Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Our focus is to continually provide education on horticultural practices as well as to share our experience with which herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs perform best in our zone. We are just starting this area of the website and will be adding questions regularly. If you have a question that you want answered, please email us at info@GHHF.org
Why do my Azaleas look bleached out?
Most likely, its Azalea Lacebug. This is a tiny insect that sucks out the fluids of the leaf, leaving the leaf splotchy or bleached out. This is especially an issue in the late summer when the pest population hits its peak.
Why didn’t my magnolia bloom this spring?
One reason could be a late frost. Early flowering trees can be damaged by late frosts. As the flower buds are maturing to open they are damaged by the cold and may not open.
When is the best time to prune my lilac?
You can prune a lilac in any season, but unless you prune right after it finishes flowering there is a good chance you are pruning off next years flower buds.
Why are my leaves turning yellow and falling off my crabapple in the spring?
Most likely there is a fungal pathogen that is infecting the leaf. Cedar-Apple Rust is common in effecting both Junipers and Apples. A licensed pesticide applicator could apply preventative fungicides in early spring to protect your tree.
How do you catch a groundhog?
We use have-a-heart traps and use apples or cantaloupe to bait the trap. We then relocate the trapped animals to a location some distance away.
Why is the bark on my shrub black?
Black sooty mold. This is a mold that grows on honeydew that is secreted by insects that are feeding off the plant. A certified arborist or plant health care professional would be able to identify the issue and treat the problem if necessary.