Heartnut Tree Information Heartnut trees can grow to 50 feet tall (15 m.) with a spread of 65-100 feet (20-30.5 m.). They are hardy to cold and most pests. They get their name from their prolific production of a nut that looks, both inside and out, like a heart. The nuts taste similar to walnuts and are extremely hard to crack open. Growing heartnuts in well-drained soil will produce the best results, but they will grow in loamier soils....

What are Pot Worms? If you’re wondering what pot worms are, they’re simply another organism that eats waste and gives aeration to the soil or compost around it. White worms in compost aren’t directly a danger to anything in your bin, but they do thrive on conditions that the red wigglers don’t like. If your compost pile is completely infested with pot worms and you want to lower their population, you’ll have to change the conditions of the compost itself....

Chinese Money Plant Info What is a Chinese money plant? Also known as lefse plant, missionary plant, and UFO plant, Pilea peperomioides is frequently just called “pilea” for short. It is native to the Yunnan Province of China. As legend has it, in 1946 the Norwegian missionary Agnar Espergren brought the plant back home from China and shared cuttings among his friends. To this day, the Chinese money plant is easiest to find in Scandinavia, where it is very popular....

Leucadendron Information Leucadendron plants are relatives of Protea plants. While more commonly known as a conebush, the plant’s Greek name is actually something of a misnomer. “Leukos” means white and “dendron” means tree, but while white Leucadendrons can be found, the plants are most popular for their vividly vibrant colors. Each stalk of the plant is topped with a large inflorescence – the flower itself is relatively small, while the brightly colored “petals” are actually bracts or modified leaves....

What is Agave Anthracnose? Like other agave fungal diseases, anthracnose of agaves generally occurs when growing conditions are wet and humid. While this may be due to the moods of Mother Nature, including splashing rain, it can also be the result of too much shade or excessive irrigation, especially via overhead sprinklers. The primary sign of anthracnose of agaves includes unsightly sunken lesions on the crown and sword-like leaves, often with a visible, reddish brown spore mass....

Avocado cotton root rot is bad news for avocado trees. Often, the best recourse is to remove the diseased tree and plant a palm or another more resistant tree. Certain management practices may help minimize the impact of avocado with Texas root rot. Many are prohibitively expensive, but none have proven to be highly effective. Recognizing the symptoms of avocado cotton root rot may be helpful. Read on to learn more....

Nodding Lady’s Tresses Info Also known as nodding spiranthes, lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthes cernua) grows wild throughout most of the central and eastern parts of the United States and Canada, as far west as Texas. This terrestrial orchid produces fragrant clusters of small white, yellow, or greenish flowers on spiky stems extending from ground-hugging rosettes. Mature plants reach heights of up to 2 feet (61 cm.). Spiranthes lady’s tresses orchids grow in marshes, bogs, woodlands, and riverbanks as well as along roadways, lawns, and other disturbed habitats....

About Crimson Crisp Apples You won’t find more attractive fruit than those from Crimson Crisp apple trees. Beautifully round and a perfect size for munching, these apples are sure to please apple lovers. Once you taste Crimson Crisp apples, your admiration may increase. Take a big bite to experience the extremely crisp, creamy-white flesh. You’ll find it tart with a rich flavor. The harvest is lovely and delicious, and those growing Crimson Crisp apples can enjoy them for a long time....

Babcock Peach Fruit Information Babcock peaches date back to 1933. They were developed out of a joint low chill breeding effort by the University of California Riverside and Chaffey Junior college in Ontario, CA. The peach was named after the professor, E.B. Babcock, who originally started research on the development. It is most likely a cross between the Strawberry peach and Peento peach, and shares their characteristic firm flesh and sub-acid flavor....

Baby’s Breath Cutting Propagation Fill a container with good quality commercial potting mix. Water well and set the pot aside to drain until the potting mix is moist but not dripping. Taking Gypsophila cuttings is simple. Select several healthy baby’s breath stems. Cuttings from baby’s breath should each be about 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) in length. You can plant several stems, but be sure they aren’t touching. Dip the cut end of the stems into rooting hormone, then plant the stems in the moist potting mix with about 2 inches (5 cm....

Outdoor Aquarium Ideas You can go big with an outdoor aquatic ecosystem, but a small tank or pond is great too. Consider your budget, the amount of time you can put into building and maintaining it, and your skill level before choosing a project. Here are some ideas to get you started: Trough tank – A galvanized steel trough is all you need to create a lovely outdoor aquarium or pond....

Symptoms of Barley with Foot Rot Foot rot on barley is usually noticed in early spring, shortly after the plants emerge from winter dormancy. The first symptoms are generally yellowish-brown, eye-shaped lesions on the crown of the plant, near the surface of the soil. Several lesions may appear on the stem, eventually joining to cover entire stems. The stems are weakened and may fall over, or they may die while still remaining upright....

What is Biochar? Biochar Use in Gardens Biochar as a soil amendment enhances plant growth and reduces need for water and fertilizer. This is because more moisture and nutrients remain in the soil and don’t leach into the groundwater. Scientists believe that soil improved by biochar is more efficient, retaining critical nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Additionally, nutrients present in the soil are more available to plants, making good soil even better....

Bleeding Heart Information Clerodendrum bleeding heart is native to western Africa. It is not related to the Dicentra bleeding heart, a perennial with dainty pink or lavender and white blooms. Although some types of Clerodendrum are extremely invasive, Clerodendrum bleeding heart is a well-behaved, non-aggressive plant that reaches lengths of about 15 feet (4.5 m.) at maturity. You can train Clerodendrum bleeding heart vines to twine around a trellis or other support, or you can let the vines sprawl freely over the ground....

Can Grass Be Overwatered? Many gardeners don’t realize that water can be both good and bad for their lawns. Can grass be overwatered? Yes, it can, and the consequences for that smooth carpet of green are not pleasant. Overwatered grass is not just the result of too-eager homeowners. Water on the lawn can come from humidity and showers, as well as sprinkler hoses. And hot, wet summers are not an occasional happenstance in some locales....

Can You Eat Asters? Asters are gorgeous autumn perennials that can be found wild in North America and southern Europe. Also called starworts or frost flowers, the genus Aster includes about 600 species. The word ‘aster’ is derived from the Greek in reference to the multi-hued star-like blooms. The aster root has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. How about eating the rest of the aster plant? Are asters edible?...

When to Trim Cassia Trees Prune cassia trees at planting time only if necessary to removed dead and diseased branches and those that cross and rub against each other. Rubbing causes wounds that can provide entry points for insects and disease organisms. Cassia trees are normally pruned in late winter or early spring. Early pruning gives the shrub plenty of time to form the buds that will bloom in late summer....

Common Garden Nursery Abbreviations So what’s the key to understanding landscape abbreviations? Some plant abbreviations are very simple and often mean the same thing from nursery to nursery. One of these is “cv,” which stands for cultivar, a distinction given to a type of plant that has been developed by humans and does not grow in nature. Another is “var,” which stands for variety. This is a specific type of plant that does grow in nature....

What to Plant with Chamomile Chamomile tea is used to spray on seedlings to prevent damping-off, a fungal infection that kills many young plants. By companion planting with chamomile, its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties can help plants prone to fungus, mildew, mold, blight, and other common plant ailments. Annuals susceptible to fungal problems, such as zinnias, petunias, snapdragons, and verbena, as well as blight-prone vegetables, like tomatoes and potatoes, can all benefit by having chamomile as their neighbor....

Once it’s established, it can be hard to get rid of and will crowd out or strangle plants that get in its path. It is because of this, unless you specifically want it as groundcover in a spot where nothing else grows, you should work on controlling creeping jenny as soon as you spot it. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of creeping jenny in the garden....