Plant Problems

Learn how to avoid the many plant problems you'll run into when gardening - pests, diseases, and more. We provide treatment and prevention tips!

Close-up of female hands in white gloves removing fall weeds near strawberry plants.

Weeds

5 Fall Weeding Tips To Try this Season

Fall is the best time to tackle pesky weeds! They pull out of moist soil easily while young and struggle to reclaim the area under cool weather. Get them in autumn and you’ll have fewer weeds to pull during the growing season. With these five pro tips, join seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant in attacking aggressive plants.

A persimmon tree with clusters of bright orange ripe fruits among diseased leaves showing dark, scattered leaf spot.

Plant Diseases

5 Persimmon Tree Diseases and How to Treat Them

Whether you have a native American persimmon growing in your backyard or planted an Asian persimmon for fruit, it can be alarming to see your tree become discolored or deformed. Join grower Briana Yablonski to learn some common persimmon tree diseases and understand how to treat them.

The Spotted Lanternfly features a smooth, elongated body with a mottled appearance, characterized by an intricate design of black spots and a pair of strikingly colorful wings.

Garden Pests

Spotted Lanternflies: How to ID and Manage Them in the Garden

Whether you’re already seeing spotted lanternflies at home or anticipate that they may spread to your region soon, you’re probably wondering about these invasive pests. Exactly how detrimental are they to the garden? Are they dangerous? What do they look like, and how do I manage them? Plant biologist Emily Estep will give you all the basics on spotted lanternflies, including how to ID them during their multiple stages and how to manage them in the garden.

A plump, green caterpillar with a slightly curved body crawls across layered, bright pink mum petals, framed by lobed, dark green leaves.

Plant Problems

7 Mum Pests to Watch For This Season

Hardy mums are usually problem-free but aren’t immune to common garden pests. If your mum shows signs of stress or damage, scout for feeding insects who enjoy the seasonal bloomers as much as we do. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores chrysanthemum pests and how to best stave them off.

The vibrant pink chrysanthemums bloom brightly against the backdrop of their fading yellow leaves, creating a striking contrast in the garden.

Plant Problems

Why Are My Mum’s Leaves Turning Yellow?

Noticing your mums’ leaves turning yellow can be a bit alarming, but don’t worry - there’s usually a simple explanation! In this article, gardener and biologist Lindsay Miller explains the common reasons behind this issue and how you can get your mums back to their vibrant best.

Tall, slender garlic plants stand with fading, yellowing leaves, signaling the growing problems.

Plant Problems

15 Garlic Growing Problems To Watch For

Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, although it sometimes has issues during the growing season. The last thing you want is a mold or watering issue to threaten your bulb harvest! Join longtime Allium gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering the problems you should watch for when growing garlic.

A close-up of a bright magenta flower with a drooping curved stem, partially bloomed, with a yellow clip attaching it to a support stick, set against a softly blurred background.

Plant Problems

7 Reasons Why The Buds Are Dropping From Your Orchid

Anticipating the exotic blooms from our tropical beauties only to have buds suddenly fall from the stem is disconcerting. But there’s hope for a flowering future. Orchid bud blast is a common response to the growing environment. With the right cultural conditions, the plant may recover to yield years of blooms. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring why orchids lose their buds and how to remedy the situation.

A lush garden bed filled with pink flowers and dense green foliage, some leaves showing spots of white and brown, with numerous blooms at various stages of growth spread throughout the area.

Plant Problems

10 Pro Tips For Treating Powdery Mildew on Roses

Powdery mildew is a common disease that can strike your garden in spring and summer. Roses are a common victim, especially when they are stressed due to lack of water or sunlight. Gardening expert Madison Moulton provides 10 tips you can use to treat powdery mildew on roses.