How to Fertilize a Shooting Star Blooming in spring to early summer, shooting star is a native North American wildflower. You may see it in fields and meadows, but you can also cultivate it in your yard, especially if you are interested in native beds. As the name suggests, the delicate flowers look like falling stars, hanging high from tall stems. Fertilizing shooting star plants is important to keep them healthy and to promote the production of the beautiful flowers, the main reason for having them in your garden....

How Does a Sundial Work? There are several types of sundials and all use slightly different methods of time-telling. However, all sundials tell time according to the position of the sun. In general, most sundials consist of a rod (known as a “gnomen”) that casts a shadow on the flat surface of the dial, with lines on the dial that align with the shadow, one hour at a time. The shadow moves around the sundial much like hands move around a clock, although a sundial isn’t quite as exact....

What are Swan River Daisies? Swan river daisy flowers are an annual flower native to certain parts of Australia. Reaching heights of just over 1.5 feet (46 cm.), Swan River daisy flowers range in color from white to blue-violet. In addition to its beauty, this fast-growing flower is beloved by many for its sweet scent and its ability to attract pollinators, such as hummingbirds and butterflies, into the landscape. Though Swan River daisy blooms are relatively small, usually growing no larger than 1 inch (2....

What is an Urban Garden? What is an urban garden? At its heart, it’s a garden that has to conform to a small or specific space. Beyond that, it can take all kinds of forms, depending upon what your site calls for. If you have a rooftop, a patio, or a small patch of ground, you could install a raised bed. As it’s all above ground, even a slab of concrete is a perfect spot....

What is a Tipu Tree? A tipu tree (Tipuana tipu) is a shade tree planted frequently in the warmer parts of the world. In the United States it is used as a flowering accent tree or a landscape tree. The tree has a single trunk and a high spreading canopy. It can grow to over 60 feet (18 m.) in height and about the same in width. However, in cultivation the trees usually don’t get that big....

When to Relocate Bamboos Bamboo plants can be a bit finicky when it comes to transplanting, yet if you treat them right, they’ll spread all over the new area in very little time. Never transplant your bamboo when new shoots are forming; early in the spring or late in the fall are the best times. The roots are very sensitive to lack of moisture and to sunlight, so choose a cloudy, misty day for the absolute best results....

Identifying Shot Hole on Apricot Trees Apricot shot hole fungus is Wilsonomyces carpophilus. It overwinters on buds that are infected and also on twigs. The spores on these parts of the tree can be transferred during winter and spring rains and when water splashes up from the ground. Those spores need 24 hours of moisture to set in and cause infection, so wet and humid conditions tend to lead to the spread of this disease....

What are Attika Cherries? This is a mid to late season cherry that came to the U.S. from the Czech Republic. Its exact origins and parentage are unknown, but it is a favorite for sweet cherries that are large and durable in storage and transport. Bing cherries are the benchmark for harvest times, and Attika falls later in the season. It can be harvested about one or even two weeks after Bing....

Banana Mint Information Although these plants are grown primarily for their foliage, the small purple flowers, which bloom throughout the summer, are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The mature height of the plant is about 18 inches (45.5 cm.). Banana mint plants are perennial and suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 11. Growing Banana Mint Banana mint grows in partial shade or full sunlight and in nearly any type of well-drained soil....

Woody Perennial Characteristics What makes a perennial woody? According to “Trees, Their Use, Management, Cultivation and Biology” by Bob Watson, woody perennials include all trees and shrubs, no matter what their size or proportions. Woody perennials can increase in both height and width, which provides them with the strength to support new wood every year. Their woody framework is covered with bark. Some types of plants are considered semi-woody because they aren’t quite as woody as a tree or shrub....

What is a Belmac Apple? So exactly what is a Belmac apple? This apple cultivar was released by the Horticultural Research and Development Centre in Quebec, Canada. Its disease resistance and cold hardiness make it a desirable addition to a northern garden. These fruits are lovely and colorful. At harvest, the apples are almost entirely red, but with a little of the chartreuse green under-color showing. The flesh of the fruit is white with a tinge of pale green....

Red Buckeye Tree Growth What is a red buckeye tree? Red buckeye trees (Aesculus pavia) are North American natives from southern Missouri. They grow in USDA zones 4 through 8. For several weeks in the spring, the trees produce bright red panicles of tube-shaped flowers. The flowers have no real scent, but they are striking in color and very attractive to hummingbirds. Once the flowers fade, they are replaced by dry, round, orange fruits....

Idared Apple Info The popular apple trees Jonathan and Wagener are the parent plants of Idared apples. Since their introduction in the late 1930’s, Idared apples also had offspring, the most notable being Arlet and Fiesta. Idared produces medium sized, round apples with green skin that is heavily streaked with red, especially on the sides facing the sun. The skin can sometimes be a little thick, requiring peeling before eating. The flesh is a white to cream color with a sweet, yet slightly tart flavor....

Symptoms of Late Blight Disease in Celery Celery with late blight disease is evidenced by round yellow lesions on the leaves. As the lesions get larger, they grow together and the leaves eventually become dry and papery. Late blight on celery affects older, lower foliage first, then moves up to younger leaves. Late blight also affects stems and can ruin entire celery plants. Tiny, dark specks in the damaged tissue are a sure sign of late blight disease in celery; the specks are actually reproductive bodies (spores) of the fungus....

What is Larvicide? A larvicide is a product that kills insects at the larval stage, when they are active but still immature. You’ll find these products in multiple forms in garden stores and nurseries: briquettes, tablets, granules, pellets, and liquids. You can use a larvicide to manage mosquitoes which lay eggs in standing water. The larvicide goes directly into water. Mosquito eggs are typically found in buckets of water, gutters, fountains, ponds, puddles that don’t drain quickly, septic tanks, and even on the tops of pool covers that collect water....

Mojave Sage Information Mojave sage, sometimes referred to as rose sage, giant-flowered purple sage, blue sage, or mountain desert sage, is easy to confuse with other types of sage or salvia plants. To eliminate mix-ups, be sure to request the plant by its botanical name: Salvia pachyphylla. Hardy to USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8, Mojave sage plants are sturdy, drought-tolerant perennials that thrive in poor, dry, alkaline soil. Look for this easy-to-grow plant to reach mature heights of 24 to 36 inches (61-91 cm....

Limonium Plant Info If you’re interested in growing sea lavender, Limonium plants are readily available online. However, a knowledgeable local nursery can advise you about the best Limonium varieties for your area. Don’t attempt to remove plants from the wild because sea lavender is protected by federal, local, or state laws in many areas. Development along coastal areas has destroyed much of the natural habitat, and the plant is further threatened by overharvesting....

What is Sumatra Disease of Cloves? Sumatra disease is caused by the bacterium Ralstonia syzygii. Its only host is the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum). It tends to affect older, larger trees that are at least ten years old and 28 feet (8.5 m.) tall. Early symptoms of the disease include leaf and twig dieback, usually starting with older growth. The dead leaves may drop from the tree, or they may lose their color and remain in place, giving the tree a burnt or shriveled appearance....

What is Woodland Phlox? Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) is a perennial that can be seen in dappled woodland or meadows from Quebec to Florida and west to Texas. You may know this plant by any of a number of other common names like Louisiana phlox, wild blue phlox, and wild sweet William. Woodland phlox is a relative of creeping phlox, a variety that grows in sun and spreads quickly. In contrast, woodland phlox prefers partial shade and spreads slowly....

How to Prune Lilac Bushes When pruning lilacs, cutting back the tops of overgrown stems is oftentimes not enough. It is generally better to cut the entire stem. Trimming lilacs is best accomplished using clippers. Remove spent blooms all the way to the stems to prevent seeding and encourage more blooms later on. Cut back about a third of the branches. Cut away shoots growing near the ground that may be sprouting from the main trunk....