ISSUE: Client has barberry shrubs with webbing and defoliation, with bushes looking terrible. DIAGNOSIS / RECOMMENDATION The problem is the barberry webworm (Omphalocera dentosa). Defoliated branches and webs can be cut out and … [Read more...]
Dahlia Types Explained
Dahlias are becoming increasingly popular in landscapes and make excellent additions to border plantings, flowerpots, and cut-flower gardens. They flower continuously from summer through the first frost and will bloom prolifically if spent … [Read more...]
13 Zucchini Diseases: How to Identify, Prevent, and Treat Them
Zucchini is one of the most beginner-friendly garden vegetables around. These fast growing and prolific summer squash can be planted once and yield all summer long. Although they aren’t totally immune to problems, there are many simple organic fixes … [Read more...]
What Virginians Need to Know About the 2022 Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Expansion
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine will be expanded in July 2022 to include the following cities and counties: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, … [Read more...]
Viburnum–A Shrub for Many Settings
Viburnums are evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species and the location. Most prefer sun, but some do well in partial shade. Their hardiness is well suited to the cold winters of USDA hardiness zone 7. They are adaptable to a range of soil … [Read more...]
Pesticides, Pollinators, and Pestilence: Protecting Public Health and Pollinators
Tick and mosquito control provides important public health protection, but can also affect pollinator populations. The effects are often dependent on specific local conditions, such as how close the pesticide application is to places pollinators … [Read more...]
Dealing With Heat Stress: How To Protect Vegetables In Hot Weather
In many parts of the country, gardeners have considerable anxiety when summer temperatures rise, especially when they rise in combination with low rainfall amounts. While some vegetables suffer more than others, all feel some degree of stress with … [Read more...]
Virginia’s Noxious Weeds
Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow nutsedge—sometimes referred to as nutgrass—is a persistent weed problem in lawns, athletic fields, and golf course turf. This species thrives in moist, poorly drained soils and can persist in full sun and moderate shade. Yellow nutsedge … [Read more...]
Soil Health in Raised Beds
By selecting the contents of the raised bed, soil properties like texture, drainage, and organic matter content can be controlled. A soil and compost mix is recommended, at a ratio of 70% soil to 30% compost. Make sure that both the soil and compost … [Read more...]