Q. Dear Peter: I have a large Douglas fir tree. About a month ago I noticed that the needles on the end of a branch looked as if they had been spray-painted white. Now it’s spreading to other branches at different parts of the tree. What’s going on and how do I treat it? Marilyn…
Category: Northwest U.S. Gardeners
Gardening questions from WA, OR, ID, MT & WY
Fruitless Plum Tree
Q. I have a plum tree that is 2 or 3 years old. Every year it blossoms beautiful white flowers but doesn’t bare fruit. I’d like to know what I can do to have the tree bare fruit. Thank you, Leona Massier – Tacoma, WA A. What you can do is exercise one of…
Sudden Birch Tree Death
Q. Good morning. A year ago my wife bought two-birch trees. They looked great until now. One seems to be healthy; one has lost all its leaves. They just dried up and dropped. HELP! George Simmons – Tacoma, WA A. You have not indicated that there are any extenuating circumstances or differences in the care…
Policeman’s Helmet Info
Q. My friend says there is no such plant as ‘Impatiens Grandelifera’. Also, called ‘policemens helmets’. I discovered them 9 years ago. Thinking they were weeds I pulled a few, took them to the master Gardner at Lakewold Gardens. She had just received seeds from a friend. They grow to 5 ft. tall with pink…
Bamboo Invasion
Q. We are seeking your advice concerning a problem with neighbors who share a common fence-line who have planted invasive plants (bamboo) against this fence. The large strong roots are invading our yard and landscape. Recently they planted several more bamboo trees, which will eventually invade the rest of our yard. Do you know how…