Articles tagged with: Trees and shrubs
We’ve had dozens of people walk into the Payne County Extension Office this fall asking for help in identifying an unusual fruiting tree. Turns out it’s not unusual at all, it’s just unusual for native Mexican plum Prunus mexicana to fruit in this part of Oklahoma. The weather conditions must have been just right this spring […]
We are getting reports in the Extension office of fall webworm activity. While these are common pests, this is a bit more than we normally see. It’s hard to be too bold in predicting the future for insect activity but this is one to keep an eye on right now. This pest is most well-known […]
I’ve already gotten several calls this spring with concerns about oak tree leaves showing damage. In all cases so far, the oak leaf vein gall is the cause of the problem. It looks bad and exactly the kind of thing we tend to want to reach for a bottle and “spray something” for. Avoid the […]
Concerns (very valid) over the declining numbers of bees seem to be creating an increasing interest from gardeners in planting species that attract and support pollinators. This is an encouraging development for at least three reasons: One, it’s a good plan and the pollinators will indeed benefit. Two is diversity in the landscape, as in […]
It’s no secret that the Bradford pear tree has proven to be a problematic tree. While its spring and fall beauty is undeniable and hard to compete with in our climate, its inherently weak branching structure makes it very susceptible to breaking apart as it matures. Wind, ice or heavy snow often end the lives […]
This pine tree is showing a very common problem many home/land owners encounter when they take a close look at their trees. Often misdiagnosed for borers, it is actually damage caused by the feeding of a yellow-bellied sapsucker! This woodpecker feeds not only on the sap, but on the insects that the sap attracts. […]
On a recent visit to The Botanic Garden at OSU, I spotted a pin oak that has fallen victim to a (relatively) recent lightning strike. This is a good tree to share lightning strike characteristics for a couple of reasons. One, this is “classic” damage in that it is instantly recognizable for what it is. […]