Posts

Oyama Magnolia Tree The Oyama magnolia tree (Magnolia sieboldii) is a large flowering shrub native to the understory of forests in Japan, China, and Korea. One of its common names is the Korean magnolia. It is a vase shaped shrub with gray bark, coarse textured oval leaves, and lovely flowers. The blossoms appear in late spring, as fragrant magnolia flowers that can grow to four inches (10 cm.) in diameter. They are followed by showy pink fruit with bright scarlet seeds....

When to Feed Peace Lily Plants Peace lilies aren’t fussy and they really don’t need much fertilizer. The best time to apply peace lily fertilizer is when the plant is activity growing or producing blooms. As a general rule, two or three feedings throughout the growing season is plenty. If you choose to feed your plant more often, use a very diluted fertilizer. Avoid overfeeding, as too much fertilizer may create brown spots on the leaves....

Peony Flowers in the Garden Learn how to grow peonies, whether the tree or garden form, for abundant flowers for cutting and a show in the landscape. Care for peonies is not difficult if you’re planting within the right growing zones, USDA Zones 2-8. Peony flowers bloom for about a week, somewhere between late spring and early summer. Select early, mid-season, and late bloomers for a long-lasting display of exquisite, growing peonies....

What is Rooting Hormone? When propagating plants using a stem cutting, it is often helpful to use a root-stimulating hormone. Rooting hormone will increase the chance of successful plant rooting in most cases. When rooting hormones are used, the root will generally develop quickly and be of higher quality than when plant-rooting hormones are not used. While there are many plants that root freely on their own, using a root hormone makes the task of propagating difficult plants much easier....

About Planting Bulbs Most bulbs are either spring flowering or summer flowering. You can plant spring bulbs in autumn, then summer bulbs in spring. The preliminary steps for planting bulbs are very much the same as for garden plants. You need to cultivate the soil down to a depth of 12 to 14 inches (31-35 cm.) and be sure that the soil drains well. Organic compost can be added to clay soil to increase drainage....

About Sun Devil Lettuce Plants Sun Devil is a type of iceberg lettuce. Also known as crisphead varieties, iceberg lettuces form tight heads of leaves that have high water content and are crispy with a mild flavor. Iceberg lettuces are also desirable because you can pick the whole head, and it will last unwashed in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. You can remove leaves to wash and use as needed....

About Holly Companions The three commonly grown types of holly are American holly (Ilex opaca), English holly (Ilex aquifolium), and Chinese colly (Ilex cornuta). All three are evergreens that will grow in partially shaded locations. American holly is hardy in zones 5-9, can grow 40-50 feet (12-15 m.) tall and 18-40 feet (6-12 m.) wide. English holly is hardy in zones 3-7 and can grow 15-30 feet (5-9 m.) tall and wide....

About Apple Tree Powdery Mildew These are the spores of the powdery mildew fungus (Podosphaera leucotricha). The flowers don’t develop normally, with the blooms likely to be greenish-white. They will produce no fruit. Leaves may be the first to be infected. These may be wrinkled and small. Likely, apple tree powdery mildew will spread to the other trees in the orchard if it has not already. Eventually, it will infect new leaves, fruit, and shoots on nearby trees....

Chinese Evergreen Pruning Many houseplants require regular or even constant pruning and pinching to keep them looking good. One of the advantages of Chinese evergreens is that they are very low maintenance. As long as you keep these plants in low light areas with temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees F. (18-23 C.), they will likely thrive. Due to the dense leafing of the plant, trimming Chinese evergreens is not a must....

What are Red Bartlett Pears? If you are familiar with the classic yellow-green Bartlett pears, you won’t have any trouble recognizing Red Bartlett pears. The Red Bartlett pear tree produces typical “pear-shaped” pears, with a rounded bottom, a definitive shoulder, and a small stem end. However, they are red. The Red Bartlett was discovered as a “bud sport” shoot that developed spontaneously on a yellow Bartlett tree in Washington in 1938....

When to Repot Boston Ferns If your Boston fern isn’t growing as rapidly as it usually does, it may need a larger pot. Another clue is roots peeking through the drainage hole. Don’t wait until the pot is badly root bound. If the potting mix is so root-compacted that water runs straight through the pot, or if the roots are growing in a tangled mass on top of the soil, it’s definitely time to repot the plant....

Choosing Ohio Valley and Central Region Shrubs There are several criteria to consider when selecting central region or Ohio Valley shrubs. Shrubs can vary in their mature size, light requirements, and soil conditions. Some produce beautiful, seasonal flowers and others retain their foliage in the winter. When choosing shrubs for Central U.S. and Ohio Valley regions, also take into consideration how tall and wide the shrub will grow. Some shrubs will stay small or can be pruned to maintain their size while others grow quite large....

What are Sissoo Trees? Also called rosewood trees, sissoos are grown in their native areas of India, Nepal and Pakistan as an important source of high-quality lumber that is used for making fine furniture and cabinetry. In India, it is second only to teak in economic importance. In the U.S. it is grown as a landscape tree. Sissoo trees are considered invasive in Florida and should be planted there with caution....

Decorating with plants can help to transform small dwellings and add much needed appeal to otherwise boring spaces. How Plants Can Transform a Space The manner in which plants can transform a space can vary greatly depending on resources and the needs of the gardener. You can transform a space with plants both indoors and outdoors. However, the same general requirements of small space decorating will apply. If you’re considering transforming an area using plants you’ll need to account for the plants’ specific needs related to sunlight and water....

This does not mean that there is nothing that you can plant there. Knowing a little about street strip ideas, plant needs, and salt-tolerant plants can help you with what to plant between the sidewalk and street. Street Strip Ideas – Plant and Shrub Choices The answer to, “How does road salt affect plant growth?” is that the excess salt creates an imbalance in the water in the plant cells....

Swinecress Identification and Control Swinecress plants are known by a number of names that include: Wild Tansy Hogweed Blackweed Roman Wormweed Hay-fever Weed Wartcress Lesser Swinecress Annual Ragweed Swinecress seedlings can be identified by small, narrow, lace-shaped cotyledons (first leaves) that are followed by larger leaves of the same shape with hairy tips. In the beginning of its life, the plant grows as a rosette with radiating stems of these leaves....

South Carolina Gardens – Understanding the USDA South Carolina Plant Map At the beginning of 2012, the USDA released a new plant hardiness map which used weather data collected from stations all over the country. This weather data noted extreme winter low temperatures, which were used to formulate the hardiness zone map, along with some other factors such as elevation, proximity to a large body of water, and urban heat. Using the South Carolina USDA plant hardiness map as a guide is a good idea when choosing plants for this region....

About the West Virginia Planting Map The West Virginia USDA plant hardiness map, as featured above, is based on new data collected by the USDA over a thirty-year period. Weather stations throughout the country gathered essential data for the map, which was released at the start of 2012. The new 2012 map made some zone adjustments for the winter warming trend and took into consideration an area’s proximity to a large body of water, elevation, and the urban heat factor....

What are Oxlips? Also known as true oxlip or oxlip primrose plant, oxlip (Primula elatior) is a member of the primrose family and the leaves look quite similar. However, oxlips are tougher and more able to withstand heat and drought than its more sensitive cousins. The plant is commonly confused with another closely related primula known as cowslip (P. veris), which is similar looking but has smaller, bright yellow flowers (with red dots inside) and are bell shaped....

It should be noted that, although sticky traps are intended for pesky insects only, they do not discriminate and will end up inadvertently trapping beneficial insects as well as snakes, lizards, and even birds. In fact, many organizations, like the Humane Society, strongly recommend against using these kinds of traps for this reason. What are Sticky Traps? Sticky trap pest control means using a glue-based trap to catch and immobilize pests....