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Gardens & Gardening > Your Garden > Help for the Home Gardener

Gardening Help Search

Temporary Closure

The Center for Home Gardening is currently closed to ensure staff and visitor well-being. Our Plant Doctor service is still available through e-mail. If you have any gardening questions, you can e-mail us at plantinformation@mobot.org.

Spring Plant Selection

As summer beings to set in, the Center for Home Gardening receives an increase in the number of calls and e-mails from home gardeners asking about pest and disease issues on their plants. The first step in managing any pest or disease problem is to identify the issue and determine what may be causing it. Below are a few commonly encountered insect pests, diseases and environmental issues that one may see in June and July. Click on the link to learn more about the pest, options for treatment and view additional photos. For the full list of Common Garden Pest and Problems, click HERE.

Insect/Animal Pests

Aphids

Affects:
Many ornamental and tree species

Deer

Affects:
Many ornamental species

Bagworms

Primarily Affects:
Arborvitae, red cedar & juniper

Rose Slugs (Sawflies)

Primarily Affects:
Roses

Japanese Beetles

Affects:
Many ornamental species

S quash Bugs

Primarily affects:

All cucurbits - Cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, etc.

Diseases

Black Spot of Rose Affects: Roses	Fireblight Primarily Affects: Rose family plants - Apple, crabapple, hawthorn, pear, flowering quince
Cedar Apple Rust Primarily Affects: Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), apples, crabapples; sometimes pears, quince and serviceberry	Powdery Mildew Affects: Many ornamental plants

Environmental Issues

Drought and Water Stress

Scorch, Sunburn and Heat Stress

Seasonal Gardening Tips

Watch for bagworms feeding on many garden plants, but especially juniper and arborvitae.
Most houseplants brought outside prefer a bright spot shaded from afternoon sun. Check soil moisture daily during hot weather.
Continue spraying roses with a fungicide to prevent black spot disease.
Trees and shrubs may still be fertilized before July 4th.
Water turf as needed to prevent drought stress.
Zoysia can be fertilized now while actively growing. Do not exceed 2-3 pounds of actual nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft. per year.
Plant pumpkins now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.
As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to "run", begin spray treatments to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.
Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems make the most efficient use of water during dry times.
To minimize diseases, water with overhead irrigation early enough in the day to allow the foliage to dry before nightfall.
Thinning overloaded fruit trees will result in larger and healthier fruits at harvest time. Thinned fruits should be a hands-width apart.
Summer fruiting raspberries are ripening now.

Learn More

Enjoy the fragrant blooms of the Ozark Witch Hazel flowering in shrub borders or wooded areas on warm sunny days.

Repot any root-bound house plants now before vigorous growth occurs. Choose a new container that is only 1 or 2 inches larger in diameter than the old pot.