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topicquestion
Lake Plantings and Geese
May 10, 2013
I live on a small lake in Wichita, KS and we are over run with Canada geese. I would like to plant flowers around my patio (which is not allowed to be fenced off). Are there any flowers or plants that...
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Removing grassy weeds from cactus garden in Corpus Christi TX
May 07, 2013
How do you get grassy weeds out of a cactus garden? I don't want to use roundup around the cacti? Can you recommend a herbicide that won't harm the cactus?
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Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX
May 01, 2013
I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide...
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Dog-proof grass from The Woodlands TX
April 26, 2013
I am looking for a hardy grass that can tolerate female dogs urine. Zoysia was suggested but I am concerned about it being invasive. Any suggestions?
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Plants that animals won't eat from Ione WA
April 19, 2013
In Ione Washington and need to know what types of plants and flowers I can plant that animals in that area wont eat?
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Growing Giant Pumpkins in Georgia
April 15, 2013
I have tried to grow giant pumpkins in the Atlanta, GA area. Each year I lose several strong plants to vine borers. I have tried tin foil wrapped around the stems, and I even painted the stems with Se...
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Black bugs on yucca from Aledo TX
April 14, 2013
We have flowering yuccas that have thousands of small black bugs that seem to be hurting the plant. They are not on any other foliage in our beds. What do I use to get rid of them??
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Century plant leaves falling over from San Antonio
April 10, 2013
Have a large century plant about % feet tall. The leaves are falling over. Can you tell me what to do to avoid this.
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Doodlebugs in dead area of Coral Bean from Houston
April 10, 2013
I have a Firemans coralbean tree about 5 years old. I discovered yesterday in the middle of the tree there is some deadwood where we have pruned out branches. A couple of the branches were filled with...
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Is oak leucanium an invasive species in Texas from Laredo TX
April 02, 2013
Is Parthenolecanium quercifex considered an invasive species in Texas? Does this insect attach itself to redbuds? I spotted and removed from my small 5ft Texas Redbud last year. It seems that it has ...
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Bugs eating new growth on Mountain Laurel shrubs from Dripping Springs TX
April 02, 2013
What is eating the new growth on my mountain laurel shrubs? One plant has red bugs and the other has black (could they be love bugs?). Is there something I can do to preserve the new growth?
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Growths on Shumard Red Oak leaves from Katy TX
April 01, 2013
Our beautiful Shumard Red Oak has developed lots of light green grape like growths on the leaves. Please inform us what this could be and how we should treat it?
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Death of lantana in Bryan TX
March 28, 2013
I would like to know what killed several new gold lantana in a single bed that died over the winter. They looked quite healthy last fall. I have several other new gold lantana that survived the wint...
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Problem with Live Oaks in Mesa AZ
March 26, 2013
I have two Evergreen Live Oaks in central Arizona. One is flourishing and getting new spring leaves from top to bottom. Its trunk is rough, has large grooves, and the spots where I've pruned look li...
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Problems with Monterrey Oak in Austin
March 26, 2013
We had a local tree service plant two Monterrey Oak trees on 4/2/2012. At the time we noticed that woodpeckers had had a field day on the trunk bark of both trees with the most damage being on the lar...
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Long term effects of pesticide from Lubbock TX
March 20, 2013
I have 9 western pecan trees about 20 years old. Trunk sizes is from 18" to 39". I used a product Bayer Tree and Shrub, applied to the trees. I wonder what it will do to the trees. I talkd to Bayer ...
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Do Deer Eat Orchid Trees?
March 08, 2013
I have planted three anacacho orchid trees, however we have a lot of deer around us. Is this a tree they will want to eat? Do you have any ideas to keep deer away?
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Weedy buffalo grass from Dripping Springs, TX
March 07, 2013
I have a buffalo grass lawn. It is thin and filled with weeds. I would like to find a solution to improve my lawn. I prefer a native grass but I need to be able to control the weeds and I am not ph...
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Controlling sandburs from Austin
February 24, 2013
Hello, What is the best way to prevent sticker burrs from growing in a rocky bed with no grass. There are many other plants we want to preserve and a drip line to keep them watered. We have 2 small k...
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Horse ate bark of cedar elm from Liberty Hill, TX
February 20, 2013
I have three acres with a rental. Planted a Cedar Elm near the porch. My ex-renters allowed their horse to graze around the house. It ate the bark off of the tree. How can I save this tree?
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Eliminating wood roaches from hardwood mulch from San Antonio TX
February 05, 2013
How can I eliminate the numerous wood roaches in my hardwood mulch that I get for free from the city of San Antonio?
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Groundcover for vineyard from Round Rock, TX
February 04, 2013
I will be planting a vineyard in the Hill Country next spring. I am looking to maintain low-growing understory plants across the entire vineyard to maintain soil health, choosing plants that the leaf...
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Controlling slugs in a Pacific Northwest strawberry patch
February 04, 2013
Would love to plant various varieties of strawberries on a bank for erosion control and ground cover. How can we keep the slugs at bay? We are in the the Pacific Northwest
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Problems with crossvine from Semmes AL
January 06, 2013
I have a 3 year old cross vine (tangerine beauty) and the leaves have started turning black and falling off the plant. I have two plants growing on the same pergola (opposite ends) and the second plan...
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Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC
December 10, 2012
I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni...
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Vines free from cutter ants from Caldwell TX
November 14, 2012
What are some climbing vines cutter ants won't eat
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Cupressaceae dying in Suffolk Co.NY
October 20, 2012
I have noticed that all of my Cupressaceae (& others I see in my area) are dying. They turn yellow, then rust & brown til they are everbrowns. what is going on?
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Spots on non-native naval orange trees from Stockton CA
October 20, 2012
I have two mature Navel Orange trees. One tree has developed spotty chlorophyl depleted areas that were not on the oranges when they were smaller. In addition, the oranges on both trees are smaller ,...
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Live oak trees buzzing in Taylor TX
October 20, 2012
Is it possible for live oak trees to make a buzzing sound? We have heard this sound under our live oak and were worried it was bees but we don't seem to see any. I also heard the buzzing under my mot...
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Are fuzzy oak leaf galls harmful to post oak trees?
October 19, 2012
Are the fuzzy balls on the undersides of our post oak trees harmful?
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Orange eggs on milkweed plants
October 18, 2012
Hello I have milk weed in my flower garden. Every year I find small orange 'eggs' on the leaves and stems of the plant. I don't think these are the monarch eggs, but not sure if they are other...
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Weeds in Buffalograss from Edmond OK
September 20, 2012
We have a patch of buffalograss surrounded by patio/flower garden/vegetable garden. We like B-grass, but are getting a lot of weeds despite preemergents, and some bermuda had appeared. Are there h...
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New nursery plants with sappy spots from Round Rock, TX
September 09, 2012
We live on the west side of RR, near Cedar Park and recently bought three 15 gallon cherry laurels from a nursery. Started to plant them today as we bought them a week ago and noticed base of the trun...
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Sticky film on oak tree leaves from Whitney TX
September 04, 2012
What is the sticky film that is coating leaves on our oak trees?
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Problems with mountain laurel from Sunrise Beach TX
August 29, 2012
In Llano Co., TX near lake LBJ, crushed granite type soil - my 4 - 5 year old TX Mtn. Laurels (2), about the size of large wheel barrows, are turning very pale, dropping leaves and on 1 the seed pods ...
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Tiny holes oozing sap from Austin
August 22, 2012
My ash tree becomes loaded with butterflies on the trunk. At closer inspection, I see they are drinking sap which is coming from small holes in the trunk. Are the butterflies creating the holes? I ...
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Wasps on live oaks from Sinton TX
August 20, 2012
Wasps on my live oak trees. What is attracting them? Does this hurt the tree?
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Oaks emitting substance in Lakeway TX
August 14, 2012
We have two large oak trees in our yard that are emitting a clear, very sticky, non-fragrant substance. The leaves are beginning to be covered as is our deck. Bees are now attracted and I am worried ...
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Insect damage on possumhaw
August 12, 2012
We planted a small possumhaw in February of this year (2012). It had leaves and some berries and was doing real well until some bug starting eating the leaves and berries. I know it is not deer becau...
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Plants that donkeys won't eat
August 08, 2012
What plants/trees do donkeys NOT like? I live in Hawaii on the Big Island and they visit once a week in my yard. I like them but would prefer that they stay just outside. Unfortunately they like my...
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Crape myrtle in Austin
August 01, 2012
Please don't bother to answer my question about how to treat a crepe myrtle with sticky stuff falling from it. I just found the answer on your site. Good site, by the way.
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Sticky stuff dripping from non-native crape myrtle in Austin
August 01, 2012
There is sticky sap-like stuff dropping from the very large crepe myrtle in my yard. The tree has quit blooming. This didn't happen last year when it was so dry; it started after we had all the rain ...
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Demise of Flameleaf Sumac in Austin, TX.
July 31, 2012
My Flameleaf Sumac suddenly died. Beetles came out around the trunk when I cut it down. How can I prevent this on the other sumac?
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Something dripping from red oak in Austin
July 30, 2012
There is a large red oak outside my apartment. The leaves are shiny and covered with what appears to be oil. The ground underneath is coated with this also. When I parked under the tree my car beca...
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Ticks on native grasses in Katy, TX.
July 23, 2012
Are there native grasses that are less susceptible to tick infestation than others?
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Getting rid of Aphids on Asclepias plants in Brea, CA.
July 23, 2012
I grow asclepsias or MILKWEED for the benefit of Monarchs. At times I have aphids consuming the leaves. How can I destroy the aphids without harming the Monarch eggs? Thank you very much.
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Sticky material dripping from tree in Austin
July 22, 2012
The tree in my backyard is dripping what I surmise is sap - a thick,fdrake1@ sticky substance in July. What kind of tree is it and is there anything one can do prevent this from happening? Thank you...
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Aphids in pecan tree from Austin
July 14, 2012
Last year at this time (midsummer) everything under the canopy of our 60+ year old pecan tree was covered with a sticky substance--plants, lawn furniture, concrete pool deck..Since we had never seen t...
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Something eating cannas in Austin
July 14, 2012
What is eating my cannas?
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Dealing with aphids on milkweed plants in Alloway, NJ.
July 11, 2012
I planted milk weed for the Monarch butterfly. Every year it gets orange aphids that seem to suck out the juices and eventually kill the plant sooner than I like.
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Control of grasshoppers from Goldthwaite TX
July 07, 2012
How long do grasshoppers live. They are eating our flowers, plants and trees.
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Texas Ash secreting sap in Lockhart, TX
July 05, 2012
I have what I believe is a Texas Ash in my front yard that is secreting a sap with what looks like some wounds on it with some white stuff and with black and red looking ants as well as it has a lot o...
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Texas Mountain Laurel oozing sap in Spicewood, TX.
July 05, 2012
We have a Texas mountain laurel that seems to be sweating. Oozing sap with no apparent signs of any type of bore holes, or holes made from any birds.
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Application of sprays to non-native Crape Myrtle from Prosper TX
June 29, 2012
Can applying a systemic insecticide/fungicide combo prevent or limit Crape Myrtle blooms? I have 5 large lavender Crapes that are not blooming or budding yet and this is the first time I have used a ...
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Goat damage to Arizona Cypress from Palmdale CA
June 28, 2012
My goats stripped the bottom branches of my Arizona Cypress. Will they come back and how can I prevent future damage?
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Pests on American Beautyberry from Austin
June 25, 2012
Something is eating the leaves of my American Beautyberry shrubs. One is almost stripped of leaves on the upper branches. I have looked and can't see any insects or caterpillars. I have also looke...
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Problems with non-native parsley from Brooklyn NY
June 17, 2012
Had beautiful flat leaf parsley plants recently turn yellow & die. Found black armadillo like bugs bored throughout the roots. Now they're spreading. How do I kill them without contaminating the pla...
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Problems with non-native yellow lantana from Elgin TX
June 17, 2012
Why do my yellow lantana buds turn brown and do not open fully? The sprinkler system does not spray onto the lantana.
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White ash trees with bunched up leaves from Nevada TX
June 09, 2012
I have very young white ash trees (3' tall planted this winter) The leaves are crippled not opening up bunched up together and have a white powder. Is this aphids mites or what. Only on one tree. Th...
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Something eating holes in Texas Betony from Austin
June 06, 2012
What pest is eating holes in the leaves of my Texas Betonys? They look healthy but almost all leaves have various sizes of round holes in them. What is the best cure for this? Thanks
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Dandelions in bluebonnets in Bastrop TX
May 31, 2012
I have a 20'x60' front yard area where I planted bluebonnets. It has become horrifically inundated with dandelions. How do I eradicate the dandelions while preserving the bluebonnets ? Thanks ...
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Spots on leaves of Esperanza from Dallas
May 30, 2012
Have a new 1 foot high Esperanza. It is flowering OK (so far) but it has small rust colored spots about the size of a B-B all over most of the leaves. On the top side of the leaf the spot is depress...
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Reaction to something in the garden from Dowling MI
May 25, 2012
In late March I was working in my yard raking etc. The next morning I had three black spots between my knee and shin that were swelling and feverish. Two days later the areas became bigger and began...
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Unknown pest of Texas Mountain Laurel from Round Rock TX
May 24, 2012
I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is being denuded from the top down by something unseen. It's not the Genista moth larvae, as there are no worms and no webbing visible. The only clue that it might...
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Which plants are resistant to dog urine in Ashmore, IL??
May 21, 2012
Which native plants are resistant to dogs urinating on them?
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Problem with leaves of Texas Ash in Austin
May 21, 2012
We purchased a 3' to 4' Texas Ash in March 2012. The past few days I noticed new leaves at the top are curled under, have a milky substance on them, and more than a few ladybugs on them. What is thi...
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Caterpillars eating passion vines from Austin
May 17, 2012
My question concerns Yellow passion flower, purple passion vine & butterflies. I have had my passion vines for 3-4 years, each spring they start growing beautifully, then in 1-2 days are almost compl...
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Cultivar of Cercis Canadensis from Haskell OK
May 16, 2012
We have a Hearts of Gold Redbud that first had dark edges to many of its leaves (about 2 weeks after planting). It now has multiple leaves w/ medium-dark brown spots on them. Are we looking at some ...
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Spots on bark of Mountain Ash from Engadine MI
April 30, 2012
I have a mountain ash that is about 5 years old & have just noticed white, patchy, scaly looking spots on the bark. Is this something to be concerned about???
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Mountain laurels with insect problems in Bandera, TX..
April 30, 2012
I have 3 mountain laurels about 8 yrs old. Suddenly about 3 yrs ago worms started decimating them. This yr I got dipel dust which works great but only for two weeks. I now have small red flies and ...
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Problems with blueberries from Kernersville NC
April 29, 2012
My blueberry plants have no leaves or scrawny ones. I have 13 plants, 5 of them are like this.
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Pruning live oak in Austin
April 28, 2012
Hi, We recently purchased a house in South Austin and there is a huge Live Oak Tree about 6 feet from the back door (so so so love it!) The only real issues I have so far are: 1. Needing to trim a ...
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What is hollowing out my rosebuds in Austin, TX?
April 28, 2012
I recently noticed some of my rose buds had been hollowed out from the inside. I have seen no evidence of insect though. What do you think it is and how can I treat the problem?
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Problems with Texas Ash from Sun City, AZ
April 20, 2012
What might be causing the leaves on my Texas Ash tree to have brown spots and curl up and die?
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Lopidea on Texas Mountain Laurel from Austin
April 16, 2012
How do I get rid of the Lopidea ALL OVER my Texas Laurels and boring into the seed pods?
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Insects on yucca from Ft. Worth TX
April 05, 2012
I have a plant labeled Yucca Soft Leaf recurvifolia that I planted about 5 years ago,& was beautiful until last summer when it became infested with thousands of fast, tiny, dark insects. I sprayed wit...
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Leaf Galls on Live Oak
March 20, 2012
Hi - I have a live oak tree that always seems to have thinner foliage than our other two. Upon closer examination today I found small brown balls all over the mature leaves. The balls look and feel ve...
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Moths around Sophora secundiflora from Driftwood TX
March 15, 2012
Sophora secundiflora Our Mountain Laurel has a lot of large moths flying around it. Should we be concerned? Will they hurt the tree? thank you
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Ants in the compost pile from Georgetown TX
March 09, 2012
Can you give me any suggestions for ridding my compost pile of ants?
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Box elder beetles in Austin TX
February 02, 2012
We have an large infestation of box elder beetles. They are crawling all over the yard and sometimes on the outside of the house. When you walk in the yard a cloud of them rises up and fills the air. ...
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When should cochineal bugs be on prickly pear cactus?
January 05, 2012
I am a fibers artist that would like to harvest the cochineal bugs from the prickly pear cactus. I would like to know what time of year should I expect to find the cochineal bugs around the Austin ar...
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Desmodium spp. (beggar's lice) in Leander TX
November 11, 2011
Our home backs up to a greenbelt on Blockhouse Creek in Williamson County, Texas (FM 1431 and Parmer Lane). The combination of the flood and drought has left our beautiful greenbelt with an abundance...
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Cenizos browning in Houston
October 01, 2011
After this horrible drought, I am committed to xeriscaping with native Texas plants. The few hibiscus that survived have been transplanted into pots and are thriving. I bid the tiny boxwoods a fond fa...
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Swarming insects on non-native willow in Washington PA
September 25, 2011
I have had a very large, beautiful pillow willow bush/tree growing next to our garage for about 8 years. Last year at the end of August, it began to attract white-faced hornets and yellow jackets by t...
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Pest damage to Yaupon shrubs in Austin, TX
September 18, 2011
I have noticed pest damage in our 4 ft. yaupon. There are circular holes eaten on 90% of the leaf growth. Trunk & branches look untouched and healthy. Could this be leafminers? How can I care for it?...
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Worms in non-native snake plant from Hillsborough NC
September 17, 2011
I purchased a snake plant this summer for my screened in porch. I did not repot it and left it in the plastic pot in came it. I was about to repot the plant to bring it in and noticed there are worm...
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Striped caterpillars on Cornus sericea (redtwig dogwood)
September 07, 2011
My red-twig dogwood has white/black striped caterpillars that congregate on the underside of the leaves and they are stripping the leaves. What can I do? They almost look like Monarch butterfly larvae...
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Caterpillars devouring Blue Wild Indigo in Jesup GA
September 05, 2011
I have a false blue indigo growing in my garden. Every spring it gets defoliated by Genista moth caterpillars. It usually doesn't put out new growth until the next spring. This summer, it has put ...
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Bugs on Arizona Cypress in Bellwood IL
August 27, 2011
I live in Illinois and have an Arizona Cypress that looks like it is dying but I notice today it has bugs inside its cone. Can you tell me why and what can I do?
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Grasshopper invasion in Box Elder SD
August 22, 2011
I just bought a new home and there is an infestation of grasshoppers throughout the neighborhood. What shrubs and/or flowers could I plant that they may not like to eat?
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Oak tree with browning leaves in Brenham TX
August 16, 2011
I have a large oak tree in my small back yard. I also have a sprinkler so the tree has been receiving some water. Nevertheless, some of the leaves are turning brown in patches. Would drip watering ...
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Killing oak sprouts from El Paso TX
August 16, 2011
I want to know how to kill oak root sprouts and seedlings. Very dense and out-of-control in huge area of front lawn. I had tree cut down and I still cannot get rid of them. They're only getting wors...
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Antelope Resistant Plants for Casper, Wyoming
August 12, 2011
What are some drought resistant, full-sun plants for Wyoming that are Antelope resistant - Deer are not much of a problem, but antelope are!
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Hibiscus plants being attacked by powdery mildew, or maybe mealy bugs in Austin, TX.
August 10, 2011
I have three hibiscus plants planted outside about a foot apart from each other. The one that gets most of the sunlight is the worse off of the three. However, all three of them have white powdery stu...
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Varmints disturbing plants in NH
August 04, 2011
I planted herbs and perennials, then put paper down and bark. At first an animal just disturbed the paper around the plants, exposing it. Today two plants are dug up and are completely gone. No sig...
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Ants in outdoor plants in Austin
July 30, 2011
Live in Austin. The problem is THIS. Ants have invaded our outside potted plants- mandevilla, begonia , lemon tree and violas. The colonies are devouring the roots it appears. Please give suggestions ...
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Need help with powdery mildew and mites in Bastrop, TX
July 26, 2011
I tend to flower beds for the city. I have noticed a powdery mildew in 2 beds. It is on the Pavonia and Turks caps. I now notice mites. What should I do?
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Possible freeze damage in Wax Myrtle from last winter in Bastrop, TX
July 25, 2011
Our Wax Myrtle is about 7 yrs old and in good shape until this past winter when we had several very hard freezes. Now several of the large branches are dead and more are dying each month. We have not ...
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Trumpet creeper with ants in Belchertown MA
July 23, 2011
My Campsis Vine is having one of the maximum blossom years it gets after a good pruning. This year, I have black carpenter ants on the blossoms and the flowers are rotting from the edges down on some...
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Tree with brown spots on leaves containing caterpillars
July 14, 2011
We have a new little tree we planted in our yard and I went over to admire it and on each leaf there is a brown spot in which little worms are living. They are alive and moving around in the pocket th...
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topicquestion

326 Results:   10  25  50 100 per page