What is Pecan Shuck and Kernel Rot? The disease is caused by a fungal species, Phytophthora cactorum. It causes rot in the fruit of the tree, turning the shuck into a mushy, rotted mess, and rendering the nuts inedible. The disease is most common after it has been wet for several days and when the temperatures remain below 87 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) during the day. Pecan shuck and kernel rot infections usually occur in late August or early September....

Herbs Against Evil In many different cultures, it has long been said that there are some plants that repel evil. While some gardeners may disregard information concerning a plant’s ability to serve more alternative purposes, others may be quite interested in learning more about these “evil fighting herbs.” Folklore and stories handed down throughout history have long mentioned other uses of trees, plants, and herbs. Whether hoping to rid their homes of witches or other evil spirits, herbs were used in the form of wreaths, incense, or even loosely scattered throughout the home....

Is Pothos Pet Friendly? Learn About Pothos’ Pet Toxicity The offending toxins are insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which are found in the leaves and stems of pothos. When a pet bites or chews into the foliage, the crystals are released and can cause burning and irritation of the mouth, drooling, vomiting, decreased appetite, and difficulty swallowing. Any plant, even those labeled as non-toxic, has the potential to upset the inner workings of Phido, so take care to keep all plants away from pets....

Crepe Myrtle Bark Shedding – A Perfectly Normal Process A lot of people plant crepe myrtle trees and then start worrying as soon as they find that the bark is shedding from a crepe myrtle tree in their yard. When you find bark coming off a crepe myrtle, you might think it is diseased and be tempted to treat it with a pesticide or antifungal treatment. However, you should know that peeling bark on crepe myrtle is normal....

Reproducing Bulbs with Shoots Growing from Offsets Bulbs produce bulbils and bulb offsets as easy propagation parts. You need to know what to do with offsets to increase your stock of favorites. The shoots growing from offsets will tell you when it is time to divide and remove the new baby bulbs. You can wait until the shoots coming from a bulb die back to divide or take the offsets when the leaves are still green....

Symptoms of Turnip Mosaic Virus The onset of mosaic virus in turnips presents as chlorotic ring spots on young turnip leaves. As the leaf ages, the leaf spots morph into a light and dark green mosaic mottling in the leaves of the plant. On a turnip with mosaic virus, these lesions become necrotic and generally occur near the leaf veins. The entire plant may become stunted and distorted and yields are reduced....

How Do Roots in Plants Develop? In most cases, the beginnings of the roots in plants are found in the embryo within the seed. This is called a radicle and will eventually form the primary root of a young plant. The primary root will then evolve into one of the two main types of roots in plants: a taproot system or a fibrous root system. Taproot– In the taproot system, the primary root continues to grow into one main trunk with smaller root branches emerging from its sides....

About Autumn Brilliance Serviceberries ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberries (Amelanchier x grandflora) are a cross between A. canadensis and A. laevis. Its genus name stems from the French provincial name for Amelanchier ovalis, a European plant in this genus and, of course, its cultivar name is reminiscent of its brilliant orange/red fall hues. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. The serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ has an upright, highly branching form that grows from between 15 and 25 feet (4-8 m....

Spinach Anthracnose Info Anthracnose is a disease that affects a wide range of vegetable crops and is the result of the presence of a number of fungi in the genus Colletotrichum. Anthracnose of spinach plants is mostly caused by the fungus Colletotrichum spinaciae, although it has also been traced to Colletotrichum dematium. Symptoms of anthracnose on spinach plants start as small, watery, dark green to black spots on the leaves. These spots grow in size and turn light brown and papery....

While planning a spring equinox party may sound somewhat non-traditional, history suggests otherwise. Throughout several cultures, holidays and celebrations are influenced by the arrival of spring and the symbolic renewal of the spring equinox. With simple planning, growers can create their own “first day of spring” party to celebrate spring in the garden. Spring Garden Party Ideas First day of spring garden party ideas may be formal or a time to reflect within oneself....

Strawberry Geranium Information Also called strawberry begonia, creeping saxifrage, and creeping rockfoil, strawberry geranium plants are native to Korea, Japan, and eastern China. Despite the name, they are not actually geraniums or begonias. Instead, they’re low-to-the-ground evergreen perennials that spread through runners as strawberry plants do. The leaves, which look like those of begonia or geranium (hence the common names), are wide, round, and veined with silver against a dark green background....

Swamp Sunflower Info Swamp sunflower plant (Helianthus angustifolius) is a branching plant that produces deep green leaves and masses of bright yellow, daisy-like petals surrounding dark centers. The flowers, which measure 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) across, appear in late summer and early fall when most plants are finished for the season. Swamp sunflower grows wild across much of the eastern United States and is often found in coastal marshlands and disturbed areas such as along roadside ditches....

How to Plant Bee Balm Bee balm plants prefer moist, rich soil, and a sunny location. Bee balm will tolerate shade, particularly in hot-summer areas. Plant it in any protected spot that would benefit from a bright shot of color. Most varieties of the bee balm plant are between 2 1/2 feet to 4 feet (76 cm. – 1 m.) tall, but there are also dwarf varieties less than 10 inches (25....

Feeding Daylilies Everyone loves having daylilies in the garden and there are hundreds of cultivars to choose from. The plants accept a wide range of soil and sunlight requirements and stay vigorous for many years with minimal care. Daylilies grow best in a sunny plot with well-drained, acidic soil but they adapt to their circumstances. While they will grow just fine without daylily fertilizer, feeding daylilies can increase their flower production....

Overwintering Dracaena Plants Dracaena cold tolerance varies greatly depending upon which variety is being cultivated in the garden (most are zones 9 and above). While some do not tolerate frost or cold temperatures, other varieties may tolerate conditions in cooler USDA growing zones like zone 7-8. Those growing dracaena as houseplants won’t require any special considerations when preparing for winter, but anyone having outdoor plantings will need to take necessary steps to help the plant survive upcoming cooler conditions....

Can You Plant Forced Flowering Bulb Container Plants Outside? Many people enjoy forcing flowering bulb container plants in the winter. Container plants that have been previously forced into bloom cannot be forced again; however, you can plant bulbs in the garden. If you plan to replant these forced bulbs outdoors, sprinkle a small amount of bulb boosting fertilizer on top of the soil, as most will not flower well again without some help....

Information About Crocus Bulbs Crocus flowers appear from March to April in a wide range of colors, from white to yellow and shades of purple, with solid and striped varieties. The bulbs grow best in well-drained, sandy loam but tolerate many soil types. They prefer a sunny location but will tolerate partial shade. The flowers will not open in full shade. Tips for Propagating Crocus Bulbs Crocus bulbs must be dug up for division when they have gone dormant after the first frost in the fall....

Why Won’t My Dahlias Bloom? Getting dahlias to bloom may be as simple as getting their light and water requirements down. Dahlias bloom best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Even a little less than that means your dahlias produce only some flowers. Partial or more shade will probably mean your dahlias do not bloom at all. Water is another major cause of dahlias not flowering....

What is a Turpentine Bush? Turpentine bush gets its name from the fragrance of its evergreen leaves. When lightly rubbed, the foliage gives off a lemony scent, but when crushed they become a gummy mess that smells like turpentine. The short, leathery, olive leaves are clustered toward the tips of the stems and turn a golden color in fall. The height is usually between 1 and 3 feet (31-91 cm.), but it can reach 6 feet (2 m....

Learn More About The USDA Map Of Plant Growing Zones In Delaware The above map shows the growing zones for Delaware. These zones are meant to serve as a guide to you when you are making decisions about what to plant in your garden. To learn your zone, locate the area you live in on the Delaware zone map for hardiness. Match the area’s color to the legend on the right....