balsam pruning

QuestionWhen is the ideal time to prune balsam? Health of trees is excellent.These have not been pruned for 3 or 4 years and look bad. Can they be pruned now (Zone 5) or should it wait until spring. Is air tempera

pine beetles,about trees natural defense

QuestionHow long will it take after a drought for pine trees to start producing enough sap to defend against beetles. Please help me! AnswerToni, Pine trees produce sap throughout their life times, eve

tree indentification

Questionwe have a tree that has very bright red leaves and with seven point leaves...is not notched like a maple leaf, but more like having seven fingers..fanned out like a hand...it kept its red leaves until we had

caring for citrus trees

Questionmy 4 year old grape-fruit thee (which I started from a seed) was doing just fine, bur lately the leafs are dropping off, even the jung ones, Ive been feeding it citrus tree food during the spring and summer,

WORMS IN MY TREE ROOTS

QuestionI HAVE A PLUM TREE IN MY BACK YARD(CHICAGO,IL) THAT HAS WORMS IN THE ROOTS HOW CAN I GET RID OF THESE WORMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. MATT AnswerMatt, If you are talking about earthworms just l

name of a plant species

QuestionDear Gary, I would like to aske why there is sometimes (L.) after a plant species name? What is it for? Does it need to be typed in italic as the species name? Also, apart from (L.), is there any similar a

Japanese Maple tree - dead branches

QuestionI have a Japanese Maple tree which is about 5 years old. The tree is in the front yard and get lots of water and sunshine. Last summer, I noticed that several branches of the tree had died - no leaves, and s

Should I top the redwoods in my front yard?

Question20 years ago I planted 3 small soquel redwoods in my front yard. They were planted 8 feet apart and looked great. Today they are beautiful, but are about 40 feet in height and growing fast.  

Matting Leaves

QuestionHi Gary, A few years ago I thought it would be neat if I could gather some leaves,(from various trees), as they turn colors in Fall, spread and attatch them on a mat or matted board like they insert behind a

Pecan Tree fertilizers

QuestionHi, I was looking at a Stark catalog and it recommended Zinc Sulfate as a fertilizer. I live in west central Missouri, and have planted about 300 Native Pecan seedlings (1 - 3). The pH of the sandy clay loam

braided fig care

Questionhi, I bought a braided fig tree a few months ago. It has now lost almost all its leaves, which is common from what I understand. I try to keep it watered properly, yet the branches seem to be a b

clearing wodded area

Questionjim, i hope you can help me...i can not find information about the approximate cost to clear a wooded area on a plat of land i am interested in purchasing. i am not sure if it will cost me money or if

MY PLUM TREE HAS WORMS THAT...

QuestionMY PLUM TREE HAS WORMS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE BARK TO CRACK AND SAP TO DRIP,I LIVE IN CHICAGO IL PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET RID OF THESE PESTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. MATT AnswerI think you

Good morning! (Or afternoon)...

QuestionGood morning! (Or afternoon) My name is Austin and I am a middle school student in Michigan. We are researching careers in my class. I think I would like to be a forester one day. Cou

Growing trees from seed

QuestionLast fall I visited Mt. Vernon and picked up some seeds from a Magnolia tree that George Washington had planted. I would like to see if I can get some seedlings from these seeds. How do I do this? AnswerIf

Fruit tree grafting

QuestionCan one fruit tree be host to several different other fruits that have been grafted onto that tree? AnswerCliff, Have been reading ads for fruit salad trees? Grafting differing fruits onto a single stem i

The sturdiness of an old apricot tree

QuestionThere is a Blenheim apricot tree, close to one hundred years old, in my yard. Today a visitor was swinging from one and then another of its largest branches. I noticed that the entire branch move

Ailanthus control

QuestionI live near Charlottesville, VA. We had a lot cleared to build on, and its being invaded by ailanthus - probably have 100 or so, most of which arent very big yet. If you cut it, it multiplies. Can you tell m

Oak Tree problems

QuestionHi Mr. Hyland, I live near Houston, Tx in a newly completed home. We have lots of trees - both pines & oaks on approx. 1.5 acres, but unfortunately the oaks closest to the house are not doing well. &nb

apple seed propagation

Question Im going to plant some apple seeds that I got from a store bought golden delicious apple and I was wandering how to get it growing because all my past attempts have failed. AnswerJeremy, You praboly need