Bagworms are easily recognized by the bags they sew together from the needles or leaves of their host plant. When present in large numbers, they can defoliate and kill juniper, spruce, and arborvitae trees. They generally hatch in late May…
Annuals may not bloom for a variety of reasons. If your petunias or geraniums suddenly quit blooming, the first thing to check for is budworms. These small green caterpillars that will eat the blooms before the buds even open. Million bells…
Nutsedge, sometimes called nutgrass or watergrass, looks like tall, thin, glossy blades of grass in the lawn and in landscape beds. It is actually in the sedge family. The fastest way to identify it is to roll an entire spring or…
Fescue lawns occasionally get a fungal infection called Brown Patch. It occurs when nighttime temperatures are above 65 degrees, and there is high humidity. Symptoms include browning patches or a thinning lawn. Blades of grass around the infected areas will…
Grubworms are the larval form of various beetles, the Masked Chaffer being the most damaging in Kansas. When the grubs are at their largest in late summer they can do considerable damage to lawns by eating the roots of the…
Powdery mildew is a disease that can affect a wide range of plants. It forms a very distinct-looking white powder, generally on top of infected leaves. In severe cases, it can also be found on the undersides of leaves, buds,…
Blossom End Rot is a common disease that affects the fruit of many of our favorite vegetables. While tomatoes are the vegetable most affected, peppers, eggplants, and even summer squash can all exhibit blossom end rot. This disease develops as…
Sandburs and puncture vines are often confused for one another but are very different weeds. They both have extremely sharp seedheads that can cause considerable pain if stepped on and are unsightly weeds in our lawns. Sandburs are grassy weeds.…
Spider mites are very small, so they can’t be seen with the naked eye, but they can cause a lot of damage. The first sign of their presence is pale, dirty-looking patches of foliage. The simplest way to confirm their…
