King palm trunk

QuestionI noticed that two of my king palms have some kind of pest eating away at the base of the palm right above the ground. It almost appears to be like a termite would eat at wood. I cant see the bug or pest. On

white fuzz on rhododendrons and azaleas

QuestionHi, wondering if you might be able to tell me what I should do to save my rhododendrons and azalea. I have found white fuzz in the joints of both shrub species in my rooftop container garden. The

Maple Leaf Has Light Green Spikes

QuestionMy maple leafs from one particular tree has pale green spikes coming out of them. Is this a disease of the tree? AnswerHi Paula,  

chinese pistachio tree dying?

QuestionHi- not sure if Ive got the right expert, but Ill give it a shot. Heres the problem: I have 2 Chinese Pistachios in my yard (we just moved here last fall). One looks great, one seems to be dying.

green &orange balls on maple leaves

Questionwe live in northern ohio and we have several maples with little orange and green ball type things on the leaves not all our trees have this, some of the other trees have black holes in the leaves,while other

Problem with my holly bushes

QuestionI have a question regarding my holly bushes. We moved into our home almost a year ago. There was a bald spot last summer but I overlooked it. Now the shubs seems to be losing leaves thoughout (th

moth question and jasmine tree question

QuestionHello: 1. today I opened my bookcase and saw three little beige moths so I closed the glass doors and then got the RAID. Sprayed it. Do I need to go through every book and try to find larvae? Can putting la

holly bush with white spots on underleaf

QuestionI was trimming back a holly bush in PA (Lancaster)my porch today and notice that there are white spots all over the underleaf of the bush. SHould I use a fungicide or what is your suggestion? THe

Weird leaf thing!

QuestionHi, I hope you can help. We have a tree in are yard I have know idea what it is called,but it appers to be graphed on to the top of a regula turnk. It looks just like and umbrella and if you stand underneath

browning edges

QuestionI finally found a spider plant and it is wonderfully full, I have hung it in my kitchen where I use to hang my other one. I had that one for 9 years until I neglected it after taking it outside for the summe

Honeysuckle aphids

QuestionMy gardener noticed aphids on an otherwise thriving honeysuckle. I went on the internet and read that aphids can be treated by spraying handsoap and water. I did so and killed off the flowers and buds. Quest

Cycad with yellow edged-fronds

QuestionJohn - I have 3 sagos in my yard - two in front, one in back. The back one seems fine, but one of the two in front is sick. What puzzles me is the two front ones are side - by - side. The one closest to the

leaf blight/disease on victoria plum tree

QuestionDear John, My 3 yr old victoria plum tree,s leaves are curling in from the edges,they look as if singed,I have uncurled several,and there is a greyish damp powder not unlike wet cigarette ash.the young frui

diagnoses of apple tree

QuestionI found this black jelly on the branches of a weeping green apple tree, I first thought it was tar but was not. Its like a slim/jelly type of substance. could you help me? AnswerHi Bill, I need some more i

Leaf Drop

QuestionI am having huge problems in my garden. This summer (and last) the majority of my plants drop their leaves after looking beautiful throughout the spring. It started again about a week ago just as it started

Yellow mushrooms in my house plants

QuestionThere are leucocoprinus growing in all of my house plants. I noticed them in one a couple of weeks ago and now they have spread to all but one. If they are spreading that fast then they must be in the air. T

Jade plant pests

QuestionJohn, I have a Jade tree that for years has had fine spider webs at the dirt. I assume spider mites. Ive sprayed and I repotted the plant with new dirt. That repotting 2 years ago damaged t

diseases on roses

QuestionMy roses, this year, are withering on the new growth, turning black,and any buds dry up. We have had a wet spring and Im wondering if this is a fire blight. I dont have any books on rose diseases

bug infestation

QuestionI live in Niagara Falls, Canada and for the past three years we have had an infestation of tiny fruit fly like bugs in our backyard. This always occurs in the beginning of June and it only lasts a coup

White Hardened Nodules under tree leaves

QuestionI have several deciduous trees in my back yard which have white round nodules on the underside of leaves. They are fuzzy and hard. They are fixed to the leaves. It has been on the leaves fo