Maples | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I would like to plant either an Autumn Blaze maple or a Sienna Glen maple tree in the vacinity of a ... A: Japanese maples --a red maple will tolerate the juglone but silver maples will not. I would not ... | |
| Tree promoting branch growth | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a fir tree adjacent to a fence that was closely shaded by other trees at its lower level on ... A: An epicormic shoot is a shoot growing from an epicormic bud from underneath the bark of a stem or ... | |
| liquid amber trees | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: How to get rid of caterpillars on liquid amber trees? Have already sprayed and inserted plugs last ... A: Use a product called Bayer Advanced Tree and shrub Insect control. This is applied to the soil ... | |
| willow oak roots | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a willow oak that came up on its own in my back yard by the back fence and is about 4 feet ... A: This is too close to the house and the roots over time could cause a problem--also the branches will ... | |
| tree roots vs foundation | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I live in the city and have a young mulberry tree growing just next to my building. It is at least ... A: The recommendation is about 6-10 from a structure. The roots will not be a problem but the limbs ... | |
| tree roots | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I have some big(about 150 foot or so tall)dough fur trees and there are big roots that is growing ... A: Yes they are safe from wind blown. IF they have been there that long they have adapted and the root ... | |
| The effects of pruning | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: If there is one thing that ticks me off when I order trees from online, is the pruning. Recently I ... A: The tree will do find. Hardwood trees especially young trees have buds along the stem. These will ... | |
| how to kill osk underbrush | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: How do you kill oak underbrush so it does not come back? We have thin our fence line and prune but, ... A: After the under brush has leafed out this spring spray the foliage with a herbicide called Roundup. ... | |
| Flowering Trees/Shrubs Help Needed | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 magnolia trees, a pink dogwood, a white double flowering lilac, and 2 rose of sharons. They ... A: Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable ... | |
| weeping willow and the tropics. | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: Would it be possible to grow a weeping willow tree in the tropics. Specifically N.Thailand. This may ... A: Yes. Willow trees are in the genus, Salix (a Latin word that means willow). They include 400 species ... | |
| hemlock trees | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: We have a row of about 12 hemlock pine trees that we had put in over two years ago going down our ... A: Hemlock trees make fantastic hedges, but often grow taller and get away. Pruning hemlock trees is ... | |
| Bagworms | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I understand about the short term control of Bagworms however I would like to know other than ... A: Bagworms can be controlled by picking the bag off the shrubs IF you can reach the foliage. There are ... | |
| storm damage | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: A huge limb snapped from the maple tree in the front yard .What should I do to repair the open wound ... A: Cut the broken limb back to about 1/4 of an inch of the trunk and clean any splintered wood and bark ... | |
| broken limb on japanese maple | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: i have a japanese maple tree about 4ft tall and due to the weight of the snow, three main limbs ... A: A tree this young will grow back. It may look a little lopsided for a year or so but it should ... | |
| planting trees | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I don't have a question but a comment. I am a certified arborist in Northern Indiana and enjoy ... A: With clay soil you will need to make sure that the sides of the hole are not smooth. I have seen ... | |
| Can a California Sycamore survive root removal on one side? | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: The new owner of the property next door to us is a builder/developer. He demolished the original ... A: Sounds like you should be concerned fro a couple of reasons. A trees root system extends about 1 1/2 ... | |
| Bradford Pear tree in central Kansas | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: Seeking advice regarding possibility of transplantation of very mature Bradford Pear tree (44" trunk ... A: I would not recommend moving a tree this large especially a Bradford. It suffers from severe branch ... | |
| south texas live oak | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a huge live oak and alot of new shoots are growing on and up the trunk and half the towering ... A: Sounds like the tree is dying. When oaks start to die they will sprout growth on the trunk to try to ... | |
| Globe Willow Trees | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: The roots on our Globe Willow Trees have grown out of the ground and they are alos uprooting our ... A: They can be cut off but not shaved down. You can cut up to 25 % of a trees roots without severely ... | |
| Willow tree | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a very large willow tree in my yard, the roots are getting in the sewer pipe, i am in the ... A: Paint the stump with a herbicide called Roundup. Use the product straight from the container and ... | |
| chestnut trees | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Perhaps an unusual question for you....This past December, I purchased chestnuts at an Italian ... A: Yes these can be planted out in the ground after the threat of frost has pasted. And yes there are ... | |
| damaged Norfork Island Pine | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Here in Houton we experienced about 3days of temps 28°-32° about six weeks ago. I have several ... A: I would wait and see how they respond this spring when the new foliage appears. The ones in the ... | |
| Recuperate Norfolk Pine | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston, Texas and had planted a Norfolk Pine in my backyard some 12 years ago. It was ... A: If you cut the top off the tree will more than likely die. If not the tree will look like a stunted ... | |
| Free Tree ID and advice | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I contacted you late last October about a sycamore tree being in my front yard and my HOA not ... A: You might check with the State Forestry agency and ask if they have an urban forester and he/she ... | |
| tree hole | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: we just realized that there are 2 holes, one in the main branch/trunk more then half way up the tree ... A: This is either a wood pecker or a squirrel. Both will make about this size holes in the tree trunk. ... | |
| green tree trunks | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: We live in Northern Indiana. We have 8 larger trees on our farm, we have no other trees close to ... A: Sounds like a maple tree. The growths are lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic ... | |
| River Birch and ice damage | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a tall (20+'# River birch growing near corner of my home. It has 3 almost separate trunks. ... A: I would lean toward cutting the third stem off as low as you can to the ground. Without seeing the ... | |
| transplant holly tree | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 40ft holly tree i need to remove.i would rather transplant than cut down. what is best time ... A: The best time would be before the spring new growth starts. This is going to be a big job. Here is ... | |
| building proximity to red oak tree | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I will be putting up a garden and storage shed (18X20) and the location puts it only about two feet ... A: A tree can usually survive with 30% of the root system damaged or cut. The way to determine this is ... | |
| lyland cypress | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: Will my row of 20 Leyland Cypress trees straighten back up after being bent over to the ground by ... A: They should recover on their own. Any branches that may have been broken should be pruned but the ... | |
| Douglas Fir Root System | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a Douglas fir with a trunk diameter of approximately 8 feet, I need to run a sewer line 30 ... A: The root system will expand about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches. As much as 25=30% of a ... | |
| norwegian maples | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I planted a norwegian maple ( 7' tall ) three years ago in my zoysia yard and the tree has not grown ... A: The grass should not bother the growth of the maple unless you are using one of the Weed and feed ... | |
| cypress tree | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: Have a twenty year old cypress tree (approximately 45 ft tall)with the bark separating from the ... A: I am not sure what you mean by the bark separating from the trunk--as cypress get older the bark of ... | |
| The ash tree roots damage my driveway | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a ash tree in front of my yard, the roots are all protruding above the ground, they have ... A: The 25% is a guide. Additional root removal will depend on where the drive is in relation to the ... | |
| cyprus trees in Naples,FL | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: We would like to remove a few old tall ugly cyprus trees that are so messy. Gardners say we have to ... A: It could be --in most places one does not need to get permission to remove a tree BUT some Home ... | |
| The ash tree roots damage my driveway | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a ash tree in front of my yard, the roots are all protruding above the ground, they have ... A: I am not sure what you mean by "8 feet in diameter" I am guessing you are talking about the width ... | |
| cut tree root on black walnut tree | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I recently did some excavating near a black walnut tree where I researched the internet about how ... A: Do not put anything on the wound the tree will heal over the wound by itself. Putting wound dressing ... | |
| decomposing tree stumps | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I live in southern California and have a steep bank in my yard with 3 large eucalyptus trees growing ... A: By all means leave the stump and the roots system in place. This will help hold the soil on the ... | |
| roots damanage my driveway | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: i have a fruitless mulberry tree that is destroying my drivway i want to dig and put a wall of ... A: You can dig a trench along the driveway and cut the roots and this will stop the damage to the ... | |
| Pesticides and/or chemical training | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: What sites or professional organizations do you recommend for a tree service professional to become ... A: In most states in order to charge to apply pesticides one would need to be certified or licensed. ... | |
| Acorns | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: Are acorns dead or alive once they've fallen from the tree? A: Sorry I missed the question and went out of town Acorns are still alive when they fall from the ... | |
| Live Oak tree roots under concrete driveway | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in NE Florida and have a large Live Oak tree (approx. 40" dia.) within 3' of my concrete ... A: Cutting a few roots will not effect the health of the tree. It would take cutting abut 25% of the ... | |
| White spruce | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: was thinking about topping my white spruces they are approx. 20'tall they are staggerd every 7',ten ... A: Topping will either kill the trees or severely damage them. The growing part of the tree is the ... | |
| Something is chewing limbs off my Cypress Tree | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I have two 30 ft Italian Cypress Trees next to my pool in SC. I keep finding limbs all over the ... A: I am going to suggest that you call the SC Forestry Commission and ask one of their Foresters to ... | |
| coastal redwood trees | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: we have three coastal redwood trees- about 25 years old - in our yard. The roots are beginning to ... A: You can add sand over the roots as long as it does not cover the roots by more than a couple of ... | |
| Crape Mertle | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a beautifully shaped crape myrtle in my front yard that has the type of fungi/moss, the type ... A: Sounds like lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ... | |
| moving live oak | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a live oak that has grown very rapidly and is about 25 feet tall, has a base circumference of ... A: I think it is too large to transplant without professional help. Deciduous plants may be moved in ... | |
| holly tree with damaged bark | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a large 100+ year old holly tree that was severely pruned and the area around it burned. The ... A: About all that can be done is just wit for spring and see if the tree will survive. Fire will damage ... | |
| Redwood Tree and Patio Pavers | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: We have a 40 year old Coastal Redwood in our yard about 3' in diameter. We have installed small ... A: The method you used to install the pavers--a couple of feet from the trunk and only adding 2 inches ... | |
| Kill Willows | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: From your answer on this subject I assume you use undiluted Roundup. If not what dilution is ... A: For the stump treatment you use the undiluted Roundup right from the container --make sure the ... | |
| Cottonwood trees | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Vancouver, WA. A vast quantity of "cottonwood" trees are growing down by the river on ... A: You are not going to like my answer. The trees need to be left alone. They were there before the ... | |
| sycamore tree removal | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: how feasible do you think it is to remove a 50 year old sycamore tree from the street side of our ... A: The first question I would have is-- Why do you want to remove it? Is it dying , causing problem ... | |
| Topping trees | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a magnolia tree that is about 16 feet tall and 6 feet around. I would like to top it by ... A: Do not top the trees--this will cause major problems to the tree and could kill the trees. The ... | |
| Autumn Blaze Maple | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a new tree, only planted about 5 wks ago, someone told me that the trunk needs to be wrapped ... A: Do not top the tree--in fact topping of any tree is not good for the tree. Any pruning should be ... | |
| Oak tree Fungus - NE OK | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: JIm- We chatted last week. Here is a picture of the fungus. You may recall the tree incurred a split ... A: These are the fruiting bodies of a decay fungi. I am not real sure which one but it really does not ... | |
| Mulching Evergreen trees | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in Central Wisconsin and have planted approximately 300 evergreens, blue spruce etc over the ... A: No this type mulch is ok as long as you do not pile it up on the trunk. When you put the mulch ... | |
| tree buying and planting | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I would like to buy a deciduous tree for screening my neighbors house in CT. What is the most ... A: Without knowing the space and site you are going to plant this tree in it will be difficult to ... | |
| pine trees | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: We are in West Michigan and have a 15' pine tree that is 10 years old. The middle of the tree is ... A: Can you attach a picture. I can not picture in my mind what you are describing. If you are saying ... | |
| Live Oak Dying? | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I recently purchased a new home in Fernandina Beach Florida in October. The house came ... A: My first thought is a bad planting job or the tree were dead or dying when they were planted. ... | |
| Twig Girdler | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Limbs look like they have been cut off by a beaver. What do I do to get rid of this pest? Thanks A: They lay their eggs in the part of the limb cut off and on the ground. The way to reduce the ... | |
| enormous seed pod | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I found some huge seed pods in Central Park (NYC) over the weekend, similar in look to that of a ... A: This sounds like Osage-Orange, Maclura pomifera. Known also as hedge, hedge-apple, bodark, ... | |
| Red Maple Damage | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: On 3/24/2009 you responded to a question regarding carpenter ants in a maple tree. I have read your ... A: Since it is as large as it it I would stay with the tree for the time being. I would treat the tree ... | |
| river birch | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a river birch that is 6 or 7 feet from the back of my house. The house is on a slab and I ... A: You should not have a problem with root damage from a river birch--their root system is fiberious ... | |
| fungus on oak tree | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a huge oak tree, don't know exactly what kind of oak, but it has something on the side that ... A: Sounds like Lichens and these are not a real health problem to trees. Lichens are an example of a ... | |
| Blue Spruce with scale insects | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a 50-60 ft Blue Spruce with scale on the lower branches. I believe that the scale came in a ... A: The horticultural oils do tend to turn the color from the bluish to more green. Fertilizer will ... | |
| beetles on mimosa trees | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: we have a mimosa tree that has some kind of beetles that eat a perfect circle around the ... A: There are two insects that cut off twigs of pecan: the twig girdler and the twig pruner. Both of ... | |
| Deer damage | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Deer have stripped the bark from our very young maple trees and broken some branches. What should we ... A: The rubbing can kill the tree if the bark is rubbed off all the way around the trunk. Damage that ... | |
| Weeping Willow has black spots on | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I have plated 3 Willow trees 2 of them are doing great the third has black spots.What can I use to ... A: It sounds like leaf spots but this late in the year I would do nothing except rake the leaves when ... | |
| Variety of weeping cherry | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify a 'snow fountain' cherry tree I recently purchased and was hoping you could ... A: Prunus x yeodensis(snow fountain http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pruyed/pruyed1.html Prunus x ... | |
| tree growth | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: homework question...Why do trees never grow above a certain height?? A: I assume you mean height as in tall not altitude as on the top of a mountain. It is a combination of ... | |
| Birch pests | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me who does this? A: This is caused by a wood pecker called a sap sucker. They make the holes in the bark and insects ... | |
| Crepe Myrtle | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: In live in Northern NJ. Our Crepe Myrtle has been in the ground 2 or 3 years and is about 7 feet ... A: The ideal crepe myrtle pruning time is either in the late winter or early spring when the tree is in ... | |
| Fir tree in the NW | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 30 foot fir tree that I have recently put some dirt around the base in an effort to ... A: Yes soil added around a tree trunk can damage the tree by compressing the soil and the air pockets ... | |
| Transplanting a Seiryu Japanese Maple | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I read your answer of 07/30/07 to the individual who wanted to transplant a Japanese Maple and who ... A: Size of the root ball should be dug as follows: For deciduous trees and shrubs the soil ball ... | |
| willows | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: i have tried round up but it hasn't killed them it just made them come back with a vengeance any ... A: Garlon 4 is labeled for use as a foliage spray, thinline spray, stump spray, and basal bark ... | |
| COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE TREE | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I LIVE IN CHALFONT, PA. MY COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE NOW HAS SOME BROWN BRANCHES, A LITTLE AT THE BOTTOM ... A: Conifers do lose the needles on the interior part of the foliage so some of this maybe natural. But ... | |
| willows | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: i have tried round up but it hasn't killed them it just made them come back with a vengeance any ... A: Two methods that are less noticeable are basal spray and hack and squirt. Basal sprays are applied ... | |
| Pine Tree | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: a week and 2 days ago I replanted a pine tree (don't know what type) that was dug up from a building ... A: Not much of a chance. If the roots dried out there is a good chance the tree will die. I would ... | |
| Transplanting a Seiryu Japanese Maple | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I read your answer of 07/30/07 to the individual who wanted to transplant a Japanese Maple and who ... A: I would wait until the hardwood leaves have fallen and then go ahead and move the tree now. In ... | |
| Raywood Ash | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: "IN THE SACRAMENTO, CA AREA I HAVE A RAYWOOD ASH TREE THAT WAS PLANTED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. UNTIL ... A: It does not look too good for this tree. Without looking at the tree it is difficult to ID the real ... | |
| Live Oak Acorns | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: We bought 3 Live Oak trees from "W-M" two years ago and planted them in our yard. They are now 7-8 ... A: The average oak produces a significant number of acorns at about 15-29 years under normal ... | |
| Redwood Trees | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: My largest redwood tree is over 75 high and about 6 feet in diameter at the base. 3 others are as ... A: I is hard to tell about the situation without seeing the tree location and the driveway I would ... | |
| chestnut seeds | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I live in the Northwest, I had my parents send me 10 chestnut seeds from the Northeast from a ... A: Nuts collected in the fall must undergo several months of cold storage before they can be planted in ... | |
| Emerald Cedar trees | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I have 10 short Emerald Cedar trees now on October, better to planet it now out side or I can keep ... A: In the fall they need at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In the spring, Evergreens can be ... | |
| locust trees | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I have all kind of little locust trees all over my property give me the easiest way to kill them for ... A: Wipe the foliage with a herbicide called Roundup. This will be taken up by the foliage and ... | |
| buried tree trunks | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Sorry, I'll try to re-state the question. In my back yard are 3 adult live oaks, spaced close ... A: IF there has been 2 feet of soil and rock added around the trees I would remove it as soon as ... | |
| Apple seedlings | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I cut open an apple and found two seeds that had germinated. These are now planted in tiny pots in ... A: I would not keep them in the house--the low humidity and the heat will not be good fro them. keep ... | |
| Tree ball | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: some 10 yrs ago I had a contracter plant 6 very expensive pine trees. the tree tops died off and ... A: Several things were done incorrect--the wire and the burlap should be removed before the tree is set ... | |
| Sycamore tree problems | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a Sycamore maple growing in front of my house. My front yard is less than 300 square feet. ... A: You are right the summer months are the worst time to plant a tree especially a 15 foot tree. The ... | |
| Sycamore tree problems | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a Sycamore maple growing in front of my house. My front yard is less than 300 square feet. ... A: Sycamore maple will reach Height: 40 to 60’ Width: 25 to 40’ at maturity. This is entirely too ... | |
| tree fungus | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I have asked you two questions before, one about our neighbors overhanging river birch trees, ... A: Sounds like lichens. Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain ... | |
| Ponderosa Pines | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We have a stand of ponderosa pine, that has been dying, we have just cut 10-15 trees in the past ... A: Sounds like the trees are under stress from the horses either by compaction of the soil or the ... | |
| Red Maple | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We have a Red Maple that is located 9 feet from the condo that we live in. It is now 3 inches in ... A: Red maples have a spread of about 15-30 feet depending on the variety of Red maple you have from ... | |
| Live Oak next to a pool | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 in. live oak that is about 15 ft. tall. It sits next to our pool that we had installed ... A: It will not be a problem for many years down the road. Live oak has a average spread of about 60 ... | |
| Red Oak Tree | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I planted a Red Oak Tree in my front yard 4 years ago. Every year up until this year the tree was ... A: All fertilizers are labeled with three numbers, giving the percentage (by weight) of nitrogen (N), ... | |
| Maple Tree | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: The leaves on my young maples look like Swiss cheese and they are turning black on the edges. I see ... A: Sounds like a couple of things. The spot on the leaves are caused by a fungi. These are leaf spot ... | |
| Fat Albert Blue Spruce | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4 yr. old Fat Albert Blue spruce that has suddenly (within the last 5 days) went from ... A: Contrary to popular opinion, evergreen trees do not keep their needles indefinitely, they just do ... | |
| problem root growth | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: If I water and fertilize in a desired dripline quadrant will the root growth be concentrated in that ... A: You can try it but I do not think it will work. Roots tend to grow toward a water and nutrient ... | |
| problem tree | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: We have tree growing near our swimming pool that drops large, tennis ball size, green orbs into the ... A: In the first place it will not just stand there for ever if you killed it. Over time the limbs would ... | |
| magnolia trunk damage | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor backed his truck tailgate into a magnolia tree aprox 15 years old. He scraped the bark ... A: It is not as bad as it seems. Cut the loose bark from around the wound. The wound will heal by ... | |
| air plants/ moss killing Oak Trees | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 acres full of oak trees that are dying. In the past 3-4 years the trees seem to be overrun ... A: Sounds like Ball Moss. Here is a web link to information in Ball moss. ... | |
| Black bark on my oak tree | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: We noticed 2 large black areas at the trunk of our old oak tree and wondered what it could be. the ... A: If the dark areas are wet it sounds like a borer type insect. Spray the area with an insecticide ... | |
| transplanting flowering crabapple tree | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: My question may be a 2 parter or more.I planted 2 flowering crabapple trees 1 1/2 years ago(I ... A: I would not put them in pots--you would need a very large pot and then you would have trouble moving ... | |
| Land filled Mapled | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Our hill-side house was built last year around June. We live in a mature never touched maple forest ... A: It will depend on how much was added. If you can still see a flare of the tree trunk then you may be ... | |
| Raywood Ash Root stock. | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Recently we had some cows get loose and break off a Raywood ash at the base. The tree was about ... A: They could be grafted on another ash species but not another hardwood like mulberry. The ash leaves ... | |
| Kill an evergreen | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: How can you kill an evergreen tree? I don't want to pay to have it taken down. A: Conifer evergreen tree can be killed by girdling the trunk and cutting into the bark into the wood ... | |
| Replanting fallen tree | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: My Ash Tree has fallen over in northern California in current wind storm. It look like the main ... A: It will be a hard job to re stand it but it would be worth it. The damage will depend on the amount ... | |
| Help I D a tree | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a huge tree in my front yard with pea pod things hanging from it. The leaves are really dark ... A: Without a picture I would guess that this is a catalpa tree. There is a Southern and a Northern ... | |
| Leaf Collection | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: My grandson has to do a leaf collection(20) using only Georgia native trees. He has to use taxonomic ... A: Here are several sites that have keys to ID trees. http://www.oplin.org/tree/ ... | |
| air plants/ moss killing Oak Trees | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 acres full of oak trees that are dying. In the past 3-4 years the trees seem to be overrun ... A: By air plants if you are talking about Spanish moss here is information on the treatment of this. ... | |
| broken branch live oak | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: We have a live oak that has a trunk diameter of nearly four feet and off of the trunk are about four ... A: A couple of things--If the limb was hollow and assuming it was up in the tree this means the tree is ... | |
| Maple tree seedling in a pot. | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I live in southern Ohio. I found a few maple tree seeds over the summer and planted them in pots. To ... A: I would not bring them in the house. The heavy and low humidity would cause them problems--they will ... | |
| dead oak trees | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I have several types of oaks in the Kosse Texas area. Trees are quickly dieing in groups of three ... A: It would be difficult to tell exactly what the problem is without looking at the trees. In Texas ... | |
| green mould like substance on tree branches | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: my Japanese maple bush is approx 5 yrs old,The leaves have now all fallen to leave unsightly thick ... A: These looks like lichens and are not a health problem for the tree. Lichens are unusual creatures. ... | |
| hackberry tree disease | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in San Antonio Texas and have a very large hackberry tree in the back yard that covers approx ... A: This is an insect called an aphid. They suck the plant juices and secrete a substance called ... | |
| raywood ash disease? | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: In a recent storm in Merced California, the huge raywood ash tree across the street fell crushing my ... A: The inside wood of trees are many color usually depending on the minerals in the soil and the ... | |
| Green Giant Thuja trees | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Last week-end we planted two large Green Giant thuja trees on a slope. They looked fine when they ... A: A slight lean is not a problem and the tree will straighten out. Of it is leaning say 20 degrees ... | |
| River birch trees | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Our neighbor has three massive river birch trees just on his side of the property line, but because ... A: Sounds like the tree has been attacked by an insect called a borer. They will bore into the bark and ... | |
| growth of 'healthy' plum tree | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I bought two plum trees three years ago in early Spring and at the same time and same location ... A: It sounds like the soil is lacking in urea and the dog is providing the tree in the back. Usually ... | |
| oak tree limbs breaking off | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: We have a very large old oak tree, it has had one limb a year break off for four years. These limbs ... A: Is the wood on the end of the limbs where it broke from the trunk hollow or mushy or not solid. This ... | |
| Different Trees - Similar Disease? | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in the greater Atlanta area of Georgia where we had a severe drought last summer (2008). I ... A: The drought in the South has injured the hardwood trees and some of the effect of this damage was ... | |
| Curly Willow Tree | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: There is a curly willow tree planted about 10 feet from my inground pool (concrete wall). Will the ... A: I would move it--willow roots tend to seek water and if there is a leak in the pool the roots will ... | |
| How to clean an outdoor deck | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Jim, Our extension agent has identified the black deposits on my deck as lycenium or mycelium ... A: The Maple tree is the source of the sooty mold. The tree sounds like it has an infestation of an ... | |
| firewood | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: our firewood has mushroom looking fungus growing on it ... is it safe just to knock it off and then ... A: Solid wood is hard and usually not discolored. Where decaying wood is stained and starts to become ... | |
| Umbrella Willow or Globe Willow | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Where can I purchase these type of willows for shipment to me in California? Thank you. A: You should be able to check with your local nursery. They may have it or can order it fro you. That ... | |
| Live Oak Tree | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: We have a live oak tree in Charleston, SC. It has suddenly begun dripping a thick sap-like ... A: Since live oaks keeps their leaves all winter it will have some transporting action through the ... | |
| Bore worms in Oak trees | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: Is Merit something that can be bought and used without be licensed? We have been told that we have ... A: No you do not have to have a license to but Merit. You can get it to spray on the trunk where the ... | |
| Black Walnut | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a black walnut tree growing on my property, it is actually in a very heavily wooded part, I ... A: The husks do turn black and decay leaving the nut inside. The insects are just feeding on the husks ... | |
| Transplanting from pot to ground | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in Orange County in Southern California and want to transplant a Japanese Acer from a pot to ... A: The best time is after the hardwood tree in the area have lost their leaves. Dig the hole twice the ... | |
| Live Oak Trees | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: What are those prickly ball shaped things that grow on the branches of Live Oak trees in Texas? ... A: These are galls formed by insects. The insect lays its eggs on the twig and secretes a chemical that ... | |
| Worms on River Birch Trees | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have pictures of these worms who are falling out of our River Birch trees. These worms have been ... A: These caterpillars are not from the webs last year. If there was not web this year this caterpillar ... | |
| Spruce tree | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a very large old spruce tree in my front yard. In the last few years I have noticed that two ... A: Sounds like the tree is sprouting suckers from the trunk. These can be pruned off. I would wait ... | |
| oak tree leaves | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I just noticed small red bell shaped objects on the leafs of one of my small oak trees. They appears ... A: Sounds like an insect called a gall wasp. There are a variety of gall-forming species of small ... | |
| tree borers | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: We have had a problem with borers in our Eucalyptus trees. Now they are starting to affect our ... A: More than likely yes this sounds like the longhorn beetle. I would treat the tree with an ... | |
| tree spread | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: The base of my oak tree has spread to the point where I can barely enter my driveway. Can I cut a ... A: Prune the lower limbs off so that none will be hitting the car when you drive into the driveway. Cut ... | |
| Fruitless Mulberry | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a beautiful fruitless mulberry tree which has a rust-like appearance around the leaves. It ... A: This sounds like a rust fungi. Mulberry rust is common in China where they raise silkworms on ... | |
| Shelling nuts | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a hican tree, cross between hickory and pecan,and the nuts are as hard as big bud hickory ... A: According to Mother Earth News. First you'll need to remove the green outer hull. But don't throw ... | |
| Live Oak Tree | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: We have a live oak tree in Charleston, SC. It has suddenly begun dripping a thick sap-like ... A: If the sap is sticky it sounds like either an insect called an aphid or a scale insect. Both suck ... | |
| oak tree leaf bumps | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I am seeing red round bumps on my oaks tree leaves and wondering what they are.. and if it's hurting ... A: Sounds like an insect caled a leaf gall wasp. There are a variety of gall-forming species of small ... | |
| borers in eucalyptus trees | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: You gave great info on what to do if the trees are living. We cut ours eucalyptus trees down 6 ... A: Eucalyptus logs used for firewood and dead or dying branches and trees are the primary ... | |
| Black mold on tree | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: This summer I noticed some white fuzzy things under the leaves on my young tree. I treated it with ... A: These are an insect called aphids. They suck the plant juices from the tree and secrete a substance ... | |
| Oak Tree Fungus? | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have an oak tree that has many large clumps/clusters, dark in color, on the branches. I've never ... A: They sound like insect galls. The branches sound like galls. Galls are irregular plant growths ... | |
| Birch Tree Pruning | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I've attached a picture of the Birch tree from our front yard. We live in Vacaville, CA. The house ... A: It is difficult to teel but it looks like there are three main branches--one lean towards your ... | |
| cut root on a bradford pear | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: while burying a cable line at a customers house we cut a root on this pear tree. the root was only ... A: No I doubt the cutting of one roots would kill a tree. IF you cut more than 30 % of the roots of a ... | |
| Worms on River Birch Trees | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have pictures of these worms who are falling out of our River Birch trees. These worms have been ... A: The caterpillars are migrating to find a place to spin their cocoons. They have done their damage ... | |
| Bees on a Japanese Maple | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: We're seeing a swarm of bees and flies on our Japanese Maple tree. Is this an indication of some ... A: It could be an infestation of aphids or scale insects. These insects suck the plant juices from the ... | |
| limbing douglas fir trees | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: best time of year to limb in the northwest A: Any time after the hardwoods have dropped their leaves until they bud out in the spring. This time ... | |
| watering cottonwoods | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Mojave desert in southern CA. I have a fremont cottonwood on a graywater system and ... A: Trees need about 1 inch of water per week--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and ... | |
| italian cypress | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased 2 small trees 18" I live in north east england will it be ok to plant in ... A: The container should have adequate holes at the bottom for drainage of excess water. The drainage ... | |
| Watering a Red Oak | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Just planted a 12 foot red oak. We put two lengths of 3 inch PVC into the hole down to the bottom ... A: A much better way to water would be to water with 1 inch of water-place a pan under the tree and ... | |
| pruning sucklings from willow | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a large willow tree on the bayshore of NJ. Lots of wind here. Should I cut the limbs ... A: The sucker--sprouts near the bottom of the trunk can be removed without harming the tree or the ... | |
| Damage to bark from children | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a mature weeping Japanese Red Maple (approximately 50 years old) that some children have been ... A: I would remove any loose bark from around the wounds and let the tree heal by itself. You could ... | |
| Bore Worms in Pine Tree | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I have been told that I have bore worms in my pine tree of about 30 years and have advised it be cut ... A: If the needles on the ends of the branches are turning brown then the tree is dying. Pines will ... | |
| FLORIDA SCRUB OAKS | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: A tree guy topped off some old scrubs oaks in the front of my house. He was suppose to leave some ... A: It will depend on the size of the trunk. It may sprout out of the trunk BUT it will look like a bush ... | |
| Hedge Trimming | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a lot that is infested with river cottonwoods, as they are commonly known around here. ... A: It is going to depend on the make of chainsaw you have. each make has its own attachments and one ... | |
| Oak tree Sap | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I have three oak trees in my back which is fenced in into two sections and used for a dog pen. For ... A: The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk of shade trees is commonly called ... | |
| Sap On From Oak Trees | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: The oak tree in my back yard produce a great deal of sack and is very messy and dirty how do i ... A: More than likely the tree has an infestation of either aphids or scale insect. Both of these will ... | |
| Trees | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Is Cottonwood Trees native to Nebraska? A: Yes it is the Sate Tree of Nebraska. The Cottonwood (Populus deltoides marsh) became Nebraska's ... | |
| japanese acer small tree | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: when is the best time to transplant a small japanese acer A: Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the ... | |
| Help! With my pine tree. | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: a woodpecker made alot of holes in my 30ft pine tree.I have seen sap collect in globs from these ... A: These are insects--If the glob is white the insect is a cone moth called Dioryctria. These will bore ... | |
| cutting tree roots | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have an approximately 10-12 year old jacaranda tree (about 7" diameter trunk, drip line spreads ... A: Yes cutting these roots will damage the tree and possible cause it to die. IF they pavers are solid ... | |
| Iford Weeping Cherry Tree | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: My friend has just purchased a weeping cherry tree and someone said we should plant it in a large ... A: No if you plant it in a pot the roots will be confined and as the tree grows it will die since the ... | |
| Citrus Tree Disease | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have an orange tree with a white powder on the underside of the leaf. What is it and what is a ... A: Sounds like powdery mildew. Powdery mildew fungi belong to the group of plant pathogens called ... | |
| Red Oak tree - diseased? | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor has 2 very large red oak trees. One is OK but the other seems sick. For about the ... A: Small branches accumulating on the ground and the presence of clean-cut twigs, and in some cases ... | |
| cedar trees | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: We recently acquired 5 15ft cedar trees and have planted them in our backyard. I am worried that the ... A: Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. ... | |
| Purple Robe Locust | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a two Purple Robe Locust trees (probaly about 4 years old) that we transplanted to a ... A: My first thought was a response to the move--this is a fairly good size tree to move and the root ... | |
| plum tree | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a plum tree that is 4 years old and had a few blossoms this year but no plums. I fertilized ... A: Yes plum tree should be pruned to produce more fruit. Pruning should be done in June on a dry day to ... | |
| Laural Oak struggling in North Houston | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: Jim, We planted two Laural Oaks (one in front, one to side) of house almost 2 yrs ago. The one on ... A: Planting tree in heavy clay can be a problem. The hole needs to be about twice the size of the ... | |
| using evergreen stump grinding material as mulch | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I am having 5 evergreen stumps ground down. (1 White Pine, 4 Norway Spruce) I'm told there will be ... A: Yes the chips can be use as mulch. They will work fine. Some folks say the fresh chips may reduce ... | |
| Arborvitae and chain link fence | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: We have a 6' chain link fence that we'd like to grow arborvitae against. If we start off with 2' ... A: Yes these tree will grow through the fence if planted close to it. Emerald Green Thuja a ... | |
| Weeping willow | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I bought a weeping willow about 2 years ago not really knowing how big it could get. I bought it in ... A: Weeping willow trees will have a spread of about 20-30 feet when mature. Which will mean the ... | |
| Fat Albert Spruce Tree | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: We purchased our Fat Albert in May 2009, 7' tall. We are noticing some of the needles around the ... A: No needles of spruce as well as other conifers will drop naturally. As long as the upper needles ... | |
| 10 yr old Leyland Cypress | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: Can I trim my Leyland Cypress back 2 to 3 ft without damaging the tree and also end up with new ... A: No if you cut your tree back to 2 -3 feet tall and cut the terminal if the tree does not die you ... | |
| tranplanting shoots | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I have towering poplars around my yard for shelterbelt ,there are alot of shoots coming up in ... A: It will depend on if the sprout have there own root system or are sprout from the roots of the ... | |
| weeping willow | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: my willow plant is two years old and is thriving, i'm worried I have planted it to near the house. ... A: Weeping willow trees will have a spread of about 20-30 feet when mature. Which will mean the ... | |
| italian cypress | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: is it safe to put italian cypress on a very steep slope 12 feet of it at 45 degrees before leveling ... A: It will depend on the depth of the soil over the sandstone. Cypress will have a fairly shallow root ... | |
| Live Oak in Texas | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: We had a long hot summer and trees were watered regularly. All are doing fine with the exception of ... A: No the wound dressing would not have effected the foliage of the oak. The hot dry weather followed ... | |
| trim fruited malberry tree | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a fruited mulberry tree and when I do have to trim a large limb 1" or larger I always leave ... A: Pruning of Mulberry trees should be done in the dormant months (after the leaves have dropped in the ... | |
| Fig tree | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: When is the best time ti plant a fig tree? What is the best to plant in Alabama? Thank you A: When To Plant. Plant fig trees while they are dormant--spring is the best time. In warm areas, ... | |
| Weeping Pusssy Willow | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: At a local nursery they have a weeping pussy willow that has a nice umbrella shape to it and is ... A: Willows are invasive as far as septic tanks and lines go. They should not be planted within 20 feet ... | |
| Magnolia tree fungus? | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 part question about a Magnolia tree in my yard. I live along the Gulf Coast of Florida. ... A: These are lichens and are not a health problem to the tree. More likely, the plant is missing ... | |
| Swedish columer aspen tree | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: They have been doing really well for the last 2 yrs until august when i noticed the one has ants on ... A: Ants and wasps will be attracted to a substance called honeydew. There are insects that suck the ... | |
| Weeping Willow with small red buds on trunk | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: Good evening Jim. So in reading your post about what could potentially be the cause of the small ... A: It could be scale insects. take your finger and see if the "bumps" can be squashed. Scale insects ... | |
| willow tree | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I planted a weeping willow 4 days ago and i have watered it like i was told to and some of the ... A: This is not unusual for newly planted trees. They can go through a shock from the planting and lose ... | |
| Liquid Amber tree | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: The roots of our liquid amber tree have been getting higher and higher in our yard the past 12 yrs. ... A: If the roots are starting to be exposed above the ground you can add sand over the roots as long as ... | |
| conk on giant, old oak tree | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: Jim, We live in the coastal area of South Carolina and have numerous, very old (200 year range), ... A: The trimming back of the limb can cause the entire limb to die. IF any limbs are pruned I would take ... | |
| Weeping Cherry Tree | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I bought a weeping cherry tree about a month ago. The nursery that I bought it from gave me ... A: You can check to see if the tree is dead by starting near the top on an upper outer limb and scrape ... | |
| river birch vs drake elm | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I had 2 river birch trees about 6' from my house. They died last winter from a hard freeze. I just ... A: The drake elm has a spread of about 20 feet at maturity which would mean the roots spread about ... | |
| Root Trauma | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I've had to have a Michelia Alba dug up. Due to walls and sidewalks, the roots were pretty severely ... A: The roots should not be allowed to dry out. Plant the tree in a hole twice the size of the roots and ... | |
| Black and Chestnut Oak Root Systems | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I understand that these two trees do not have a tap root system. To avoid damage to either, ... A: It does not have a tap root and the roots spread about 1 1/2 time the distance of the branches. At ... | |
| conk on giant, old oak tree | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Jim, We live in the coastal area of South Carolina and have numerous, very old (200 year range), ... A: Was the limb that was removed hollow or mussy or was the wood attached to the trunk solid? If the ... | |
| peach tree | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a peach tree in a pot. When is the best time to transplant? and does it need more or less ... A: The best time would be early spring after the last frost. Peach tree do best in full sunlight. The ... | |
| Oak Tree galls | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: One of the children at my preschool briefly chewed on a white gall from an oak leaf. I am concerned ... A: No they are not poisonous or dangerous. They are formed by an insect that lays its eggs on the leaf ... | |
| Cutting a Pine Tree - Erosion (part II) | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I appreciate your comments in ... A: The roots of cut trees do hold the soil after cutting. But the cutting process sometimes causes bare ... | |
| maple tree mulch | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: What kind of mulch should be used for a mature maple? A: Any of the organic mulch is ok. I would use pine straw. Use not more than 3 inches deep and not ... | |
| Corkscrew Willow | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have several limbs from a corkscrew willow that has been cut down. How can I root these so they ... A: Willows can be rooted from a cut branch or twig but this would have to be done at the time of the ... | |
| Cutting a Pine Tree - erosion | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Jim, In your answer to a past question ... A: What I said was 'Cutting trees" could cause a problem with erosion on steep sites. The trees and ... | |
| Nut tree identification | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: My grandaughter has a nut tree in her yard and we are trying to figure out what kind it is. The ... A: This is a tree called the Buckeye, Aesculus species. The tree species Aesculus glabra is commonly ... | |
| weeping pussy willow tree | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: My mother has a weeping pussy willow tree that has a black substance on the leaves. The entire ... A: If the dripping sap is sticky then this is a sign of an insect either aphids or scales--more than ... | |
| my sick raywood ash | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: my names derek, i planted 2 raywoods in my front yard , an area with alot of hard pan . i planted in ... A: The worst time to plant a tree is in the summer months due to the heat and lack of water. Adding a ... | |
| Pin Oak Location? | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in a condominium in New Jersey that is comprised of 3 buildings. Each building is comprised ... A: Pin oaks are not usually a problem tree for sidewalks or patios. They can have a spread of about ... | |
| douglas fir | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor doesn't want to cut dead limbs off his fir trees. The tree limbs in question hang over ... A: Firs will naturally shed the dead limbs over time. The safe part depends on the size of the limbs ... | |
| oak tree pruning | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I live in Westchester county, New York and have a 250 yr old oak tree and would like to know ... A: For oak trees, the recommended pruning time is November through March. In the summer months, pruning ... | |
| weeping willow | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: My parents have a weeping willow in their garden situated near the river. It is approx 5yrs old. It ... A: This is called slime flux caused by a bacteria. The bacteria builds up in the tree and the pressure ... | |
| oak tree | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: can the weight of many acorns cause large branches to break like they would in an ice storm or is ... A: I think this is something that folks in Calif. are calling Sudden Limb Drop Syndrome. It is mostly ... | |
| little leaf linden disease | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: All of the leaves on our little leaf linden are covered with a black mold of some sort. It drips ... A: Sound like aphids or scale insects. Both will suck the plant juices from the leaves and twigs and ... | |
| blackjack trees | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: The majority of our trees are blackjacks,we have three dead in our back yard,and this happened real ... A: There is just not enough information to provide a reason for the trees dying. It could be anything ... | |
| globe willow tree | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: My tree has a white like puss coming out of the trunk and it is also getting holes in it. What can I ... A: Sounds like a condition called Froth Flux. Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood ... | |
| Covering Surface Tree Roots | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I live outside Charleston, SC on land with 8 to 16 inches of real "dirt". Beneath the dirt is ... A: " Damaging the roots" referred to the added soil. When you add soil over roots it tends to compact ... | |
| pest defoliating willow oak tree | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: What kind of worm would defoliate a willow oak tree and how do you get rid of it? A: There are several insects that will defoliate a willow oak tree. Most are caterpillar type. They all ... | |
| pruning bradford pear trees | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: i am tired of getting my head knocked off when i cut grass. when can i remove the lower branches and ... A: You can prune Bradford pear at almost any time except early spring before they flower. Cut the lower ... | |
| Is my huge old red oak dying? | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Shortly after we bought our home in the Lakewood area of Dallas the city came along and hacked the ... A: Yes I am sorry it does look like it is dying. More than likely a fungi entered the pruned limbs when ... | |
| Brown Pine Trees | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I had noticed the other day that my neighbors pine tree had completely turned brown so I was worried ... A: It could be several things from bark beetles to a root disease. Without looking at the trees it ... | |
| dogwood tree | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a dogwood tree that I would like to relocate, what is the best time of the year to do this? ... A: Deciduous may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved in the ... | |
| Raywood Ash Dropping a Tacky White Powdery Substance | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: Hope you had a nice vacation! We live in Vacaville, CA about 30 miles west of Sacramento. Our ... A: Yes sort of--it contains a fertilzier and is usually more expensive than the Bayer Advanced Trre and ... | |
| Covering Surface Tree Roots | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I live outside Charleston, SC on land with 8 to 16 inches of real "dirt". Beneath the dirt is ... A: You can safely cover tree roots as long a sit is not more than about 2 inches of fill. More than ... | |
| Silver Maple insects | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: My silver maple tree is loaded (tens of thousands) with tiny insects that resemble a knat with wings ... A: Sounds like bark lice. A picture would help. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced ... | |
| peach tree | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: i wonder if you can help me. I have a peach tree which is now approx ten foot tall which i planted ... A: Two feet from a building is too close to plant a tree. The roots of a peach trees will not be a ... | |
| ash tree | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Hyland: Greetings. Hope you enjoyed your holidays. I have a ASH tree in the front yard. It is ... A: I would not think it will be a problem. the roots will spread about 1 1/2 time the width of the ... | |
| tiny spiders on ponderosa pine | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: We live in the foothills west of Denver, CO. Our deck is built around a large, old ponderosa pine. ... A: Lets start anew--spiders have 8 legs and insects have 6 legs as adults. IF you have a magnifying ... | |
| willow trees | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: i have 2 rows of willow trees at the lake lot about 25ft h 80ft long i seem to have a lot of white ... A: The only other thing it could be is a wooly aphid. these insects will suck the plant juices from a ... | |
| Crimson Maple | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: This spring I planted a crimson maple and everything seemed to go well, new shoots, bright maroon ... A: It sounds like a normal reaction to the dry weather and the frost. Maple leaves will turn from ... | |
| Scyamore Trees | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: At a marina on a creek off the Ohio River near Ripley, OH, boats that are moored near a large ... A: If the spots are sticky these are honeydew caused by scales or aphids on the tree. These insects ... | |
| rotting stump | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: planning on letting ground sink till next spring and add dirt and plant grass seed my concern is are ... A: These are not a problem. They are the fruiting bodies of a decay fungi that is infecting the roots ... | |
| Eastern Red Cedar Tree | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: Should you mulch an Eastern Red Cedar Tree that was planted in May of this year? I have read in the ... A: Yes I would. Mulching is one of the most beneficial things a home owner can do for the health of a ... | |
| Raywood Ash | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: Also very small greenish bugs. They don't seem to be white flie. Nothing will grow under it except a ... A: These are an insect called an aphid. They suck the plant juices from the tree and secrete a ... | |
| willow trees | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: i have 2 rows of willow trees at the lake lot about 25ft h 80ft long i seem to have a lot of white ... A: Sounds like the fruit from the willows. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous tiny (0.1 ... | |
| lawn care | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: how do i keep weeds out of my grass without hurting my roses and trees. A: Most liquid herbicides will not harm the tree or the roses assuming that the spray is not applied to ... | |
| how far apart to plant trees | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: There is 25 feet along my yard ,I want to plant Arapaho Crape Myrtle,how far apart do i plant them? ... A: Crape Myrtle has a width at maturity of about 10-20 feet. I would plant them about 10 feet apart. ... | |
| Bore worms | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in Southern California and I have a 30 year old Japanese or Chinese elm tree that has bore ... A: Spray the trunk as high up as you can reach with an insecticide called Onyx. This will kill the ... | |
| tiny spiders on ponderosa pine | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: We live in the foothills west of Denver, CO. Our deck is built around a large, old ponderosa pine. ... A: Sounds like spider mites. The Astro would have killed the predators of the spiders and allowed them ... | |
| Decease on my Magnolia tree | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: My 3' new Susan magnolia tree has some decease with the leaves having big red spots and slowly ... A: Sounds like a leaf spot fungi. Leaf Spot - Leaf spot diseases caused by various fungi attack ... | |
| Raywood Ash Dropping a Tacky White Powdery Substance | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Hope you had a nice vacation! We live in Vacaville, CA about 30 miles west of Sacramento. Our ... A: Since the substance is sticky it does sound like aphids or scales. There are some that are cottony ... | |
| Whit Oak spacing | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: we are getting the opportunity to transplant about 10 white oak trees approximately 20' in height we ... A: When mature the white oak has a spread of about 50 feet so I would plant about 25 feet apart. ... | |
| accorns | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a very big problem with acorns my yard and patio are covered with them the tree is very large ... A: I do not know of a injection system that will stop acorn production. Maybe possible but not ... | |
| navajo globe willow | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: My tree has white like pus and has a weird smell, it is about two years old. Please help. A: Frothy Flux is different from the Bacterial wetwood (slime flux) seen afflicting many other hardwood ... | |
| brown leaves on red sunset maples | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: At a commercial site i planted last October 08, today i noticed the leaves on some of the maples in ... A: My first guess would be in heavy clay soils when a hole is dug sometimes the sides of the hole a ... | |
| tree branching from root | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a couple of young trees (5-6 yrs old) that have branches coming up from the base of the ... A: Why a tree sprouts and another does not is not really under stood. More than likely it is how the ... | |
| weather causing pruning question | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: These last few weeks in August seemed to have triggered flower buds all over our dogwood. The tree ... A: I would wait until after the leaves have fallen to prune the tree. You can cut the limb back to a ... | |
| Thuja green giants | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in New Hampshire and just ordered eight Thuja trees. It is now the end of August, is it safe ... A: Evergreen trees and shrubs may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Evergreens should be ... | |
| trees | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: i have noticed black tiny winged insects on trunk of my hybrid willows. when rubbed them theyfall in ... A: Sounds like an aphid most likley the Giant willow aphid. The Giant Willow Aphid is one of many ... | |
| fertilizing cypress trees | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: My husband put spike fertilizer in our cypress trees during August in Las Vegas. He said they got ... A: First check to see if the tree is alive--start near the end of an upper branch and scrape a small ... | |
| chinese dogwood | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 chinese dogwood trees about 7' tall that I believe were planted here 2 - 3 years ago. One ... A: Looks like fertilizer burn. The sticks concentrate the fertilizer and if a roots contacts the stick ... | |
| tree | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in central WI. I have a balsam poplar with small white rice-like "stuff" on the trunk. It ... A: It looks like bark lice Archipsocus nomas, the webbing bark louse. Bark lice are small, brown ... | |
| Rotting Bark on trunk | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: My maple tree is approximately 13 years old and has done well until this year. At first we noticed a ... A: You do not need to to anything except cut any loose bark from the wound. With time the wound will ... | |
| walnut tree and potential trigger for nut allergies | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I am a school nurse-walnut trees on play area (mulch). Believe them to be black walnut trees...have ... A: I would lean toward this being a problem with a severe allergy. Here is a reference I found on ... | |
| Mature Alder Trees/Fungus | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I reside in a private community in Long Beach, CA which has an urban forest which includes more than ... A: Here is a reference for Calif. Dr. Deborah Mathews, UC Riverside, Riverside, CA A new canker ... | |
| Hybrid Poplar | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a maple tree that was planted about 8 feet from our house. I am wondering if this tree's root ... A: Maples size will vary depending on the variety of maple. Japanese maples vary from 6 feet tall to 25 ... | |
| spruce tree leader | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in NH, and have a 20+ year old spruce that has been growing well, except that I just noticed ... A: Something has killed the leader of the tree--the most common would be a beetle boring into the stem. ... | |
| Rotting Bark on trunk | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: My maple tree is approximately 13 years old and has done well until this year. At first we noticed a ... A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. These will enter the trunk and cause a swelling and cause the ... | |
| Mature Alder Trees/Fungus | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I reside in a private community in Long Beach, CA which has an urban forest which includes more than ... A: Yes there seems to be a problem with alder in the Western US--it is classified as a decline. due ... | |
| Crab apple declining | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: My crabapple (I don't know what variety it is) is declining really quickly now...it has been ... A: Unfortunately some crabapple and apple trees are susceptible to a fungal disease called apple scab. ... | |
| Bag Worms of tall tree treatment | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I live in Peachtree City GA a suburb of Atlanta. I have a very tall Ash tree with bag worm bags ... A: First lets get some terminology out of the way--there is an inset called a bagworm that lives in a ... | |
| Colorado Blue Spruce | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can answer a question, I have a 22 year old blue spruce and I noticed the ends are ... A: Sounds like a tip moth. These insect bores into the tip and the tip will curl and die. Check and see ... | |
| river birch leafs turning yellow | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: for the last 2 years in august all my river birch tree's leaves start turning yellow and falling off ... A: River birch needs more water than most trees. The name implies it grow naturally along rivers. ... | |
| aphids on birch | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: We have 4 old birch trees in our SF Bay area landscaping (3 in a group/1 large alone) and as always ... A: There are a couple of insecticides that will work well. (Malathion is not one of them). It will take ... | |
| Small Share Tree | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: About 5 years ago I planted a maple tree in my front yard. I have pruned it once about 2 years ago. ... A: Here is web link to the SC Forestry Commissions tree selection guide. I would maybe pick ... | |
| Linden Tree maladies | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I am a president of a condo association and one of my unit owners had concerns about a such a tree ... A: It sounds like an insect called a scale. These insects live under a shell like structure and suck ... | |
| Dying trees | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: Again, we live in northeast Ohio. We so appreciated your answer to our last question that we have ... A: There are several diseases that will infect ash. each have their own signs. Here is a web link to ... | |
| red buds | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I recently got redbud trees dugout at a nursery. I realize summer digging is risky. # redbuds were ... A: The lack of water and the heat are the limiting factors for not planting in the summer months. ... | |
| Tree Fungus | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a tree man come to my home to give me a quote on removing a Bay Tree that had fallen ... A: Let me tell you up front I am Not a fan of "tree removal men" who are not foresters telling ... | |
| pecan trees | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: The new crop of pecans has started to fall (august) and some of the leaves have been stripped of ... A: Care of Bearing Trees Fertilizing — Fertilization is one of the most important practices for bearing ... | |
| Willow | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Don't know what type of willow neighbor planted, but they did plant it a foot away from the property ... A: The diameter will depend on the kind of willow but generally they can reach a diameter of about ... | |
| flowering crab apple tree | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way to make my 12 foot crab apple tree stop having apples ? Live in Utica, Michigan, ... A: Florel Fruit Eliminator will reduce or eliminate undesirable fruit on many trees. Look at: Florel® ... | |
| Cherry Tree | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I too purchased a Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry from Lowe's. I live in a zone 5 in NW Pennsylvania. ... A: Too much water is as bad as too little. Sounds like the yard does not drain well and the roots are ... | |
| Split oak tree | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: An oak tree in our backyard recently split (almost in half). It did not split all the way down the ... A: Sounds like the tree with a forked tree (one having two main trunks) and one split off from the ... | |
| pussywillow/bees, wasps,hornets and black | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: G'morning, I have a pussy willow that I have trimmed up into a tree shape, approx 15 feet tall with ... A: Here is a list of insecticides that will work on aphids but will take several applications to ... | |
| Cherry blossom tree | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: The leaves on my cherry blossom tree just died within a matter of weeks. The did not fall off of ... A: Sounds like a blight disease. If you take you finger nail or a small knife and scrape a small bit of ... | |
| Global Willow Tree | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: My son has a Global Willow Tree that has some of the bark loosing on the trunk of the tree. It ... A: Do not think from your description that there is a problem. Willows as they grow older will have ... | |
| Italian Cypress Trees | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: We live in southwest Idaho - in the Boise or Treasure Valley. I love the look of the Italian ... A: The cold will be the limiting factor. This tree will live in a range of soils. The Hardiness growing ... | |
| Small Share Tree | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: About 5 years ago I planted a maple tree in my front yard. I have pruned it once about 2 years ago. ... A: I would call the SC Forestry Commission and ask them to come by and take a look. With out seeing the ... | |
| Maple leaf spots | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Have avery healthy tree, about 9 years old. This year I see dark spots verying in different sizes. ... A: The picture was not attached. These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is ... | |
| bagworms in blue spruce | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I just learned that I have bagworms in 2 blue spruce trees on my property in Eastern Pennsylvania ... A: The common bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth), is an interesting caterpillar. The most ... | |
| blue spruce | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I have an orange powder in 5 or 6 small lumps per needle on the whole tree. The tree is turning ... A: Sounds like a rust fungi. Two rust fungi that infect the current year's needles, Chrysomyxa ledi and ... | |
| Aspen Spreading | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Aspen are spreading all over the front lawn at 5400ft. Is there a way to stop them from coming up ... A: Unfortunately, controlling root sprouts will be an ongoing, but ultimately futile task. Grubbing ... | |
| pussywillow/bees, wasps,hornets and black"stuff" | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: G'morning, I have a pussy willow that I have trimmed up into a tree shape, approx 15 feet tall with ... A: Aphids suck the plant juices form the plant and secrete a substance called Honeydew which is high in ... | |
| Pecan Trees | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: We bought a house last year in southeastern Georgia that had 3 pecan trees. The nuts fall ... A: There are numerous causes of premature pecan drop. Some varieties such as 'Desirable' shed ... | |
| apple tree roots | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: My father has a couple apple trees and one pear tree and he is afraid the roots might damage his ... A: These are generally larger trees with massive crowns and the root system is wide and the roots them ... | |
| apple tree roots | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: My father has a couple apple trees and one pear tree and he is afraid the roots might damage his ... A: Not if it is a cement pool. Vynal lined pools if there is a leak could be damaged. Tree roots extend ... | |
| Sprouts form chinese Elm | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I have had a chinese elm removed form my front yard, and the stump was ground, but tere are still ... A: Treat the sprouts with a herbicide called Roundup. This can be either sprayed on the foliage of the ... | |
| elm trees | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: How can I get the black sooty mold off of the deck next to my elm tree? Power washing doesn't seem ... A: First you will need to control the sucking insects that are causing the sooty mold. The fall ... | |
| tired of spiders | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know if there is any type of tree that won't attract insects, specially spiders. ... A: The trees in the yard are not a problem unless the limbs are touching the house--then this may give ... | |
| Dying trees | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: Again, we live in northeast Ohio. We so appreciated your answer to our last question that we have ... A: There is really not enough information to be able to determine what killed the oak-sorry. But if it ... | |
| Paulownia Tree | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I recently planted a paulownia tree which was only 6" high. It is now 4' high. I need to move it to ... A: Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the ... | |
| maple tree root damage to foundations | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Will the root system of a red maple damage a slab foundation planted 7 feet from a house located ... A: Not going to be a problem. Red maples have been used as foundation plantings for some time and have ... | |
| does chemical Triflurilin have any side effects on humans /pets | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I am considering the Biobarrier root system fabric installed inground in my yard.......is this ... A: One of the most visible and unique inhibitor barriers is the controlled release herbicide fabric. ... | |
| Which Red Maple??? | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Des Moines, IA (zone 5) and am looking to plant a red maple this fall in my yard. The ... A: Here is a list of the seedless maples all have green foliage until the fall and then the color will ... | |
| Southern Live Oaks | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Southern Live Oak as opposed to a Laurel or Water Oak? How can I tell which one is growing in my ... A: Here are the web links to the three trees with great pictures and descriptions. There are distinct ... | |
| Willow | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Don't know what type of willow neighbor planted, but they did plant it a foot away from the property ... A: Weeping willow can get about 30-40 feet tall at maturity and about 20-30 feet spread if growing in ... | |
| Red Oak Tree | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I planted a Red Oak Tree in my front yard 4 years ago. Every year up until this year the tree was ... A: Sounds like a root problem--could be compaction of the soil, grade change )added fill dirt), use of ... | |
| japanese maple tree and spiderwebs | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: This spring my tree did not bloom entirely. Only one half of the tree had leaves. The other side is ... A: Sounds like spider mites. Spider mites have tiny mouthparts modified for piercing individual plant ... | |
| Oak Tree problem | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I have an oak tree that died and was recently taken down. The tree's inner wood appeared to be ... A: I really do not think it is oak wilt. So I would fertilize and this should do the trick. Durban is ... | |
| cherry tree | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a flowering cherry tree(12 years old), there are roots growing in a circular direction around ... A: Sorry it took so long to get back--had computer problems. Looking at the picture I would not be ... | |
| RED OAK TREE SEEMS TO BE DYING | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: June 24 our landscaper planted a 15' red oak tree. We are in the Dallas, Ft. Worth, Texas Area. We ... A: I answered this question on 08/12/09 Here was my answer This is the worst time to plant trees due ... | |
| Shade | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I need to know which are good shade trees other than Maple, Oak, and Poplar Trees. A: It all depend on where you live and the size of the yard and the effect you are looking for-color. ... | |
| Application of Merit 75WP | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Jim - On Aug. 10, you suggested I use Merit for the weeping cherry problem (peeling bark and sap ... A: I would not apply as an injection since the wound is already there and the tree will absorb the ... | |
| Yoshino Cherry Tree | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: We have a Yoshino Cherry Tree planted next to a house with a full basement. It grew quickly to 20 ... A: This tree is entirely too large to have 5 feet from the house. It has a spread width of 25-49 feet ... | |
| webbing on younger oak trees | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: We live in the deep South. Oaks grow well and wild here. We have 6-8 mostly pin oaks that are 30 ... A: Sounds like bark lice. Bark Lice are more properly called Psocids (pronounced "SOSS-sids"). They ... | |
| linden trees | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a linden tree 7 or 8 yrs ago and it has a insect that forms needle like protrusions about 5mm ... A: Sounds like maybe a couple of things. The leaf 'projections" are called leaf galls. They are caused ... | |
| Crimson King Maple | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in northeast Ohio. I rescued a very small Crimson King maple sapling that was growing next to ... A: If it was a crimson when you first moved it it still is. I think the tree is reacting to the many ... | |
| RED OAK TREE | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: June 24th our landscaper planted a 15 ft red oak tree. We are in the Dallas, Ft Worth area. We ... A: This is the worst time to plant trees due to the heat and the usually drier weather. You will ... | |
| cherry tree | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a flowering cherry tree(12 years old), there are roots growing in a circular direction around ... A: A tree is girdled when something is tightly wrapped around the trunk or stem. A stem girdling root ... | |
| Chinese Dogwood | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a young Chinese Dogwood tree (about 12" High). How do I plant it? I have a spot in the back ... A: The Chinese dogwood is easier to grow than our native dogwood, but it still does best when given a ... | |
| Tulip popular lean | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a native tulip popular tree on my property which is approximately 12 inches in diameter and ... A: 10 % lean is not a real danger. Trees do not necessarily grow straight up. However, trees with a ... | |
| red bud tree roots | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: My "red bud" tree died last summer. It was about 9 inches in diameter at the truck base. I cut the ... A: The roots system will spread about 1 1/2 time the width of the branches. As you go further from the ... | |
| Ceratomia catalpae | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: How do I get rid of them? I have 4 very large Catalpa trees and the Ceratomia catalpae has killed 1 ... A: First I would not think the caterpillar will kill the tree. It will eat all the leaves and make the ... | |
| Catalpa trees: do they cause foundation damage? | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: There are 6 gorgeous catalpa trees on my property, including 2 huge old ones. One of the huge ones ... A: I would remove the tree. Sorry. The trunk will continue to push against the house and over time will ... | |
| Post Oak Leaf Growth | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a very mature Post Oak. Some damage was done to it during construction of our home and it has ... A: Looks like a gall insect called oak apple gall. This is one of many leaf galls that affect oaks. ... | |
| spruce tree | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I live next to 2 spruce trees that had a Boxelder in front of them and as the boxelder grew the more ... A: This is natural sheding of the limbs. If lower limbs are shaded from a competing tree the tree will ... | |
| Oak Tree problem | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I have an oak tree that died and was recently taken down. The tree's inner wood appeared to be ... A: Sounds like a decay type fungi --these infect the woody cells and do not cause the death of the ... | |
| globe willow | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: the bark of my globe willow has what looks like mushroom shelves growing on it. What would be the ... A: This could be a lichen or a mushroom. The mushroom is the fruiting body of a decay fungi that over ... | |
| Weeping Willow Trees/City Sewage Lines | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: This summer we had re-landscaped our yard after the city came in installing city sewage lines ... A: No you should not have any problem with the sewer lines and the roots. Sewer lines are sealed and ... | |
| Crape Myrtle trees | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: If I remove the spent blooms from my white crape myrtle tree,will I get new blooms for the remainder ... A: If you cut off the newly forming seedheads then the plant will often bloom again. You just need to ... | |
| Sap oozing and bark peeling on a weeping cherry | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago, I noticed a spot where sap was oozing about a foot above the ground on a weeping ... A: I agree it does look like borer damage. I would cut the loose bark off the wound and re spray but I ... | |
| Water Oak disease? | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: My water oak tree has these (see picture) growing all over it. Also the leave are starting to turn ... A: Hard to tell from the dark picture but it looks like a insect gall. There are a variety of ... | |
| Black spots on silver maple leaves | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I planted a sapling silver maple in the spring of 2008. The tree has grown well, with no problems. ... A: Several different fungi in the genus Rhytisma infect the leaves of maples and cause raised, black ... | |
| gall mites | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: We have a large more than 20yrs old oak tree. This year we noticed gall mites on the leaves. ... A: These insect suck the plant juices and secrete a sugary substance called honeydew. Treat the tree ... | |
| Catalpa trees: do they cause foundation damage? | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: There are 6 gorgeous catalpa trees on my property, including 2 huge old ones. One of the huge ones ... A: I assume that by hitting the gutter you mean the limbs not the trunk. The roots of tree will ... | |
| infested maple tree | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: i have a giant very old (50+ yrs) maple tree being infested by something. A large part, about 4 X 6 ... A: Sounds like an insect called a borer. they will bore into the trunk and the wound will form and the ... | |
| Weeping Cherry Tree Leaves Yellow | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I purchase a weeping cherry this past spring and planted it, all has been great. However, in the ... A: A tree needs about 1 inch of water per week. Most sprinkler systems for lawns produce a lot less ... | |
| Tree transplanting | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in Eastern CO and have very sandy soil. A former owner planted what appear to be some type ... A: The sprout are from the roots of the parent tree and do not have a root system of their own. These ... | |
| Autumn Maple | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: leaves have brown spots and seem to be withering....the trunk bark is splitting....and ... A: A vertical split that occured over the winter is probably frost cracking or sunscald. Young maples ... | |
| Tree for very wet site | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in western Colorado (zone 5). The landscape is sloped to where my front yard gets alot of ... A: River birch should work or a weeping willow will also work. Willows need more water than most trees ... | |
| root system on oak tree | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: We have just put in a swimming pool and it is close to an oak tree that is about 3 to 4 feet in ... A: The roots of trees will spread about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches. Roots will seek water ... | |
| Weeping Pussy Willow looks like it's being eaten | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: We have a 6 ft weeping pussy willow that has always been bountiful and healthy, all the sudden it is ... A: I would spray the foliage with an insecticide called Orthene this will kill any insect that is ... | |
| Red Oak Fungus | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a Red Oak tree in the Atlanta area which has a fungus showing at the base of the trunk. There ... A: These are the fruiting bodies of a decay fungi. The fungi enters a wound in the trunk and will ... | |
| ShadeTrees | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: We live in the Rio Grande Valley and want to plant a live oak. Is there a type of live oak that ... A: I would suggest that you visit the local tree nursery and tell them your situation as to the site ... | |
| Sprouts | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: How can I get rid of all the sprouts from my live oak? They are killing my lawn...... Thanks A: Most people simply mow them regularly to keep them under control. Herbicides that will kill the root ... | |
| blue spruce covered in ants | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: This is a photo of my neighbour's blue spruce. It seems to be covered in ants. I know ants go after ... A: Check to see if the foliage and maybe the twigs are sticky--this would be a sign of the honeydew. ... | |
| orange dust on blue spruce | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in a small Northern Ontario community & just about every blue spruce in town looks like this ... A: Sounds like a rust fungi. Two rust fungi that infect the current year's needles, Chrysomyxa ledi and ... | |
| bald cypress roots/bathroom pipes | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: my husband does not believe me (and the articles i've read to him) that the 3 cypress trees he ... A: The foundation problem with roots are to slab type foundations. Root can and will get into sewer ... | |
| Pin Oak Has Black trunk | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in northeast Tennessee. I recently planted a pin oak in the spring. It is around 20 feet ... A: try fertilizing it with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered ... | |
| weeping pussy willow | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a weeping pussy willow and there is an extremely small yellow bug that has been covering the ... A: sounds like spider mites. Mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders. They are ... | |
| Effects of Pruning Leyland Cypress Trees | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have 20 Leyland Cypress Trees we planted 9 years ago to provide privacy from a house that looks ... A: No the Leyland cypress will not sprout new limbs when the limb is pruned to the trunk. The pruning ... | |
| Live Oak Trees | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We live in the Rio Grande Valley and want to plant a live oak. Is there a type of live oak that ... A: No I know of no oak tree that does not produce acorns. The acorns are the reproductive part of the ... | |
| Magnolia Tree Health | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: There are lots of trees in my Little Rock, Arkansas neighborhood, but my Magnolia tree has been one ... A: Since it says is is a general Maximum N I would guess it is 13-13-13. But essentually the same ... | |
| Hole in Oak Tree | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: Ok...I understand the comment regarding leaving cavities in oak trees alone. However, I have five ... A: They will not really harm the overall health of the tree. They may excavate more of the hollow for ... | |
| Cleveland Pear | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We had a 5 year old Cleveland Pear in our landscape. It got hit by a storm that came through. I want ... A: Planting in the exact same spot will be difficult due to the stump wood. You can try digging the ... | |
| Tree-dead, infected, or confused | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Chicago area and we have had a cooler summer than usual. i am not sure what kind of ... A: Well I have looked and looked at the leaves and the other pictures and the leaves look like dogwood ... | |
| Weeping Cherry Tree | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: We have three flowering weeping cherry trees that are about 3 or 4 years old. One has leaves that ... A: Probably needs water about 1 inch ---place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when ... | |
| Magnolia Tree Health | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: There are lots of trees in my Little Rock, Arkansas neighborhood, but my Magnolia tree has been one ... A: I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk Diameter ... | |
| purple plum tree | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently lost a purple plum tree in a storm and was wondering how much it was worth for insurance ... A: About all you can claim is the replacement value. Example: 8-10 feet tall (Fall Shipment) $179.95 ... | |
| Pin Oak Has Black trunk | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in northeast Tennessee. I recently planted a pin oak in the spring. It is around 20 feet ... A: This is called slime flux or wetwood. The foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from the trunk ... | |
| Cottonwood tree | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: We have lived in Eugene, OR for four years. Our cottonwood tree has rust spots this year that ... A: Sounds like cottonwood leaf rust. Yellow or orange pustules, containing spores, form on the ... | |
| pruning a crimson maple | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: We live in Western Pennsylvania and have a crimson maple approximately 12-15 years old that is now ... A: While deciduous trees can be pruned anytime during the year, the best time to prune is late winter ... | |
| WILLOW OAK BLACK BARK | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: MY WILLOW OAK TREE BARK HAS TURNED BLACK. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO GROWING AS WELL AS LAST YEAR . IT IS ... A: I would fertilize it with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter ... | |
| crepe mertle | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I have several new shoots of crepe mertle comming up do to seed. I'd like to move them to my back ... A: Woody plants are preferably moved in the spring after the ground thaws and before the buds on the ... | |
| cottonless cottonwood tree | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a cottonless cotonwood tree 90 feet tall in my backyard. The base of the tree is surrounded ... A: I would say that they are getting too little water--the ivy is getting more than the tree. The time ... | |
| water oak problems | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: My mother lives in central La...(Natchitoches) She has a large water oak very close to her house ... A: TGR are used to reduce the growth of a tree and reduce the need for pruning. Selected trees may be ... | |
| tree identification | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in Kansas City, Missouri and in our neighborhood there are several trees that have leaves ... A: The city of Kansas City has an Urban Forestry department with Foresters on staff. It is located in ... | |
| aspen trees and alkalinity | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: We live in Alb,NM at the base of the Sandia Mtns. (6,200 ft elevation) Our aspen trees are turning ... A: Soils usually have adequate amounts of mineral iron. However, as soil pH rises above 7.0, iron ... | |
| water oak problems | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: My mother lives in central La...(Natchitoches) She has a large water oak very close to her house ... A: Wetwood and slime flux are poorly understood tree disease problems. Wetwood is an internal bacterial ... | |
| Globe Willow pruning | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have had my Navajo globe willow for about 2 years, maybe 3, growing great my husband wants to ... A: You can prune the lower branches off to about 1/4 inch from the main trunk. A weeping willow tree ... | |
| pecan trees desease we need help | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a property with about 25 huge pecan trees, we bought in the winter so was not ... A: Sounds like the trees were not taken care of and need fertilizing and other treatments. I would ... | |
| Birch tree worm infestation | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in Virginia Beach, VA, and over the last couple of days I noticed leaves being stripped from ... A: The smaller ones are the Dusky Birch Sawfly,Croesus latitarsus. Larvae are yellow-green with black ... | |
| dying sour cherry tree | |