What is Manzanita? It’s important to learn about manzanita plants before growing them in your yard because they are native to a very specific region and require just the right conditions to thrive. In those areas, namely coastal and northern California, manzanita is prevalent. It is only hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. It grows mostly in the dry foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range mountains. There are a few species of manzanita, but the one most often referred to and abundant in northern California is common manzanita....

What is Phoma Blight? Phoma blight disease is a fungal infection caused by various Phoma species. Infections by this fungus are most common in wet and cool conditions. It survives in soil and in the old plant debris that is under your plantings. The signs of a phoma infection include wilting, browning, and death of runners and entire plants. If it is phoma blight, you’ll also see dark brown to black lesions that girdle the stems....

What is Plant Poaching? Plant poaching involves the illegal removal of rare and endangered plants from their natural habitats. Illegal plant poaching can occur on government land or on private property when plants are taken without regard to laws and regulations which have been created for the plants’ protection. In most cases, the plants are then shipped elsewhere to be sold via illegal plant trade. In a single day, plant poachers are able to remove hundreds of valuable plants from their native habitats....

When to Harvest Quince Fruit Quince may not be a familiar fruit to you, but at one time it was an extremely popular staple in the home orchard. Picking quince fruit was a normal harvest chore for many families, made less of a chore when considering the fruit’s destination– jellies and jams or added into apple pies, applesauce, and cider. Quince, as a rule, does not ripen on the tree but, instead, requires cool storage....

Why Did My Seedling Die? When you go to the effort of placing a little seed in the soil and nurturing it until it germinates, it is wrenching when the little seedling dies. This happens to most gardeners on occasion, and it’s always a disappointment. You may also be interested in learning about methods for protecting seedlings. But first, you need to understand the conditions a seed needs to germinate and what a seedling needs to thrive....

Willow Oak Information Willow oak trees (Quercus phellos) are native to the United States. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 or 6a through 9b, making their range the whole of the west coast, most of the east coast, and the entire south and southwest. The trees are fast growing. When they are young, they have a pyramidal shape, but as they mature their branches take on a wide, even spread....

Caring for Allium Bulbs Allium plants produce big, round, softball-sized flowers in shades of purple. They last best in sunny but sheltered spots where the wind is less likely to blow the flowers apart. In these conditions, they bloom in early summer and tend to last for about three weeks. Once the flowers have faded, you can deadhead the blooms. Leave the foliage in place, though, as the leaves need time to fade naturally to gather energy into the bulbs for next season’s growth....

How to Grow Anacampseros Anacampseros succulents are easy to grow, as long as you can provide the proper growing conditions. Healthy Anacampseros succulents are rarely affected by pests or disease, but they don’t tolerate cold weather. Raised beds work well and can make Anacampseros plant care easier. You can also grow these small plants in containers, but be sure to bring them indoors if you live north of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11....

Symptoms of Asparagus Fusarium Crown Rot Referred to generally as Fusarium disease, asparagus crown rot, seedling blight, decline disease, or replant problems, crown rot of asparagus results in a decline in productivity and growth, signaled by yellowing, wilting, crown dry rot and eventual death. This soil borne fungus causes infected areas of the crown to turn brown, followed by rotting asparagus plants that rapidly die off. The stems and cortex are dotted with reddish brown lesions and when cut open, reveal vascular discoloration....

Why Control Pigeons? Controlling pigeons is important unless you are fond of pigeon manure being left all over your balcony furniture and railings. Pigeons have also been found to carry several diseases including encephalitis and salmonella (common with food poisoning). Pigeons can also transport fleas, ticks, and mites, which are prone to biting humans and will catch a ride on your dogs and cats. How to Stop Pigeons on My Balcony Depending on where you live and how severe of a pigeon problem you are having, there are several pigeon balcony deterrent options available....

What is a Black Diamond Watermelon? Black Diamond is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety of watermelon. For generations, Black Diamond watermelons have been a popular choice for both commercial and home growers for many reasons. Black Diamond watermelon plants produce vigorous vines, which often yield fruits weighing in excess of 50 lbs. (23 kg.). Due to the large size of fruits, gardeners can expect this plant to require a long growing season in order to harvest fully ripe melons....

Spider Plant Division Spider plants have tubular roots that grow rapidly. That’s why spider plants outgrow their pots so quickly— the roots just need more room to grow. If you’ve moved your spider into new, bigger pots several times, it should be thriving. If it is struggling, it may be time to think about spider plant division. If you want to know when to split a spider plant, dividing spider plants is appropriate when the roots are crowded....

Heucherella vs. Heuchera Heucherella and heuchera are both North American natives and both are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Heucherella, often grown as a groundcover or border plant, inherited the attractive foliage of the heuchera plant, but the heart-shaped leaves are usually smaller. The foamy-looking heucherella blooms (reminiscent of foamflower) are available in shades of pink, cream and white. Heucherella is more resistant to rust disease and tends to be more tolerant of both heat and humidity....

What is Oleocellosis? Oleocellosis of citrus is not a disease but rather a phenomenon caused by mechanical injury that can occur any time during harvest, handling or marketing. The injury causes greenish/brown areas to arise on the fruit’s peel as a result of essential oils spilling over into the sub-epidermal tissues between the oil glands. It can effect oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and other citrus types. Symptoms of Oleocellosis of Citrus Initially, citrus oil spotting is practically unobservable, but as time goes on, the damaged areas will darken and become more prominent....

Common Diseases of Houseplants Here are the most common houseplant diseases that you may come across when gardening indoors. Gray Mold Gray mold, or botrytis, is a common disease in greenhouses. It’s not that common inside homes, however. It starts on dead tissue like dead leaves or flowers. Once it starts, it will spread to the rest of the healthy plant. The affected parts of the plant will quickly be covered by fluffy gray mold growth, which gives off lots of spores when you handle the plant....

What is Ascochyta Leaf Blight? Ascochyta leaf blight on lawns is caused by an infection by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta spp. Many grasses are susceptible, but Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass are the most common victims. Ascochyta leaf blight comes on quickly, causing large brown or bleached patches in lawns when the weather is quickly alternating between very wet and very dry, but the exact environmental trigger is unknown....

Symptoms of Crown Gall on Pears As mentioned, a pear tree with crown gall shows wart-like swellings (galls) on its roots and crown. On occasion, the galls may be seen on the trunks or branches as well. A preponderance of galls actually disrupts the uptake of water and nutrients into the tree from the root system. This causes the tree to look generally unhealthy. What Causes Pear Crown Gall? Crown gall afflicts 140 genera in 60 different families worldwide....

Mesquite Tree Pruning If you don’t get mesquite tree pruning right the first time, you’ll have plenty of second chances. These desert trees can grow between 20 and 50 feet (6-16 m.) tall if they get plenty of water. Tall, full mesquites require annual pruning. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to ease off mesquite irrigation when the tree reaches the size you prefer. The tree will grow less and require less pruning....

About Daphne Plants Growing winter daphne sports fragrant blossoms in late winter for those gardeners who’ve learned how to get winter daphnes to bloom. The right care for winter daphne encourages the fragrant blooms, as does growing winter daphne in the right spot. Botanically called Daphne odora, pink buds emerge in February to March, becoming clusters of fragrant, tubular blooms. The shrub reaches no more than 4 feet (1 m.) in height and usually grows to just 3 feet (1 m....

European Mountain Ash Identification The European mountain ash tree is a small deciduous species with a slender trunk and upward-curving branches. Mountain ash can grow to around 30 feet (10 m.) tall in appropriate climates. It dislikes heat and humidity, growing best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 6. If you are looking for European mountain ash identification info, keep in mind that the tree has an erect, oval form when it is young, but as it ages, you begin to see more of its slender trunk....