Oak Diseases & Insect Pests
Although oak trees (Quercus species) are well adapted to South Carolina, they can be commonly affected by many pests and diseases. Maintaining healthy oak trees, by following recommended cultural...
Category: Landscape
Ligustrum
Common or European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Chinese privet (L. sinense) have escaped into the wild in South Carolina to become weedy and invasive pests. Birds eat the small, black fruit and...
Pansy Diseases & Insect Pests
Pansies are among the most popular garden flowers grown today. They are most commonly grown as annuals, producing the best flowers and growth when temperatures are mild in the fall and spring....
White Clover
White clover (Trifolium repens), also known as Dutch clover, is a cool-season perennial that is often found growing in patches along roadsides and in pastures and lawns. It is a low-growing plant...
Florida Betony
Florida betony (Stachys floridana) is native to Florida and began appearing in other states in the 1940s and 50s. It has become an aggressive weed in residential and commercial landscapes in South...
Chamberbitter
Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria) is also known as gripeweed, leafflower or little mimosa. It is a warm-season, annual, broadleaf weed that emerges from warm soils beginning in early summer. It...
Bahiagrass
Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), also known as highwaygrass, is an aggressive, warm-season perennial grass. Bahiagrass has a mat-forming habit with a light green color, coarse texture and open canopy....
Snails & Slugs in the Home Garden
Snails and slugs are small soft-bodied animals that can be troublesome pests in the garden. They are very similar to each other except snails have hard shells and slugs do not. They can cause...
Smilax (Greenbrier)
Smilax species (greenbriers) are difficult to control weedy vines that will entangle through ornamental landscape shrubs. These vines are native to North America. In South Carolina there are ten...
Herbicide Damage to Landscape Plants
The use of herbicides to control weeds or other undesirable plants is a common practice in many integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. However, improper application methods and drift of...
Lespedeza
Description Common lespedeza, also known as Japanese clover, (Kummerowia striata, syn. Lespedeza striata) is a very common summer weed that can easily choke out thin turf. It is often found in open...
Leaf & Needle Drop
A well-cared-for plant in the landscape that suddenly begins dropping leaves or needles can be a very troubling sight. There is usually no need to be alarmed, since leaf and needle drop often occurs...