Good Afternoon We have extensive flower gardens and have at a minimum a legacy lilac bush that has witches broom. The willow tree, mint plant, and possibly the rose bushes also appear to have leaves resembling witches broom. Who can we contact for more information or help with this? What is the underlying cause or how can we find out what is causing it? Can it be treated, cured, prevented? How is it transmitted? How do we clean the environment with the least amount of damage to our trees, bushes, and plants? The lilac bush is the most severely affected. We have an herb and vegetable garden next to the lilac bush which contains the affected mint plant. What is the human health potential if any part of an affected plant is consumed? What is the human health risk if touched without gloves? There is more history that may apply but would love to know who can help. Thank you so much for your help. We appreciate it!

I have two shrubs on the same side of the house. One very healthy the other thinning on top though lower branches look good. In the picture subject shrub is in the foreground Healthy twin is beyond some native plants. Healthy

I moved into a house that has 3 small Barberry bushes planted in landscape rocks. I want to remove them because they are such nasty plants, but I read that if even pieces of the root system are missed and left behind, they can regrow. My question is how to completely kill them down to the root before I attempt to dig them out. Would Roundup work (although I also hate that chemical)? Is there a better solution? The fact that I need to move the landscape rocks to get at the roots doesn't make the job any easier. Your advice will be greatly appreciated!

I was spraying a mix of spinosad and castile soap on my apples, crabapples and native plums this evening. Spraying for apple maggot fly and plum curculio. This is the 4th spray with spinosad so far this year. Dodging weather. My plums are being attacked by the beetles in the photo. They’re on both the leaves and the fruit. They seem to be eating the leaves and are attached to the fruit. I couldn’t knock them off the fruit with my sprayer nozzle, but when I picked on off, it seemed to have its rear inserted in the fruit. Laying eggs? They don’t look like asian beetles. They’re about that size, but longer in the body snd the msrkings are odd. They’re clearly a problem. Can you identify them? Best treatment? I’m a hobby beekeeper so trying to avoid really nasty insecticides. So far just Neem oil and Spinosad. But …? Thanks, Bill Heussler

Hi, Is it as dire and not recommended for me to transplant a Sawara cypress golden mop and oak leaf hydrangea when the highs are upper 80s/ low 90s like they currently are? I already have the plants but could water them until fall but I've translated some plants in June successfully before but everything I read online recommends against doing it in the summer. They're both medium/ large already from a nursery.

Hi, I'm with Clatsop County Master Gardeners. I noticed that your Facebook page does not say anything about the Joy of Gardening conference occurring at OSU next week, July 10 & 11. It is open to the public, and we're hoping to have a few more registrations. Can you post the flyer to your social media page? I can forward a copy if you don't have it, or you can reach out to Chris Rusch or Dr. Leslie Madsen for verification.

Hi, I bought two French varieties of Winter Squash ( Sucrine Du Berry AND Galeux D' Eysines) that'll probably take a week to get here ( Gaithersburg) Can I start them around the first or second week of July? I really want to try but if there is little to no chance of a successful harvest I would like to know my chances Thanks!

Why are the linden trees in Owings Mills dropping leaves in June?

Hello. My arborvitae are experiencing rapid mortality and I don’t know why. Whatever is happening is targeting the arborvitae as the other evergreen trees on the property are not effected. I had a soil test done, nothing glaring indicating a soil problem. I would like to replace them, however, I would like to figure out what is happening before buying new plants.

Can you please help me to identify what is growing with my onions. I have two types that I planted walla walla, and Granex Yellow PRR.