Search Results

Dwarf mugo pine health #876191

Asked July 07, 2024, 12:49 PM EDT

I have a dwarf mugo pine. I am wondering what is causing it to die off in one area, and can it be saved?

I planted it in fall 2023. It was putting on growth, still is. I have a male dog who was peeing on it and I saw it was burning needles, so I put up barriers. However, this one side of the plant (north facing), the needles grayed and dropped. Other areas that I believe were burned by urine turned rust color and stayed on. I used the finger test for moisture before I water. I put compost on it this spring/early summer and that seemed to help, but I'm afraid the needle drop might be spreading, just at a slower rate now.

Any help is appreciated!



El Paso County Colorado

Hi, I've been growing dahlias for 6yrs and currently have 120 plants. This year's crop is spindly and small with very early blooms. The plants are not as leafy and full as previous years. I started them under lights as usual but earlier so they were bigger by planting time and they looked good, so I think they were off to a good start when they went into my garden bed. I suspect I did a bad thing last fall when I dug in pine bark chips in the bed. That was new for me. Do you think that could be causing the poor growth? #875719

Asked July 02, 2024, 6:12 PM EDT

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Wayne County Michigan

Mulching #872806

Asked June 12, 2024, 1:45 PM EDT

Is it okay to mulch a vegetable garden with pine needles?

Cass County Minnesota

White pine tree needles yellowed #870330

Asked May 27, 2024, 7:51 PM EDT

Our tall 75 yr old white pine tree’s needles are yellow and dropping this Spring. Also, it has dropped its pine cones in massive quantities. Is this normal?

Franklin County Vermont

Should I top dress with compost or a combo of compost & soil? #865769

Asked April 24, 2024, 3:50 PM EDT

1) two years ago we added 6 yards of compost to our flower beds. You wouldn’t know it now—Where did it all go? (See pics) 2) Would a mix of top soil & compost last better than plain compost? 3) a horse farm in our area is offering free compost— am I asking for trouble if I were to use that?



Marion County Oregon

Compost questions #858882

Asked February 10, 2024, 1:42 PM EST

Hi, I'm not including the diagnostic worksheet since I don't have a disease/pest-related question... So I have started to produce compost, but now realize that I'm not really sure what to do with it. How to use it with seedlings seems straightforward enough, and I get that I can spread it on the garden or distribute it at the base of vegetables, but I'm wondering about shrubs, flowers, and other plants that are part of general landscaping (rather than a garden bed that gets replanted every year). Should I just distribute it at the base of these plants? Also, last fall I covered my raised beds with a layer of grass clippings, followed by a layer of shredded leaves, with the intention of reviving the soil a bit, but now that spring is approaching I'm not sure how to plant into these beds. Again, with seedlings I've started indoors it seems obvious, but what about sowing directly into the beds? Should I clear away this mulch/compost layer until I get to the dirt, and plant into that? (I worry that that will be too deep.) Or should I just sow the seed directly into the mulch/compost layer? Thank you so much for your help!

Chittenden County Vermont

Ornamental evergreen issues #855482

Asked November 18, 2023, 11:23 AM EST

I have two evergreens planted 3-4 years ago and each is now having an issue, I am tired of guessing! Please help. First two pics of same shrub. Third pic is different shrub that has white on ends and browning branches



Harford County Maryland

Winter Compost #854438

Asked October 31, 2023, 12:07 PM EDT

I have been filling this compost all year, and than the weather changed, being unable to empty it. If weather does not warm up and I don’t get a chance to spread it to desired places, can it sit in the composter all winter. I don’t plan on adding anymore material until spring. Do you know if anyone who left their plastic composter 3/4 full and stopped composting all winter and was able to than use in spring, with out damage to the composter. Composter is about 2foot x 2 foot x 3.5 foot tall.



Charlevoix County Michigan

Treatment for White Pine #852918

Asked October 12, 2023, 8:44 AM EDT

Can you help me diagnose and come up with a treatment plan for the attached white pine? I have several that look similar to this. An arborist told me they were planted too deep, which I’ve since corrected. Could it be blister rust? White pine weevil? Should I prune the dark brown branches?



Kent County Michigan

Evergreen tree problem #852677

Asked October 09, 2023, 4:55 PM EDT

We have several evergreen trees that have developed yellow needles on middle branches. Can you tell us what this is and how to prevent further damage?



Deschutes County Oregon