Sweetfern Plant Info Sweetfern is a family of shrubs and small trees measuring 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.). This cold-tolerant plant thrives in chilly temps of USDA plant hardiness zones 2 to 5, but suffers in warmer climates above zone 6. Hummingbirds and pollinators love the yellowish green blooms, which appear in early spring and sometimes last through summer. The blooms are replaced by greenish brown nutlets. Sweetfern Uses Once established, sweetfern grows in dense colonies, which makes it a great choice for stabilizing soil and controlling erosion....

What is Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus? This is a disease that affects grains in most places in the U.S. where they are grown. Because of how widespread it is and how it affects yield, it is considered to be one of the most important grain diseases farmers face. Barley yellow dwarf disease is caused by a virus that is spread by aphids. Just 30 minutes of feeding on an infected plant and one of these tiny insects is capable of transferring the virus to the next plant on which it feeds....

Grapes with Thick Skin Grapes that have thick skin were actually the norm at one time. It’s taken over 8,000 years of selective breeding to create the types of grapes we use today. Ancient grape eaters might very well have had someone, no doubt a slave or servant, peel the thick-skinned grapes and not only to remove the tough epidermis but also to remove the unpalatable seeds. There are many different varieties of grapes, some grown for specific purposes and some with crossover uses....

Designing a Patio Garden in the City The main concern when designing a small urban patio is, of course, space. One of the easiest ways to keep from feeling restricted by space is by allowing for mobility. Set out folding chairs and tables that can be moved or taken away easily to accommodate guests. Also, choose furniture made of glass or thin metal: your eye can see through them and won’t perceive them as taking up much space....

Transplanting Hydrangeas The best time for hydrangea transplanting is just after the bushes have gone dormant in the autumn. This means the flowers have all died back and most, or all, of the leaves have dropped. In cooler climates, the best time for moving hydrangea bushes is November, when the bush is dormant but the ground is not yet frozen solid. In warmer climates where the ground doesn’t freeze, you can do your hydrangea transplanting between December and February....

Understanding New Jersey USDA Plant Hardiness Map If you live in New Jersey and you want your garden to be a success, you need to know the growing zone that covers your region. The map above is the New Jersey planting map, which the USDA released for 2012. New Jersey is divided into four different planting zones, 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b. Click on the map to enlarge it to determine which zone you are in....

Growing Shrubs in Wetlands Wetland shrub plants include those that are native to certain marshy areas and those that simply tolerate wet soil better than others. For the best results in your boggy yard or garden, choose species native to your area. Whether you have a bog, marsh, wetlands area, creek, or just a low-lying area that collects a lot of water, you have to choose plants carefully. Most shrubs will rot and die in marshy ground....

Kaufmanniana Plant Info Kaufmanniana tulip plants are native to Turkistan, where they grow wild. They were introduced to Europe in 1877. Today, Kaufman tulip flowers are available in nearly every color except true blue, including dazzling shades of rose, golden yellow, pink, violet, orange, and red. Interiors of the blooms are multicolored. Like all spring bulbs, Kaufmanniana looks best when planted in groups of at least five or ten. These early-blooming tulips are especially noticeable when planted in combination with other flowering bulbs....

Tamarix Information and Uses Tamarix (Tamarix spp.) is a graceful, fast-growing tree that tolerates desert heat, freezing winters, drought, and both alkaline and saline soil, although it prefers sandy loam. Most species are deciduous. Tamarix in the landscape works well as a hedge or windbreak, although the tree can appear somewhat scruffy during the winter months. Because of its long taproot and dense growth habit, uses for Tamarix include erosion control, particularly on dry, sloped areas....

White Oak Tree Facts White oak trees get their name from the whitish color of the undersides of their leaves, distinguishing them from other oaks. They are hardy from USDA zone 3 through 9. They grow at a moderate rate, from 1 to 2 feet (30.5 to 61 cm.) per year, reaching between 50 and 100 feet (15 and 30.5 m.) tall and 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24.5 m....

German White Garlic Info Many gardeners growing German White garlic declare it their favorite. Its claim to fame is the size of its cloves. The big bulbs have only four to six cloves, which makes them easier to peel. Exactly what is German White garlic? It’s an extremely popular type of hardneck garlic with ivory bulbs. The clove wrappers, however, are pink. This garlic is known by several other names. These include German Extra-Hardy, Northern White and German Stiffneck....

What is Kweik Lettuce? Kweik is a variety of butter lettuce. Some common varieties of butter lettuce that you’re likely to see in the grocery store are Bibb and Boston. Butter lettuces are known for forming a loose head of light to bright green leaves, a tender texture, and a less bitter, sweeter flavor than other types of lettuce. Among butter lettuce varieties, Kweik is fast-growing, tolerates cold, and produces loose, lime-green heads....

What is Queenette Thai Basil? The basil ‘Queenette’ is a true Thai basil that hails from Thailand. It is a strikingly ornamental herb with small, densely clustered, green leaves surrounding the brilliant purple stems. Newly emerged leaves are also purple but green up as they mature. Its spires of purple flowers make it a beautiful edition not only to the herb garden but interspersed amongst other annuals and perennials. Thai basil is a common ingredient in Thai and other Asian cuisines in everything from chutney to stir fry to soup....

What are Crimson Glory Grapevines? Also known as Crimson Glory grapevines, the Crimson Glory vine plant is actually an ornamental type of grape. This variety is not bred for consumption by humans and should not be eaten. However, it does produce small fruit late in the growing season that’s especially attractive to birds and other native wildlife. This plant’s true ornamental value comes from its colorful and lively fall foliage. Often reaching lengths of 60 feet (18 m....

What is Causing My Peppers to Rot? Pepper blossom end rot is caused simply by a calcium deficiency in the pepper plant. Calcium is needed by the plant to help form the cell walls of the pepper fruit. If the plant is lacking calcium or if the pepper fruit grows too fast for the plant to supply enough calcium, the bottom of the pepper begins to rot, because the cell walls are literally collapsing....

Growing Wildflowers in Water Prone Areas Growing native plants is a growing trend in gardening and home ownership. A native landscape helps create and maintain healthy ecosystems and provides habitat and home for wildlife. If you have thought about creating a more natural yard or area of your yard by using wildflowers, you may be stymied by water and wetness. A native wetland area can support some beautiful wildflowers, though, so don’t give up your dream....

How to Grow Vegetables in a Greenhouse Greenhouse vegetable plants may end up growing faster and stronger than those grown in a traditional garden, because you will be giving them the ideal environment for growth. When it’s below freezing outside, passive solar collectors and small heaters can leave the interior of a greenhouse cool but perfectly liveable for most spring vegetables. In the heat of the summer, fans and other cooling units can protect tender plants from the scorching heat of a southern climate....

The good news is that wisteria winter care, like most wisteria care, is minimal. That being said, if you have the time, there are a few things you can do for overwintering wisteria. Care for Wisteria in Winter First, let us say that wisteria winter care is not really necessary. Wisteria is an extremely rugged plant and can survive a wide variety of weather conditions. Unless your wisteria is newly planted or has been unhealthy, overwintering wisteria does not require extra work....

To help our visitors who are looking to start a vegetable garden, Gardening Know How has put together this guide of our best vegetable gardening articles that will help you start your own vegetable garden. Whether you have lots of space or only room for a container or two, whether you’re out in the country or nestled in a city, it doesn’t matter. Anyone can grow a vegetable garden and nothing quite beats harvesting your own produce!...

Growing Zone 8 Fruit Trees There is a wide range of fruit trees for zone 8. Here we are able to enjoy fresh, homegrown fruit from many of the common fruit trees such as: Apples Apricot Pears Peaches Cherries Plums However, because of the mild winters, zone 8 fruit trees also include some warmer climate and tropical fruits like: Oranges Grapefruit Bananas Figs Lemons Limequat Tangerines Kumquats Jujubes When growing fruit trees, though, it is important to know that some fruit trees require a pollinator, meaning a second tree of the same kind....