Powdery Mildew

/Powdery Mildew/

Powdery Mildew

This appears to be a case of powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is unattractive Although plants are unsightly and can be weakened by an infection, they do not usually die. Powdery mildew on ornamentals is an aesthetic issue. Powdery mildew can be prevented, and it can be controlled once it appears, but it can't be cured. The key to preventing it is planting mildew-resistant or mildew- tolerant varieties. Resistant varieties get less mildew than susceptible varieties; tolerant varieties may get some mildew, but it shouldn't affect the performance of the plant. Prevention also includes siting plants where they will have good air circulation. To control minor infestations, pick off affected plant parts and bag them tightly and put them in the trash.

By | 2016-04-08T17:58:00-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Podocarpus Problems

We think you have two different things going on here. First it's not uncommon for podocarpus to have a pubescence or light "fuzziness" on the lower leaves -- it is how it grows. The missing leaves are something else. We can't see any insects but they could have eaten and are now gone. We don't see any frass (poop) and we don't see any leaves partially eaten that would give us an indication of what kind of insect it can be. Sometimes sawflies eat podocarpus and look like caterpillars of moths. Unfortunately when organic pesticides lie dipel are used foe control thye don't work because saw flies don't turn into moths -- they turn into flies. If you can be patient and take a image and send it back to us we might be able make a more accurate diagnosis.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:00-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Plant Pests|1 Comment
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Citrus Nutrient Deficiency

Moisture stress (too much or too little) and nutrient deficiencies can cause improper fruit set. Keep plants uniformly moist but not wet, and use a well balanced, acid-based, fertilizer formulated for citrus to help prevent these environmental stresses. Low humidity could also cause developing fruits to abort. Make certain that your plant has proper water scheduling. Environmental factors such as dry winds in addition to nutrient and or water problems can cause fruit drop.
Overwatering, poor drainage or improper pH may also be conditions to look into. Make sure the soil partially dries out between waterings. And make sure your fertilizer includes micronutrients- iron zinc and manganese. A good soil might also be worthwhile: http://soiltesting.tamu.edu

By | 2016-04-08T12:59:43-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Fruit Plants & Trees|0 Comments
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Bradford Pear

Your tree looks like an ornamental Bradford (or Callery) pear. If we could see it in fully in bloom, and a close up of the leaf and flower, we could be certain. Originating from south-eastern China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, the Bradford Pear has features very similar to the other ornamental pears. An upright shape, the tree has dark green glossy leaves with a color change in autumn. White blossoms appear in spring. As the tree matures the density, of the flowers increase, become more and more spectacular. Unfortunately, these are weak trees and will split easily in high winds or with heavy snow or ice. They are also becoming more and more prone to disease, and so are no longer as strongly recommended for use in landscape gardening.

By | 2016-04-08T10:09:37-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Sooty Mold

Sooty mold forms on the excretions of insect pests like scale, mealybug, aphids, and whiteflies (and many more). The pest might be feeding on the underside of the foliage on the blackened leaf. So you first need to examine this plant and surrounding plants carefully for pests. Look for insects or insect litter on the underside of the leaves. Scale can look bumpy on stems or like tiny bits of cotton. Some sucking insects, like lacebug, are very small and almost invisible, but you often see their "litter" under the leaves that look dusty, webby or dirty. Most sucking insects can be killed by spraying with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, sprayed under the leaves of the infected plant. Do this two or three times. Once the insect is under control the sooty mold will go away.

By | 2016-04-08T06:16:10-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Spinach

Thank you for getting back again on this. Deer would crop off most of the plant, rabbits would nibble like the one leaf you show, but probably would not stop there. I can think of no mammal that would do this damage. In reviewing your picture, the spinach in general looks fairly damage free, though way too close together. The featured leaf is out of focus, so it is hard to determine whether those "spots" are spots or rasped areas. Your location would be very good for there to be snails and slugs and when first hatched they are really tiny. Still there should be more damage to the other plants if you have an infestation. You may be right about the deer, but if so it took one bite and said UGH. Try putting some bloodmeal around the area and see what happens.

By | 2016-04-08T06:02:59-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Weed

Unfortunately we cannot identify this plant for you at this stage of its development, but we believe it is a weed. If you didn't plant this, chances are its a weed from a wind blown seed or bird dropping. If it is growing in your garden bed we suggest you pull it out so it doesn't compete for light, nutrients and water with your other cultivated plants. If you have the room and want to watch it grow leave it be; just remember once it is done blooming it will begin to drop seed and disperse throughout your garden. Suggest you show your photo and a sample of the plant to a horticulturist at you local garden center or weed specialist at the university cooperative extension service to see if they can help identify for you. If you find out, please let us know as this is how we learn as well.

By | 2016-04-08T02:18:57-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Weeds|1 Comment
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Beach Rose

This is a Rosa rugosa, a plant commonly found on sea shores but not native to the Americas. The flowers resemble red carnations and is very thorny with a bush growth habit. Needs full sun, but will tolerate some shade, regular water and fertilize with a food formulated for roses. Most people who plant this in their landscape come to regret it as they spread all over the place and are very thorny but allow weeds to grow up between and among them. So keeping the area looking good is a challenge. The rose hips (pods you see in your photo) are edible when they are bright red although you can only eat the fleshy covering, not the seeds inside. Many people use them to make jelly, however. These are sometimes mistaken for beach plums, but that is an entirely different plant.

By | 2016-04-08T01:27:02-07:00 April 8th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Brown Edges

We are not entirely certain what is wrong here but there are two things to consider. One, house plants that are watered too often, or with poor drainage, or are over fertilized, often show the pattern that is on your plant. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, never fertilize more than once a month and then only lightly, and be double sure the drainage is excellent and there is no water ponding around the roots.
Two, if your water has high salt content, or high floride or chlorine content, house plants can show this kind of edge burning on the leaf. If you suspect this is the problem, simply let the water you plan to use for watering sit overnight before you apply it to the plant.
Suggest you may also want to consult a local nursery for more detailed information.

By | 2016-04-07T22:36:25-07:00 April 7th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Common Rose Pink

This native biennial wildflower forms a low rosette of leaves during the 1st year, bolting into an erect plant about 1-2½' tall during the 2nd year. The preference is full or partial sun and moist conditions. The soil can contain loam, sand, silt, or some rocky/gravelly material.Habitats include moist prairies and sand prairies, moist sandy thickets, marshes and sandy marshes, interdunal swales, rocky glades, openings in rocky woodlands, sandy pits on mined land, poorly drained fields, and roadsides. This wildflower can be found in both degraded and higher quality habitats. Like other species in this genus, Common Rose Pink is a showy and attractive plant. It resembles an oversized version of Centaurium pulchellum (Branching Centaury) from Europe, which is also in the Gentian family.

By | 2016-04-07T21:36:23-07:00 April 7th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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