Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my flowering crab lose its leaves in the summer?

Certain flowering crabs are susceptible to apple scab. This is a foliar disease caused by moisture & humidity. In March rake up any old leaves from under the tree & apply dormant oil to branches & the trunk before the buds break. Mid April thru early June apply a foliar fungicide every 14 days to protect the leaves from spotting and limit the spreading of the disease. Visit Jim Melka Garden Center and our staff will assist you in choosing the right product.

What is the Emerald Ash Borer and how can I protect my Ash tree?

The Emerald Ash Borer is a wood boring beetle metallic green in color about 1/2 inch in length and 1/8 inch wide. Females lay eggs in the bark crevices of the tree. The eggs develop into worm-like larvae, which tunnel under the bark to feed and grow throughout the fall. This activity eventually kills the tree. The larvae lay dormant over the winter and finally emerge from the trees in May as adults, leaving a unique D-shaped exit hole. Infested trees will decline from the top down, and will be dead in one to three years. At this time there is no cure, but studies indicated that the chemical Merit is a treatment being used as a preventative. Bayer’s Tree & Shrub Season Long Prevention is a product that contains Merit and is available at Jim Melka Garden Center. As new treatment options and methods become available we will keep our customers informed.

What can I do to stop the Japanese beetle from eating the leaves on my Linden tree?

The Japanese beetle begins eating the leaves of trees in southern Illinois during June and start munching in our area around the 4th of July. One of the best solutions is to spray the leaves of your trees with liquid Sevin around the end of June before the beetles begin eating. Check your roses, birch trees and serviceberry also. The beetles do not seem to discriminate. This spring consider using the Bayer Tree & Shrub Season Long product around the base of all your trees. This will provide a barrier to stop many different insects from their destructive ways.