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Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Managing Insect, Diseases, and Animal Pests

Are there grants available for high tunnel? Can you convert blueberry field to garden? How do you handle deer nuisance?

Question: I was just given a field/garden that I hope to grow food on for both myself and perhaps to sell on the island in the future. I heard there might be grants available to help with funding a high tunnel so that I could grow year round. I’m hoping for some guidance with getting […]

Can you explain what pear scab and pear rust is and how to treat them?

Question: I noticed spots on my pear tree leaves and a lot of the pear fruit was aborted this year. I’m not sure if it is pear scab or pear rust? Or are they the same? How can I treat this? I also have a plum and peach tree in the area, are they at […]

Can you help identify the problem with the lilacs on my property?

Question: Two lilac trees on my property have some disease or pesticide infestation. Can you help me identify the problem and offer a solution? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Lilacs commonly suffer foliage fungal infestations, especially in hot, wet summers, and it definitely looks as though that’s what’s going on here. Typically, they […]

Are my older high bush blueberry plants at the end of their productive years?

Question: I have 24 high bush blueberry bushes purchased about 20 yrs. ago (from a reputable garden store). This is the first year their production is considerably lower than in all past years. Should I be concerned that these plants are near the end of their productive years? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional […]

Why do the leaves on my older apple trees have brown spots and are falling off?

Question: My Granny Smith Apple tree has been losing leaves leaving the bottom half of the tree leafless. The leaves have brown spots on them and I can see them dropping off when a squirrel jumps on a branch or a breeze blows through. It has been many years without getting pruned, but has born […]

What are the grayish spots on the surface of my peaches?

Question: I have had a peach tree for six or seven years. This year we seem to have a bumper crop of peaches growing on our tree. However, the majority of them have some grayish spots on the surface which seems to be only on one side of the peach. I have attached three pictures. […]

Why are my apple trees experiencing problems?

Question: We have two apple trees that seem unhappy. They are five years old and this is the first time we’ve seen this issue. What is wrong with them? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional There are potentially a couple of things going on here. The circular spots on the leaves in your first […]

What is causing my peaches to rot?

Question: What do you recommend to treat brown rot on peaches? All of our seven-year-old tree’s fruit has fallen to the ground, half rotten, or rotted when picked to ripen indoors. In late June, many green fruits had tiny extrusions that looked like airplane glue–clear–as well as early signs of rot. Could this have anything […]

How should I treat my pear tree for fungus? Why are the pears cracked?

Question: I have a pear tree in my yard that I keep meaning to treat for fungus. Its branches hang over blueberry bushes and an herb garden. This always makes me hesitant, wondering whether treating the pear tree will hurt the other plants. What advice do you have about that? I assume that I missed […]

What kind of animal or bird would remove wasp nests?

Question: We found wasp nests had been removed from under our porches and similar areas. The nests were empty of larva. We’re wondering what kind of animal would do this? Perhaps a bird that will do this? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional It’s always handy when nature takes care of wasps in inconvenient […]

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