Articles written by John Hogan

Late summer is a good time to remove suckers sprouting at the base of landscape trees as well as unwanted growth spurred by pruning cuts.

Aug 22, 2009 - John Hogan

The satisfaction that comes from harvesting home-grown tomatoes can be tempered by fruit-marring diseases and the destruction of plant leaves by tomato hornworms.

Aug 4, 2009 - John Hogan

Insect bites are part of the equation when spending time outdoors, but bites from several species of ticks can cause complications that are anything but routine.

Jul 28, 2009 - John Hogan

Turf diseases that favor cool, moist conditions are starting to appear in lawns, with the most common indicators being brown patches and red-colored grass blades.

Jul 22, 2009 - John Hogan

Ample summer rains in many areas of the country is giving rise to large mosquito populations, making outdoor activities, especially at night, downright unpleasant.

Jul 20, 2009 - John Hogan

Flower gardens and trees are under siege by aphids, a tiny sucking insect that causes leaves to turn yellow and take on a distorted appearance.

Jul 12, 2009 - John Hogan

Homeowners longing to have prized conifers resemble the finely-coiffed varieties grown at commercial tree farms can achieve the same look with timely mid-summer pruning.

Jul 1, 2009 - John Hogan

Scale insects are starting to get established on many types of trees, covering branches, leaves and anything beneath it with a stick, sooty mess populated by bees.

Jun 18, 2009 - John Hogan

The annual appearance of leaf-chewing caterpillars is underway, leaving pot-marked canopies in forests and suburban woodlots throughout the Midwest.

Jun 18, 2009 - John Hogan

When the distinctive, blood-red flowers of Oriental poppies start opening in late May, they receive special attention from both gardeners and American veterans.

May 11, 2009 - John Hogan

Every few years, oak trees seem to come alive in a most unsettling way as leaf-chewing gypsy moth caterpillars emerge from tan egg masses and begin their feeding frenzy.

May 10, 2009 - John Hogan

Ample spring rains and warming temperatures has transformed dormant lawns into pastoral shades of green, with the noted exception of brown patches often visited by birds.

May 9, 2009 - John Hogan

Our desire to have a lush, thick lawn is often short-lived once dandelions emerge in early May, dotting the once-green landscape with nickel-sized yellow flowers.

May 9, 2009 - John Hogan

Homeowners looking to protect a prized ash tree from the deadly emerald ash borer have until early June to treat trees using products available at most garden centers.

May 2, 2009 - John Hogan

Conventional wisdom says newly-planted trees need support stakes, but a growing number of arborists contend the practice is unnecessary, and potentially fatal.

Apr 29, 2009 - John Hogan

Pruning landscape trees while they are dormant enhances their appearance, health and structure, allowing fresh wounds to heal before wood-boring insects arrive in May.

Mar 11, 2009 - John Hogan

The seed and greenhouse industries are preparing for a surge in backyard vegetable gardens as consumers try to cut costs and ensure they're eating safe, delicious food.

Feb 26, 2009 - John Hogan

Receding snows are a welcome site for winter-weary people, but the presence of torn-up lawns, mole hills and snow mold are tangible examples of the work that lies ahead.

Feb 13, 2009 - John Hogan