Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Question: Is there something I can do to eliminate the squash bugs, yellow bodies with black stripe, from invading my squash and cucumbers? Should I dispose of the dead leaves of the plants in the compost? Is there a way to treat the soil now so in the spring they will not destroy the plants? […]

Question: Why are oak trees dropping clusters of leaves recently? Is it due to drought? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant As it happens, this is a timely question and you aren’t the only homeowner who has noticed the clusters of leaf litter–we’re getting it about oaks and pines, as well. The culprit is most likely […]

Question: I am trying to identify the type of mold on my garlic. Most of it looks like embellisia but I am concerned about the possibility of black mold.  If it is embellesia, we were planning to save some for seed garlic, is this a bad idea? Answer: Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional […]

Question: My question is about a Fox Valley Dwarf River Birch.   In 2021, we noticed bumps on the leaves. We went to nursery and it was suggested we use a systemic product which we did. Bumps remained but the tree continued to thrive. This year, the bumps came back immediately. We again asked from the […]

Question: The Japanese beetle population my large perennial beds has been increasing greatly every year despite hand-picking and using Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew Spray (sparingly and in the evening, as I’m concerned about harming bees). Are there other methods that would be more effective and/or also reduce the population?  Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant […]

Question: I have a happy, healthy bed of annual flowers- cosmos, Mexican sunflowers, zinnias, verbena. I moved a wooden plank into the garden to create a border for the bed. I noticed there were small ants in the board. Since then, my annuals have been wilting and dying and the base of the stem of […]

Question: I think voles are undermining my high bush blueberries. We had problems with them earlier in the spring in our greenhouse, and now there are soft indentations on the lawn around my blueberries. Production this year was way off, compared to previous years. How can I deal with the voles? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community […]

Question: How do you treat Hemlocks with an infestation of Woolly Adelgid? These hemlocks are within 50 feet of two drilled wells. Answer: Donna R. Coffin, Extension Professor First you need to be sure you are dealing with the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. There are some look alikes. Once you are sure you have HWA if you […]