This week, we are going to take a break from talking about pests that can cause damage to your trees and talk about an insect that benefits our ecosystems and your trees:  honey bees.  More specifically, we are going to talk about the importance of planting trees in your yard that support bees and other pollinators and the types of trees that attract and benefit pollinators. Some people see bees as pests because of their ability to sting and...

The beginning of the summer is a great time in the Chicago area.  The warm weather is back, and the trees are in full bloom for the growing season.  However, the return of warm weather and freshly grown foliage also means that those annoying pests that can damage your plants are back.  With the return of the growing season and the pests that come with it, we have returned with our series on tree diseases and insect pests of the Chicago area to...

We have returned this week with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in Illinois to investigate a set of tree diseases that can attack the leaves, branches, and fruit of many different types of trees:  tree blight.  Tree blight refers to several similar contagious tree diseases that can attack hundreds of different trees that are native to Illinois from fruit trees to pines.  These diseases can be caused by bacteria or fungi...

We are back with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in Illinois with a closer look at a dangerous fungal disease, verticillium wilt.  Verticillium wilt is known to affect more than 350 species of flowering plants including shrubs, trees, fruits, and vegetables.  This disease affects the xylem, or tissue responsible for the movement of water within the tree, which makes it difficult for water to get to the branches.  As a...

Just about every living thing on Earth from animals to plants needs water to survive.  When it comes to plants, the water they receive typically comes from rain and humidity.  However, mother nature does not always provide enough water for plants and trees as droughts can leave areas dry for weeks or even months.  If your area does not receive enough rain, especially during the hot months of the summer, you will need to water your plants and...

Today we continue with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in the Chicago area to discuss an invasive pest, the Japanese beetle.  Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are native to Japan but considered an invasive species in the U.S. as they are known to feed on the leaves of more than 300 species of plants including bushes and trees.  Adult Japanese beetles skeletonize leaves, destroying the foliage of affected plants and...