‘I have some weird, seemingly hollow, green, round balls falling from my oak tree. What in the world are these things?” — S.Y. You are describing an interesting growth that can occur on a variety of ...

A gall is an abnormal growth or swelling of a plant caused by hormones released from insects, mites, bacteria, or nematodes. They can appear on any part of the plant with vast variation in morphology, ...

This sounds to me like your witch hazels have galls. Insect and mite galls are common on trees and shrubs throughout the Chicago area and are generally nothing to be concerned about. Leaf galls rarely ...

Q: We have almost a dozen Italian cypress trees in our backyard. They seem to be dying, and it’s getting worse. We thought we saw spider webs on some. What would cause this browning, and what can we ...

If only we could garden without the insects, what a great place Texas could be. But they’re here, and so are we, and we must learn to identify and deal with the issues they bring us. Here are some of ...

Spider mites are stubborn pests that can feed on your houseplant's tissue and sap. They thrive in warm, dry environments with low humidity levels. To eradicate spider mites, quarantine your plant and ...

Dear Neil: We have almost a dozen Italian cypress trees in our backyard. They seem to be dying, and it’s getting worse. We thought we saw spider webs on some. What would cause this browning, and what ...

Here is a good example of the interaction of the environment, trees, and their pests. In a Napa landscape, mixed ornamental planting, with perennials and shrubs, one of four Italian cypress trees ...