AMERICAN GARDENER

Pear trees can look remarkably healthy one season and then develop spotted leaves, blackened blossoms, distorted shoots, sticky foliage, or damaged fruit the next. Some problems begin so quietly that they are easy to overlook until they have already affected a significant part of the tree. What makes pear-tree problems particularly confusing is that different … Read more

Lettuce looks like a simple crop to grow, but its soft leaves make it attractive to a surprisingly wide range of insects and disease-causing organisms. A healthy lettuce plant can develop holes overnight, become covered with tiny insects, wilt despite having moist soil, or develop spots that spread across the leaves. What makes lettuce problems … Read more

Houseplants can look perfectly healthy one week and then suddenly develop yellow leaves, sticky stems, white patches, brown spots, or distorted new growth. Because most indoor plants live in a relatively controlled environment, it can be surprising to discover that they are still vulnerable to pests and diseases. The difference is that indoor growing conditions … Read more

Lemon trees are among the most rewarding citrus trees to grow. Their fragrant flowers, evergreen foliage, and bright yellow fruit make them useful in both home gardens and commercial orchards. Yet a lemon tree can also become a meeting point for aphids, scale insects, mites, leafminers, fungal diseases, bacterial diseases, and several other problems. The … Read more

Mulberry trees are generally vigorous plants once established, but they are not completely free from problems. Their leaves can be attacked by insects, while wet weather may encourage fungal leaf diseases. Stressed trees can also become more vulnerable to cankers, root diseases, and other disorders. The interesting thing about mulberries is that the problem is … Read more

Roses are among the most rewarding plants to grow, but they are also among the garden plants that tend to attract attention from pests and diseases. A rose can look vigorous one week and then develop spotted leaves, distorted shoots, damaged buds, or dying stems soon afterward. However, not every imperfect rose is suffering from … Read more

Apple trees can be remarkably productive, but a healthy-looking tree does not necessarily mean an easy crop. Apples are affected by insects, fungal and bacterial diseases, physiological disorders, weather damage, and problems associated with roots and soil. The good news is that an apple tree does not need to experience all of these problems. Susceptibility … Read more

Bamboo is often thought of as a nearly indestructible plant. Once established, many bamboos grow vigorously and can tolerate a surprising range of conditions. However, vigorous growth does not make bamboo immune to pests and diseases. Depending on the species, climate, and growing conditions, bamboo can experience insect infestations, fungal diseases, root problems, and other … Read more

Leeks (Allium porrum) are generally dependable vegetables, but their long leaves and tightly packed stems can attract several insects and provide favorable conditions for a range of diseases. Problems may appear as tiny holes, silvery streaks, distorted leaves, yellowing, wilting, orange spots, or decay around the base. The difficult part is that several leek problems … Read more

Cane begonias are among the most rewarding begonias to grow when you want a plant that provides both attractive foliage and height. Unlike compact wax begonias, cane begonias develop upright stems that resemble bamboo canes. Their leaves can be large, asymmetrical, spotted, striped, or distinctly wing-shaped, while mature plants can produce hanging clusters of flowers. … Read more