Why is My Astilbe Changing Color to Brown? It’s always disappointing to find a part of your garden isn’t thriving. With astilbe, you may see some browning in the flowers, but brown leaves are a more typical sign of problems. Here are some of the possible causes: Foliar nematode: This microscopic worm-like creature can infect astilbe. The signs are brown spots on leaves bounded by the veins. The spots mostly form on an affected plant’s lower leaves....

Bushy Aster Information Bushy aster, also called American aster, is a native wildflower. It grows in the wild in New England down through the Southeast. You’ll find it on the coastal plains, as well as in woodlands, grasslands, meadows, and fields. In some states, like Alabama, bushy aster plants are most often seen growing in wetlands, like bogs and swamps. They can also be found on riverbanks and beside streams. According to bushy aster information, the shrubs grow to about 3 feet (1 m....

What are Pigeon Peas? Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), also known as Congo or Gunga peas, are native to Asia and are grown in many warm and tropical regions throughout the world. This short-lived perennial plant can actually grow into a small shrubby tree and makes an excellent low hedge or windbreak. Pigeon pea seeds contain a large amount of protein and three important amino acids: lysine, tryptophan, and methionine. In India, the peas are combined with lentils to make a popular soup....

Coconut Coir Netting: Coir Matting Roll for Garden Use When spun together, coconut coir can be made into netting, logs, and mats. Coir logs, also known as a coir netting roll, are made of coconut coir netting wrapped around loose coir fibers, creating a cylindrical log. These logs are key in erosion control along hillsides or near water features. The rolls are placed along slopes and then staked on the downhill side....

Chili Pepper Companion Planting Some of the best companion plants for hot peppers are those that repel certain insects and also attract their natural predators. The European corn borer is one bug that can be especially harmful to pepper plants. Plant your peppers near buckwheat to attract beneficial insects that eat the borers. Basil is a good neighbor because it repels fruit flies and some varieties of beetles that feed on peppers....

What is Cow’s Tongue Prickly Pear? If you are familiar with the look of prickly pear cacti, then you have a good idea of how prickly pear cow’s tongue will look. It is a large, mounding cactus that can grow up to 10 feet (3 m.) in height. Branching are long, narrow pads that look almost exactly like, yep, a cow’s tongue seriously armed with spines. Native to central Texas where it gets hot, cow’s tongue cactus produces yellow blossoms in the spring that give way to bright purplish red fruit in the summer....

Pruning a Croton Plant Croton care is very straightforward and generally something even a novice gardener can accomplish with ease. So, should you prune crotons? The plant only needs rejuvenation trimming when it gets too sparse and light pruning to remove dead leaves. Pruning a croton is not rocket science, but you should use proper sanitation procedures to prevent the spread of disease. Crotons can easily get 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m....

There are several easy ways to start a new mandevilla plant, including seeds and softwood cuttings, but propagating mandevilla from tubers probably isn’t a viable method of propagation. Read on to learn more about mandevilla plant tubers. Do Mandevillas Have Tubers? Mandevilla plant tubers are thickened roots. Although they resemble rhizomes, they are generally shorter and plumper. Mandevilla plant tubers store nutrients that provide energy for the plant during the dormant winter months....

Feeding a Mountain Laurel Mountain laurels are broad-leafed evergreens that grow in the wild as multi-stemmed shrubs. The leaves, like holly leaves, are shiny and dark. And the branches of mature laurels are delightfully gnarled. Mountain laurel produces flowers in late spring or summer. The blooms range from white to red and are an essential part of the woodlands in the East. They grow in zones 4 to 9, and look beautiful cultivated with rhododendrons or azaleas....

About Finding a Landscaper for Gardens When hiring garden landscapers, remember that there are different levels of landscape design for gardens. Sometimes, someone that refers to themselves as a landscaper is only qualified for maintenance, such as mowing or pruning. They may or may not have a college degree and may or may not be licensed and bonded. If you want a total renovation or are starting from scratch, then you are most likely looking for a landscape architect....

Why Garlic Mustard Management is Important Garlic mustard was first introduced to Europe and used both medicinally and for cooking. Garlic mustard plants are also known as garlic mustard weeds because they produce hundreds of seeds per plant. These seeds travel on the fur of large animals, such as horses and deer, and also in flowing water and by human activity. It is because of this, garlic mustard spreads in woodlands and quickly takes over native woodland wildflowers....

Growing Golden Stars Growing golden stars is easy. Golden star plants need at least half a day of sunlight. When grown in less light, the foliage loosens up and flowers are smaller and fewer in number. The plants tolerate almost any type of soil but do best when the soil is amended with plenty of organic matter. Good drainage is also essential. Space the plants 8 to 18 inches (20.5 to 45....

Why Do Flowers Change Colors? Three main types of plant pigments exist: anthocyanins, carotenoids, and betalains. Though these pigments are directly related to the visible colors in plants, the entire process which determines plant and flower color is quite complicated. Even cellular differences between plants can have a pronounced impact on color. Outside influences can also be a major factor which will affect plant color. This includes temperature, soil type, and even plant stress....

About Container Grown Chicory In the garden, chicory is appreciated for its brilliant, blue flowers, which may actually be more white or pink, depending on the pH level of your soil. Chicory is easy to grow, but it has long taproots like its cousin, the familiar yellow dandelion. If you use the roots, planting chicory in pots makes the plant easy to harvest. If you grow chicory for the leaves, chicory in a container can be conveniently located just outside your kitchen door....

Can You Grow Holly Indoors? Holly as a houseplant is an intriguing idea, especially around the holidays. The easiest and fastest way to accomplish this is to purchase a potted plant at the garden store. These plants are already used to growing indoors so will be right at home in your house. You may be able to find English holly (Ilex aquifolium), a popular plant in Europe. However, you are more likely to come across native American holly (Ilex opaca)....

About Late Season Bok Choy Bok choy, also known as pak choy and various spellings of the two, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, or cool season cabbage family. Growing bok choy in the fall is ideal because it thrives in cooler temperatures. Consider companion planting your autumn grown bok choy with other cool season veggies such as other greens like: Lettuce Spinach Arugula Swiss chard Asian greens The plants also do well with the following:...

How to Propagate Bergenia Bergenia propagation can be achieved through division of mature plants or by planting seeds. Division of Bergenia Divide bergenia after flowering in spring. Separate a long rhizome from the plant with a sharp knife, being sure each division has a rosette, several healthy roots, and a rhizome measuring at least 6 inches (15 cm.) in length. Remove large leaves to reduce water loss, then plant the division with the rhizome just under the soil....

Container Grown Sweet Peas When growing sweet peas in containers, the main concern is giving them something to climb. Sweet peas are vining plants, and they’ll need something tall to support them as they grow. You can buy a trellis or you can simply sink a couple of sticks or bamboo poles into the container’s soil. The best container grown sweet peas are the short varieties that top out at a height of about 1 foot (31 cm....

Palm Trees that Grow in Zone 7 Needle Palm – This is the most cold hardy palm around, and a great choice for any new cold weather palm grower. Needle palm has been reported to be hardy down to -10 degrees F. (-23 C.). It does best with full sun and protection from wind, though. Windmill Palm – This is the hardiest of the trunked palm varieties. Windmill palm has a very good survival rate in zone 7, withstanding temperatures down to -5 degrees F....

When to Pick Watermelon Are you wondering how long it takes to harvest a watermelon? This part is simple. The watermelon you planted will be ready about 80 or so days after you plant it from seed. This means around day 75 or so, depending on how the season was, you can start watching for ripe watermelon. How to pick a ripe watermelon will come to you, you just have to be patient....