|
Weird But True
|
Q: "Help! I just trimmed my hedge and now it's dying..."
A: Very often, leaves on a hedge may turn brown in areas following hard pruning. This condition is called leaf scorch. Essentially older leaves that are now exposed to sunlight get sun-burned. Not to worry though - new leaves should emerge healthy.
In the picture: A recently-pruned Sweet Viburnum hedge exhibits symptoms of sun scorch.
A: Very often, leaves on a hedge may turn brown in areas following hard pruning. This condition is called leaf scorch. Essentially older leaves that are now exposed to sunlight get sun-burned. Not to worry though - new leaves should emerge healthy.
In the picture: A recently-pruned Sweet Viburnum hedge exhibits symptoms of sun scorch.
Q: "We recently moved into our home. Now the grass is dying along one side of the home."
A: Many conditions can lead to the decline of turfgrass. In this case, the homeowners drained their saltwater swimming pool following heavy rains.
Swimming pool water - whether saltwater or
chlorine - should be drained away from plant material. This includes lawns as well as shrubs,
trees and flowers.
A: Many conditions can lead to the decline of turfgrass. In this case, the homeowners drained their saltwater swimming pool following heavy rains.
Swimming pool water - whether saltwater or
chlorine - should be drained away from plant material. This includes lawns as well as shrubs,
trees and flowers.
In our business we encounter many bugs! And once in a while we see something that we haven’t seen before. An interesting example is the Edwards Wasp Moth Caterpillar that we encountered earlier this week. This caterpillar, which feeds exclusively on Ficus, tends to pupate (form Cocoons) on the sides
of buildings and on soffits. This annoying habit makes this caterpillar an important pest. This caterpillar is not the only species that has this annoying habit – common caterpillars including Tussock Moth and Oleander Caterpillar do as well.
of buildings and on soffits. This annoying habit makes this caterpillar an important pest. This caterpillar is not the only species that has this annoying habit – common caterpillars including Tussock Moth and Oleander Caterpillar do as well.
Since we don’t have many Ficus trees around in Central Florida, the Edwards Wasp Moth Caterpillar is uncommon. And it turns out that our friends at the University of Florida Entomology & Nematology Department did not have great specimens of this caterpillar in their collection – we gladly sent them some very happy caterpillars.
