Please do not mail or bring in samples to your county extension office. Instead, please ask them to send an agent out to examine your tree.

The state is working with the USDA and UF/IFAS to determine new management strategies for citrus diseases. Recommendations for dealing with trees suspected of having citrus canker will be available soon. For now, you should not move any citrus plant material or fruit from your property and avoid coming into contact with the suspect plant to prevent spread of the disease. Do not mail or bring samples of suspected citrus canker or greening to extension offices.

Oranges and grapefruit are highly susceptible to foot rot disease, caused by Phytophthora citropthora and P. nicotiana. Some rootstocks offer considerable resistance to that disease. So on infested land, it's important to use such a stock. Rootstock variety has some effect on the strength of flavor of the fruit, the sweetness, total yield of the tree, and cold-hardiness of the tree. Some citrus scion varieties are difficult to root from cuttings.

A:The ideal pH for a citrus tree is 6.0 to 6.5, if it's on citrus roots, or 5.5 to 6.0, if budded/grafted to Poncirus roots or one of the Poncirus hybrids (citrumelo, citrange, etc.) Ideally, you should have your soil tested. A local extension office may do it for you, or even a local college or high school with a chemistry dept. Or you can buy fairly cheap pH meters or even cheaper pH testing paper (not very accurate, but perhaps close enough).

Air layers work best with a stem thicker than a finger -- maybe thumb size. But thinner stems can be layered if you're very careful not to break them. It's easiest to work when the plant is actively putting out new growth, since the bark will "slip," meaning it will peel cleanly away from the wood. Cut a ring around the stem, cutting through the bark to the wood. Don't go deeply into the wood. You can use a knife or the blade of a pruning clipper.

In a recent tragedy in Queens, NY, four girls died when a tree fell on their school bus. It was an accident that could have been averted had city officials heeded the warning signs of a hazardous tree. By not paying attention to your trees, you are potentially placing your property, even your life and that of others, in jeopardy. Fortunately, one can often read the clues which indicate that a tree is prone to failure.

IdeaChain's process is a step by step process that cannot be explained by looking at one piece of the program. That is why MindPrime does not send out sample IdeaChain lessons. However, we do offer a money back guarantee so you can have the entire program in hand to review in your own home or school. That way an informed decision can be made looking at the entire program. If the program does not fit your needs, send it back and we will refund your credit card.

Potted citrus trees can be planted almost anytime of the year. Fall and Spring are two of the better times. Since newly planted citrus trees are not as cold hardy as more mature ones, Fall planting should be done at least two (2) months before freezing temperatures can be expected.

Sooty Mold - Appears as a black, sooty growth on the upper side of leaves. Is harmless, but indicates that an insect was or is present (usually aphids, whiteflies or scales). Whiteflies. As these piercing-sucking insects feed on the undersides of the leaves, they secrete a sticky, clear fluid that drops onto the leaves below. Sooty mold grows upon this secretion. Sooty Mold Water or Varietal Problem. The problem of splitting fruits usually occurs in the early fall.

Chewing insect - Usually either a grasshopper or caterpillar. Damage is usually contained to a small proportion of leaves and should be ignored. The caterpillar is called an Orange Dog, and is the larval stage of the beautiful Giant Swallowtail butterfly.

Call the Virginia Cooperative Extension at 703-324-8556, TTY 711 or e-mail extension agent Adria Bordas.

Probably in a pinch, you should copy your forms immediately after receiving them so you have ones to practice or replace with. Just as an update, when my honey found out that she did not have enough forms, she also sent GZ a fax explain the lack of forms and requested more forms for her K2. GZ promptly sent her another full package that she received within 2 days.

That would be great if we could. Unfortunately, we receive so many requests for samples that it's just not possible to respond to them all.

The tools needed to collect and ship your sample, along with specific, easy-to-follow directions, are included in the lab test kit we send you. We suggest you read the directions thoroughly when they arrive, and plan to take the test as soon as possible. That way your results can be supplied to you in the most efficient manner.