Question of the Week
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| How do I protect arborvitae from the harsh, cold winter? | Protecting Arborvitae | ||
| I need help controlling the black mold spores that cling to my home's siding and windows. We’ve used a lot of bark mulch around the periphery of our home and in our ornamental gardens. I think the mulch may be the source of the spores. What can I do? |  |
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I’ve noticed a brown beetle coming out of the ground around the base of my plants. It’s chestnut brown, nearly ½ inch long and it looks like a coffee bean.Can you please tell what this beetle is, and if it is destructive in the garden? |
Asiatic Garden Beetle | ||
There’s a shrub growing in a nearby field that has multiple stalks coming from the base and red berries that birds seem to love. What is it and where can I get one for my yard? |
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What’s the difference between bees and wasps? |
Bees and Wasps | ||
Before World War II, bedbug infestations were common in the U.S., but the bugs were virtually eradicated. So why are they making a comeback, and do I need to worry? |
Bedbugs | ||
| My grapes are turning black, shriveling and drying up like raisins. What's causing this? | Black Rot | ||
My roses look absolutely terrible. The leaves are covered with black spots, turning yellow and dropping off. Help! |
Black Spot | ||
| I planted bulbs in early October and placed them in my basement. They've started to sprout. What do I do now? | Bulbs | ||
This warmer-than-usual winter weather has me wondering about my bulbs and other plants. Will they be damaged or killed? |
Bulb Growth | ||
| Our backyard has been infested with little green worms. So many, in fact, that we had to put a tent over our back porch to avoid being bombarded with them while enjoying our yard. What are they? | |||
| The flowers on my beautiful Christmas cactus are dying and are covered with a gray fungal growth. What is it and is my plant going to die? |
Christmas Cactus | ||
| Help! My family is pushing for a pre-lighted artificial Christmas tree this year, but I’m still holding out for the real thing. Can you give me some hard information to support my choice? | Christmas Tree | ||
| What are the tiny, red mite-like creatures in the corners of my windows and all over my wall? | |||
Is it too late to plant spring-flowering bulbs? |
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| What can I do with all the fall leaves I’ve raked up? | |||
When should I fertilize my lawn? |
Fertilize | ||
| Help! Fleas from my cat and dog have infested my house. | |||
| How do I clean up my basement after the flood? | |||
| Help! My basement recently flooded with rain and melting snow. Some canned foods and home-canned tomatoes were under water. The jars are still sealed, but I'm wondering if I can still use them. |
Flooding and Contaminated Food | ||
| Can you suggest a good source of information on food storage topics such as how long fresh eggs keep their quality in the refrigerator or whether I can still eat those jars of home-canned green beans I put up three summers ago? | Food Storage | ||
Have you ever wondered about those little black flies that invade your home in January? |
Fungus Gnats | ||
| Seeds inside some of the tomatoes in my refrigerator have started sprouting. I can actually see the sprouts pushing through the skin of the fruit. Is this normal? It the fruit safe to eat? |
Germinating Seeds | ||
| I have so many green tomatoes. What can I do with them? | Green Tomatoes | ||
| I recently heard the term “growing degree days.” What are they and how are they used? | Growing Degree Days | ||
| Why are the hemlock trees in my back yard turning yellow and dropping their needles? | |||
I’m planning a holiday open house. What can I do to make sure the food on the buffet table stays safe to eat? |
Holiday Buffet | ||
My house plants have browning leaf tips and margins. What could be wrong? |
Houseplants | ||
| I have ladybugs coming into my house in large numbers. Where are they coming from, and what can I do to get rid of them? |
Ladybugs | ||
| I hosted my annual holiday party and have lots of leftovers. What should I do with all the food? | |||
Can I prune lilacs now? |
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How do I make my own maple syrup, and where can I see it being made on the farm? |
Maple Syrup | ||
| Where can I take my family to watch and participate in maple-sugaring activities? |
Maple-Sugaring | ||
| I have mice getting into my house. How can I get rid of the mice I have and prevent more from entering? |
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| How come I still have moles in my lawn even though I treat the soil for grubs every year? | |||
| What can I do about all this miserable moss on my lawn? |
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Is it too early to remove the mulch from my perennial garden? |
mulch | ||
Young peaches are falling from the trees and they have a gooey substance coming out of them. What is causing this and how can I stop it from happening? |
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| I have small, red-bodied, humpbacked flies in my kitchen. They look like fruit flies, but don’t have the red eyes. What are they and how can I get rid of them? |
Phorid Flies | ||
| I grow a variety of plants that have had trouble with powdery mildew. What can I do to prevent and treat this problem? | |||
I moved into my house last summer, and there are several large peonies in the garden. What shall I do to be successful with them? I’d love to use them in flower arrangements |
Peonies | ||
| To prune or not to prune? A lot of home landscapers ask this question. | |||
| Is it too late to prune fruit trees? |
Prune Trees | ||
I have what looks like pink threads in my lawn. What it is and how can I get rid of it? |
Red Thread | ||
| I have a row of spruce trees, and many of the branches have begun losing their needles and dying. What's wrong with my trees? How can I stop it from spreading to my other trees? | |||
Is there anything special I need to do for my floribunda roses before the snow flies? |
Roses | ||
| Yikes! What can I do about that the huge yellow blob growing in the bark mulch around the rhododendrons? | |||
| Why do I need a periodic soil test? | |||
| “Help, all my plants are dying! My landscaper spread mulch around them yesterday and today they are scorched, wilted, and some are losing leaves. Besides that, my lawn is yellowing alongside the mulched bed. What can I do?” |
Sour Mulch | ||
| There’s a large mass of very small insects on my lawn that jump when disturbed. What are these insects and are they dangerous? | |||
| Why are my Norway spruce trees losing sections up to four to six inches long from the tips of their branches for no apparent reason? | |||
| I have what look like large winged ants swarming in my house. What are they and what should I do? | Swarmers | ||
| The leaves on my maple trees have black spots on them that look like tar. What is it and what should I do about it? |
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I just noticed that the ends of many branches one my Scotch pine have died and are curling over. There is sappy stuff on some of the branches. What can I do? |
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| Help, I've spent all morning processing tomatoes and they are floating to the top of the jars. What went wrong? |
Tomatoes | ||
| What is tomato blight? What causes it? | |||
An insect that looks like a tiny turtle encased in an oval of glass seems to be eating holes in my tomatoes. What is it? |
Tortoise Beetles | ||
| When can I plant my vegetable seed and seedlings (transplants) outdoors? | |||
| What’s the best way to thaw a frozen turkey and how long will it take? | |||
| Help! I have wasps or bees flying around inside and outside my house! |
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| Help! What’s making those ugly webs in my backyard trees, and what can I do about them? | |||
