Yew Pests and Diseases

Usually, when there is a problem with your yew (Taxus) the first symptom you will observe is a yellowing of the needles. Yellowing needles however can be caused by a variety of things such as the soil being too wet or too dry, disease, insect pests, winter desiccation, salt damage, animal grazing, animal urine, transplant shock, nutritional deficiency or too high or too low of … Continue reading Yew Pests and Diseases

Peony Pests and Diseases

Peony Insect Pests Foliar Nematodes Foliar nematodes are microscopic organisms that feed within plant tissue. They require a layer of moisture in order to move about on the outside plant surfaces. The species that infects peony is Aphelenchoides fragariae, commonly known as the Strawberry Leaf Nematode. First symptoms appear as bud blast, where infect buds fail to open. If you cut open the suspected bud … Continue reading Peony Pests and Diseases

Hosta Pests and Diseases

Insect Pests of Hosta Leaf Nematodes Leaf nematodes are microscopic round worm that enter stomatal openings on hosta leaves to feed on the inside of the leaves. They are unable to cross the veins from inside the leaf and must exit the leaf to cross the barrier or to move to another section of the leaf. They require a layer of moisture in order to … Continue reading Hosta Pests and Diseases

Tar Spot on Maple Leaves

Tar spot is a common fungal disease of maple trees. The fungus attacks maple leaves in the spring causing pale spots that continue to grow in size, turning yellow then eventually to raised black spots by fall. The black spots look like spots of tar on the leaves, and thus its name. There are several species of tar spot that affect maples, with the 3 … Continue reading Tar Spot on Maple Leaves

Powdery Mildew Verses Downy Mildew

Two common diseases in both vegetable gardens and ornamental gardens are powdery mildew and downy mildew. While the two diseases have many similarities the pathogen is different, symptoms are expressed differently, and each flourish in different types of environmental conditions. Learning to prevent and recognize the symptoms of each disease is key to managing these destructive diseases. Powdery Mildew Powdery mildew is a fungal disease … Continue reading Powdery Mildew Verses Downy Mildew

Clematis Wilt

Clematis vines are a popular choice for ornamental home gardens. Large flowered, early blooming varieties are particularly popular. These show stopping, head turning vines both amaze and delight all who cross paths with them. A fairly common disease of clematis to be on the look out for is clematis wilt (Phoma clematidina). You will sometimes hear it referred to as clematis leaf and stem spot. … Continue reading Clematis Wilt

Japanese Maple Problems…Coral Spot Nectria Canker

What is Coral Spot Nectria Canker? Coral Spot Nectria Canker is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Nectria cinnabarina. These opportunistic fungi typically attack trees and shrubs that have been weakened by stress or injuries like mechanical injury, storm damage, insect feeding, animal damage, pruning, disease, frost cracks, cold injury or drought damage. Once the fungi gain entry to the plant they cause the … Continue reading Japanese Maple Problems…Coral Spot Nectria Canker

Botryosphaeria Canker of Red Twig Dogwood

Red twig dogwood species consisting of Cornus sericea, Cornus alba and Cornus sanguinea are prone to several fungal diseases and their coresponding fungi including powdery mildew (Erysiphe pulchra), dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva), leaf spot (Cercospora cornicola and Septoria) and Botryosphaeria canker (Botryosphaeria dothidea). Of these fungal diseases, Botryosphaeria canker and dogwood anthracnose are both capable of producing cankers on the stems of dogwood. To tell … Continue reading Botryosphaeria Canker of Red Twig Dogwood

Crown Gall on Euonymus

Galls are abnormal growths that can appear on roots, stems, trunks or leaves. There are many woody plants that get galls and there are several different gall makers (causes for the gall formation); insects, mites, bacteria, fungi, or nematodes. The galls formed are unique to the gall maker and the genus or species it feeds on. For crown gall the disease is caused by a … Continue reading Crown Gall on Euonymus

Daylily Problems

Daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.) are popular garden plants grown abundantly by home gardeners, cities and commercial properties alike. Their appeal in part is due to their long bloom time, adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions and their relative ease of maintenance. There are a few foliar problems to be aware of, and while they seldom kill the plant, they can certainly mar the visual … Continue reading Daylily Problems

Juniper Blight

Juniper trees and shrubs are a popular choice in the ornamental home garden. These slow growing plants require little maintenance, are fairly drought tolerant, take full sun and are able to grow in a variety of soil types. They are fairly salt tolerant and make good roadside plantings. In addition to this they are evergreens and provide year-round beauty and interest to the landscape. With … Continue reading Juniper Blight

Juniper Rust (aka) Cedar Apple Rust

Written by Kimberley Pacholko Updated on Sept. 25, 2021 Juniper Rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) better known as Cedar Apple Rust, s a fungal Disease requiring 2 years and 2 host plants to complete its life cycle. In the first group of host trees you have Apple, Quince and Hawthorne. In the second group you have Eastern Red Cedars and many varieties of Junipers. The disease can … Continue reading Juniper Rust (aka) Cedar Apple Rust

Eastern Filbert Blight On Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

Eastern Filbert Blight is a disease caused by the fungus – Anisogramma anomola and is native to the northeastern United States and eastern Canada (although it has appeared in British Columbia, as early as 2001). Hazelnuts native to this region (Corylus americana) have proven to be more resistant to the disease (some are even immune) than the imported European hazelnuts (Corylus avellana). For Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, a contorted hazelnut (Corylus avellana … Continue reading Eastern Filbert Blight On Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick