Raccoons in the garden are nocturnal animals that are thriving thanks to increased human contact, as anyone with an unsecured dumpster or trash can will attest. Wild populations prefer areas with trees and water nearby. But more and more they…
Hackberry psyllids are small aphid-like insects that cause hackberry galls commonly seen on the underside of hackberry tree leaves. An alternative name is hackberry “gall-maker.” They are most commonly noticed, however, as a household nuisance in late summer and fall.…
Avoid using mulches and clean up any debris around plants to eliminate shelter for squash bugs. Practicing crop rotation can greatly reduce their numbers as well. However, rotations will not completely keep squash bugs from showing up because of their…
Get the Weeds Out While They Are Young Summer Weed Management Strategies Now is the time when those pesky weeds are really coming up full force in many gardens around the state, particularly if you have had rain in your…
Most of the questions that will be coming in will relate to tomato problems, and earlier this summer, relate to tomato problems in South Dakota. Despite early predictions that this summer was going to be dry, many areas have received…
There are several cedar-rust diseases that spend part of their life cycle on Eastern red cedar and other junipers, and another part of their life cycle on apple, hawthorn, and other members of the rose family. Both hosts are required…
In the upcoming weeks, be on the look for cucumber beetles because they are a difficult pest to manage. Several cultural practices can be applied to prevent infestations from becoming severe. At planting time, you can place mulch around cucurbits…
In the case of tree leaves turning brown, curling up, and falling off, leaf scorch may be the likely culprit. The obvious signs of leaf scorch are yellow and brown-like color changes on the tips and ends of tree leaves.…
Readers have asked for advice on planting a deer-proof garden. In a word: plastic. However, when it comes to real, living plants, “deer-proof” is not a realizable goal. The best we can hope for is to come up with a…