Recent Q&As
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Q&A – I have aphids on my milkweed. Any suggestions?
Question:
Help! I have yellow aphids on two swan milkweed plants. Each day for the past three days I have hosed them off, but they come back. How many days will I have to hose off the aphids before they give up? It takes ten minutes and I get covered with water too. Maybe I should give up and cut off most of the stems and just leave one or two? Any suggestions? Answer: Dixon Gallery and Gardens Greenhouse Manager Kim Rucker gives several options for controlling the aphids. First, she recommends using other bugs like ladybugs or wasps to control the aphids. If you would prefer you could use insecticidal soap or Pyrethrins Don’t fertilize too heavily as that will encourage new growth which the aphids will love. Related Resources: The Oleander Aphid – Arch Enemy of Milkweed Aphids Common Milkweed Fact Sheet |
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Q&A – During the winder my gardenia was frozen. What do I do?
Question:
I covered my gardenia for the winter but when I uncovered it the leaves were all brown, some green, but mostly brown. I do not know what to do - can you help? I love gardenia and this would be the 2nd year that it is in the ground. Do I wait to see if it blooms in the spring before I prune? Answer: Kim Rucker the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Greenhouse Manager says that she would trim out what looks dead on the plant then wait until the plant starts growing again in the spring to see if anything else is dead. Don’t give up on your plant, wait to see what happens. It will probably survive. Kim also gives some advice on helping gardenias survive the winter with less damage. Related Resources: Gardenia Protecting Landscape and Garden Plants During Cold Snaps |
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Q&A – Can I air layer a hardwood tree?
Question:
Can I air layer a branch of a hard wood tree like a paperbark maple? Answer: Dixon Gallery and Gardens Greenhouse Manager Kim Rucker says she has never heard of air layering hardwood trees. It might work, she is not sure. Obviously other plants like azaleas and hydrangeas can be air layered. Kim also describes the process of air layering. Related Resources: Air Layering for Difficult -to-Root Plants Plant Propagation by Layering |
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Q&A – What can I do to save my new dogwood from soggy soil?
Question:
Two weeks ago I planted a dogwood in prepared clay soil. We had lots of rain since I put it in. What can I do to save my new dogwood from soggy soil? Answer: Dogwoods like to have well drained soil. If it is planted in clay you need to improve the drainage. Make sure the tree is not planted too deep and it would be best if it is planted on a slight mound as the soil will settle. Also seeing as it has only been in the ground for a few weeks you can dig it up and move it to a better place is if is planted in a low spot. Slopes tend to have better drainage. Related Resources: Growing Dogwood Solutions to Soil Problems Dogwood Diseases |
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Q&A – How do I control small green bugs on my petunias?
Question:
Every year I get bugs in my petunias. They are light green and attach themselves to the stems. Last year I tried spraying Neem Oil on them. It only seemed to slow them down. Because I grow them from seeds, I know I haven't brought the bugs home from a nursery. What are they and how can I control them? Answer: These are aphids. They attach to the plant and suck the juices. You can use neem oil but you have to spray regularly. You can also use biological controls like lady bugs. If they are very bad you can cut the plant back and dispose of the cuttings. Another option is insecticidal soap. You can use malathion though as a last resort. Also, don’t apply too much nitrogen fertilizer as it encourages new growth that the aphids like to eat. Related Resources: Aphids in the home yard and garden Growing petunias |
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Q&A – What should I do to help my yellowing watervine plant?
Question:
I have had a watervine plant for about seven months. It was happy and growing well. Now the leaves are turning yellow, but not wilting. Also, there is green mold growing in the bottom of the container. What should I do to help my yellowing watervine plant? Answer: The green mold in the water is algae or bacteria. TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond asks if the plant has enough light or nutrients. Water by its self does not provide enough nutrients to sustain a plant. Master Gardener Tom Mashour says he adds a weak solution of fertilizer to the bamboo he grows in water, and it is healthy. He recommends the same here. |
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Q&A – How do I control broccoli worms without harsh chemicals?
Question:
There is something eating the leaves of my broccoli. How do I control the pest without using hard chemicals? Answer: Your broccoli is likely being eaten by the imported cabbage worm or cabbage looper. Both can be controlled by Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis), an organic pesticide that kills caterpillars. Related Videos: BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) Related Resources: Cabbage Insects Caterpillars on cole crops |
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Q&A – What is the problem with my rose bush?
Question:
A growth is sucking the life out my knockout rose. The growth is deep plum in color. There are no thorns the stems are hollow, and it grows small funny shape roses, sometimes a whole different color. If I don't continuously cut off the growth it will kill my bush. Answer: This is rose rosette. It is not curable and the plant should be immediately dug up and disposed of in the trash. It should not be composted. Rose rosette is a virus transmitted by an eriophyid mite. The disease can be identified by elongated shoots and red coloration of the leaves. Sometimes the new growth has many closely-spaced thorns. There is no cure for the disease, but research is ongoing. Related Resources: Rose Rosette Disease Frequently Asked Question About Rose Rosette Virus |
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Q&A – What kind of spider is this?
Question:
Do you know what type of spider this is? I’ve never seen a spider this big. Answer: This is a black and yellow Argiope. It is an orb weaving spider. The orb has a zipper-like section (stabilimentum) that could be used for attracting male spiders. The webs can be very large. These spiders are a good sign the ecosystem around your garden is healthy. Related Resources: Black and Yellow Garden Spider Beneficials in the Garden: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider |