Q: I have sent you pictures of something I found this morning on our cedar mulch in back of our house. I have never seen this before and would like to know what it is - and if we need to try to kill it. It is in the back of our house on the ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: The cause of the spots on the leaves is a fungus called Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. The leaf spots are tan with alternating light and dark concentric rings. The spores of this fungus are easily spread during warm, rainy weather. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: After looking at your leaves I determined the cause was fig rust, which is a fungus. The disease is first evident as small, angular, yellow-green flecks on the leaf. The spots do not become extremely large but do become more yellow and finally ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: Thanks for bringing me a sample of the problem. Managing the disease can be done but it will take some effort. Your shrub is called Pittosporum and there are several varieties of the plant from medium sized trees to small dwarf plants. Some ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Q: The hickory trees in my yard and those around the neighborhood seem to be doing poorly. Some of the tops of the leaves are turning brown and the undersides have white spots. A: I am so glad you brought me some clippings of the tree because ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Q: Could you help me determine the name of the plant that just appeared in my garden one day in late summer? It had interesting foliage so I let it grow. It may be an invasive weed but it turned out to have a very pretty and unusual flower. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Q: Last year I had the ends rot out of watermelon and cantaloupe. They bloom but no fruit developed. This year, I planted zucchini instead and I am getting the same problem. The fruit is rotting out from the bloom end. I now have cantaloupe ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: I have had this question 4-5 times within the last few weeks. First, we do several confirmed cases of Huanglongbing (HLB) here in Nassau County Florida. The correct name for "citrus greening" is Huanglongbing (HLB). Secondly, there is no ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: This pest is called citrus snow scale and believe it or not - it is an insect. Citrus snow scale attaches to the trunk and sometimes when populations are extremely high, it can be found on leaves and other parts of the citrus tree. The insect ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
There are numerous reasons why maintaining a North Florida lawn is challenging and ultimately frustrating. One such reason is ground pearls. Ground pearls, small scale insects that bother lawn grass roots, are soil dwelling pests that are ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease