Bluebell Weed Control Spanish bluebells spread by roots connecting the bulbs underground. This allows them to fill in great swaths of land and take over an area. If they come in contact with native English bluebells, the Spanish version will cross pollinate and come up the next season as a hybrid plant, stronger than the original parent. With a plant this invasive, it’s important to dig out every bit to prevent it from spreading again next year....

Best of all, grape hyacinths are easy to dig up after flowering. Can you replant grape hyacinths? Yes, you can. Read on for all the info you need about how to store hyacinth bulbs after flowering. Digging Grape Hyacinths Why should you buy more grape hyacinth bulbs when–by digging up grape hyacinths–you can get lots of new starts from the bulbs you’ve planted? Wait until the blossoms wilt, leaving only the leaves and stems....

Choosing Mayhaw Trees Generally, mawhaw trees grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. If you live in a warm climate, consider varieties of mayhaw with low winter chilling requirements. If you’re in a more northerly area, look for hardy types of mayhaw that can tolerate cooler temperatures. Mayhaw Tree Varieties There are two main types of mayhaw, both of which are species of hawthorn – eastern mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis) and western mayhaw (C....

Choosing Ornamental Trees for Cold Climates Don’t let the thought of living in a cold region put you off from enjoying the beauty of an ornamental tree in your landscape. Here are some dwarf trees for zone 3 that should work just fine: Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) is hardy to -30 F. (-34 C.). It tops out between 20 and 30 feet (6 to 9 m.) tall and produces fragrant white blossoms in August....

Collecting Spores from Bird’s Nest Ferns Bird’s nest ferns reproduce through spores, which appear as little brown spots on the undersides of the fronds. When the spores on a frond are fat and a little fuzzy looking, remove a frond and place it in a paper bag. Over the course of the next few days, the spores should fall from the frond and collect in the bottom of the bag....

Lily Plant Types Lily plant types can be divided into 9 basic categories, or “divisions.” Division 1 is made up of Asiatic Hybrids. These lilies are very cold hardy and often the earliest bloomers. They are usually 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) tall and produce unscented flowers in almost every color imaginable. Division 2 lily plant types are called Martagon Hybrids. These common lily varieties grow well in cool weather and shade, making them excellent for shady gardens....

Lemon Balm Companion Planting Lemon balm companion planting is a real boon in the garden, as this perennial herb attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators, while the strong, citrusy odor deters several unwelcome pests, including gnats and mosquitoes. Some gardeners even claim that lemon balm helps keep weeds in check. Finding companion plants for lemon balm is easy because there are really no bad lemon balm companions! However, companions for lemon balm should be plants that thrive in the same growing conditions – rich, moist, well-drained soil, and full sun or light shade....

How to Grow Container Carrots Grow carrots in containers in soil that is lightweight and well drained. Grow carrots in containers that are deep enough for the carrots’ development. Containers should have drainage holes, as root crops may rot if left in soggy soil. Miniature and Oxheart varieties are most suitable when you grow carrots in containers. Roots of these carrots are only 2 to 3 inches (5-7.6 cm.) long at maturity....

Curling Potted Plants There are a number of reasons your houseplants may be curling and can include any of the following: Pests Various pests can cause leaves to curl. Sucking insects, such as aphids, can distort leaves and cause leaf curling. Aphids are soft bodied insects that are normally found on the undersides of leaves and at the growing tips of the plant. If you spot some, spray with insecticidal soap....

How to Divide Tuberoses Tuberose plant division can be tricky. You can end up with some useless bits of root that won’t put out new growth if you don’t do it right. Start by cutting back the browning and dying foliage. Cut it so that there are 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) above the soil. Use a trowel to dig around the plant. Take care not to damage the roots with any tools....

Do Thrips Pollinate? Do thrips pollinate? Why yes, thrips and pollination do go hand in hand! Thrips eat pollen and I guess you could consider them messy eaters because they end up getting covered in pollen during the feast. It has been estimated that a single thrip can carry 10 to 50 pollen grains. This may not seem like a lot of pollen grains, however, pollination by thrips is made possible because the insects are almost always present in large numbers on a single plant....

About Dragon’s Breath Pepper Plants There are chili eating contests that pit taste buds and pain thresholds against contestants. So far, the Dragon’s Breath chili has not yet been introduced to any of these contests. Probably for good reason too. This pepper is so hot it beat the previous Guinness winner by nearly a million Scoville units. Mike Smith (owner of Tom Smith’s Plants) developed this cultivar, in conjunction with the University of Nottingham....

Eldorado Feather Reed Grass Info Eldorado feather reed grass is a straight, upright plant that reaches heights of 4 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) at maturity. This is a well-behaved ornamental grass with no threat of aggression or invasiveness. Plant Eldorado feather reed grass as a focal point or in prairie gardens, mass plantings, rock gardens, or in the back of flower beds. It is often planted for erosion control....

Choosing Suitable Gardenia Plant Companions Gardenia thrives in partial shade, preferring morning sunlight with shade during sunny afternoons. The best gardenia plant companions are other plants that tolerate conditions that are less than sunny. Gardenias also prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil, so select gardenia plant companions accordingly. Select plants that won’t compete with gardenia’s root zone, and allow adequate spacing to prevent crowding. As a general rule, plants with relatively shallow roots are good gardenia plant companions....

Fuchsia Gartenmeister Information What is Gartenmeister fuchsia plant? Native to the West Indies, Gartenmeister fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’) is a continual blooming, shrubby evergreen in zones 9-11. Grown as an annual in cooler climates, Gartenmeister fuchsia is more heat tolerant than other fuchsias. It is sometimes called honeysuckle fuchsia because its long, tubular, orange-red flowers resemble honeysuckle flowers. Growing 1-3 feet (30.5 to 91 cm.) tall and wide, Gartenmeister fuchsia grows upright when young but becomes more pendulous with age....

Greens to Grow Over Winter Growing greens in winter is all about keeping them and the soil beneath them warm. This can be achieved a few ways, depending upon just how cold it is. Garden fabric works wonders when it comes to keeping greens safe and warm in cool weather. When the temperature drops, protect your winter salad greens further with a garden quilt. If growing greens in winter to you means all winter long, then you’ll want to switch to plastic, ideally held up with a structure called a hoop house....

How to Grow Cleome Growing cleomes is most easily done by planting seeds in the chosen location. Most any location is appropriate as cleomes will grow and produce the cleome “spider” flower in full sun to part shade locations and do not need any particular type of soil, other than well draining. Seeds may be started inside; however, a complicated schedule of lighting, temperature fluctuation and bottom heat is required for indoor germination and is usually not worth the effort of the regular gardener....

Growing Hanging Baskets Inside Indoor hanging plants filled with damp potting mix tend to be heavy, especially if the pots are clay or ceramic. Make sure hanging baskets in the home are securely attached to wall studs or ceiling beams. If you’re concerned that the pot is still too heavy, you can mix the potting soil with perlite, which also improves drainage conditions. Keep in mind, however, that improved drainage means more frequent watering....

What is a Skyline Thornless Honey Locust? Honey locust ‘Skyline’ can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 9. They are rapidly growing shade trees lacking the up to a foot long (31 cm.) thorns and, in most cases, the large seed pods that adorn other honey locust trees. They are rapidly growing trees that can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm.) per year and attain a height and spread of about 30 to 70 feet (9-21 m....

What Causes Pear Black Rot? Pears with black rot have been infected by a fungus called Physalospora obtusa (syn. Botryosphaeria obtusa). It overwinters in cankers on trees and in leaf matter, old fruit, and twigs on the ground. The prime conditions for infection are warm and wet weather in the spring. Trees are likely to become infected through sites where they have been wounded, mechanically, by insects, or by other diseases....