If you are interested in donating unwanted plants, the following article contains all the plant donation info you need to get started. Plant Donation Info There are many reasons for unwanted plants. Perhaps the plant has become too large, or you need to divide a plant to keep it healthy, and now you have more of the species than you need. Or maybe you just simply don’t want the plant anymore....

What is a Garden Soil Inoculant? Organic gardening soil inoculants are a type of bacteria added to the soil to “seed” the soil. In other words, a small amount of bacteria is added when using pea and bean inoculants so it can multiply and become a large amount of bacteria. The kind of bacteria used for legume inoculants is Rhizobium leguminosarum, which is a nitrogen fixing bacteria. These bacteria “infect” the legumes growing in the soil and cause the legumes to form the nitrogen fixing nodules that make peas and beans the nitrogen powerhouses they are....

How to Grow Pizza Herbs & Vegetables A pizza herb garden typically has six plants in it. These are: Basil Parsley Oregano Onions Tomatoes Peppers All of these plants are easy and fun for kids to grow. Of course, you can add additional plants to your pizza herb garden that may go into making a pizza, such as wheat, garlic, and rosemary. Be aware, these plants may be more difficult for a child to grow and could cause them to become frustrated with the project....

What Conifers Grow in Zone 9? Here are some popular zone 9 conifers: White Pine – White pine trees tend to be hardy up to zone 9. Some good varieties include: Southwestern white pine Weeping white pine Contorted white pine Japanese white pine Juniper – Junipers come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. They are often fragrant. Not all junipers can survive in zone 9, but some good hot weather choices include:...

Hostas make a lovely shade garden plant but there is no reason that these hardy and versatile foliage plants need to remain tucked away in your shade garden. Hostas will also thrive in containers and look wonderful accenting a shady patio or porch. Also, if you have serious trouble with slugs in your garden, container gardening with your hostas may be the answer. How to Plant Hosta Plants in Containers To plant your hostas in containers: Remember that hostas in containers need water regularly....

Hardy Pindo Info Pindo palms, also known as jelly palms, grow slowly to a mature height of 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6 m.) with a trunk diameter of 1 to 1.5 feet (31-46 cm.). Flowers can be red, white, or yellow and occur in groups of two male flowers and one female flower. The fruit of this graceful palm is light orange to brownish red and can be used to make jelly....

Picking Almond Nuts You probably think of almond fruit as nuts, but almond trees (Prunus dulcis) actually produce drupes. These drupes grow from the tree’s fertilized flowers and mature in autumn. The drupe has a leathery hull that surrounds it, giving it the look of a green peach. When the outer husk dries and splits, it’s time to start thinking about picking almond nuts. If you want to know when to harvest almonds, the drupe itself will tell you....

Picking Blackberries When to harvest blackberries depends very drastically upon what kind of climate they’re growing in. Blackberries are very heat and frost tolerant, and as a result, they can be grown virtually all over. Their ripening time varies based on their location. In the southern United States, prime blackberry harvesting time is usually in spring or early summer. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s late in the summer through the first frost of autumn....

How Much Water Do Poinsettias Need? When it comes to watering poinsettia plants, too much is just as bad as too little. The best way to determine if a poinsettia needs water is to feel the top of the potting soil, which should feel moist and cool to the touch. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Additionally, if the pot feels light as a feather when you lift it, the soil is too dry....

How to Freeze Herbs Many people are looking for how to keep cut herbs so that they can use them year-round. Freezing herbs is fast and easy to do. When storing fresh herbs in your freezer, it ‘s best to first chop the herbs as you would if you were going to cook with them today. This will make it easier to use them later. Keep in mind when freezing herbs that while they keep their flavor, they will not retain their color or looks and so will not be suitable for dishes where the herb’s appearance is important....

Adams Crabapple as a Pollinizer What makes Adams crabapples ideal for pollinating other types of apples? Crabapple trees belong to the Rose family but they share the same genus, Malus, as apples. While there is some minor dissention on the point, the difference is arbitrary. In the case of apples vs. crabapples, fruit size is really the only thing that separates them. So, in other words, a Malus tree with fruit that is two inches (5 cm....

With just the seeds from the avocados you have eaten, you can grow an avocado as a houseplant indoors. Starting an avocado at home is simple enough. Read this article for instructions on sprouting avocado seeds. Once your indoor avocado trees are good sized, you may wonder exactly how to prune an avocado tree in order to keep it small and houseplant size. This is not a problem. Because of the amount of pruning needed, keeping the avocado as a houseplant just means you won’t actually get any fruit off the tree....

Is it Good to Roll a Lawn? Rolling a lawn should not be done yearly, but there are some situations where rolling your lawn is a good practice. Times when to roll the lawn are: Rolling a new lawn after seeding Rolling a new lawn after sodding After a turbulent winter, when fluctuating temperatures have caused some soil heaving If your lawn has been made bumpy by animal tunnels and warrens...

Jade Plant Pests The most common of jade plant pests is the mealybug. Mealybugs will form white, cottony patches at the joints where leaves are attached to stems. Their mouth parts pierce into plant tissues and they feed upon the plant sap. As they feed, mealybugs secrete a sticky substance, known as honeydew. This sticky honeydew provides an ideal location for the spores of the fungal disease sooty mold to settle upon....

Planting Dill Seed The best way how to grow dill is directly from seeds rather than from a transplant. Planting dill seed is easy. Dill planting is simply done by scattering the seeds in the desired location after the last frost, then lightly cover the seeds with soil. Water the area thoroughly. Care of Dill Weed Plants Growing dill plants and caring for dill plants is also very easy. Dill weed plants grow best in full sun....

When to Split Lily of the Valley The optimum time for lily of the valley division is when the plant is dormant in spring or fall. Separating lily of the valleys after flowering ensures the plant’s energy is available for creation of roots and leaves. Divide lily of the valley four to six weeks before the first average hard freeze date in your area. This way, there is ample time for healthy root development before the ground freezes....

Madagascar palms are engaging looking plants that will grow from 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m.) indoors and up to 15 feet (4.5 m.) outdoors. A long, spindly trunk is covered with exceptionally thick spines and leaves form at the top of the trunk. This plant very rarely, if ever, develops branches. Aromatic yellow, pink, or red flowers develop in the winter. Madagascar palm plants are an excellent addition to any sun-filled room....

What is Stemphylium Blight? Not everyone knows or has even heard of Stemphylium leaf blight. Exactly what is it? This serious fungal disease attacks onions and other crops. It’s fairly easy to detect onions with Stemphylium blight. The plants develop yellowish, wet lesions on foliage. These lesions grow larger and change color, turning light brown at the center, then dark brown or black as the spores of the pathogen develop. Look for the yellow lesions on the side of the leaves facing the prevailing wind....

How to Grow Mandevilla Seeds Propagating mandevilla from seed isn’t difficult, though it is best achieved with fresh seeds. Seedpods should be allowed to remain on the plant to dry before removing them. These can be easily recognized by their inverted v-shaped appearance. Once the mandevilla seed pods have dried, they will turn brown in color. They will also begin to split open, revealing fluffy, dandelion-like seeds. At this time the seeds are ready to be collected....

What is Canna Mosaic Virus? There are several mosaic viruses out there. The one that infects cannas and is frequently referred to as Canna Mosaic Virus is also known as Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus. When it infects cannas, this virus causes yellow mottling or chlorosis of the plant’s leaves between the veins. Eventually, this can lead to plant stunting and death. What Causes Mosaic on Canna Plants? Mosaic virus in cannas is usually spread by aphids....