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 an orange moth drinking nectar from a pink Milkweed flower.

Garden Pests

9 Ways To Get Rid of Squash Vine Borers For Good

There’s a little garden heartbreak when a perfectly healthy cucurbit suddenly wilts almost overnight. The pervasive squash vine borer hones in on its host plants to feed, grow, and reproduce. Summer and winter squash and pumpkins are favorites. If you’ve spotted the insect or experienced its destruction, join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring ways to prevent the pest from taking over your vines.

Close-up of oval green leaves affected by salt burn showing brownish-orange edges.

Plant Problems

What is Salt Burn in Plants?

Salt burn is a condition that has many causes that may damage or kill plants. But what exactly causes this condition? And is it treatable? Gardening expert Christina Conner explains what exactly salt burn is, how it happens, what symptoms to look for, and how to prevent and treat it.

Close-up of a bright pink hollyhock flower with petals showing uneven holes from pest damage.

Garden Pests

What’s Eating My Hollyhocks? 7 Hollyhock Pests

You're not alone if you're struggling with pests on your hollyhocks. These stunning members of the Mallow family tend to be targets of quite a few common garden insects. Join gardening enthusiast Melissa Strauss in uncovering who the culprits are and how to deal with them.

adding vinegar essence over weed growing between concrete floor tiles

Weeds

Does Vinegar Kill Weeds?

There are many ways to avoid herbicides in an organic landscape, and you may wonder if vinegar is one of them. Garden expert and former organic farmer Logan Hailey explores the science, safety, and practicality of using vinegar as a weed killer.

A close-up of a soft pink tubular petunia flower infested with pests - tiny green aphids.

Garden Pests

7 Petunia Pests: ID and Treatment

Common garden pests are pesky. They may weaken plants and carry fungal diseases and viruses. Petunias are beautiful summer-flowering annuals that appeal to certain plant-feeding insects in their most active season. If your bloomer shows signs of stress or damage beyond cultural issues, scout for common pests. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores pests that enjoy petunias as much as we do and how to identify and treat them.

A row of pink and red flower spikes bloom against a wood-sided building.

Plant Problems

Hollyhock Rust: ID and Treatment

Hollyhock rust is a fungal disease that readily spreads among these warm-season bloomers. Once it sets in, it is difficult to mitigate, but not all is lost. Here, garden expert Katherine Rowe looks at how to identify and treat the infection and how to prevent its spread.

Bindweed, With an aggressive vining growth habit, develop climbing vines that allow the plant to easily scale fences and overtake other plants.

Plant Problems

How to Get Rid of Bindweed: 7 Pro Tips

With an aggressive vining growth habit and robust rhizomes, bindweed is one of the toughest weeds to remove from your garden. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn some expert tips on how to rid your property of this pesky plant.

A weed burner emitting flames to clear weeds on a paved surface.

Weeds

How and Why to Burn Your Weeds

We usually don’t want fires in our garden, but flame weeding can provide a quick solution for aggressive weed seedlings. In this article, organic farmer Logan Hailey explains how to burn your weeds and important safety precautions to consider before grabbing a torch.

Close-up of a flowering Clematis plant features stunning pink flowers with delicate, layered petals and vibrant green, deeply lobed leaves with brown spots due to disease.

Plant Problems

5 Common Clematis Diseases and How to Treat Them

Clematis brings exotic beauty and vertical interest with its glorious flowers, vining stems, and attractive foliage, whether deciduous or evergreen. While a relatively carefree grower, clematis is susceptible to common fungal diseases that impact growth, flowering, and form. If detected early, plants can recover. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in a look at common issues for clematis and how to treat and prevent them.