MIRAGE-Benchmark/MIRAGE huggingface dataset:
Why is her grass dying on her lawn?

Question: A customer sent in these pictures of her front and back lawn.  I suggested she come in and purchase a residential lawn and garden kit.  She would like your advise first, maybe you can determine what is wrong by the pictures attached.  Thanks.

responder: V/r,  Replied June 10, 2023, 7:51 AM EDT
response: Good Morning, It has been a very dry.  Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to diagnose turf diseases in this forum. I recommend contacting MSU Plant Diagnostic lab. Include info such as when and how much you water, when you lasted fertilized, what other chemicals were applied and when. If they need a sod sample they will contact you. https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/ Using a hand lens looking at your grass blades, and comparing to the diseases here, you may be able to spot something. Turf Diseases - Turf (msu.edu) As you can see, the possibilities are many, and a close examination of grass blades under magnification is usually required.  I suggest you have a soil test to see if your lawn is missing any nutrients. Home | MSU Soil Test  I hope this helps. Thank you for using our service.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 13, 2023, 8:07 AM EDT
response: Thanks so much for your help.   Joanne   Joanne Silvia Office Manager MSU Extension – Saginaw County Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital Center of Hope 723 Emerson Street Saginaw, MI  48607 Phone: 989.907-6520 Email: <personal data hidden>          MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.   Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.   From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 7:52 AM To: Silvia, Joanne <<personal data hidden>> Subject: Re: Why is her grass dying on her lawn? (#0104488)
Sick Strawberry Plants

Question: Any tips on what may be causing some of my strawberry plants to flounder? 

I planted a good number of strawberry roots (Camarosa, June bearing) on my rooftop deck in the Fall of 2021. I planted them in both Strawberry Mr. Stacky towers as well as 1 gal grow bags with homemade potting mix (5 gal peat moss, 5 gal compost/leafgro, 3 gal perlite, 1/4 cup lime, and some organic balanced fertilizer). They did well in Spring 2022 but fewer than half came back this Spring. Of the ones that did come back, maybe half were robust and the other looked like the attached pictures. I tried to nurse these sick ones to health but had no success. 

Any idea of what kind of things could have killed these plants based off of the photos?

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 08, 2023, 1:46 PM EDT
response: Hi- there may have been multiple causes. Here are a few possibilities:Cold damage over the winter (especially late December) and wide temperature swings could have damaged crowns and roots. Your plants are very exposed on the roof.Roots could have been injured due to a lack of oxygen in waterlogged growing media or root rots.The white flecking or stippling on leaves could be from environmental factors but also looks like possible insect or mite feeding (check leaf undersides with a hand lens). Jon

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 4:10 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your speedy response and the great tips! Maybe cold damage is more likely than waterlogging since it equally affected the plants whether they were in the traditional plastic/impermeable pots vs. the cloth grow bags which tend to dry out more quickly? I was worried about black root rot, so I'm glad you didn't bring that up :)  Best,MikeOn Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 1:46 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Diseased blueberry seedling/young plant

Question: A few weeks ago, I bought and transplanted a blueberry seedling into my backyard garden. It's growing in a ~20 gal grow bag with homemade potting mix consisting of 5 gal peat moss, 5 gal compost/leafgrow, 3 gal perlite, ~1/4 cup lime, ~2 cups of sulfur (to lower pH as blueberries are acid loving?), and some organic fertilizer. Unfortunately, the leaves have been pretty sickly since despite being careful to not overwater. I have some issue with spider mites which I've been behind on spraying for but I haven't seen too many of late...

Would you be able to advise on what the problem may be?

Thanks,
Mike

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 08, 2023, 2:18 PM EDT
response: Hi- This looks like heat and drought stress. Blueberries can be difficult to establish in containers. You have added challenges on the roof. Try to keep the root system consistently and uniformly moist. As long as the growing mix is draining adequately you can't overwater.  Fertilize with either an "acid-loving plant" fertilizer or ammonium sulfate. They should perk up with consistent water and available nutrients.   The growing mix you created is highly buffered and it will take some time to drop the pH. But that should not adversely affect plant growth. High pH is more of a problem in-ground with low organic matter soils. We would recommend 1/4 to 1/2 cup of elemental sulfur/20 gal. to drop the pH by 1 unit.  Jon

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 4:29 PM EDT
response: Thanks again for the speedy response and great tips! I will try watering every day and adding some ammonium sulfate. Hopefully, my soil mix combined with the fabric bag should drain adequately, but I will elevate the fabric brag off the ground with a couple of bricks just to be sure.  Best,MikeOn Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 2:18 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 08, 2023, 9:28 PM EDT
response: Good luck! Jon
Something strange in outside water feature

Question: While sucking up water out of the basin of a water feature we found an odd item. It looks like a fetus 
of some type.  Any idea what it could be?  This is the first clean out since last fall.  Possible Salamander?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 09, 2023, 9:02 AM EDT
response: Your question presents an interesting challenge. In spite of being a professional biologist in addition to being a Master Gardener, I cannot provide you with a precise ID of this creature. For sure the muscular structure is not that of a salamander. There appears to be relatively little decomposition. I am struck by the absence of any hair or fur. My guess that this is a fetus of a rather small mammal. I cannot say much beyond this with any degree of certainty. Interesting find. Thanks for using our forum.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 11:20 AM EDT
response: Thank you so much for your evaluation!  The U of M has always been so helpful.  You’re all great.  Sure wish we knew what it was!Sent from my iPhone On Jun 9, 2023, at 8:02 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 09, 2023, 11:25 AM EDT
response: Glad to have been of assistance.
Rabbits ate bark off of young tree - now what?

Question: I recently planted three 1" diameter fruit trees (2 apple, 1 plum). I noticed today that the rabbits have taken a 1"x6" vertical strip off bark off of on apple tree and a 1"x2" strip off bark off of the other tree. I installed my white plastic tree guards for now after I noticed the rabbit damage. Do I need to apply anything to care for the exposed section of the trees? The rabbits did not strip bark from around the whole tree - just a vertical strip. Attached is a photo with the 1"x6" damage.

responder: Deb Kroon  Replied June 08, 2023, 10:33 PM EDT
response: Good evening Kallie and thank you for reaching out to ask2.extension? The rabbits were really hunger this past winter.  I am assuming this damage was done over the winter.  If it is recent, get moth balls and put around the trees.  You can use some of the repellants that are sold, but they have to be reapplied after a rain.  You could also put a fence around each tree to keep the rabbits away.  Just a 1 foot high chicken wire or something else they can’t get through. Don’t put anything on the tree, let it heal.  They should live, but there is always the possibility that they could get something else and die. I would remove the tree guards until winter.  You don’t want too much moisture around the wound.  Put them back on in the fall. Good luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 11:31 PM EDT
response: Thank you, Deb.  I planted the trees dormant this spring and this rabbit activity is new within just the last few days.  I'll try out the options you mentioned. Thank you!On Thu, Jun 8, 2023, 9:33 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Septic mound grass

Question: Several years ago we planted “no-mow” grass on the septic mound. It is being overtaken by tall wide- blade grass. Is there a product that can eliminate the undesired grass and protect the fescue?

responder: MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied June 09, 2023, 8:45 AM EDT
response: Any product that would kill one grass will kill the others as well.  If it were a broad leaf plant there are products that work but a grass is a grass.  Without a closeup of the undesirable grass with roots attached I can’t accurately assess what you are trying to get rid of. One option is to kill all the grass and start over.  Another option—since your mixture contains several fescues, you might check with the supplier and see if you can get more of the desired grasses to out compete the undesired by overseeding in the fall or early spring.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 1:31 PM EDT
response: Mary, Thank you for your response. I attached a photo of the grass for additional information and to see if you have further thoughts. I will also contact the supplier for advice. Nancy AchterhoffOn Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 7:45 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied June 09, 2023, 2:11 PM EDT
response: It’s a brome grass probably smooth brome.  And it is considered invasive.  Compare what you are seeing with the following website. Look for the M or W constriction of the blade.  https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/smooth-brome-grass As far as control-hand pulling, burning and especially you will want to mow it before it seeds another crop.  It spreads by rhizomes/roots and seeds. https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_B/Bromus_inermis.pdf
Friend or foe?

Question: Good morning,

I'm hoping someone can tell me who these critters are. I'm assuming not good news . . . they are flying insects, and often attached, presumably mating. I've found 5-7 on melon vines, and one on nearby basil.

Thank you,
Donna

responder: Travis County Master Gardeners  Replied June 08, 2023, 12:34 PM EDT
response: Looks like leaf footed bugs, which tend to cause damage as they pierce plant tissues and suck sap and leave wounds.  Best controlled if you can catch and remove individually.  Some gardeners have a dedicated hand vacuum for just this task (since some insects have strong odors, you keep that vac separate from your house vacuum).  If you are considering insecticides, please avoid pyrethroid insecticides as those are toxic to bees and other pollinators.  Instead, please consider using insecticidal soap and then consider neem oil as your second line of defense.      Wishing you all the best. Bob Kunkel

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 2:04 PM EDT
response: Thanks Bob! I appreciate the info and your note about not harming beneficials. I've been collecting them in a jar of soapy water. That's working well and now that I know what they are, I'll keep it up.Thanks,DonnaOn Thu, Jun 8, 2023, 11:34 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Tri-color Beech tree leaf curl disease

Question: My beautiful tri-color beech tree seems to have a fungus or nematode invasion. I read about a disease causing sparse leaf growth, leather-like leaves and leaf curl started in Ohio in 2012 and has spread throughout the NE. What are remedies?

responder: Jennifer Andon  Replied June 21, 2023, 3:24 PM EDT
response: Good afternoon and thank you for your question.  I do apologize for the delay in getting back to you.  Leaf curl in beech trees could be a result of several different factors.  Beech leaf disease is caused by fungal pathogen.  If this is the case, there is presently no treatment available.  https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/1b6ef179-92be-49d6-ab38-74ecda2ed5c5/PestAlert-BeechLeafDisease-USDA.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_K9I401S01H7F40QBNJU3SO1F56-1b6ef179-92be-49d6-ab38-74ecda2ed5c5-o7L4IqG  Leaf curl on beech could also be caused by aphids or other pathogens. Here is another resource for your reference:  https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/disease/beech-leaf-disease  For an accurate diagnosis, I would encourage you to submit a sample to the OSU diagnostic clinic.  If it is in fact Beech Leaf Disease, it will need to be reported:    To report BLD, contact ODNR Forest Health Program Administrator Tom Macy at <personal data hidden> or use the BLD section of the NE Ohio Parks app available at parkapps.kent.edu.  Please let me know if you have any further questions.  Thank you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 03, 2023, 8:43 PM EDT
response: Hi, thanks for your response. My neighbor has a similar beech tree, though a bit younger, which has the same symptoms. I would like to send a cutting of my tree to the OSU diagnostic clinic as you suggest so that I am certain of its diagnosis. Is there a specific person or department I should contact?  Gloria Jean NolanShawnee Hills, OH 43065<personal data hidden> Sent from Mail for Windows From: Ask ExtensionSent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 3:24 PMTo: Gloria Jean NolanSubject: Re: Tri-color Beech tree leaf curl disease (#0104405)

responder: Jennifer Andon  Replied July 05, 2023, 11:55 AM EDT
response: Good morning.  You may download the form and mail to the address listed.  There is no one in particular that you need to contact.  I wish you and your neighbor the best with your tree.  Thanks.
What is wrong with my red maple tree?

Question: In the past few months, I have noticed that my red maple tree is losing its bark. It simply appears to be rotting off. Also, some of the branches do not have leaves and the leaves that are present have brown spots. Can you please tell me what's going on here? southern middle Tennessee area .

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 12:35 AM EDT
response: Additional picture

responder: Lucy Edwards  Replied June 15, 2023, 8:38 PM EDT
response: Good afternoon, It appears that there is decay in the cambium layer causing the bark to fall off. This layer contains the xylem and phloem, the active layers of the tree. Damage to this part of the tree results in canopy dieback. It is usually a slow death, but its continued decline is inevitable.
Shield bug eggs…friend or foe?

Question: Could you please help identify these eggs? I believe they were laid by a species of shield bug but I’m not sure which one. I live in Jacksonville and found these on the underside of a Showy Milkweed plant. 
I know there is a shield bug (brown?) that is considered an invasive species here. Do these eggs belong to one of those or are they native?  If they are of the invader variety what should I do with the eggs?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 14, 2023, 10:51 AM EDT
response: McKenize: I am going to do a little more research to determine who laid these eggs. Have any of them hatched yet? Rich

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 15, 2023, 1:12 PM EDT
response: Sorry the pictures aren’t great but hopefully you can see enough to ID them. Are the black ones newly hatched?I cut the milkweed leaf from the plant and placed in a jar incase tgese are the Brown Marnorated shield bugs.Thank you for your assistance Cheers!Lara Strazdas  Strazdas Fine Art & Illustrationwww.strazdasfineart.com541.899.3297On Jun 14, 2023, at 07:51, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 16, 2023, 11:57 AM EDT
response: Lara: Thanks for the great pictures. These are not eggs of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug from what I have seen. They look like they may be of the Harlequin Bug, but we do not have a good key to the eggs of ‘True Bugs’ When they get a little older and larger we will be able to tell especially if you send another great picture like you have. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for contacting us. Rich
lace bugs

Question: I submitted a question just prior to this about lace bug infestation of azaelas.  I have pictures attached and have described a detergent solution treatment of undersides of leaves, heavily pruning treatment and hosing down underside of leaves as the initial treatment I've tried so far.  The infestation is so bad that only 1/10 to 1/20 undamaged leaves remain.

responder: Bill Hutmacher  Replied June 08, 2023, 5:30 PM EDT
response: You are already doing some cultural control actions that I would recommend.  You should continue these actions.  Try to keep your plants as stress-free as possible with sufficient water and fertilizer.  Healthy plants are better equipped to resist lace bugs.  In the future, make sure to look for and remove brown patches (eggs) along leaf mid-ribs.  Also, make sure you start hosing with water and insecticidal soap/horticultural oil application early at the first sign of nymphs.   Here is some information from the Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook that may be helpful - https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/azalea-rhododendron-lace-bug-0.   Check out the Management- cultural controls section.      Also check the list of lace bug-resistant azalea cultivars for future plantings.  If you consider using chemical controls beyond insecticidal soaps, please do NOT use them while the azaleas or any adjacent plants are in bloom.   This will help protect bees and any other pollinators.   Please follow all label instructions.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 6:38 PM EDT
response: Thank you.  Do you think they will recover if only 10%of the current leaves are doing okay.  I'm hopeful.  They did have an amazing bloom just under a month ago.  On Thu, Jun 8, 2023, 2:30 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Bill Hutmacher  Replied June 09, 2023, 4:59 PM EDT
response: If you keep up your efforts to disrupt the lace bugs with regular leaf water spraying and keep your shrubs otherwise healthy, there is probably a good chance they'll survive.  As the shrub produces new leaves, you might concentrate your efforts on them as the damaged leaves will not recover.
New Maple Trees

Question: Hello I have new Autumn Blaze and Matador maples planted and the leaves don’t look good. I saw a large beatle on it but I don’t know if the damage is from insects or something else. Can you help?

responder: Paul W. U of M Extension Master Gardener Dakota County Replied June 10, 2023, 6:11 PM EDT
response: It is most likely transplant shock. You might want to review this article from the U. Planting and transplanting trees and shrubs | UMN Extension  The most important things are to 1) check for girdling roots and 2) plant no deeper than the root flare and 3) be sure to keep the tree watered and mulched.  Keep watering the tree in the fall until the ground freezes.

responder: The Question Asker Replied October 03, 2023, 3:32 PM EDT
response: Hello again, I’ve been monitoring one of my new trees closely all summer, paying special attention to watering. After our last conversation and watching your videos I learned my trees had been planted too deeply . After I corrected the issue one of my Matadors clearly remained stressed as its leaves turned and stayed deep red all summer. Now the leaves have wilted and dried without falling and I’m concerned the tree may be dead. I’ve included photos and am looking to see if maybe it has gone dormant and should bounce back next spring or if you agree that it may be beyond saving.

responder: Paul W. U of M Extension Master Gardener Dakota County Replied October 04, 2023, 12:04 PM EDT
response: The tree has undergone a lot of stress and is not healthy and,, in fact, may be dead. It is a little late in the season to replace it so I would take a wait and see attitude and see what happens in the spring.  Most trees have a one-year warranty, maybe you can get a replacement from the garden center. If you are on the edge, I would contact them with a heads-up
Garlic plant aphid?

Question: What are these on our burning bushes?  The entire top of our three bushes are infested.  I have never seen these before in the 20 years since we planted them.  Read an article about a new aphid to destroy wild garlic (I think).  My husband used neem oil and Captain Jacks insecticide. 

Thank you.
Anita Ackley

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 09, 2023, 4:16 PM EDT
response: The Garlic Mustard Aphid does not use burning bush as a host. Unfortunately your photo is not high enough resolution for me to identify what is present on the leaves. There are other aphids that will feed on Euonymus. If they are aphids, then insecticidal soap is a good option. Sometimes you can even just spray them off with a hard spray from the garden hose. If you want them identified, you could send a sample to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory (pestid.msu.edu).

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 5:07 PM EDT
response: I'm providing additional photos.  Three burning bushes I have, the entire top of the bush stems are curled.  Each curl had many if these bugs, along with a white doted substance on the leaf below it.  This is a first for us in the 20+ years they have been planted.  We used insecticidal soap, neem oil, but I'm not sure it has helped.Thank you.On Fri, Jun 9, 2023, 4:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 5:53 PM EDT
response: Looks like these same bushes have Asian lady beetles.  Friend or foe?On Fri, Jun 9, 2023, 4:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 5:53 PM EDT
response: Looks like these same bushes have Asian lady beetles.  Friend or foe?On Fri, Jun 9, 2023, 4:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 12, 2023, 8:07 AM EDT
response: The lady beetle larva is definitely a friend! They will eat the aphids. As bad as this looks, it will not have a big impact on the overall health of the shrubs. In the long term, natural enemies like the lady beetles will attack the aphids and keep them from returning next year. I would not recommend using any stronger pesticides. There is a chance some of the shoot tips that are most heavily attacked will wilt and die, but they can just be pruned off to improve the aesthetics of the shrub. The best course of action with this kind of infestation is usually to just ride it out and let nature take its course.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 12, 2023, 8:25 AM EDT
response: Thanks for the feedback! On Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 8:07 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: