Wood Betony Information Wood betony (Stachys officinalis) is native to Europe and is hardy to USDA zone 4. It can tolerate anything from full sun to partial shade, making it a popular choice for shady areas where few flowering things will thrive. Depending upon variety, it can reach heights of anywhere between 9 inches (23 cm.) and 3 feet (91 cm.). The plants produce a rosette of slightly scalloped leaves that then reach upward in a long stalk that blooms in clumps along the stalk, making for a distinctive look....

How to Protect a Bleeding Heart During Winter Bleeding heart plants are perennials. Their roots will survive cold winter temperatures, but their foliage and flowers might not. This isn’t usually too much of a problem, as the plants bloom in the spring and early summer, fading and dying back naturally in high summertime. It is because of this, bleeding heart winter care technically starts months before the first fall frost. When the flowers of your bleeding heart plant fade, cut back their stems to an inch or two (2....

Fertilizing Boxwoods Your boxwoods may grow happily without added nutrition, depending on the soil. It’s best to get a soil test to figure out the product to use for boxwood fertilizing but, generally, loamy and clay soils require less fertilizer than sandy soils. One sign that your shrubs lack nitrogen is a general yellowing of the lower, older boxwood leaves. Leaves get smaller and thinner and may turn bronze in the winter if they receive inadequate nitrogen....

How to Transplant a Pawpaw Tree Can you transplant a pawpaw tree? Maybe. Pawpaws have an unusually long taproot surrounded by smaller, brittle roots covered in delicate hairs. These factors combine to make the trees very difficult to dig up without damaging the roots and killing the tree. If you do want to try transplanting a pawpaw (say from a wild grove), take care to dig down as deeply as possible....

How to Grow Boysenberries in Pots Boysenberries are well suited to life in containers, but they need ample room to grow. Choose a pot that’s at least 12 inches (30.5 cm.) deep and 16 to 18 inches (41-45.5 cm.) in diameter. Make sure it has multiple drainage holes too. Put a couple inches (5 cm.) of small rocks in the bottom to weigh the container down and counterbalance the height of the trellis....

Why are Cats Attracted to Catnip? Catnip (Nepeta cataria) contains nepetalactone, a chemical that attracts many cats, including tigers and other wild felines. Cats typically react by rolling or chewing on the leaves, or by rubbing against the plant. They may even get a little crazy if you have traces of catnip on your shoes. Some cats become super playful while others become anxious, aggressive, or sleepy. They may purr or drool....

Christmas cactus pruning is not just for large plants, either. Pruning a Christmas cactus, large or small, will help it to grow fuller and more bushier, which in turn results in more blooms in the future. So whether you are looking to simply reduce the size of your plant or are looking to make yours look even more beautiful, keep reading to learn more about how to trim a Christmas cactus....

Pineapple Weed Information Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea syn. Chamomilla suaveolens) is appropriately named for the small, greenish-yellow, cone-shaped flowers that grow atop sturdy, hairless stems. When crushed, the leaves and flowers emit a sweet, pineapple-like aroma. The leaves are finely cut and fern like. Although pineapple weeds belong to the aster family, the cones have no petals. Reportedly, the small, tender buds are tasty added to salads, brewed as tea or eaten raw, but be careful, as some people may experience a mild allergic reaction....

Tomato Anthracnose Information Anthracnose is a disease that can be brought about by a number of different fungi in the genus Colletotrichum. The fungus can infect both green and ripe fruit, though symptoms don’t appear until the fruit begins to ripen. Tomato anthracnose symptoms appear as sunken, watery spots on ripe fruits. As the spots grow, they sink into the fruit and darken in color. Sometimes spores appear as pink masses in the center of the lesions....

What is a Crinkle Leaf Plant? The Cristatus crinkle leaf plant is related to the Kalanchoe plant, which is often found in plant gift stores. The crinkle leaf houseplant is hardy to USDA zone 9a and above. If you live below this zone, it will be part of your indoor plant colony. The plant has 2-inch (5 cm.) long grayish-green leaves with ruffled edges forming a rosette shape. Newer central leaves are deeper green and slightly curled....

What is Cytospora Canker? You may not have heard of cytospora canker until after a tree in your backyard is infected. If you notice that the lower limbs on your tree are dying, the tree might have cytospora canker disease. It attacks older trees, stressed trees and those with shallow roots or planted in inappropriate sites. One of the first symptoms of cytospora canker disease on spruce is the browning of needles on the tree’s lower limbs....

Symptoms of Dahlia Root Knot Nematode Damage The primary symptom of root knot nematodes in dahlias is swelling or galls on the roots. The swellings make tiny, pimple-like bumps as large as an inch (2.5 cm.) across. If you aren’t sure, carefully dig the plant and shake off the loose soil to see what you’re dealing with. Dahlia root knot damage may also include yellowing of the leaves and wilting, especially during hot weather when the plant is water stressed....

Deer Resistant Bulbs Flower bulbs that deter deer do so for many different reasons, but most of them have to do with the physical properties of the plants. Some of the reasons deer will stay away from a plant are: Plants with strong tastes and scents. Like people, if something doesn’t taste or smell good, deer aren’t likely to eat it unless they’re desperate. Plants with pickers or thorns. If it’s painful to eat, it’s safer than food that’s not....

Varieties of Catnip The most common of the catnip plant varieties is Nepeta cataria, also known as true catnip. There are many other species of Nepeta, many of which have several colors of flowers and even specialized scents. These different catnip plants are native to Europe and Asia but have naturalized easily in parts of North America. Catnip and its cousin catmint have hybridized to create several offshoots of the original variety....

Dividing Lovage Plants Lovage is a perennial herb in zones 3 to 9. The plants can grow 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) tall and may form large colonies as they naturalize in a location. Due to this, many gardeners consider lovage be too large and invasive for the average herb garden. However, splitting lovage herbs every two or three years can help keep them and their size under control. With age, lovage can lose its flavor and potency....

Does My Lawn Need Plug Aeration? Essentially, all lawns need aeration at some point. It’s a good management practice that helps maintain health and strength in grassy areas. Even if your lawn is currently healthy and lush, a regular process of aerating will help keep it that way. The best way to aerate a lawn is to use a core aerating machine. This device uses a hollow tube to actually pull plugs of soil out of the lawn....

What is UC Verde Grass? Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides ‘UC Verde’) is a grass native to North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico and into the Great Plains states that has been around for millions of years. Buffalo grass was known to be extremely drought tolerant as well as having the distinction of being the only native North American turf grass. These factors gave researchers the idea to produce varieties of buffalo grass suitable for use in the landscape....

About Earligrande Peach Trees Growing Earligrande peaches is ideal for anyone in a hot climate. This tree does especially well in desert environments like Arizona and southern California. The chill requirement is just 300 hours under 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 C.) and it will not tolerate very cold winters or even the hint of a late frost in spring. The Earligrande peach fruit is medium in size and semi-freestone. The flesh is yellow, firm, and sweet with the characteristic mild peachy tartness....

What are Fig Nematodes and What Do They Do? Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that live in the soil and feed on the roots of plants. While some nematodes are actually beneficial, there are many that damage or even kill the plants they infest. There are several species of nematode that can infest fig roots, including dagger nematodes, lesion nematodes, and ring nematodes. By far the most common and the most dangerous, however, are root knot nematodes....

What is Flower of an Hour? Hibiscus flower of an hour is technically a perennial in frost-free areas, but it is usually grown as an annual. It forms a neat mound about 18 inches to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) tall and blooms between midsummer and early autumn. The flowers are pollinated by nectar-feeding insects, including bumblebees and butterflies, which hover around the plant during the bloom season. Once the flowers fade, inflated seed pods take their place....