Spider Mites
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…
Euonymus Scale
Euonymus scale is one of the most damaging scales in our area. It can cause defoliation and even death of many varieties of Euonymus. These scales can also affect a groundcover called Pachysandra. Euonymus scales are a small (1/8th inch)…
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a noxious weed that can quickly spread in shady and unmaintained areas of the landscape. Poison ivy can grow as a groundcover, as a vine up the trunks of trees, and even as a bush in some…
Johnson Grass
Johnson Grass is a grassy weed that requires particular attention because it is a spreading perennial that can ruin lawns and landscapes if not dealt with. While this grass is generally not a pest in well-managed areas, in lawns that…
Black Spot on Roses
Some varieties of roses are prone to a fungal disease called Black Spot. Symptoms include yellowing leaves with black spots. It starts on the lower leaves and works its way up the plant when there are periods of high humidity…
Attracting Beneficial/Predatory Insects
In bird, butterfly, and organic vegetable gardens, chemicals are often not an option if a pest problem arises. One solution is to attract or buy beneficial or predatory insects. These insects can naturally reduce pest populations. The most common example…
Tree Roots in the Lawn
Tree roots on the surface of the soil can often be unsightly and make mowing and maintaining a uniform lawn difficult. Homeowners often want to know if they can cut them off without damaging the tree. Unfortunately, the answer is…
Controlling Ants
While ants are a natural part of the environment and can even help loosen soils and make them more fertile, often they are huge pests that can get into our houses or move aphids around on our garden plants. Ants…
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are tiny insects that feed on the undersides of the leaves of many plants including houseplants, tropicals, and even vegetables. Hibiscus are especially prone to whitefly. Whiteflies are a sucking insect that can damage the leaves by removing too…
Nutgrass Control
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…