Spider Plant 'Lace Leaves': Skeletonizing Insect Damage

My spider plant leaves look like lace—thin, netted, and papery—turning brown and dying rapidly. Whats attacking it? Should I worry about nearby plants? Diagnosis: Skeletonizing Insects The lace appearance is called skel

Yellowing Variegated Pittosporum: Transplant Shock, Nutrition, or Disease?

My 7 variegated pittosporum shrubs in Central Florida (zone 9) have splotchy yellow leaves. Whats causing this and how do I fix it? Most Likely: Transplant Shock If planted this year, transplant shock is the prime suspe

Seasonal Needle Drop vs. Disease in Mature Ponderosa Pine

Our 30-year-old, 25-foot ponderosa pine has brown needles in the mid-canopy over the past month. Surrounding towns show similar symptoms on ponderosas, some worse. We dont want to lose this tree. What can we do? Likely

Diagnosing Sudden Yellowing in a Row of Newly Planted Arborvitae

All 8 of my American arborvitae, planted a year ago, are turning yellow simultaneously. Needles fall off when touched. Some green remains with berries. The landscaper says its normal shedding. Is that true? I can send ph

Fixing Soil pH for a Struggling Victoria Plum Tree

My 3-year-old Victoria plum produced only one fruit this year and is nearly leafless. Its planted in acidic soil (pH 5.5), though mulching may have altered that. What remedial action is needed? The Problem: Soil Too Aci

Fall Webworms on Locust Trees: Identification and Control Options

Im in Kansas City. Many park trees and now my thornless locust have extensive webbing—not tent caterpillar style, but dispersed throughout the canopy. Small worms hang on silk threads. Leaves are blotchy yellow-brown, dy

Ants on New Plants: Effective Baiting Without Harming Butterflies

I recently bought petunias, a dahlia, and a potato plant. A butterfly feeder with sugar water and cantaloupe attracted ants, which are now all over the flowers, causing them to droop and die. How do I eliminate the ants

Sycamore Bark Shedding: Normal Exfoliation, Not Disease

My client has a 25-year-old sycamore with bark badly popping off in an 18-inch section on three main branches. The exposed wood is dark brown. Theres virtually no tip dieback, and the rest of the tree looks healthy. What

Verticillium Wilt Suspected in 'Bloodgood' Japanese Maple with Trunk Fungus

My 9-year-old Bloodgood Japanese maple had a section of shriveled, dead leaves this summer. My husband pruned that part out. Now in September, another section is dying, and theres a white fungal growth on the trunk exten

Should You Fill a Hollow Tree Trunk? Modern Arboriculture Says No

I have an old cherry tree with a large hollow in the trunk that I cleaned out. The main branch above the hollow shows decline—leaves turn fall colors early while lower branches stay green. Water collects in the cavity. C

Diagnosing and Managing Fig Rust and Container Growing Problems

Im in the Raleigh, NC area growing a young fig tree in a clay pot. Purchased in July at 12 inches tall with one fig, it grew rapidly after transplanting into Miracle-Gro soil. The initial fig dropped, but new ones formed

Green Mold Spreading Across Citrus and Olive Trees: Identification and Treatment

I have two orange trees and a lemon tree. One orange started with a small amount of green mold, and now all three citrus trees—and even my olive tree—appear to be affected. The problem seems to be spreading. I cant find

Troubleshooting Curling Leaves and Poor Fruit Set on a Potted Bearss Lime Tree

Im growing a Bearss lime tree in a large container in Southern California. It produced fruit reliably for four years, but this season the new growth is severely curling and coated with a clear, thin, plastic-like film. T

Maple Tree Black Eggs: Gall Mites, Not Eggs

Autumn Blaze Maple Covered in Tiny Black Eggs Every leaf covered. Owner asks what they are and what to do. Identification: Gall Mites Not eggs—galls from eriophyid mites. Types: bladder gall (green→red→black globes), sp

Linden Tree Leaf Gall: Mite Management Timing

25-Ft Linden in Minnesota, Poor for 3 Years Full sun, sprinklers 25 min every other day. Leaf gall suspected. How to get rid of it? Gall Control Reality Leaf galls dont harm tree long-term. Control rarely needed. Learn

Pear Fruit Cracking: Star Crack Virus or Water Stress

Pears Cracking All Around, 5-6 cm Wide Cracks Owner seeks cause and tips. Possibilities Star Crack (Virus): Corky star-shaped cracks, mainly calyx end. Distorts fruit on some varieties. Control: virus-free bud/nursery

Arborvitae Hedge Sudden Death: Herbicide Damage Suspected

Indiana Hedge: Solid Brown Dead Zone on Neighbor Side 15-year-old arborvitae hedge (37 plants). Backside of east hedge: solid brown dead leaves/branches bottom 3 ft. After heavy rain 9/23, fine. 9/28 mowing noticed death

Pecan Tree No Nuts: Water, Zinc, Fertilizer, Pruning Guide

30-Year, 40-Ft Pecan Provides Shade But No Fruit Owner wants to induce nut production. Critical Factors Water: Mature tree needs 100–250 gallons/day in hottest summer. Deep watering, not sprinkler. Stress causes nut dr

Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid: Not Usually Harmful

NE Indiana Poplars Dying, Nodules on Leaf Stems with Worms Leaves turn dark brown, fall off. At leaf base, round nodules with small greenish-yellow worms inside. All sizes affected. Diagnosis: Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid

Yellow Jackets in Weeping Willow: After Honeydew, Not Tree

8-9 Year Old Willow Invaded by Yellow Jackets Northern KY, 20+ ft tall, healthy. Sudden yellow jacket invasion this year. Explanation Yellow jackets attracted to honeydew from aphids, mealybugs, scale, or related insect