Plant Problems Archives

A dense cluster of vibrant pink blossoms covers the plant, with dark green leaves barely visible underneath.

Do Chrysanthemums Provide Natural Pest Control?

Not only are chrysanthemums jewels of the fall display, they also boast a hidden talent. Hardy garden mums contain chemical extracts that repel and control common garden pests. Whether through aromatic flowers and foliage or concentrated insecticides, mums have versatile applications. Justify adding a few more to your autumnal arrangement to enjoy time outside and healthy plants. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring the underlying attributes of these fall favorites.

A group of rose chafer beetles cluster on pink rose blooms.

Garden Pests

Rose Chafer Beetles: Identification and Management

The chafer rose beetle loves roses as much as we do, but its palette doesn’t end there. They have a voracious appetite for the tender growth of flowers, buds, and leaves on many trees, shrubs, and perennials. Explore the indicators of this pest and signs of when to manage its spread with gardening expert Katherine Rowe.

A close-up of a tomato plant with leaves turning yellow and brown, showing signs of deterioration as they curl and droop against the green stems.

Plant Problems

9 Common Garden Diseases That Appear in Fall

As the weather starts to cool in fall, you may think the worst of your pest and disease problems are over. Unfortunately, there are still several diseases that appreciate the cooler weather. Gardening expert Madison Moulton lists nine common garden diseases to watch out for as the season changes, along with tips to prevent and manage them.

A man's hand holds a Monstera leaf affected by a fungal disease, revealing large, irregular brown spots along the edges, with the once glossy green surface appearing wilted and discolored.

Plant Problems

5 Most Common Houseplant Diseases: Prevention and Treatment

Brown blotches on your philodendron? Wilting jade plant? In this article, longtime gardener and houseplant parent Lindsay Miller walks through the 5 most common houseplant diseases and how to prevent them.

Close-up of white pots containing leggy petunia plants with sparse, green, oval-shaped leaves and small, pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with slightly curled petals.

Plant Problems

5 Solutions for Leggy Petunias

Petunias are stunning when they are in flower, a great addition to any summer garden. However, they are not without their problems, one of the most common of which is leggy growth. Gardening expert Madison Moulton gives you five solutions to try on your leggy petunias.

Wilting petunias still looking healthy with bright purple petals with white spots placed in a container in the garden

Plant Problems

9 Ways to Save Wilting Petunias

Petunias growing in a garden setting or in pots and hanging baskets will quickly let you know they need help by wilting. Wendy Moulton discusses the problems, how to save plants from wilting, and how to fix them when they are a bit stressed.

White squash leaves with a person holding a piece with bare hand, appearing to have crop attached to the plant near a concrete pathway

Plant Problems

Why Are the Leaves on my Squash Turning White?

Did your lush squash leaves slowly turn a powdery white over time? You’re probably dealing with a common squash disease, powdery mildew. In this guide, gardening expert Madison Moulton explains why the leaves on your squash are turning white and what you should do about it.

A cluster of small black aphids covers the stem and young leaves of a plant, causing visible curling and damage to the foliage.

Garden Pests

7 Common Bean Pests to Look For This Season

Leaf-sucking insects and bean-eating worms threaten your tender bean harvest! With some prevention techniques, we’ll ensure these bugs stay far away from your precious crops. Learn the seven bean pests that target susceptible plants alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.

Weeds

Don’t Let These 11 Aggressive Weeds Take Over Your Garden This Fall

Fall rains and cool weather invite pesky, aggressive weeds that quickly overrun cultivated gardens. If you know how to identify them when they’re young, you can easily weed the seedlings before they grow out of control. Native plant gardener Jerad Bryant shares these 11 common weeds to watch for at the growing season’s end.

Cape Leadwort displays clusters of bright blue to pale blue flowers and narrow, elongated dark green leaves growing alternately along the stems, and is among the plants you shouldn't touch.

Plant Problems

13 Harmful Plants You Shouldn’t Touch

Nobody wants to come in from a hike or weeding session to find their arms or legs covered with an itchy or painful rash. Unfortunately, some plants produce irritants that can cause this type of discomfort. Join plant expert Briana Yablonski to learn a list of plants you shouldn’t touch.

The flowering plants display vibrant blooms with clusters of colorful flowers, while their leaves have turned brown and wilted.

Plant Problems

13 Causes of Brown, Wilted, or Crisp Leaves on Your Garden Plants

Brown, wilted, or crisp foliage is a sign of plant stress, which also causes gardener stress. The cause may be the wrong plant in the wrong place or other cultural preferences. It may also relate to underlying pests or diseases. With gardening expert Katherine Rowe, explore common reasons for declining leaves.

A close-up of tomato leaves shows a white, powdery coating that affects their surface and overall appearance.

Plant Problems

9 Tricks to Defeat Powdery Mildew in the Late Summer Garden

Powdery mildew shocks garden plants during late summer. This fungal disease wreaks havoc on tender leaves and may reduce crop yields if left unchecked. Garden writer Jerad Bryant breaks down tricks from Epic Gardening’s Jacques in the Garden to defeat it for good!

Plant Problems

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