When a tree or shrub develops brown leaves, wilting leaves, poor growth, or dead branches, it's easy to focus on the above-ground portions of the plant to try to figure out what went wrong.
Most lilacs are large shrubs that grow 10 to 15 feet tall. Their large size makes them excellent plants for informal hedges and screens. However, their size limits their use elsewhere in the landscape.
We recently received a sample in the Plant Disease Clinic of a black walnut twig. The owner was inquiring about small holes found in the bark of the young branches.
We recently received a sample in the Plant Disease Clinic of a strawberry plant with spots on the leaves. Strawberries in this region are commonly affected by three fungal leaf diseases--leaf spot, leaf scorch, and leaf blight.
Banana is a popular fruit. It's easy to peel, easy to eat, and easy to find, typically located in a prominent spot in the produce section of a grocery store.
Diplodia tip blight is a common fungal disease of Austrian pine, although Scots, mugo, and red pine may also be affected. The Diplodia fungus infects the growing buds and shoots, causing the newest needles of a tree to be stunted and brown.
A willow branch was recently submitted to the Plant Disease Clinic that had a dense cluster of twigs, a symptom referred to by plant pathologists as a "witches' broom".
Powdery mildew is a common disease affecting many different houseplants, including jade plant, African violet, begonia, kalanchoe, and others. Powdery mildew appears as a white, dusty growth on the surfaces of leaves.
Proper pruning of raspberries is essential. Pruning produces higher yields, helps control diseases, and facilitates harvesting and other maintenance chores. Pruning procedures are based on the growth and fruiting characteristics of the plants.
A first step in diagnosing a plant problem is to know the identity of the plant species and what a healthy plant should look like. The characteristics of some plants change at different times of the year or as they age.
