Hinoki False Cypress Information The Hinoki cypress is useful in privacy screens because of its tall, dense, conical, or pyramidal growth habit. It is also popular for use in ornamental plantings within its growing range and as a bonsai. Hinoki cypresses planted in gardens and parks typically reach 50 to 75 feet (15-23 m.) tall with a spread of 10 to 20 feet (3-6 m.) at maturity, though the tree can reach 120 feet (37 m....

What is Hood’s Phlox? Phlox hoodii, or hood’s phlox, is a shrub that grows low to the ground in mat-like formations. This is a native wildflower in parts of western North America: southern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, California, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. You’ll find hood’s phlox growing naturally in rocky and sandy soils, sagebrush areas, open, dry forests, and at both high and low elevations in its native range....

What is Teff Grass? Teff grass (Eragrostis tef) is an ancient staple grain crop thought to have originated in Ethiopia. It was domesticated in Ethiopia in 4,000-1,000 BC. In Ethiopia, this grass is ground into flour, fermented, and made into enjera, a sourdough type of flatbread. Teff is also eaten as a hot cereal and in the brewing of alcoholic drinks. It is used for livestock forage and the straw is also used in the construction of buildings when combined with mud or plaster....

About Worm Tower Composting A vermicomposting tower is a terrific way to get to a zero waste household. Not only do the worms clean up your organic waste but they leave behind nutrient rich castings in the soil. Sounds like a win/win right? Well in a perfect world, it is. But the reality is that you need to pay attention to the type of worm used, the size of your worm tower, venting heat yet keeping water out of the compost tower, and using safe materials that don’t leach hazardous toxins into the soil....

In this article we will take a look at Spot Anthracnose. Spot anthracnose, or Anthracnose, is a disease caused by a fungus that infects some rose bushes. Identifying Spot Anthracnose on Roses Not much is known about spot anthracnose except that it seems to be most severe during the cool, moist conditions of spring. Typically wild roses, climbing roses, and rambler roses are the most susceptible to this disease, however, some hybrid tea roses and shrub roses will also contract the disease....

Wax Myrtle Care Tips Wax myrtle care involves fertilization and pruning for shape or pruning when limbs are damaged or split off by heavy ice and snow. Historically, leaves of the wax myrtle tree were used for fragrance and flammability when making candles. This fragrance, still used today, has earned the shrub a common name of southern bayberry. Wax myrtle often exhibits growth of 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) a year....

Indoor Ornamentals Growing outdoor ornamentals as houseplants is often easy, as long as you pick a plant that thrives at room temperature and doesn’t need too much light. Some popular low-maintenance ornamental plants you can grow indoors are: Asparagus fern– Asparagus fern grows quickly, making deep green foliage dotted with delicate flowers and bright red berries. It works very well in a container. Geranium– Geraniums will bloom all through the winter, as long as they’re in a bright window....

Kohlrabi is popular across Europe, though it’s less often seen in English-speaking countries. That shouldn’t deter you from growing this interesting, tasty vegetable. Keep reading to learn more about growing kohlrabi in the garden and kohlrabi plant spacing. Plant Spacing for Kohlrabi Kohlrabi is a cool weather plant that grows well in the spring and even better in the fall. It will flower if temperatures fall below 45 F. (7 C....

Can You Take Plants Across State Lines? Usually, you can take houseplants when you move to different states without too much trouble. That said, there may be restrictions on exotic plants and any plants that have been cultivated outdoors. State Lines and Plants When it comes to moving plants over state borders, don’t be surprised that there are state and federal regulations to adhere to, particularly when the destination state is one that relies primarily on crop revenue....

Montmorency Cherry Information Montmorency is an old variety of tart cherry, dating back hundreds of years in France. It is also the most widely grown tart cherry for commercial uses, so chances are if you have ever had a product with tart cherries in it, you’ve had a Montmorency. Montmorency cherry trees are hardy in zones 4 through 7 and need about 700 chill hours in the winter months. You can find Montmorency trees on standard and dwarf rootstocks, and they all grow in a pleasing oval shape....

What is a Mouse-Ear Hosta? Miniature hostas are just what they sound like: miniature versions of the hosta plants you know and love. Blue mouse-ear hosta is one variety of this cute little perennial that is easy to grow and care for in a variety of settings. At a maximum, these little plants grow to a height of 8 inches (20 cm.) and a spread of 12 inches (31 cm.). The leaves are thick, blue-green, rubbery, and curl inward a little bit, like a mouse’s ear....

Do Bleeding Hearts Change Color? An herbaceous perennial, bleeding hearts pop up early in the spring and then being rather ephemeral, die fairly quickly back until the following year. Generally speaking, they will bloom again the same color they did the successive year, but not always because, yes, bleeding hearts can change color. Why are Bleeding Heart Flowers Changing Color? There are a few reasons for a bleeding heart color change....

Nettleleaf Goosefoot Identification You can recognize nettleleaf goosefoot weeds by the roughly triangular or lancet-shaped leaves and the dense clusters of seeds at the tips of the stems. The dark green, glossy leaves have toothed edges and they give off a strong smell when you crush them. These plants grow up to 3 feet (1 m.) tall. Controlling nettleleaf goosefoot in the lawn is a matter of practicing good lawn care....

Can Norfolk Pines Grow Outdoors? Can Norfolk pines grow outdoors? Captain James Cook spotted Norfolk Island pines in 1774 in the south Pacific. They were not the small potted plants you may purchase by that name today, but 200 foot (61 m.) giants. That is their original habitat and they grow much taller when planted in the ground of warm climes like this. In fact, outdoor Norfolk Island pines easily grow into mighty trees in the warmer regions of the world....

Winterizing Four O’Clock in Mild Climates Four o’clocks grown in zones 7-11 need very little help to survive the winter because, although the plant dies down, the tubers remain snug and warm underground. However, if you live in zones 7-9, a layer of mulch or straw provides a little extra protection in case of an unexpected cold snap. The thicker the layer, the better the protection. Overwintering Four O’Clocks in Cold Climates Four o’clocks winter plant care is a little more involved if you live north of USDA zone 7, as the gnarled, carrot-shaped tubers are not likely to survive the winter....

What Causes Papaya Damping Off? Damping off of papaya is a fungal disease that affects the small seedlings of this fruit tree. There are several fungal species that can cause the disease, including Phytophthora parasitica, Pythium aphanidermatum, and ultimum. The youngest papaya tree seedlings are highly susceptible to infection by these species, which may be found naturally in the soil, but those that survive develop resistance as they grow older....

Partridge peas in gardens provide attractive, bluish-green foliage and bright yellow, nectar-rich blooms that attract bees, songbirds, and several species of butterflies. If this snippet of information has piqued your interest, read on to learn more about partridge pea plants. Partridge Pea Information Partridge pea plants reach mature heights of 12 to 26 inches (30.5-91 cm.). Clusters of bright yellow blooms adorn the plant from midsummer to early fall. This drought-tolerant plant is a great groundcover and is often used for erosion control....

Pea ‘Lincoln’ Information Lincoln peas are hardly the new kids on the block. Gardeners have engaged in Lincoln pea growing since the seeds came on the market in 1908, and Lincoln pea plants have many fans. It’s easy to see why this is a popular type of pea. Lincoln pea plants are compact and easy to trellis. That means that you can grow them quite close together and get an abundant harvest....

When to Fertilize a Peach Tree Established peaches should be fertilized twice a year. You should be fertilizing peach trees once in the early spring and again in late spring or early summer. Using peach tree fertilizer at these times will help support the development of peach fruit. If you have just planted a peach tree, you should fertilize the tree one week after you planted it, and again a month and a half afterwards....

Different Pear Varieties So what are some common types of pear trees? There are three main varieties of pear trees: European, Asian, and hybrid. European pear varieties are the most classic examples of the pears you buy in the store. They have a sweet, juicy quality and include: Bartlett D’Anjou Bosc They’re picked hard on the vine then ripened in storage. They are also, unfortunately, very vulnerable to fire blight, a bacterial disease that’s especially prevalent in the southeastern United States....