Ep. 253 Garden Q&A: Is it Poison Hemlock? Weird Pepper Myths, Bluebird Drama, and more! | #GoodGrowing

Got weird plants in your yard? Strange damage on your trees? Or birds attacking your truck? You’re not alone! In this Good Growing Podcast Q&A episode, we tackle real gardening questions asked at Illinois Extension offices and by podcast listeners.We start with a recurring question this time of year, a Poison Hemlock alert—how to identify this highly toxic plant, how it compares to lookalikes like Queen Anne’s lace, and what to do if you find it on your property. Then we dig into peach tree leaf curl, why there’s nothing you can do mid-season (sorry!), and how to prevent it next year. Plus, much more!Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKvEiM_7REMSkip to what you want to know: 01:35 What's going on in our landscapes this time of year?  04:46 Kicking off this week's questions: What is this plant? Picture This says it is poison hemlock.    06:25 How to identify poison hemlock.      08:32 Toxic effects of poison hemlock      10:09 Controlling poison hemlock     16:58 Can we plant Chinese wisteria in Illinois?   18:57 What are the basics of fruit tree grafting?   26:26 Why do bluebirds attack my truck?   31:45 Sick peach tree. Is it peach leaf curl?   35:11 How do you find a good landscape contractor?  43:30 What's wrong with my linden trees? They aren't leafing out, and the leaves that are there are deformed.   54:41 Are peppers with three lobes on the bottom considered males and peppers with four to five lobes considered female?  01:30 Thank yous and coming up next week. Invasive Poison Hemlock https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-poison-hemlockPoison Hemlock Handout https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2025-05/accessibledocuments/poison-hemlock.pdfInvasive Wild Parsnip https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-wild-parsnipContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.eduLike what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us