Comments for Ask a Garden Question http://askagardenquestion.com Answers for All Your Garden Questions Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Judy Carrell http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-172 Judy Carrell Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:52:43 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-172 We have a 3 yr. old sweet gum tree that started out fine after the winter. Now most of the leaves are brittle and brown. What would cause this problem?, and is there a solution? We have a 3 yr. old sweet gum tree that started out fine after the winter. Now most of the leaves are brittle and brown. What would cause this problem?, and is there a solution?

]]> Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Kay MacKenzie http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-166 Kay MacKenzie Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:21:42 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-166 I noticed the inquiry from "Maureen" in Austin, Texas. My Sweetgum is in Oregon and is exhibiting the same symptoms: yellowing leaves with black spots. Please advise as to care/cure for the problem. I love this tree and it is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. Kay I noticed the inquiry from “Maureen” in Austin, Texas. My Sweetgum is in Oregon and is exhibiting the same symptoms: yellowing leaves with black spots. Please advise as to care/cure for the problem. I love this tree and it is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. Kay

]]> Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Joe http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-145 Joe Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:59:33 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-145 I have a sweet gum that is very healthy (so I think) very full of leaves however I noticed that one branch is full of dead leaves, I didn't think much about it until today I noticed that a second branch (next to the dead one) is starting to die. Could this be insects or some kind of disease? What do I look for? Do I just prune the branches?? Thank you for your time. I have a sweet gum that is very healthy (so I think) very full of leaves however I noticed that one branch is full of dead leaves, I didn’t think much about it until today I noticed that a second branch (next to the dead one) is starting to die. Could this be insects or some kind of disease? What do I look for? Do I just prune the branches??
Thank you for your time.

]]> Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Maureen http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-39 Maureen Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:27:54 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-39 I live in Austin, TX and have a sweet gum tree that has leaves turning yellow with black spots. It is about 3 " in diameter. Another sweet gum about 5" in diameter nearby looks as though it is contracting the same disease. I've been told by a local nurseryman that it is an airborn illness, and that both sweet gums will die, and that there is no cure. I find it hard to believe that there is no treatment. Do you have any experience with sweet gums in Central Texas? I hate to loose the battle without a fight. Please advise. Thanks! I live in Austin, TX and have a sweet gum tree that has leaves turning yellow with black spots. It is about 3 ” in diameter. Another sweet gum about 5″ in diameter nearby looks as though it is contracting the same disease. I’ve been told by a local nurseryman that it is an airborn illness, and that both sweet gums will die, and that there is no cure. I find it hard to believe that there is no treatment. Do you have any experience with sweet gums in Central Texas? I hate to loose the battle without a fight. Please advise. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Philip Schaafsma http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-20 Philip Schaafsma Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:49:31 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-20 I would think it is winter die back from the cold late this spring. If you have not fertilized you still should - water in or do before a rain. Fertilize again in Early September. I would think it is winter die back from the cold late this spring. If you have not fertilized you still should - water in or do before a rain. Fertilize again in Early September.

]]> Comment on Sweet Gum Tree Problems by Loretta http://askagardenquestion.com/sweet-gum-tree-problems/comment-page-1#comment-13 Loretta Sun, 31 May 2009 14:05:58 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=223#comment-13 I live in Bloomington, Indiana and our sweet gum tree is also experiencing the same problems. Our sweet gum is much larger and over 30 years old. It has always been sparsely leafed, but this year it seems much worse. It is NOT dead, as many of the branches do have some leaves, just not many. There is no sap on the ground, but some roots have been twisting around the trunk. We had variable weather this spring, with warm days followed by several freezing cold days. Could it have been frost-bitten in the spring, as some branches look like it was about to leaf out, yet did not do so. (BTW, we used to live in Naperville and shopped in your Bolingbrook store many times...) I live in Bloomington, Indiana and our sweet gum tree is also experiencing the same problems. Our sweet gum is much larger and over 30 years old. It has always been sparsely leafed, but this year it seems much worse. It is NOT dead, as many of the branches do have some leaves, just not many. There is no sap on the ground, but some roots have been twisting around the trunk. We had variable weather this spring, with warm days followed by several freezing cold days. Could it have been frost-bitten in the spring, as some branches look like it was about to leaf out, yet did not do so. (BTW, we used to live in Naperville and shopped in your Bolingbrook store many times…)

]]> Comment on Best Ways to Remove Moles in Lawns by Claire Brown http://askagardenquestion.com/best-ways-to-remove-moles-in-lawns/comment-page-1#comment-5 Claire Brown Tue, 19 May 2009 20:53:09 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=186#comment-5 I had a client with a sonic mole deterrent last year, - didn't get rid of the moles, - did make gardening in their garden annoying as you could hear and feel the vibrations every 10 mins or so when weeding. - My mum has had some success with sork anti mole bulbs. I had a client with a sonic mole deterrent last year, - didn’t get rid of the moles, - did make gardening in their garden annoying as you could hear and feel the vibrations every 10 mins or so when weeding. - My mum has had some success with sork anti mole bulbs.

]]> Comment on Algae Problem in Small Pond by Deborah http://askagardenquestion.com/algae-problem-in-small-pond/comment-page-1#comment-3 Deborah Sun, 10 May 2009 19:23:17 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=149#comment-3 I can't really answer either without a pic, but I've never had a bug of any kind eat a large hole out of my tomatoes. I'm thinking it might be birds or rats. I have had birds poke out just one hold, and rats tend to eat a large piece, and leave the rest. In order not to hurt the birds, I'd use this formula, which will kill the insects, but not the birds: 1/3 cup Murphy's Oil Soap 1 tbsp baking soda 1 gal. water Spray in the cooler part of the day, never during the midday, or it may burn your plants. I can’t really answer either without a pic, but I’ve never had a bug of any kind eat a large hole out of my tomatoes. I’m thinking it might be birds or rats. I have had birds poke out just one hold, and rats tend to eat a large piece, and leave the rest.

In order not to hurt the birds, I’d use this formula, which will kill the insects, but not the birds:
1/3 cup Murphy’s Oil Soap
1 tbsp baking soda
1 gal. water

Spray in the cooler part of the day, never during the midday, or it may burn your plants.

]]> Comment on Got a Garden Question? by Christina Salwitz http://askagardenquestion.com/got-a-garden-question/comment-page-1#comment-2 Christina Salwitz Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:46:00 +0000 http://askagardenquestion.com/?p=65#comment-2 What a terrific idea for Gardeners of all skill levels to have this simple, and straightforward tool in our kit! I'm looking forward to reading the questions and answers, helping other gardening friends and learning something new myself. Thanks for making this available! What a terrific idea for Gardeners of all skill levels to have this simple, and straightforward tool in our kit! I’m looking forward to reading the questions and answers, helping other gardening friends and learning something new myself.
Thanks for making this available!

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