Recent Q&As
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Q&A – Should I use BT preventatively or wait until I see caterpillars?
Question:
If BT is safe, should we use it preventatively or wait until we see the caterpillar? Answer: BT is safe but it does not make sense to use it until you see caterpillars or their damage. Related Videos: BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) Related Resources: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) General Fact Sheet Commonly Asked Questions About Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) |
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Q&A – What are these nodules on my Elliot pecan leaves?
Question:
I planted an Elliot pecan seedling a couple of years ago, and it has done well, but this week I noticed these nodules on the leaves. What are they? Will they damage the sapling? How do I get rid of them? Answer: This is pecan phylloxera. They are galls caused by a small insect that looks like an aphid that is living in the galls. You can remove the affected leaves and destroy them or you can leave it alone. Related Resources: Pecan Phylloxera Pecan Phylloxera, Phylloxera spp. |
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Q&A – What can I do to get rid of foxtail?
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I moved into a house with my three dogs in October. Now I realize that I have really tall fox tail growing in my flower bed. I have sprayed with Roundup and also used the Weed-G-Gone granules, which I watered down really good. I Googled fox tail and was upset to see that it can be deadly to dogs. What can I do to get rid of foxtail so my yard is safe for dogs? I am too old to dig and do yard work. Answer: Foxtail grasses can cause harm to pets or livestock because it becomes embedded in their bodies and can even cause death. Foxtail grasses are hard to eliminate. You can cover the area where the foxtail is growing with landscape fabric or black plastic to kill it. You could also apply a herbicide or a pre-emergent. There is always the option to manually pull up the plants. Related Resources: Foxtail: Yellow, Green, Giant |
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Q&A – If my vegetables have herbicide damage are they still safe to eat?
Question:
Last year, 3 weeks prior to planting the garden, I used Round Up to kill invasive weeds. Most dead weeds were raked up, but some were tilled under. My yard is also serviced by a lawn company and I used grass clippings in between plant rows. Each spring the grass clippings are tilled under. Last year, some tomato plants experienced herbicide damage, This year, all 8 tomato plants and some others experienced herbicide damage. If my vegetables have herbicide damage are they still safe to eat? Answer: There are no studies on this, so it is best to play it safe and not eat the vegetables. As for why the damage is happening, the herbicide is likely coming from the grass clippings you are putting on your garden. Once you stop putting the clippings on the garden it will still take several years before the herbicide is no longer in the soil. You may need to use raised beds until that time. Related Resources: Diagnosing Herbicide Injury on Garden and Landscape Plants Herbicide Damage to Vegetable Plants Herbicide Damage to Landscape Plants |
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Q&A – Why are my Leyland cypresses dying?
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We have 3 large Leland cypress trees that appear to be dying. What is this disease, can it be stopped & can it spread to & kill other trees such as dogwood trees? Answer: This is Seiridium canker which affects Leyland cypress. There is no cure. The plant will eventually die. There are several replacement options that look similar but are resistant to Seiridium canker including Arizona cypress or eastern red cedar. Horticulture Expert Dr. Lelia Kelly says that if it the canker is just starting you can prune it out, but you will eventually end up pruning out so much that the plant will begin to look bad. If you are having this problem but like the look of cypress you can replace them with Chamaecyparis also called False Cypress. Learn more about Chamaecyparis here Related Resources: Diseases of Leyland Cypress in the Landscape Branch Canker and Dieback ofLeyland Cypress |
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Q&A - How do you know when to pick figs?Question:
How do you know when to pick figs? Answer: Fig expert Bill Colvard talks about how to know when a fig is ready to pick. Figs will sit on the bush as a hard green object for a very long time. Then it will change color and in three days double in size. After that it will droop. At this point some varieties of figs are ready. Other varieties may require one more day on the plant. If you have ant problems you can pick it when it droops and take it inside to continue to soften for a day or two. Related Resources: Fig Figs Fig Questions |
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Q&A - What is this growing in my mulch?Question:
I have puzzling thing growing in my mulch. What is it and what do I need to do about it? Answer: This is bird nest fungus. It is growing on organic mulch. If you would like to remove it you can just fluff up the mulch with a rake. The fungus is not doing anything bad, it is just decomposing the mulch. Related Videos: Q&A – What are these things that appeared in my flower bed? Q&A - I have mushrooms in my mulch. Do I need to get rid of it? Q&A - My Mulch Looks Like It Has Mold On It Related Resources: Nuisance Fungi in Landscape Mulch Fungi in mulch Mulch Molds – What is Growing on my Mulch? |
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Q&A - When is the best time to prune fig trees?
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My fig tree has gotten too tall and I want to cut it back. When is the best time to prune fig trees? Answer: Fig expert Bill Colvard talks about fig tree pruning. Severe pruning should be done in late March. You can prune back the fig plant as severely as you would like if it is well established. You can even prune it all the way to the ground, without affecting the next season’s production. Figs can grow to a tree form only with extensive pruning. Pinching the tops of the shoots will make the plant branch out at that point. Related Resources: Fig How do you properly prune a fig tree? Figs |
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Q&A - Something has been eating my tomato on the vine
Question:
A worm or something has been eating my tomato on the vine. What can I use to kill it? Answer: Master Gardener Tom Mashour says that often birds peck at ripe tomatoes in the summer heat to get water. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper talks about the tomato fruit worm. It will eat its way into the middle of the tomato. It is easily controlled with applications of BT (Bacillus thuringiensis). Related Resources: Tomato Fruitworm Tomato Insect Pests Tomato Fruitworm (Corn earworm) |
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Q&A - Will fungicide cause sunburn on a tomato plant?
Question:
Can you spray fungicide on your tomatoes while the sun is shining on them? I would be afraid of sun burn to the plants. Answer: If you need to worry about sun burn depends on the kind of fungicide you are using. Master Gardener Tom Mashour uses neem oil which will cause sun burn on tomatoes if applied in the sun. Neem oil should be applied when the sun is low in the sky. He applies it late in the evening when the sun is setting. The fungicide label should let you know if you need to take precautions. Related Resources: Fungicides: Tools for vegetable disease management Tomato Diseases & Disorders |