New sod turning brown? Check watering habits during hot, dry end of summer
"I recently had some new sod installed and see that some of the areas are browning out. I have been watering the sod. Can you help me determine what has...
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American pokeweed: The strange, tall perennial weed with berries birds love
"We did not plant it, but a good size, exotic wild plant is growing in our yard. We would like to know the name of the plant and whether it...
Watering new hydrangeas requires extra attention during stressful summer weather for gardens
"My new hydrangeas have been suffering, and some appear to be mostly dead. I have been watering a couple times a week with a sprinkler, so I am wondering what...
A first-time homeowner’s guide to gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and weed wackers
"My son just bought his first house, and I want to give him some advice on safely operating gas-powered equipment." — Brendon Anderson, Grayslake Most home gardeners work with gas-powered...
Pale, stunted annuals could be sign containers aren’t getting enough fertilizer, leaving plants hungry
"The annuals in my containers seem to have stopped growing, and the foliage of the plants has a bit of an off-green color and is even looking a bit yellow....
Oriental beetles look similar to Japanese counterpart, but there’s a key difference
"I have found a couple of these beetles on my flowers and would like a recommendation on what to do about it. My friends have been seeing Japanese beetles in...
How to kill grass growing between perennials and ground-cover plants
"Grass has started growing in a couple of my ground-cover plantings and in some sections of my perennial border. Some of the perennials with grass growing in and around them...
Large, dark red and good for your garden: Meet the cicada killer wasp
"I found some large holes in between the bricks in my driveway, along with some little piles of sand by the holes. I was wondering what insect might be making...
Dog vomit slime mold looks as gross as it sounds. Here’s what you need to know for your garden.
"I found an odd-looking substance in my mulched beds next to a boxwood last week. This garden bed was replanted a few weeks ago and mulched with shredded bark. At...
Pachysandra turning brown, spotty likely sign of Volutella blight
"My bed of pachysandra has developed dark blotches on the leaves, and some sections have completely died out. What is wrong with my plants, and what can I do to...