Question: Our lawn is not in great shape-with lots of dead spots throughout with the various droughts this summer. This has happened in previous summers, but it has always come back ok. What should we do? Answer: Repeated droughts can take turfgrass plants over the edge, even if they have recovered in years past. In […]

Question: How do I get rid of these worms and tents in my trees? (see photo below) Answer: At this time of year, I have also seen the presence of fall webworms, especially at the tips of tree branches. Fall webworms construct these nests (aka silk tents or webs) and the caterpillars feed within the […]

Question: What’s going on with my tomato plants (see picture)? Answer: If your tomato plants are starting to look like the one in the picture, do not panic. Fungal infections are VERY common for tomatoes in Wisconsin, especially given our weeks of high humidity and periods of heavy rain lately. There are two common diseases […]

Question: Do plastic trunk protectors help protect trees from deer damage? Answer: Yes, but not year-round. Any sort of plastic tree protector is only supposed to be on the tree for the winter. These are not supposed to be left on year-round as heat and humidity can get trapped and cause problems or decay for […]

Question: We were told we didn’t have to remove the burlap or wire basket around the root ball when we planted our trees. Is this right? Answer: Unfortunately, leaving the burlap, wire basket, and/or any other cordage or other materials on the root ball is an improper planting practice and will eventually cause BIG problems […]

This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of June 8 Last week we were talking about how dry it was, now we’re talking about severe storms. This week we feature some resources to help you with gardening for these wacky weather extremes and what to do for trees that experience storm damage. If […]

Question: What else can I do to support pollinators in my yard? Answer: Pollinators need three core habitat features: Food, Shelter, and Protection – especially from chemical insecticides. A healthy pollinator habitat provides a mix of flowering plant species that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Therefore, planting native species that support insect […]

Question: Small caterpillars or worms have completely devoured all of the leaves on one of my bushes (see photo below). What can I do to stop them and should the bush be removed? Answer: Those are the larvae of viburnum leaf beetles (VLB for short). VLB larvae typically appear in early to mid May and […]

Question: I’m noticing that my tree’s roots are growing at the surface of my lawn. What should I do? Answer: Some tree species are more prone to doing this, but it can happen with almost any tree. It’s important to remember that the majority of the tree roots are within the top 8” of soil. […]

Question: I’m having a problem with perennial weeds in my yard. No matter how many times I pull or cut them, they keep coming back! Answer: Ugh! Thistle, creeping bellflower and other perennial weeds can be really challenging to get a handle on because of their underground structures that can store a large amount of […]

Question: I’m noticing a lot of weeds in my lawn, what do I spray on them to kill them? Answer: Well….do you absolutely need to spray and kill them? A lawn that is maintained well through best practices like planting and maintenance like mowing and proper fertilization, will outcompete weeds. A “weed” just means that […]

This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of April 27 Question: When should I spray my apple trees for pests? Answer: For any fruit crop, it’s important to utilize an integrated pest management plan to help minimize damage from pests (like disease or insects) and maximize fruit production. In order to do this, […]