Tree Trunk Damage

/Tree Trunk Damage/

Tree Trunk Damage

This type of damage can be caused by many things including cold, sunburn, borers or bark beetles, animals, lawn mowers and weed eaters. If the damage is too extensive, it can jeopardize the trees structure, weaken its stability and make it a future liability. Removing the dead bark may give you some info on what caused the damage ( for example-insect galleries-patterns where beetles feed under the bark) but it really requires a bit of expertise. Here's some info that may help: http://essmextension.tamu.edu/treecarekit/index.php/after-the-storm/tree-damage-and-hazard-assessment/tree-wounds/. This damage looks pretty extensive, Depending on where the tree is located and how valuable it is, you may want to consult a certified arborist on what to do.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:19-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Trees|1 Comment

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is an opportunistic disease and can be exacerbated by too much shade. Good air flow helps prevent it—in other words, plant where there's a bit of a prevailing breeze when you can and prune for good air circulation within the plant. Depending on what your plant is you can use Daconil which is a synthetic fungicide or Serenade, an organic fungicide. You will have to read the label to see if your plant is listed to be treated with the fungicide. Make sure you clean up all the leaves underneath the plant and put in the garbage, not the compost. You should start treating immediately. You will have to treat again next year because the spores will winter over in the soil. Without a doubt, this is one of the worst cases of powdery mildew I've ever seen.

By | 2016-03-16T07:45:10-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments

Rose Species

Unfortunately we cannot identify the cultivar or species of rose because there are over 150 wild species of shrubs and climbers native to Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America, plus thousands of different garden forms of varying growth and flower types divided into two broad categories Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses. However, we suggest you contact your local rose society or a horticulturist at your local garden center that specializes in roses and hopefully they can identify further for you. Also there are many helpful websites including: www.helpmefindroses.com as well as your local rose society. All roses do best in full sun with regular water and feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for roses.

By | 2016-03-16T06:40:31-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Shrubs|1 Comment

Olive Tree

You potted plant looks like it could be an olive tree. Have you seen any fruit or seed pods on the tree yet? Sorry but it is a bit hard to tell exactly from your photo, but from this photo it appears to be an olive tree. If it is, olive trees are broadleaved evergreen trees that grow about 9 meters tall and at least as wide. Creamy white flowers come in spring, followed by bitter black fruit (except on fruitless kinds) that stains everything it falls on. These are beautiful, long-lived, drought-tolerant trees,. It is one of the oldest known cultivated trees in history and is native to the Mediterranean. Needs full sun, regular water if kept in a container, but do not allow it to sit in water. It is best to grow outdoors.

By | 2016-03-16T04:42:34-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Fruit Plants & Trees|0 Comments

Rose

The photo is a bit distant, but the flower resembles a species of the genus Rosa. Because there are over150 wild species of shrubs and climbers native to Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America, plus thousands of different garden forms of varying growth and flower types divided into two broad categories Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses, we cannot identify yours specifically. Suggest you show a few clippings to a local garden center that specializes in roses or botanic garden to see if a horticulturist can identify more specifically.
You can also visit online websites such as www.helpmefindroses.com or your local rose
society. All roses appreciate full sun, regular water and feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for roses.

By | 2016-03-16T04:37:33-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments

Dragon Tree

Native to India and Ceylon, forms a candelabra-type specimen with deep green stems splashed zig-zaggedly down the centers with a lighter silvery green. In time, can become a small tree with a corky trunk topped by a canopy of hundreds of marbled green branches. Excellent as house plant in brightly lit areas, for atriums or on the patio. Can be used in the landscape in temperate regions. Responds well to warmth, with its active growth period in the late spring and summer months. Porous soil with adequate drainage. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch during active growing season. Requires bright light for best appearance, and should be given a winter resting period at which time less water should be given. Protect from frost.

By | 2016-03-16T01:46:19-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments

Rust

These leaf spots may be rust, a fungal disease. Plus the tree is probably going dormant. Rust diseases is more prevalent in humid climates. It doesn't usually kill the plant, but the problem should be addressed asap to prevent further spread. When all the leaves drop dispose of them; do not compost! Rake up all old leaves from the base of the plant. Rust spores grow in standing water on leaves and the spores spread when rain or irrigation water splashes them onto neighboring leaves. Spores can overwinter on plant material. Suggest you spray with fungicide (often a sulphur spray-nurseries will have other options) as a dormant spray and maybe when new growth comes on in the spring - and keep it handy just in case you see rust developing early next summer.

By | 2016-03-15T23:22:50-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments

Spidea

Cylindrosporium Leaf Spot
Spirea leaves with both surfaces exhibiting light-yellow lesions that darken over time suffer from Cylindrosporium filipendula leaf spot. Inspecting their undersides reveals yellowish, waxy spore masses. On heavily infected plants, the tiny, round leaf spots merge into large dead patches. Extensive summer leaf drop may follow. Splashing water spreads Cylindrosporium spores from leaf litter and contaminated plants.
Leaf Spot Control
Spireas tolerate mild leaf spot with no serious damage. Removing infected leaves and debris eliminates the spores they harbor. Watering the shrubs from beneath in the morning minimizes foliage moisture, reducing the risk of infection. Cylindrosporium seldom requires fungicidal treatment.

By | 2016-03-15T23:08:55-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments

Tomato

This tomato is under near lethal stress. The rolled leaves and prominent veins would seem to indicate that its resources are stretched to the limit. Possible stressors: buying a transplant already in flower and fruit and transplanting, too small a pot, overwatering, cold nights (below 50), Improper fertilization etc. The purpling I am seeing is usually related to lack of Phosporous uptake which can be due to cold soils or wrong pH. If you want to continue to grow this plant, you need to remove all flowers and fruit, use a liquid fertilizer on the leaves and soil (fish emulsion is good), check the pot for good drainage (never just use ordinary soil, it compacts). We presume that the pot has good drainage holes. Tomatoes should never sit in water.

By | 2016-03-15T21:58:43-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Vegetable Plants|0 Comments

Hydrangea

This is a Hydrangea paniculata. H. paniculata cultivars are very hardy and dependable. It's too soon to say if your shrub is dead. Over the next few weeks, check the stems for buds. They will emerge green from the brown stems.

Some hydrangeas bloom on new wood and others on old wood, and without knowing your cultivar, we can't tell you which you have. Each needs to be pruned in different ways. When your plant blooms this year, look to see if the main flush of bloom is on the very top parts of the shrubs (new growth) or if it's lower on the shrub (old growth). Once you know that, we can tell you how to prune your plant. For now, limit your pruning to removing old, dead branches, which you won't be able to identify until new leaves emerge. Hopefully that will be soon!

By | 2016-03-15T21:54:10-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments