Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Centipedes
Phil Pellitteri, UW Insect Diagnostic Lab Revised: 5/7/2010 Item number: XHT1113 Centipedes are long, many legged creatures that run swiftly when disturbed. By nature they are predators that feed on insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. Their body is made up of many segments with each segment containing one pair of legs. Centipedes have […]
Boxelder Bugs
Though not really harmful to plants, box elder bugs become a nuisance when coming indoors in fall. This factsheet describes the life cycle and habits of box elder bugs.
Black Walnut Toxicity
Black walnut trees produce a toxic substance (called juglone) that prevents many plants from growing under or near them. Learn more about this compound and how to work around it in this factsheet.
Aster Yellows
Aster Yellows is a chronic, systemic disease that affects flowers in the aster family as well as some vegetables. Symptoms vary, and include unusual growth and colors. Learn more in this factsheet.
Ash Flower Gall
Tiny eriophyid mites can cause male flowers and leaf distortions on ash trees. While unsightly, tree health is not adversely affected. Learn more here.
Bacterial Blight
Bacterial blight is a disease of Chinese, Japanese, Persian and common lilac, as well as apple, pear, plum and cherry. This factsheet describes symptoms and management of this common disease.
Ash Yellows
Ash yellows is a chronic disease of ash trees, especially white ash, causing unusual leaf growth and witches brooms. It can also affect lilacs. Learn about this unusual disease in this factsheet.
Black Knot
Black knot is a disfiguring and potentially lethal disease of trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, such as plums and cherries. This factsheet describes symptoms and management.
Moss in Lawn
Mosses prefer damp, shaded areas, but can also grow in dry, sunny locations. When lawns are not healthy, often due to poor drainage or shade, moss can move in. Learn about moss in lawns in this factsheet.
Earthworms in Lawn
R. Chris Williamson, Turf and Ornamental Specialist Revised: 4/26/2010 Earthworms belong to the Phylum Annelida; Class Oligochaeta; Family Lumbricidae which consists of over 7000 species. Their bodies are long and tube-like, tapering on both ends and typically ranging in length from one to six inches. Earthworms are found in a wide range of habitats adapting […]
White Grub Control in Turfgrass
Several species of white grubs are considered turfgrass pests in the Midwest due to their feeding on grass roots. Learn about management and control techniques in this factsheet.
African Violets
Amy Gibbs* and Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison Plant PathologyRevised: 4/26/2010Item number: XHT1034 What are African violets? African violets (Saintpaulia spp.) are popular flowering houseplants in the Gesneriad family (Gesneriaceae), native to Tanzania in East Africa. Their compact forms make them ideal for use on tabletops, windowsills, and hanging baskets. There are many varieties of African violets, […]
