Aphids are coming to play this week. These are tiny, mostly green soft-bodied insects sucking out the plant juices. Many aphids are only plant-specific to the plant family they attack. Like rose aphids attack only plants in the rose family.…
Last week, we discussed winter injury on spruce trees, and now it seems that some maples, birches, and hackberries are also affected. If your tree hasn’t leafed out at the top, it’s likely due to winter desiccation. We had another…
It seems like winter has taken a toll on the spruces this year, especially on the south-to-west side. If you notice needle dieback, it’s likely due to winterkill. Check where the needle attaches to the branch; if there’s a little…
Ah, springtime brings a flurry of garden inquiries, doesn’t it? Let’s dive into some green thumb talk! So, for tackling crabgrass, it’s all about timing. If you’re dealing with a light infestation, a post-May 1st application of pre-emergent herbicide should…
So, my annual garden review is a rollercoaster of wins and losses before I look at the new seed catalogs! Let’s kick off with the radishes. Radishes are my nostalgic weakness. Every year I plant them, hoping for those crisp,…
Hey there, fellow gardeners! It’s that time of year again – time to tackle those pesky broadleaf weeds invading your lawn and garden. I’ve been out there myself, and here’s what I’ve been up to: Before the rain rolled in,…
In the garden this week, get ready to start spraying the perennial weeds like thistle, bindweed, and dandelions in the lawn and garden. In the lawn use a selective herbicide like a mix with 2,4-D. In the garden after harvesting,…
In the garden, this week is the weeds. For annual weeds like crabgrass, annual bluegrass, kochia, etc., there is not much to do since they are producing seeds. Try to keep them from producing seeds by mowing or removing the…
This week in the garden, a plant called the wild cucumber has been noticed mainly in pastures along creeks climbing on plum thickets. It is an attractive vine with large white flower panicles growing over 25 feet over everything. You…
This week in the garden is the proliferation of the monarch and swallowtail butterflies along with the dragonflies. These are good things; however, it also has been the week of squash bugs. These fleshy bugs run along the squash vines…
This week in the garden is the squash vine borer showing up. A black and orange moth lays its reddish eggs on the undersides of the leaves. The larvae hatch and burrow into the stems (usually where the stem comes…
This week in the garden the Colorado potato beetle showed up. These are reddish-orange fleshy larvae turning into the striped beetle adult. It does not take them long to decimate a potato plant. They are later this year so if…
This week in the garden, let’s start with powdery mildew that is starting to affect certain plants like squash vines. It looks like talcum powder sprinkled on the leaves. This fungus can attack most plants, especially lilacs, but rarely does…
This week in the garden, it seems a new pest is coming to our area. This is the Japanese beetle which will lay eggs on grass. The eggs hatch and feed on grass roots then hatch into adults. Like grasshoppers,…
This week in the garden, some people who bought or raised pepper plants from seed are getting different types of peppers than they anticipated. They call this Jalapenogate, Peppergate, or the Great Pepper Mix-up of 2023. This happened when a…