Pests and Disease - Page 12 of 34 - Fine Gardening
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How-To
Pest Alert: Kudzu Beetle
There’s a (relatively) new bug in town, and its favorite hangout is the plant not so affectionately known as “the vine that ate the South”—kudzu (Pueraria montana, Zones 6–10). The…
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How-To
How to Manage Pests Sustainably With IPM
Integrated pest management (IPM) may sound complicated, like something only professionals can do. But this commonsense approach to maintaining garden health is actually something we all can work into our…
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How-To
3 Things That Don’t Work (Reliably) as Deer Repellent
Are deer munching your favorite plants? Desperate gardeners sometimes resort to desperate measures to ensure that beloved flowers don't become breakfast for local grazers, but there are some tactics that…
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Design
Deer-Resistant Combinations
One of my greatest challenges as a designer and deer-plagued gardener is unpredictability. There are no rules. No guarantees. Just guidelines. I’ve watched deer devour thorny shrubs and trample fragrant…
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Design
A Small Tree With Four-Season Impact
Have you ever experienced PSFM? It stands for “post-spring flower melancholy.” It occurs after nature has given her best color seemingly all at once and then it’s over. Wouldn’t it…
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How-To
Disease Alert: Sudden Oak Death on Rhododendrons
Did you buy a rhododendron this year? If so, read on! Over the last few years, increasing numbers of dead ash trees (Fraxinus spp., Zones 3–9) have become a common…
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Design
Tea Olive Shrubs for the Southeast
If magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora, Zones 7–9) and gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides, Zones 8–11) are the iconic plant perfumes of Southern summers, tea olive (Osmanthus spp. and cvs., Zones 6–11) breezes in…
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How-To
Midsummer 2019 Insect Update
In the Midwest, gardeners are generally an optimistic lot. If consistent heavy rainfall is the topic of conversation, a typical response is, “At least the weeds are easy to pull!”…
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How-To
Mistletoe in Our Desert Trees
Most of us associate mistletoe with the Christmas tradition, but contrary to the feeling of yuletide cheer it brings us, mistletoe is actually a parasite that steals nutrients and water…
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How-To
Emerald Ash Borer Damage and Prevention
Change happens, especially in nature. The predictable type of change, like the rhythmic cascades of the seasons or caterpillars reinventing themselves as butterflies, are reassuring, even inspiring. But catastrophic changes,…