Weekly MG Q & A

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Questions & Answers


9/12/07				The roses in my new bed are not doing well and there is a white fungus under the mulch. Should I start over?


9/05/07				How often and how much should I water my citrus trees?


8/29/07				I have two bald cypress trees in my back yard, on of which produces "knees". Is there anything I can do to control their growth?


8/22/07				As the trees in my back yard have matured and cast more shade, my St. Augustine lawn has correspondingly receded. Why is this? And what options do I have in dealing with the lack of lawn growth?


8/15/07				What is the best method to control scale on houseplants, shrubs and trees?


8/08/07				The trunks and large limbs of my pecan tree are covered silk webbing. Where did this come from and what can I do about it?


8/01/07				I know honeybees are good pollinators, but are bumblebees good pollinators also?


7/25/07				I have two sago palm growing in my front yard. One sago is producing a long, thick structure from its tip end while the other plant is producing a basketball-sized structure. Help!


7/18/07				I have a yard full of grub worms! Are these worms harmful to my lawn and flower beds? When is the best time to treat these insects?


7/11/07				My tomato plants yielded very well this spring. However, later in the harvest season the skins of the fruit developed a rough, sandpaper-like texture. What caused this? What can I do about it? Are the tomatoes still edible?


7/04/07				I just started my water garden and my water is turning green and off-color. Why is this happening? Should I change my water?


6/27/07				I have started an herb garden. How can I use the herbs in my every-day cooking?


6/20/07				How do I eliminate fire ant mounds from my lawn and what can I do about the depressions that they seem to leave when they are gone?


6/13/07				I like growing corn in my garden, but the corn ear worm and other critters like the corn as well as I do. What can I do to control the pests?


6/06/07				I have a plumeria with beautiful, highly scented flowers and my friend would like a cutting from it. How are plumerias propagated?


5/30/07				I saw a shrub in your display garden at the Extension Office and your ID label indicated it is a Virginia sweetspire. When does it bloom?


5/23/07				What is the best way to eradicate the worms that decimate the leaves of cannas?


5/16/07				I have seen the term "deadheading" used in gardening articles. What does deadheading mean and why should I do this?


5/09/07				A neighbor has a bush covered with bright red flowers. He told me it is called "Butterfly Bush" but I can't find it at any local nurseries. Can you help me?


5/02/07				When should I prune my oleanders?


4/25/07				What is powdery mildew on roses? Can it be treated?


4/18/07				What can be done to rid my garden of snails and slugs?


4/11/07				Why do my tomatoes develop a large blackened area on the blossom end of the fruit? What can I do to prevent this?


4/04/07				I would like to grow bluebonnets in my yard. What should I do?


3/28/07				One of my neighbors seems to fertilize his lawn every month and another fertilizes only once a year. How frequently should I fertilize my lawn?


3/21/07				Does Bat-faced Cuphea grow well in this area?


3/14/07				Just when my plants started setting a large crop of fruits last spring, sections of stems quickly collapsed and died. What caused this and how can it be controlled so I get a decent harvest this year?


3/07/07				I’ve discovered a new insect in my home! It’s jet black and resembles a small cricket that can fly really well!


2/28/07				What can I do to get rid of the chickweed in my lawn?


2/21/07				Is the paper wasp a beneficial insect?


2/14/07				I want to raise Monarch butterflies. Is it possible? How can I accomplish this?


2/07/07				Could you please tell me how to control the greenish-colored worms that eat my cabbage and broccoli plants each spring?


1/31/07				What varieties of citrus fruit trees can be grown in containers and what care do they need?


1/24/07				My neighbor prunes his crape myrtles severely each spring. Should I prune my crape myrtles?


1/17/07				How often does a tree have to be pruned and how should a tree be pruned?


1/10/07				In the event of a freeze, how can I protect my plants from cold injury?

1/03/07				What does the term "Texas Master Gardener" mean and how does one become a Texas Master Gardener?

This web site is maintained by Master Gardener Laura Bellmore, under the direction of William M. Johnson, Ph.D., County Extension Agent-Horticulture & Master Gardener Program Coordinator.