Classes, invasive bug, drought: Dealing with 2026 garden challenges [Master Gardener column]

As we look back at 2025 and get ready to garden in 2026, let’s look at developments that affect our gardens and the natural world around us.

Drought no more?

At the beginning of 2025, Lancaster County was in a state of severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (droughtmonitor.unl.edu). You may remember the profuse, refreshing rains that fell in late spring, seemingly erasing drought conditions.

However, as we begin 2026, most of Lancaster County is rated extremely dry, and the eastern edge of the county remains in moderate drought conditions. This should serve as a reminder to use water cautiously, as it is a precious commodity whose abundance ebbs and flows.

For advice on planning your garden with drought-tolerant plants and methods to collect water, see “Designing the Home Garden for Drought Resilience” at lanc.news/DroughtDesign.

READ: Here’s how to meet your houseplants’ humidity needs in winter [Master Gardener column]

New problems to ‘bug’ us

Often, Penn State warns Master Gardeners of new plant diseases long before we see signs of them. This was not the case with beech leaf disease, as it seemed to appear overnight in Lancaster County.

The telltale sign of beech leaf disease is dark green stripes on the leaves, caused by nematodes feeding on leaf buds and damaging cells. Eventually, these leaves become leathery and crinkled, seeming drought stricken. Several generations of beech leaf disease will kill the tree. Though beech leaf disease is spreading, there are remedies that can be administered by certified arborists.

Harlequin bugs are native to Central America and, until recently, were only a scourge of vegetable crops in the southern United States. However, they have expanded their range to Pennsylvania. As pretty as they are pesky, the stout adults appear to wear orange, black and gold costumes — hence the name harlequin. Their unique eggs resemble tiny black-and-white-striped barrels.

A type of stink bug, harlequin bugs use their needle-like mouth parts to suck nutrients from plants, causing stippling, yellowing and stunted growth. They are particularly damaging to plants in the cabbage family, but feed on many types of vegetables. Hand picking and row covers are the best defenses for home gardeners.

READ: Flourish Flowers founder to release debut book ‘Backyard Cutting Garden’ this month

A fresh opportunity to dig into gardening

If you have always wanted to become a Master Gardener but feared that you did not have the time, consider a new Penn State Extension offering — the Dig into Gardening Series. DIGS is a condensed version of the Master Gardener basic training curriculum, featuring its most critical topics.

Starting on Jan. 20, this set of six live webinars will feature presentations by Penn State home gardening experts. To check dates, fees, and registration details, visit: lanc.news/DigIntoGardening.

For information on controlling beech leaf disease, harlequin bugs, or other garden problems that you would like to head off in the new year, remember that Penn State Master Gardeners of Lancaster County are available to help.

Contact our Garden Hotline at LancasterMg@psu.edu or 717-394-6851.

One of the advantages of being a Penn State Master Gardener is being kept up to date with news that affects home gardeners.

Lois Miklas is a Penn State Master Gardener for Lancaster County, and a former area Master Gardener coordinator.

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