Pests, Weeds & Problems

Using chemical based herbicides to kill weeds means putting toxic chemicals on your lawn where kids and pets roam. When it rains these toxins then wash off into the waterways affecting fish,...

Bamboo is a tough plant that is notoriously hard to kill. Though many people enjoy its delicate appearance and use it to provide privacy from neighbor's yards, it grows rapidly and can quickly...

Honeysuckle is a shrub or vine plant with over 180 species. Unfortunately some species are susceptible to a powdery mildew growing on the leaves. This will not usually injure the plant but may...

Canna is an attractive flowering plant whose leaves serve as a host for Japanese beetles. Japanese beetles are 1/2-inch-long bugs with a metallic green body and copper wings. They eat leaves,...

Bahia grass is a warm season grass that is resistant to drought, insects, disease and various types of fertile and infertile soils. This grass is not an aggressive plant, but its roots can go...

"Green mold" is a term used for mold that is green or that has green spores. Green mold can kill a plant if it is not attacked in its early stages. It thrives in areas that are damp and that get...

Four hundred annual, perennial, and biennial species of ranunculus (buttercups) exist in tuberous or rhizome bulb form. Most people recognize the yellow, saucer-like flower, but pink, red, orange,...

Thistles can be beautiful plants but are intrusive in grazing pastures where they steal nutrients and sunlight from grasses grown for livestock. All types of thistle spread by seed and some, such...

Pampas grass is a type of plant that reproduces millions upon millions of seeds without pollination. This large grass can be an annoyance because it can take away from the other visually pleasing...

If you've noticed a charcoal-gray or black moldy coating on the leaves, needles, branches or fruits of your plants, they may be infected with a fungus known as sooty mold. While sooty mold rarely...

The ginger plant has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes and in many different cuisines. This plant is a tuber, meaning its roots are the part of the plant which is sought after. Some...

Thistle is a large plant with round purple blooms and sharp needle-like thorns. There over 50 different types of thistles. Thistle is often found growing in empty lots and alongside roads. It is...

Black spot is a common fungal plant disease that develops from leaf wetness, high humidity and plant overcrowding. Roses are particularly susceptible to this blight, which causes black spots to...

Leaf miners are destructive little bugs that are attracted to the leaves of fruit-bearing plants, especially citrus trees and tomatoes. Their larvae create tunnels inside the leaves that show up...

Bull thistle is native to Asia and Europe, but has taken hold as an invasive species in North America. This plant thrives in open fields and pastures by out-competing native species. The sharp...

Like its cousins poison ivy and poison oak, poison sumac can cause a great deal of trouble if left unattended. The urushiol oil it excretes creates itching and painful rashes whenever it comes...

Pests are a significant problem in agriculture due to the damage they can inflict on crops. Identifying agricultural pests helps farmers determine the best method to get rid of the offending visitors.

Controlling weeds in a garden is hard to do unless you use a ground cloth. The fabric weed control cloth will help prevent weeds from growing in the garden, eliminating the need to get down on...

Poison oak is a close relative of poison ivy and poison sumac. These three plants all have leaves that are coated with an oily substance called urushiol. Most people are allergic to urushiol,...

Rose of sharon (sometimes called althea) is a vigorous, blooming hibiscus shrub. It grows to 10 feet tall and has shiny leaves and either single or double blooms. Although many gardeners find rose...

The best way to treat a poison oak rash is to avoid it in the first place. Doing so requires an ability to spot the plant, a commitment to containing its spread and a game plan for protecting...

Instead of using harmful chemical pesticides with numerous adverse side effects to get rid of unwanted pests in your home or garden, you can make natural insect repellents using herbs. The nettle...

The appearance of scales on a plant, shrub or tree can only mean one thing: a scale insect infestation. These hardy little insects attach themselves to plants and trees, siphoning off nutrients...

Weeds are a nuisance for anyone who spends time in the yard or garden. Fortunately the weed killer Roundup quickly eliminates the need to pull weeds on a regular basis. The beauty of Roundup is...

Also known as a periwinkle or myrtle, vinca minor is a pretty plant that can quickly turn into a problem in your flowerbeds. It is a ground covering known to spread, swallowing other plants in its...

If you step outside in the morning to find your beautiful mound or row of impatiens sheared off, bud and leaf, find a way to save them fast. Determining what is eating your impatiens will help you...

A butterfly bush can either be a beautiful bush of flowers that attract butterflies to your garden or a massively reproducing weed that inhibits the growth of your garden. Killing the roots of a...

Leaf galls are abnormal growths caused by insects, bacteria, mites, fungi and viruses. They do not often seriously affect the health of the plant, but they do discolor and disfigure the leaves....

Horsetail weed is one of the oldest plants known on earth and may have been around for the dinosaurs' salad bar. This plant is a great nuisance today, but traditionally was harvested and used as a...

The horsetail plant's varieties and hardiness can make it a garden pest regardless of geographical location. This ancient plant, also known as scouring rush, has very deep roots and can survive...

Poison oak is a plant that commonly grows throughout the North American west. It is related to poison ivy, but poison oak grows as a small shrub and not a vine. Control of poison oak on one's...

The tomato pinworm, or keiferia lycopersicella, is a pest to plants of the nightshade family, including tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. Some weeds have been known to host the pest.

Spider mites are little bugs that cause big problems. The mites hang onto the underside of leaves by thin silk and feed on the plant cells. This causes dead splotches in the leaves, weakening, and...

Mealybugs are a type of insect pest sometimes encountered on houseplants. The bugs bite into the plant and suck out its juices, stressing the plant and killing it if the pests are not managed...

The rose plant is a popular ornamental shrub grown for its scented white, pink, red and yellow flowers. Though rose plants are hardy, they are often attacked by beetles that feed on their foliage...

Landscape fabric can help you maintain a healthy, weed-free garden. Landscape fabric is a porous, rot-resistant material that allows air and water to reach plants, but keeps weeds from sprouting....

Anyone who has ever tried to eradicate a blackberry patch knows what a prickly and tenacious opponent this shrub can be. One of the biggest problems is that while the canes of the blackberry plant...

Poison ivy is a vine that contains powerful toxins designed to drive away herbivorous creatures to ensure the plant's longevity. These toxins are contained in oils that permeate every part of the...

Smooth crabgrass is an invasive, fast-growing weed that can establish itself quickly in a lawn. Once established, it's difficult to get rid of. A single crabgrass plant can produce thousands of...

Plant diseases come in a variety of forms. Infectious agents include parasites, bacteria and fungi. Environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures or too much or too little precipitation, can...

Pampas grass, cortaderia selloana, is an ornamental grass native to South America. It grows rapidly and is often used as a screening element in landscapes. The plant can grow to 8 to 10 feet and...

Creeping Charlie is an especially difficult weed to get rid of. Also known as "ground ivy," creeping Charlie easily grows back from bits of stem and root fragments left behind from weeding it....

Ball moss is a plant that clings to trees and other outdoor objects and draws its nutrients from the air. Because of this, it is actually not a moss at all, but a plant with its own seeds and...

Deer can be beautiful creatures, but can cause severe damage to our gardens. They feed on plant leaves and vegetables, and it does not take long for a single deer to destroy an entire garden. You...

Poison ivy is a three-leafed poisonous plant can cause the skin to blotch or water and blisters to form. Symptoms can be immediate or develop a few days after contact with the plant. Poison ivy is...

Ants are great at teamwork. If you see them in or around your flowerpots it's very likely they may be planning to take it over. While they may not harm the plant physically, they may make it...

Crown vetch, or Securigera varia, is a perennial plant consisting of creeping branches and white or pink flowers. It is sometimes used as a ground cover and to prevent erosion on hills, but can...

The familiar yellow dandelion plant is a spreading perennial weed that if not controlled will eventually take over your lawn. You can battle dandelions safely and effectively with all-natural methods.

Not all insects are harmful to tomato plants. Some insects such as ladybugs are very beneficial. Identifying problem insects is a good way to be proactive and avoid potential damage to your tomato...

Grapevines can be an intrusive plant, climbing along trees and strangling the plant life around them. If you are not intentionally growing grapes, you may want to get rid of them to save the plant...