Some species of palm trees are more susceptible to illness than others. And in some cases, something can be done after the symptoms of a disease are noticeable. However, these terminal illnesses can only be contained once they’re caught—so you can still save the lives...
Indianapolis is known as The Racing Capital of the World. Every May, hundreds of thousands congregate to the racing mecca known as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where they watch Indy Cars circulate around a two and a half mile track, two hundred times! This...
Some things are as awful as they sound and Take-All Root Rot (or TARR for short) is one of them. Most prevalent during periods of prolonged rainfall such as summer to early fall when Florida receives the majority of its annual rainfall, TARR affects St. Augustine...
The 2021 hurricane season begins June 1st and lasts until November 30th. The 2021 forecast from Colorado State University predicts seventeen named storms could form, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes—meaning Category 3 or higher. We...
The beginning of the growing season is often a time when palm nutrient deficiencies show up. Palms start growing quickly this time of year which depletes nutrient reserves in the soil from the last nutrient application. The most common nutritional deficiencies of...
If you notice pine trees in your community are turning partially or totally brown, you may want to take a closer look. Saw-dust in the bark crevices or at the base of the tree, small round holes in the bark or visible sap accumulation are telltale signs pine bark...
Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, are native to South America and entered the US around the 1930s. Since then, they have moved into our neighborhoods and have proven not to be the best neighbors. Their stings cause itchy, painful pustules on the skin...
Sooty mold is a black, flaky growth on plant leaves, stems, and trunks that is often confused for some sort of plant disease. In-stead of being the cause of a plant problem, it is a sign that insects have been feeding—specifically, those of the “piercing-sucking”...
The Rugose Spiraling Whitely (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus), or RSW, made its debut in the U.S. in 2009, wreaking havoc on Gumbo Limbo trees in Miami-Dade County. After its arrival, this invasive pest, thought to originate in Central America, quickly increased its...
Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD), formerly known as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD) is a lethal disease of palms. It is caused by a phytoplasma – a bacterium with no cell wall that lives in the vascular conducting tissue of plants. The disease is transmitted by insect...