Ask the Expert

How do you control Virginia Creeper?

Question: I find the Virginia Creeper to be a very invasive plant. It climbs up my lilacs 20 ft high, basically anything that isn’t evergreen. I went to trim my forsythia and half of what I cut off were Creeper vines. I also battled Norway Maples and the small leafed rose that are defined as […]

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Who do I remove Northeastern Sedge from my native wildflower meadow?

Question: I’ve been working with NRCS in establishing a native wildflower meadow on my property. The field is around 0.15 acres. I am in year two and Northeastern Sedge has taken over the field. Any suggestions? I thought about burning the field this fall and reseeding during frost heaving conditions.  Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture […]

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How do I manage the invasive bamboo species on my property?

Question: I have some soft of invasive bamboo species that was introduced to my land by a utility tree truck a few years back. I am tackling it now and ripping up the root balls but I can’t find what species it is on your website. I was able to find a few photos of […]

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What would be a good ground cover companion to lilacs?

Question: What would be a good ground cover companion for lilac? Our lilacs are on the west side of the house so there is only partial sun. Right now the area is beset by Dame’s rocket, goutweed, and sunchokes. I’m trying to weed them out and will need to replace them. What might be best? […]

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What can be done to control Bishop’s weed?

Question: Bishop’s weed is a battle here. What can be done? The entire property is bordered with it and it tries to creep into lawn and other areas. I try to pull it, weed wack, mow and do some occasional chemical spray. I would like to come up with a game plan to fight it […]

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What animal is eating my perennials?

Question: I have a pest(s) that not only eating my tulips bulbs but other perennials. They even have eaten one of my tomato plants recently. I also noticed that whatever is in my back yard its “stripping” the bark from my cedar trees and has made a giant nest on the top of one of […]

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What happened to my tree to make it turn orange in a week?

Question: I have a pine tree that I planted 20 years ago. What would make it die and turn orange in a weeks time? Everyone says salt from the roads but why don’t the other trees in the area turn that quickly? Or at all? It was beautiful and lush on Mother’s Day. I had […]

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Is buckwheat a good cover crop to plant around my new house?

Question: I have a newly constructed house that’s surrounded by bulldozed land with a 15% – 20% grade that is mostly gravel and clay. I want to plant a cover crop to enrich the soil and prevent erosion while I plan what to do with the property. I’m thinking of buckwheat which will die back […]

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Why are my Phlox plants dying and what can be done to save them?

Question: I have four creeping Phlox plants that were planted in the spring of 2023 and grew well. They looked good this spring until about 7-10 days ago when all four almost died overnight. The middle of the plants appear dead. There is some very little life at the very edges. These plants are in […]

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