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
Oak Sawflies are tiny fly-like, nonstinging wasps. The short-lived adults feed on pollen and nectar and do not cause any feeding damage, but their caterpillar-like larvae, on mass, can create extensive damage to oak canopies. There are several species of Oak Sawflies such as scarlet oak sawfly (Caliroa quercuscoccineae) which is native to the eastern United States and feeds on white oak, scarlet oak, pin … Continue reading Oak Sawflies
Identification Fall webworm nests: are composed of silky threads wrapped around the leaves and branches encapsulating the caterpillars. The nests are loosely constructed and messy looking, occurring at the branch tips, and enlarging as food runs out. Large colonies can encapsulate an entire tree in their webbing. The caterpillars feed inside the nest (unlike tent caterpillars) and as such the nest is full of frass … Continue reading Fall Web Worms
What is Lilac Witches’ Broom? Lilac witches’ broom is a serious systemic disease of lilacs for which there is no cure. Infected lilacs typically gradually decline until they die. The characteristic symptom is the development of witches’ broom (tight clusters of short, thin branches that all stem from the same point). These witches’ brooms tend to form near the base of the lilac but they … Continue reading Lilac Witches’ Broom
When selecting plant material for a home garden it is important to first take inventory of the trees on your property and neighbouring properties. Trees like walnut can present a real challenge for gardeners. Not only do the plants you select have to deal with shade and strong competition for water and nutrients, (as with planting near any large tree), they additionally have to contend … Continue reading Planting Near A Walnut Tree
Black Knot Disease otherwise known as Dibotryon morbosum, is a serious, yet fairly common fungal disease of plums and cherry trees (including choke cherries). Other members of the Prunus family (like peaches, nectarines, apricots and almonds) can also be affected but it is less common. The affected trees develop hard, black elongated swellings, called knots, thus the name black knot. These knots are scattered throughout … Continue reading Black Knot Disease of Plum and Cherry Trees
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
Boxwood Blight Symptoms and Causes Boxwood Blight (also known as Cylindrocladium buxicola) is an aggressive fungal disease caused by the fungi Calonectria pseudonaviculata. This disease strikes healthy Boxwood, quickly causing mass defoliation. You will typically see Boxwood Blight flair up during rainy or humid seasons, where the leaves stay wet for extended periods of time. If the fungi are present during ideal conditions, they will begin … Continue reading Boxwood Blight Verses Volutella Blight; Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Winter in the garden can be a very beautiful sight indeed, but it certainly can have many downsides, at least from a plant’s perspective. One of these down-sides is sun scald injury to deciduous tree trunks (commonly known as Southwest injury). What is Southwest Injury? Which trees are most susceptible? What can be done to prevent Southwest injury? What is Southwest Injury? Southwest injury also … Continue reading Sun Scald – Preventing Southwest Injury On Deciduous Trees
Late winter till early spring (Feb. to the beginning of Apr.) is the best time to prune many of your trees and shrubs. With pruning season nearly upon us here is a pruning schedule for many of the commonly grown trees and shrubs. Deciduous Trees: Prune out all dead, diseased and damage branches from late winter until early spring. Also prune out any crossing branches … Continue reading When To Prune Trees, Shrubs, Roses and Vines
Horticulture For Home Gardeners 