White Oak Slime Flux: Likely Fatal Phytophthora Canker

Large White Oak with 2/3 Circumference Affected Atlanta, GA. 24–30 diameter white oak, slime flux for 2 years, heavy drought. 12 ft from house. Owner asks if removal needed. Critical Distinction Slime flux (bacterial we

Banana Plant Aphids: White Fuzzy Balls and Wilting

Indoor Banana with White Fuzz and Insects White fuzzy balls on leaf tops/undersides, sometimes oval white insects with legs. Fuzz comes off like cotton. Leaves wilting. Diagnosis: Aphids Aphids suck plant juices; some t

Pine Tree Golden Needles in Fall: Normal or Larch?

Large Pine Turns Golden Yellow Every Autumn Needles turn golden yellow all at once each fall, tree greens up each spring. Northeastern NY. Owner thought it was dying. Explanation: Seasonal Needle Drop 1 year. Most pines

Fig Tree Larvae Holes in Spain: Mechanical Control

Mature Fig Tree with Trunk/Branch Borers After fruit harvest, larvae holes found in trunk and branches. Want to save tree without removal. Organic Approach Tree may be old or injured, attracting borers. Poke holes with

Potted Poodle Evergreens: Root-Bound and Spider Mites

Two Topiary Evergreens Declining Planted April. Recent windstorm tipped them. Repotting revealed roots still in original pot shape. Brown needle areas on balls, one worse. Issues & Fixes Brown Areas: Wont recover. Prun

Desert Rose Brown Tips: Overwatering in Alabama

Adenium obesum Leaf Tip Burn Small desert rose on patio 6 months. Leaf tips brown (<1 cm), some yellowing near tip. Older leaves worse. Also shriveled lithops and cacti. Auburn, AL, second-floor apartment. Worried about

Norway Spruce Needle Drop: Drought Stress Response

Inner Needles Rust-Colored After Dry Summer Norway spruce (5–7 ft) have rust-colored needles on inner branches. Extremely dry summer, no watering. Owner can send photos. Diagnosis: Normal Drought Response If outer needl

Plum Tree Decline: Old Age and Lifespan Limits

Six Plum Trees Weak Growth, No Flowers After 10 Good Years Half-dozen plums usually vigorous, good crops 10 years. This year: late, weak, sporadic growth, many branches not shooting, no flowers/fruit. Other stone fruit (

Lemon Tree from Seed: No Fruit, Leaf Drop, Webbing

7-Foot Tree from Florida Seedling Grown from 1-foot boxed tree from Florida. Bright green leaves but never flowered/fruited. Now losing leaves, webbing on branches, cutting webbing doesnt help. Analysis Seed-Grown? Unu

Outdoor Schefflera Black Leaves: Sooty Mold from Insects

Variegated Schefflera by Pool in Florida Leaves turning black; black washes off with soapy water. Hard to clean every leaf. Cause: Sooty Mold on Honeydew Sucking insects (scale, aphids, whiteflies) excrete honeydew; soo

October Glory Maple Trunk Damage: Borer or Fungus?

Sawdust-Like Growth, Bark Eaten Away 5-year-old maple has 4-inch irregular patch of sawdust-like material on trunk. Underneath, bark is eaten into but not through to core. Possibilities Borer: Insect larvae tunneling.

Calamondin Orange Problems: Cottony Fungus and Scale

Two Calamondin Trees, Two Issues One: cottony fungus on fruit (branching hyphae + yeast under microscope), fruit drop. Other: suspected scale. Unified Treatment Spray both with 100% pure neem oil (organic, doesnt wash o

Pine Tree Black Powder: Sooty Mold from Scale or Aphids

Jack Pine Covered in Black Powder, Dying Fast Black powder on foliage, sticky to touch. Not first tree lost. Diagnosis: Sooty Mold Sooty mold grows on honeydew excreted by scale insects (small turtles on twigs) or aphid

Weeping Willow Dead Branches: Normal Shading or Decline?

Three Mature Willows with 25% Dead Branches 30-year-old weeping willows, ¼ branches dead, rest green and beautiful. Owner wants to save them. Assessment Inner branch dieback is normal due to shading. Prune only dead bra

Globe Willow Honeydew and Sooty Mold: Aphid or Scale Control

Black Branches and Clear Weeping Globe willow has black areas on branches and weeps clear substance. Cause: Sucking Insects Either aphids (small, moving, waxy) or scale (turtle-like, stationary) suck plant juices and ex

Mulberry Tree Issues: Leaf Spot, Bark Splitting, and Wetwood

Two Mature Mulberries in South France One tree: leaves brown/yellow drop mid-summer, bark splits on branches. Other: healthy except one branch bleeding near trunk after pruning. Diagnoses Leaf Spot (Fungal): Moist seas

Mandevilla Whitefly Infestation Indoors: Neem Oil Solution

Whiteflies and White Nests on Overwintered Mandevilla Mandevilla brought inside for winter in Minnesota; after two weeks, infested with tiny white flies (like fruit flies) and white nest-like structures on leaves and vin

Citrus Leaf Miner and Chemical Overuse on Lemon, Lime, Orange

Curled Leaves, Glossy Trails, Deformed Fruit Three citrus trees show leaf curl, glossy trails on leaves, deformed inedible fruit. Owner used Immunox, malathion, fruit tree sprays, even cut back lemon tree—new growth stil

Bradford Pear Trunk Holes: Sapsucker Woodpecker Damage

Rows of Holes on Multiple Trees 16 Bradford pears have lines of bored holes on trunks. Owner concerned about cause and treatment. Cause: Sapsucker Woodpecker Holes in a line around trunk are made by sapsuckers. Birds dr

Planting New Orange Trees in Australia: Step-by-Step Guide

Replacing Old Orange Tree in SW Australia Two new orange trees to plant after removing old one. Need planting tips. Planting Procedure Hole: Dig hole, mix max 50% new soil with 50% native soil. Tree must adapt to your