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Have a gardening question? If you have a question about home gardening, please contact our Master Gardener Helpline. Send us a brief description of your problem and a photo if you can. We look forward to your e-mails. Thank you.
Citrus Scale Insects There are small dark bumps on the twigs and branches of my citrus. Or, there is white, fluffy stuff on the twigs and leaves. The leaves are turning yellow and falling off and twigs are dying back.
Borers Q. Small branches and twigs have completely died back on my deciduous fruit or nut trees. There are small round holes in the bark and what looks like sawdust (it's called frass-bug excrement and wood particles) coming out of the holes.
Anthracnose Q. The new leaves on my Modesto ash are dropping off in spring. There are irregular tan, brown, or white areas on the leaves, starting at the base of the leaf. Why? And will it kill the tree? A. Modesto ash anthracnose is a fungus that infects the leaves and twigs.
Fireblight Q. The flowers, new shoots, leaves and twigs (sometimes fruit) on my apple, evergreen pear, hawthorn, loquat, cottoneaster, pear, pyracantha or toyon have suddenly wilted, then turned brown and black and died back. They look like they've been scorched. What is the problem? A.
Rose Problems Black Spot Q. I have black spots on the leaves of my roses and the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off. What are the spots? How can I get rid of them? A. Black spot is a fungus that thrives in warm, damp conditions.
Tomato Blossom Drop Q. Why are my tomato blossoms falling off the plant? A. Tomato blossoms will drop off when temperatures fluctuate below or above the required temperature zone for any extended period of time.
Lawn Grubs Q. There are irregularly-shaped dead patches in my lawn and birds and squirrels are digging in the patches. What is killing the lawn and what are the birds and squirrels looking for? A.
Deep Watering Schedule for Fruit and Nut Trees Q. How do I make sure that my fruit and nut trees are getting enough water in this summer heat? A. To produce good yields, deciduous fruit and nut trees need some available soil moisture continuously from bloom to harvest.
Pre-emergent Application for Control of Lawn Weeds Q. Do I need to do anything now to prevent weed problems in my lawn next year? A. Apply a pre-emergent to control for Poa annua or annual bluegrass (it is an annual grass) now.
