Question: This morning I found the leaves of native violets that I have planted to be eaten up almost completely! I’m trying to establish a native garden. What do you think is eating them? And do you have any suggestions for me to deter this so the violets can take hold? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home […]
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Question: I’m curious to learn what you folks might think may be the cause for something in and adjacent to one of our flower beds. Last fall, we noticed a mound in the bed. It’s about 1.5′ x 2′ x 4″. The mound is at an end of the bed next to a flagstone patio […]
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Question: Some of my curly parsley plants are yellowing and dying. This happened two years ago. I lost them all. Dug some up and the roots seemed fine. No bugs of any kind that I can see. Last year, I changed planting locations and they all did great. This year, some are starting to die […]
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Question: I have what appears to be a fungal infection in my clover lawn. I need help identifying it and advise for the proper fungicide. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry to hear about the clover problems. I believe it’s likely you’re looking at powdery mildew, a common clover ailment in red […]
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Question: I have mature highbush blueberry plants. This year there is FAR fewer berries than in the previous 26 years. I’ve also noticed that several berries (but not all) are dying before they ripen. This seems to happen when they are still white, before turning purple. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry […]
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Question: My vegetable garden is overwhelmed with voles. They are living in three of my four raised beds. I’ve tried Mole Max repellent to keep them out of the garden but they are still coming in. What can I do to get rid of them? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m very sorry […]
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Question: I have two 20-year-old lilac trees that have a gray-white fungus all over it’s bark, both old and new growth. It is silky to touch. I have taken out some dead branches and it seems as though some of the foliage is dying in places. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is […]
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Question: How do you deal with June bugs/asiatic beetles? They’re targeting our basil, and any fresh transplants in our garden. We have made light and soapy water traps, but curious if there are any organic methods for getting them at the larval stage so they don’t emerge and cause damage? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture […]
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Question: Some branches of leaves are turning brown on my Sunburst Locust tree. There are no webs so I’ve kind of ruled out the webworm. What could be causing the problem? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional There are a number of reasons why tree leaves can brown, both biotic (e.g., pests and pathogens) […]
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Question: I had a tomato plant that I pulled with strongly suspected fusarium wilt (yellowing leaves on one side and when I cut open the stem it showed the brown striping along the outer ring). I have a couple of questions: – is fruit from fusarium infected plants safe to eat? Most of what I […]
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