If you are planting new boxwoods, consider varieties that are mite resistant. For example, Japanese boxwood is less susceptible to boxwood spider mites than European and American varieties. If your beloved boxwoods are already infested, read on for tips on boxwood mite damage and boxwood mite control. What are Boxwood Bud Mites? What are boxwood bud mites? They are tiny insects that eat away on the bottom of boxwood leaves....

Can I Eat Forget-Me-Nots? Yes, they are pretty with their sprays of tiny blue flowers, but I get so many of them invading the gardens, I tend to pull them out. I’m talking about ornamental forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica). Turns out, maybe I should think about harvesting and eating forget-me-not flowers because the answer to “Are forget-me-nots edible?” is yes. About Edible Forget-Me-Nots Ornamental forget-me-nots (M. sylvatica) are indeed edible. They grow in USDA zones 5-9....

While citrus leaves smell fabulous, most people aren’t crazy about their bitter taste and fibrous texture, however, they convey delicious flavor and aroma to a variety of dishes, especially orange and lemon leaves. Take a look at a few of these ideas for using lemon leaves and other citrus. How Can You Eat Citrus Leaves? Citrus leaves are often used to wrap meatballs, chicken breasts, roasted pork, or seafood, which are then secured with a toothpick and grilled, steamed, or roasted....

Popular Climbing Roses for Zone 9 Gardens It might be easier to ask what climbing roses don’t grow in zone 9. While some top out at zone 9, other climbing rose varieties for zone 9 can stand heat up to zone 10 or 11. As a rule, though, most climbing roses do very well in zone 9. Here are a few favorites to try: Golden Showers – A mostly thornless plant that produces lots of very fragrant yellow blossoms....

Growing Trees in Zone 5 Since there are a number of trees that can easily be grown in zone 5 gardens, here are some of the more commonly planted types: Crabapple – While you might not get the tastiest fruit off of them, crabapple trees are very low maintenance and can be visually stunning with brightly colored flowers, fruits, and leaves. Japanese Tree Lilac – A showy tree all year-round, the Japanese tree lilac has fragrant white blossoms in summer after all other lilacs have faded....

Growing Coleus Plants Coleus is probably one of the easiest plants to grow and propagate. In fact, the plants root so easily that you can even start cuttings in a glass of water. They can also be propagated by seed indoors about eight to ten weeks prior to your last expected spring frost. Coleus can be added to beds and borders for interest or grown in containers. They need fertile, well-draining soil and usually perform best in areas with partial shade, though many varieties can also tolerate sun....

Crabapple Fertilizer Needs Crabapple feeding should be balanced: not enough fertilizer and the tree may not grow well or only very slowly, but too much fertilizer can make it grow in an unhealthy way and make it more susceptible to diseases like fire blight. Excessive fertilizer can also promote more leaf growth and restrict the number of flowers that develop. In general, crabapples don’t need a lot of fertilizing in the first year....

How to Trim Lemon Verbena The best time for cutting back lemon verbena is in spring, shortly after you see new growth. This is the main pruning of the year and will encourage new, bushy growth. Remove winter damage and dead stems down to ground level. Cut old, woody growth down to about 2 inches (5 cm.) from the ground. This may sound harsh, but don’t worry, lemon verbena rebounds quickly....

Repotting a Cyclamen Plant Cyclamens, as a rule, should be repotted every two years or so. Depending upon your plant and its container, however, you may have more or less time before it fills up its pot and has to move. When repotting cyclamen plants, it’s really best to wait until their dormant period. Cyclamens, unlike many other plants, actually experience their dormant period in the summer. Faring best in USDA zones 9 and 10, cyclamens bloom in cool wintertime temperatures and sleep through the hot summer....

Damson Plum Tree Information What do Damson plums look like? The small clingstone prunes are dark purple black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges. Look for clusters of white blooms to appear in spring. Damson plum trees reach mature heights of about 20 feet (6 m.) with a similar spread, and dwarf trees are about half that size....

Desert King Melon Information Desert King is a variety of watermelon, a member of the Citrullus family. Desert King (Citrullus lanatus) is an open-pollinated, heirloom melon with a light pea-green rind surrounding the gorgeous yellow to orange flesh. Desert King watermelons produce 20 pound (9 kg.) fruits that are resistant to sun scald. This cultivar is one of the most drought resistant varieties out there. They will also hold for a month or so on the vine after ripening and, once harvested, store very well....

If you plant one apple tree and there are no others around for miles, chances are you’re never going to see any fruit…usually. While rare, there are actually some apples that purportedly pollinate themselves. Keep reading to learn more about self-fruiting apple trees. Can Apples Self-Pollinate? For the most part, apples can’t pollinate themselves. Most varieties of apple are dioecious, and there’s nothing we can do about it. If you want to grow an apple, you are going to have to plant a neighboring apple tree....

What is Firewitch Dianthus? Named the perennial plant of the year in 2006, Firewitch dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’) was actually created by a German horticulturist in 1957, where it was named Feuerhexe. In 1987, United States horticulturists began to propagate and grow Firewitch flowers and they have been a much-loved border plant for zones 3 to 9 ever since. Blooming in May and June, their deep pink or magenta flowers are a beatific contrast against the blue-green, silvery, grass-like foliage....

Pruning Fuchsia Plants It helps to keep in mind that fuchsia produces blooms only on new wood, so there’s no need to worry about cutting off buds when you’re doing fuchsia pruning on old wood. Don’t be afraid of cutting back a fuchsia drastically if need be, as the plant will eventually rebound better and healthier than ever. All fuchsia types benefit from regular removal of spent blooms. Also, pinching growing tips on new plants encourages full, bushy growth....

Where to Grow Herbs in the Office Even with very limited space, you can grow a few plants in the office. If you have an entire office to yourself, you have options. Create a space by a window for a small garden or tuck it into a corner with an adequate light source. For smaller spaces, consider desktop herbs. Carve out a little space on your desk for a small set of containers....

When to Grow Caraway Seeds Although you can start seeds indoors, sowing caraway seeds directly in the garden is generally best because the plant’s long taproot makes it difficult to transplant. If you decide to start seeds indoors, transplant the seedlings when they’re small and the taproots aren’t well developed. Ideally, sow seeds directly in the garden in autumn, or as early as the ground can be worked in spring....

What is Herniaria Green Carpet? It’s hard to find fault with herniaria ground cover as lawn substitute. This carpet-forming plant consists of tiny, bright green leaves that turn bronze during the winter months. It is soft enough to walk on in bare feet and it tolerates a fair share of foot traffic. This green carpet lawn alternative tops out at about an inch (2.5 cm.), which means no mowing is required – ever....

The key to successful fruit production in any climate is selection of appropriate crops and varieties. The right fruit crop spells the difference between success and frustration. Late Summer Fruit Some of the best late summer fruits are berries. They are also sweet and delicious. For the earliest harvest, go for strawberries that start ripening in June. Pick them when the entire fruit is red. Most berries may be harvested for three to four weeks....

What is a Topaz Apple? Developed at the Czech Republic’s Institute of Experimental Botany, Topaz apples are crispy, medium to large apples with a distinctive, sweet-tart flavor often compared to Honeycrisp. Topaz apples are usually eaten fresh or in fruit salads, but they can also be used for cooking or baking. Growing Topaz apples isn’t difficult, and the trees tend to be resistant to most apple diseases. Topaz apple harvest occurs late in the season, usually from mid-October to November....

Growing Yucca in Zone 7 Regions Yucca plants are evergreen, even in cool climates. With heights up to 7 feet (2 m.) and sword-like foliage, they are oftentimes used as dramatic specimen plants in landscape or xeriscape beds. Even smaller varieties are excellent plants for hot, dry rock gardens. Yucca does not fit into every landscape though. I frequently see yucca plants that seem out of place in formal or cottage style gardens....