What could be causing the sudden appearance of many small mounds of dirt in my front lawn?
These most likely mark the burrows dug by female cicada-killer wasps. They capture cicadas, place them in the burrows along with one egg per cicada, and seal off the cells. Those unsightly piles of dirt are usually destroyed by rain. Cicada killers are regarded as beneficial insects, thus control measures are not recommended. Question: What is causing the leaves on my dogwood trees to look so poorly? Answer: A combination of factors often contributes to the decline of dogwood foliage at this time of year. Several species of fungi may cause black or brown leaf spots, persistent high temperatures often lead to symptoms of leaf scorch, and droughty conditions may lead to premature leaf drop. Make sure that your trees receive about an inch of water per week for the remainder of the summer. Question: How can I best preserve some of my nice annuals for replanting next spring? Answer: Take cuttings from impatiens, coleus, geranium, and begonia, and overwinter indoors in good light and people
