April in the Western Region The areas included in the western region of the country, like the states of California and Nevada, don’t look alike by any means. Some, like cities near the coast, may never see frost. Others, just a few miles inland, get frost but no snow, while still farther east, roads may be closed because of snowfall. Since April in the western region includes such a range of climates, we’re going to focus on West Coast gardening....

Get to know the signs and how to prevent its spread in your indoor or garden. Signs of Leaf Spot and Stem Rot on Geraniums There are a few characteristic signs of this disease. The first is the spot formation on leaves. Look for small spots that are circular and appear water-soaked. These spots will quickly get larger and eventually the leaves will begin to wilt. Other signs you may notice on geranium leaves are yellowish-brown spots....

Mites on Camellia Leaves and Buds Mites are tiny insect pests that live on leaves and are so small that they are difficult to see in passing. You’ll do best to use a magnifying glass, not just the naked eye. You may also be able to diagnose mites from the dusty, gray appearance of the leaves. Mites on camellia leaves can be camellia bud mites or other types of mites, like spider mites or camellia gall mites....

Can You Eat Peach Resin? Is peach sap edible? Yes, peach sap is edible. In fact, it is commonly ingested in Chinese culture. The Chinese have been eating peach tree resin for thousands of years. It is used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Peach Sap from Trees Usually, peach tree resin is purchased packaged. It looks like hardened amber. While the Chinese have been eating gum from peach trees for centuries, they don’t just harvest it off the tree and pop it in their mouths....

Can You Grow Lychee from Seed? The good news is that lychee seed germination is usually very reliable. The bad news is that you may never get a lychee fruit out of it. The lychee fruit you buy in the store is often hybridized, and the likelihood that the resulting tree will match its parent is very low. Also, the trees are slow to mature, and it could take as long as 20 years for your sapling to produce fruit, if it ever does....

Can You Plant a Grocery Store Cucumber? The answer to using seeds from a store bought cucumber isn’t black or white. In theory, yes, you could plant seeds from a store bought cucumber but the likelihood of them ever fruiting is doubtful. If you were successful in getting grocery store cucumber seeds to germinate, chances are you would not get anything resembling the cucumber you culled the seeds from. Why? Because grocery store cucumbers are F1 hybrids which means they won’t “breed true”....

About Thornless Cockspur Hawthorns Anyone having a close relationship with a cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) probably has scratches to show for it. These dense shrubs, native to eastern Canada and the United States, bear long, sharp thorns that can draw blood. Like the species plant, thornless cockspur hawthorns grow into rather short trees with broad, rounded canopies and horizontal branches. They top out at about 30 feet (9 m.) tall and equally wide....

About Cherry Rasp Leaf Disease Rasp leaf disease in cherry trees often enters an orchard on plant material. This happens when the material is infected with the virus through contact with the dagger nematode (Xiphenema spp). The cherry rasp leaf virus can also move through an orchard in soil that contains the nematode. It can also show up on other hosts of the cherry rasp leaf virus, like dandelions and elderberry....

What are Columnar Oak Trees? These unusual and attractive trees, also called upright English oak trees, were first found growing wild in a forest in Germany. These types of columnar oaks were propagated by grafting. Columnar oak tree growth is moderately slow and the trees grow up, not out. With these trees, you don’t have to worry about the spreading lateral branches you associate with other oaks. Columnar oak trees might grow to 60 feet (18 m....

Common Twisted Plants Twisty and curly plants are fun to look at but a little more difficult to position in a garden. Usually, they do best as the focal point and more than one in a small garden may be too much. Here are some of the more commonly seen “twisted” plants: Corkscrew or Curly Plants Plants that twist have stems that are contorted or grow in spirals like the contorted hazelnut (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’)....

Citrus Tree Companions Citrus trees, like a lot of fruit trees, fall prey to insects very easily. It is because of this, some of the best citrus tree companions are those that either deter or draw away harmful bugs. Marigolds are an excellent companion crop for almost any plant because their smell drives away so many bad insects. Other similar plants that deter common citrus pests are petunias and borage. Nasturtium, on the other hand, draws aphids to it....

Is My Compost Finished? There are many variables that contribute to the timing of finished compost. It depends upon the particle size of materials in the pile, how often it is turned to supply oxygen, the moisture level and temperature of the pile, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio. How Long Does Compost Take to Mature? It can take from one month to a year to achieve a mature product, factoring in the above variables, plus the intended usage....

Compost not heating up to proper temperatures will result in a smelly mess or a pile that takes forever to break down. How to heat up compost is a common problem and easily addressed. Tips for How to Heat up Compost The answer to how to heat up compost is simple: nitrogen, moisture, bacteria, and bulk. Nitrogen is necessary for cell growth in organisms that aid in decomposition. A by-product of this cycle is heat....

Keep reading to learn how to plant a container garden. Container Garden Arrangements Container gardening ideas abound. Nothing says each container has to contain only one plant and, in fact, placing a few kinds of plants in the same container can make for a really attractive arrangement. A good mix involves three heights of plants: a single tall attention-grabbing variety surrounded by few shorter varieties to fill out the low space and add color and texture, with a hanging variety planted around the edges to drape over the side of the container – oftentimes referred to as the thriller, filler, spiller....

Types of Blackberry Nematodes Root lesion (Pratylenchus) and dagger (Xiphinema) nematodes are the most damaging nematodes of blackberries. Root knot (Meloidogyne) spiral (Helicotytenchus), and ring (Cryconemoides) nematodes may also attack blackberries in certain regions. Blackberry Nematode Information Dagger nematode damage results in swelling at the ends of the roots. As with other types of nematode feeding, dagger nematodes increase the likelihood for other diseases such as Verticillium wilt or root rot....

What is Dead Man’s Finger? Xylaria polymorpha, the fungus that causes dead man’s finger, is a saprotrophic fungus, which means that it only invades dead or dying wood. Think of saprotrophic fungi as natural sanitation engineers that clean up dead organic matter by breaking it down into a form that plants can absorb as nutrients. The fungus shows a preference for apple, maple, beech, locust, and elm trees, but it can also invade a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs used in home landscapes....

About Mexican Flame Flower Growing Mexican flame vines have attractive, dark green foliage that can climb a trellis or other support or cascade over a wall. Leaves are as large as 4 inches (10 cm.) in length and add a lush, tropical feel to the area in which they’re planted. When flowers appear, butterflies and hummingbirds will be regular visitors and may be enticed to remain if a water source is provided....

Full Sun Flower Bulbs Most summer blooming bulbs require at least 6 hours (preferably more) of sun per day. The following full sun flower bulbs are in the latter category and thrive with full sun all day long. Dahlias Lilies Gladiolas Cannas Calla lilies Crocosmia Liatris Eucomis Crinum Acidanthera Nerine All of the bulbs listed above are full-sun flower bulbs that should receive eight or more hours of sun. Flowering Bulbs that Grow in Partial Shade Some bulbs typically thought of as being shade lovers can actually thrive in partial shade; six hours of sunlight....

Preventing a Frozen Crown of Thorns in Potted Plants Basically, crown of thorns is treated like a cactus. Although it may be able to tolerate light frost, extended periods of cold below 35 degrees F. (2 C.) will result in a frost-bitten crown of thorns plant. Unlike an in-ground plant, potted crown of thorns is particularly susceptible to damage because the roots have little soil to protect them. If your crown of thorns plant is in a container, bring it indoors in late summer or early fall....

There are steps you can take toward fusarium crown rot control, however, that include prevention, isolation, and sanitation. Keep reading to learn more about fusarium crown rot disease and fusarium crown rot treatment. Fusarium Crown Rot Control Many of the symptoms of fusarium crown rot disease take place, unfortunately, underground. There are, however, signs that affect the above-ground part of the plant, too. The leaves may become wilted and take on a yellowed, scorched appearance....