Question: I have an overgrown Forsythia bush. It didn’t bloom this year because of the cold snap (I think) so it sort of fell off my radar for pruning. Now it is leafy, and huge, with new buds. I don’t want to miss another year of blooming so should I leave it overgrown or prune […]
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Question: I need help with fruit tree caterpillar damage. In very short order, my pear tree is completely defoliated, and my plums and apple are seriously set back. The culprits are 3/4″ light green worms. Any idea what they are and what I should do now? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Project Assistant I’m very sorry […]
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Question: The bean seedling leaves are being eaten, sometimes just when true leaves emerge and sometimes after true leaves are established. What is eating them? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant I’m awfully sorry to see the state of your bean seedlings! There are several possible culprits for the damage you’re seeing, among them the bean […]
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Question: I have a McLaughlin Pear tree that I did not prune well in the spring, before the leaves emerged. It is now early June, and the three-year old pear has several shoots growing rapidly that are very low to the ground. Is it best to let it grow and prune these off next spring? […]
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Question: What is the best least toxic way to get rid of Oriental Bittersweet without using Roundup? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Project Assistant I’m sorry to hear you’re dealing with oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), as it can be quite a chore to remove. The Penn State Univ Extension has an excellent page on the plant, including […]
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Question: For two years, I planted ground Cherries (Goldie Variety) next to my tomato plants. I didn’t have much trouble with pests except for tortoise beetles, but they didn’t hurt the plants too much. Last year, I planted a different variety (Aunt Molly) in pots and they were completely destroyed by these disgusting grubs that […]
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Question: I have a white lilac that is needing to be pruned/trimmed and don’t know who to call to do it. It is healthy and blooms all over but some of the branches are growing up into wires that go from corner of my house across street to pole. I would like to have it […]
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Question: I have a Weeping Cherry tree in my yard that did not blossom and has very few leaves. Most of the branches are bare, looking dead. A neighbor about four houses away also has a smaller weeping cherry tree in the same situation. Could you please advise how we can help diagnose or treat […]
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Question: If I have planted red clover in raised beds that I won’t be planting into this growing season – as part of a rotation strategy – can I use one of those beds in Oct to plant my garlic into? How much nitrogen will the red clover have fixed in six months? How would […]
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Question: I have a huge burning bush. The last few years I have been battling aphids. Last year I didn’t do anything and realized the problem wasn’t that bad after not spraying it with soapy water as usual. This year, however, they are incredibly bad. They seem to have taken over the entire bush, including […]
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