When to Prune Bleeding Hearts Bleeding heart plants are perennials. While their foliage dies back with the frost, their rhizomatous roots survive through the winter and put up new growth in the spring. It is because of this yearly dieback, pruning a bleeding heart to keep it in check or to form a particular shape is not necessary. However, the plants will die back naturally each year before the frost, and it’s important to cut back the dying foliage at the right time to keep the plant as healthy as possible....

Is My Cyclamen Dormant or Dead? During the cyclamen dormant period, the plant may seem to be dead. First, the blossoms shrivel and drop off, and then the leaves yellow and fall. This is a normal part of a cyclamen’s life cycle, and you shouldn’t be alarmed. There are two things you can check to make sure your plant is still alive. First, look at the calendar. When it’s time for the plant to go dormant, nothing can stop the decline....

How to Plant Drumstick Allium Bulbs At heights of 24 to 36 inches (61 to 91.5 cm.), drumstick allium plants are difficult to miss. Showy drumstick allium flowers add beauty to sunny beds, borders, wildflower gardens, and rock gardens, or you can plant them in a mixed garden with tulips, daffodils, and other spring bloomers. You can also plant drumstick allium bulbs in containers. The long, sturdy stems make drumstick allium flowers ideal for cut flower arrangements....

Why are burdock weeds so troublesome, and why is burdock management so critical? Read on to find out how to get rid of this weed. Reasons for Controlling Common Burdock It’s extremely difficult to eradicate burdock. Seeds spread quickly when the seed heads dry and break, scattering thousands of seeds far and wide. The weeds also spread when the prickly burs catch a ride on passing people or animals. Some people may experience unpleasant allergic reactions when the bristles contact the skin....

Evergreen Climbing Hydrangea Information The Hydrangea seemanii is a climbing hydrangea vine that can get 30 feet (9 m.) tall. It has big, thick, rounded leaves that look more like they belong on an evergreen magnolia than a hydrangea. They contrast beautifully with the creamy blossoms. The glossy leaves stay on the hydrangea vine year-round, while the flowers appear in summer, attracting butterflies and bees. The copious amounts of ivory white flowers emerge as tight ivory buds that look like duck eggs....

Growing Solomon’s Plume Solomon’s plume is native to wooded areas and thickets across much of the United States and Canada. It thrives in the cool temperatures of USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 7 but may tolerate warmer climates of zones 8 and 9. It is well behaved and not considered aggressive or invasive. This woodland plant tolerates nearly any type of well-drained soil, but blooms best in moist, rich, acidic soil....

What is Garden Texture? One of the most common elements of garden design to consider is the use of texture. While this term often relates to the tactile feel or surface of an object, in the garden, textures refer to the overall presence of the plant. Gardening with texture allows the grower to create plantings that are diverse and offers fantastic curb appeal. For some, terminology related to texture in the garden may be somewhat confusing....

What is Wild Quinine? Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolim) is an upright perennial wildflower, native to Illinois, that is not seen in the home landscape often. This lovely flower has aromatic foliage similar in appearance to mustard greens and bright white, button-shaped flowers that bloom from late spring throughout summer. Wild quinine is a tall plant that reaches 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) at maturity and actually makes a lovely addition to a perennial bed....

Gumbo Limbo Info What is a gumbo limbo tree? Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) is an especially popular species of the genus Bursera. The tree is native to southern Florida and ranges throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America. It grows extremely fast – in the course of 18 months, it can go from a seed to a tree reaching 6 to 8 feet in height (2-2.5 m.). Trees tend to reach 25 to 50 feet (7....

Potted Tree Lily Information The key to growing tree lilies in pots is giving them enough room. Lily bulbs can actually be placed relatively close together, with a spacing of about 2 inches (5 cm.) between bulbs. Especially in containers, this gives the plants a fuller, denser look, and being packed so tightly doesn’t affect them in a negative way. It’s the depth of the container that you have to worry about....

The good news is that a surprising number of plants can tolerate Canada growing zones, even in the northern part of the country. However, many can’t survive outside of their designated zone. Read on to learn more about hardiness zones in Canada. Hardiness Zones in Canada The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the first hardiness zone map for North America in 1960. Although the map was a good start, it was limited and included only minimum winter temperatures....

With very specific growing habitats, those wishing to grow their own ginseng must provide ideal conditions to harvest marketable roots. This may lead growers to begin thinking about ways in which they are able to best maximize their crop yields. The establishment of consistent watering and fertilization routines are important to the needs of growing ginseng plants. How to Feed Ginseng Plants When it comes to fertilizing ginseng plants, there are several options....

Signs That a Tree is Dying The signs that a tree is dying are many and they differ greatly. One sure sign is a lack of leaves or a reduction in the number of leaves produced on all or part of the tree. Other signs of a sick tree include the bark becoming brittle and falling off the tree, the limbs dying and falling off, or the trunk becoming spongy or brittle....

Hyacinth Care Indoors After Flowering After 8 to 12 weeks of blooming, your hyacinth will begin to go dormant. First the flowers will die, and eventually the leaves will wither. When most of the flowers are brown, cut the entire flower stalk off. This is called deadheading. The foliage will still be green at this point, and should be left to die off naturally. Be careful not to break or bend the leaves, as this can prevent the plant from storing up much needed energy for its next blooming cycle....

Aphid Predator Midge Identification Aphid predator midge identification is a little difficult because the bugs usually only come out in the evening. If you do see them, they look somewhat like mosquitoes with long antennae that curl back from their heads. It’s not the adults that eat aphids, however– it’s the larvae. Aphid midge larvae are small, about 0.118th of an inch (3 mm.) long, and orange. The entire aphid midge life cycle is three to four weeks long....

Reasons for Leaching Houseplants The minerals you’re getting rid of are called salts. They were dissolved in water and left behind when the water evaporated. You might see them in a white buildup on the surface of your plant’s soil or around the pot’s drainage holes. This is evidence that there are even more salts in the soil. As these salts build up, plants have a harder time drawing up water....

About Liberty Apple Trees A semi-dwarf hybrid, Liberty apple trees produce substantial crops in the home orchard or landscape. Resistant to apple scab and other diseases, Liberty apple growing provides big, red fruits that generally are ready for harvest in September. Many grow it as a replacement for the McIntosh apple tree. Caring for a Liberty Apple Tree Learning how to grow Liberty apples is not difficult. Once you plant your apple tree, keep it watered in well until it develops a good root system....

Loganberry Plant Info Loganberries (Rubus x loganobaccus) were first developed in 1880 when horticulturalist James Harvey Logan was trying to breed a new variety of blackberry. By accident, he wound up producing a hybrid between his Red Antwerp raspberry and his Aughinburg blackberry plants. The result was the loganberry, which has since come to bear his name. Loganberries are notable for their long-trailing canes, their early staggered ripening, and their thornless stems (though some varieties do have thorns)....

What is Ogon Spirea? Ogon spirea is a perennial shrub that reaches heights of up to 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall. The plants, native to Japan, were first introduced to the United States in 1993 by Barry Yinger. ‘Mellow Yellow’ spirea particularly appeals to many landscapers for its large wispy branches and interesting chartreuse willow-like foliage. Spirea thrives in a variety of growing conditions, making it an excellent choice for beginning gardeners wishing to add curb appeal to their properties....

Mesophytic Plant Info Mesophytic environments are marked by average to hot temperatures and soil that is neither too dry nor too wet. Most mesophytic plants don’t do well in soggy, poorly drained soil. Mesophytes commonly grow in sunny, open areas such as fields or meadows, or shady, forested areas. Although they are sophisticated plants with a number of highly evolved survival mechanisms, mesophytic plants have no special adaptations for water or for extreme cold or heat....