Steve Bender

1 week ago | southernliving.com | Steve Bender

About This Episode Grumpy helps a reader deal with their diseased pear tree. Plus, the plant of the week. Question Of The Week "Do you know what causes some of my pear trees, leaves and branches to turn brown and die? It still produces fruit." - Pam Grumpy Gardener: Well, what she's saying is that some of the leaves and some of the twigs on the tree turn brown or black and they die, but the whole tree isn't dead. So there's still some fruit coming from it.

1 week ago | southernliving.com | Steve Bender

About This Episode Grumpy helps a reader deal with a diseased Black-Eyed Susan. Plus, need-to-know planting advice. Question Of The Week "I need help with my black-eyed Susans. They've done well for years, but now I'm beginning to see brown spots on the leaves, even though the plants are budding. What's causing this and how can I control it?" - Sarah Grumpy Gardener: Okay. This sounds like the work of a fungus called Septoria leaf spot.

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Steve Bender

About This Episode Grumpy helps a reader deal with pests attacking their basil plants. Plus, Grumpy's gripe of the week. Question Of The Week "I bought basil plants two weeks ago, but something is eating holes in the leaves. What can I do?" -Trudy. Grumpy Gardener: The holes are probably the work of pests. Japanese beetles are fond of basil, but it's a little early in the year for them to be out. So I'm gonna put my money on slugs and snails. Well, not actually, I hate slimy quarters.

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Steve Bender

About This Episode One reader struggles with their summer hydrangeas. Plus, Grumpy's plant of the week. Question Of The Week " My hydrangeas will not leaf out on the old branches. All new growth comes from the bottom. Is this because we had a warm spell in early spring, followed by a sudden freeze?" - Janet Grumpy Gardener: Spot on, Janet.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Steve Bender

About This EpisodeOne reader struggles with their summer hydrangeas. Plus, Grumpy’s plant of the week. Question Of The Week"My hydrangeas will not leaf out on the old branches. All new growth comes from the bottom. Is this because we had a warm spell in early spring, followed by a sudden freeze?" - JanetGrumpy Gardener: Spot on, Janet.