Search Results

Phytopfthora-resistent evergreen shrubs #648042

Asked June 08, 2020, 6:56 PM EDT

A mature Rhododendron just died, diagnosed as phypfthora investatation in the soil. A professional tree-management company applied a fungicide for this problem into the soil. I have removed the plants. What would be good, moderate-sized shrubs to plant in that space and is it necessary to remove the infected soil down to 3' deep before replanting? Thank you

King County Washington

Insect identification #641558

Asked May 28, 2020, 7:45 PM EDT

Hello, we are trying to identify a bug that was found in King County, Washington. It appears to be a moth of some kind, and we found it underneath a patio furniture cover. I believe the wings are overlapped, giving it the look of one solid “block”. Thanks!



King County Washington

Looking for Rhodie advice #631045

Asked May 04, 2020, 2:46 PM EDT

Hi- We are in Issaquah, WA a couple blocks away from Lake Sammamish in the South Cove Area (west side of the lake). For the last 3 years, the leaves on all of our Rhodies have turned mostly brown. They are over 25 years old and we have not done a lot to maintain them. Previously they thrived. I'm enclosing a picture of the leaves, what it looks like where they are planted. I do water them almost every day in the summer - although, there definitely have times when I've forgotten to. Last year we tried putting rhododendron fertilizer spikes around them but it did not seem to help. We use a mulch type of bark-- not a beauty bark- where they're planted. Thanks for any advice..



King County Washington

Moss in grass in Colorado; mulch vs compost to retain soil; discarding pine needles and branches #622490

Asked April 10, 2020, 10:12 AM EDT


Dear Ag extension.
I have a lot of questions = let me know if I should put them in separate emails!


1. Moss in grass in Colorado! We have a section of lawn north of our house and frequently shaded by the house that has moss in the grass. I thought moss was unusual in the dry Colorado air, but the patches cover a roughly 8x9ft section, and the lawn is developing patches of dry earth between the grass as well. I would like to take out the lawn and plant native Colorado plants or perennials that do well in Colorado, but wanted to get your take on what would do well in such conditions, and how to go about converting the area from patches of dead grass to perennials.  
2. Could you advise on using mulch vs compost to retain soil moisture in Colorado? I am tired of maintaining wood chip mulch, which -I think and correct me if I am wrong - needs to be removed to add any soil amendments and then put back. I had read that you might as well use a compost that would do double duty for moisture retention and a soil aid, and wanted your take on whether or not that would be a good idea, and what you advise for mulching around irises, or a bed with a combination of perennial shasta daisies, catmint and bulbs.
3. Soil recovery after 10 years of landscaping fabric/black plastic. The prior homeowners installed black plastic when planting pine trees around 2002-2004. I hate black plastic and we are now removing it and the trees are mature. The plastic is now buried under almost a foot of pine needles in places and black soil rich with earthworms, with a solid layer of clay below where the plastic was. A small number of surface roots are above the black plastic. How can we accelerate the rejuvenation of the soil now that the plastic is gone? We would like to plant shade tolerant ground cover below the trees where light is patchy. Should we turn the soil to combine the top layer with the clay? Should we just leave it?
4. Best way to discarding pine needles and branches? From the above pine trees on our property (blue spruce, ponderosa, and several long needle varieties) we have dense layers of pine needles. We cleaned the surface of the pine needles to reduce potential fire hazard, in the part of our yard that we have a grill, but there are 5-15 years of needles built up, which are turning into a nice humus layer. Could you advise on how much to remove to avoid a fire hazard but keep the nice humus layer, and what do we do with the pine needles? We have read that they shouldn't be composted so we are currently putting them in the trash, which seems ecologically like a bad idea. What are our alternatives for reducing fire hazard of pine needles waste? We have heard of using the dry long pine needles as mulch in other areas, but want your advice. Thanks! 


Thanks for everything that you do! I understand you are volunteers and appreciate your time!
Best
Jeannie





Arapahoe County Colorado

Cali king snake diet #587349

Asked August 08, 2019, 11:41 AM EDT

Hi! I’m a very new snake owner and I’ve done loads of research on the snake before purchasing. So just to cover my bases he is approx one year old and almost a foot in a half long. Should I still feed him pinkies or is his size big enough for Furries?



Hartford County Connecticut

hawthorn Crimson King problems #586403

Asked August 06, 2019, 9:59 AM EDT

Three hawthorn Crimson King trees, planted 4 years ago and very healthy up to now, started to defoliate a few weeks ago. The leaves on some branches turned brown first, and now some branches are bare. Nearby are 3 fothergillia that have started to brown off. We also had an infestation of caterpillers on our baptisia, which you diagnosed. We have not watered this garden this summer. The problem with the trees and fothergillia started earlier in the summer when we were getting enough rain.



Talbot County Maryland

Crimson King Problem #582178

Asked July 22, 2019, 11:59 PM EDT

My big crimson king maple has something eating it...attached is a photo of an affected leapfrog. All the leaves die on a branch and turn brown. Also webbing inside of the leaf is present. Help!

Livingston County Michigan

King Mayberry tree without glyphosate. #580121

Asked July 15, 2019, 12:55 PM EDT

I have invasive mulberry trees in my yard. They have been cut down, but are already regrowing. How can I eliminate them without herbicides?

Oakland County Michigan

Flying bugs dying on my car #578260

Asked July 09, 2019, 7:23 PM EDT

I have about a hundred small flying bugs that have suddenly died on my white car this morning. I trying to figure out what and why.



King County Washington

Holes in king maple #569322

Asked June 11, 2019, 8:55 PM EDT

I have small holes in my king maples (3) They were planted last year

Ionia County Michigan