What is a Zelkova Tree? If you read zelkova tree information, you’ll find that Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is one of the best large shade trees available in commerce. A native of Japan, Taiwan and eastern China, Japanese zelkova wins gardeners’ hearts with its graceful shape, dense foliage and attractive bark. It also makes a good substitute for American elm, as it is resistant to Dutch elm disease. Japanese Zelkova Tree Facts According to Japanese zelkova tree facts, the trees are vase-shaped and grow rapidly....

What is Apple Soggy Breakdown? Apple soggy breakdown is a problem that affects certain apple varieties during storage. Among the varieties most often affected include: Honeycrisp Jonathan Golden Delicious Northwest Greening Grimes Golden Symptoms of Soggy Breakdown The signs of soggy breakdown disorder can be seen when you cut an affected apple in half. Brown, soft tissue will appear inside the fruit, and the flesh may be spongy or mealy. The brown area will appear in the shape of a ring or partial ring under the skin and around the core....

What is Scab on Avocado Fruit? Avocado scab disease is caused by the fungus Sphaceloma perseae. Scab symptoms on avocadoes present as oval to round, raised areas of corky scab. The first lesions that appear are generally black/brown and scattered across the fruit’s skin. The lesions begin to coalesce and merge, potentially affecting almost the entirety of the fruit. Symptoms of scab on the leaves are more difficult to ascertain, as the most visible signs are in the uppermost portions of the tree’s canopy....

Boneset Plant Info Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) goes by several other names, including agueweed, feverwort, and sweating plant. As you may guess from the names, this plant has a history of being used medicinally. In fact, it gets its primary name because it was used to be used to treat dengue, or “breakbone,” fever. It was frequently used as a medicine by Native Americans and by early European settlers, who took the herb back to Europe where it was used to treat the flu....

Letterman’s Needlegrass Info Letterman’s needlegrass (Stipa lettermanii) has a fibrous root system with long roots extending into soil to depth of 2 to 6 feet (0.5-2 m.) or more. The plant’s sturdy roots and its ability to tolerate nearly any soil make Letterman’s needlegrass an excellent choice for erosion control. This cool season grass is a valuable source of nutrition for wildlife and domestic livestock, but isn’t usually grazed later in the season when the grass becomes sharp-tipped and wiry....

What is Sclerotium Blight? Fig trees are grown for their attractive, glossy foliage and their delicious, sugary fruits. These gnarled trees are quite adaptable but may be prey to certain pests and disease. One of these, southern blight on fig trees, is so serious it will ultimately lead to the demise of the plant. The fungus is present in soil and can infect the roots and trunk of the fig tree....

What’s Wrong with My Calendula? As mentioned, even easy-to-care for calendula can fall victim to pests and diseases. Insects One of the most common problems with calendula is a tiny insect that likes the blooms as much as you do. Aphid feeding causes curled leaves and they also produce honeydew which attracts ants. Aphids love to feed on the undersides of the leaves, but a good blast with the hose will knock many of them off or, if this calendula problem is severe, treat the plants with insecticidal soap....

When Will My Guava Bear Fruit? Guava trees grow up to 26 feet (8 m.) in height. Cultivated trees are pruned back to 6 to 9 (2-3 m.) tall. If a tree has not been pruned, it usually flowers in fall. If the tree has been pruned, the tree will blossom 10 to 12 weeks after pruning with white, 1 inch (2.5 cm.) flowers. The blossoms yield small, round, oval or pear-shaped fruits, or more accurately, berries....

Prepping for Planting Pansies Outside Pansies have the incredible ability to survive freezing winter temperatures and come out strong in the spring season. However, they can only be resilient if they’re planted at the proper time and in an ideal setting. Fall is the best time to plant pansies. For best results, prepare the planting bed with a 3 to 4 inch (8-10 cm.) layer of organic material, like compost or peat moss....

Do Squirrels Harm Trees? Squirrel tree damage is generally limited on healthy trees. However, although it is uncommon, removal of too much bark around the circumference of a branch can block movement of sugars and the branch can be damaged. Bark may also be damaged if fungal infections enter the damaged wood. Broad-leaved trees are most vulnerable to damage by squirrels. Again, tree damage by squirrels isn’t a common occurrence....

About Queen Lime Zinnias Green flowers are rare but stunning. That’s what makes the green Queen Lime zinnia cultivar so popular, as it produces beautiful double blooms in a shade of green that can be described as lime or chartreuse. There is also a Queen Red Lime zinnia that offers the same double flowering but with an exceptional color changing wow factor–going from lime green to shades of rose, pink, and soft chartreuse in between....

What are Arctic Supreme Peaches? Peaches can have flesh that is yellow or white, and Arctic Supreme has the latter. This white-fleshed peach has red and yellow skin, a firm texture, and a flavor that is both sweet and tart. In fact, the taste of this peach variety has won it a few awards in blind tests. The Arctic Supreme tree is self-fertile, so you don’t need another peach variety for pollination but having one nearby will increase fruit yield....

Benefits of Companion Planting with Cabbage Companion planting in general has the benefit of saving space, properly utilizing soil nutrients, pest management, and mutual support as in the case of the three sisters, a trio comprised of squash, beans and corn. Cabbage Companion Plants Many strongly scented plants are used as companion plants. This may be because the blooms from the plant attract beneficial predators or the plant provides habitat for these good bugs or the heightened aroma may repel detrimental insects....

There are several varieties of watermelon that, while green on the outside, actually have yellow flesh inside. One popular option is the Black Diamond Yellow Flesh melon. Keep reading to learn more about growing Yellow Flesh Black Diamond watermelon vines in the garden. Yellow Flesh Black Diamond Info What is a Yellow Flesh Black Diamond watermelon? The explanation is honestly pretty simple. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Black Diamond watermelon, a large, deep red variety that was developed in Arkansas and was very popular in the 1950’s....

Black Knot Tree Disease Info Black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) is primarily a disease of plum and cherry trees, although it can also infest other stone fruit, such as apricots and peaches, as well as ornamental Prunus species. Black knot disease spreads in spring. On rainy days, the fungus releases spores which are carried on wind currents. If the spores happen to land on the new spring growth of a susceptible tree, and especially if the tree is damp, the spores germinate and infect the tree....

What is Pink Fig Tree Blight? Pink blight in figs is fairly common in the Eastern U.S. where summers are hot and humid. It is caused by the fungus Erythricium salmonicolor, also known as Corticum salmonicolor. There is no fungicide approved by the EPA for use on edible figs, so growers must rely on proper pruning to prevent and treat pink blight fig disease. Fungal diseases of fig trees thrive in unpruned trees where air can’t circulate freely....

When Will Cabbage Make a Head? The answer to, “When will cabbage make a head?” is, it depends. The common green cabbages form heads more quickly than the huge Savoy cabbage. You can expect to see heads in approximately 71 days with green cabbage. Red cabbage takes slightly longer and Nappa cabbage will form small heads in only 57 days. Cabbage head formation sometimes occurs better in the moist, gently warming conditions of spring than in the cooling days of fall....

Why Homestead? Homestead Gardens boasts the East Coast’s largest selection of high-quality annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, with their three locations across Maryland and Delaware offering more than 275,000 square feet of plant heaven. They not only sell all the plants you need, but will help you every step of the way with their landscape design and build service, installation services, and their large team of trained horticultural experts. Homestead Gardens also offers live events like “Designing Gardens Using Color” and “Bonsai 101” to build your skills in community with other local gardeners!...

Used Hops in Compost Composting spent hops is similar to composting leaves or grass, and the same general composting guidelines apply. Be sure to combine the hops, which are warm and wet, with an adequate amount of brown material such as shredded paper, sawdust, or dry leaves. Otherwise, the compost can become anaerobic, which in simple terms means the compost is too wet, lacks adequate oxygen, and can become sloppy and smelly in a hurry....

Container Grown Mandrake Plants The process of growing mandrake in a container is relatively simple. First and foremost, gardeners will need to locate a source of the plant. While this plant may be difficult to find at some local garden centers, it is likely available online. When ordering plants online, always order from a trusted and reputable source in order to ensure that plants are correctly labeled and disease-free. Mandrake plants may also be grown from seed; however, the process of germination may prove extremely difficult....