Posts

Fruit Companion Planting Companion planting is an age old planting practice that seeks to increase the diversity of the garden. Increased diversity decreases the spread of disease and pest infestation. Pairing symbiotic plants also has other benefits. Companion planting may add nutrients to the soil, harbor beneficial insects, aid in pollination, act as support or trellising, shade tender plants and roots, retard weeds, or help retain water. Some even say that appropriate plant pairings can enhance the flavor of a particular fruit or vegetable....

Koreanspice Viburnum Information Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) is one of over 150 known Viburnum plant species and cultivars. While viburnums can be both deciduous and evergreen and reach up to 30 feet in height, Koreanspice viburnum plants are deciduous and known for their relatively small, compact growing habit. They tend to grow to between 3 and 5 feet tall and wide, but they can reach as high as 8 feet in ideal growing conditions....

How to Cut Back Hydrangea Plants for the Winter The first step in hydrangea winter care is to cut away the old wood at the base of the plant, and remove any dead or weak branches by cutting them off at their base. Be careful not to cut off healthy wood, as this wood will be where your hydrangea will bloom from next year. In-ground Hydrangeas – Winter Protection Protect your in-ground hydrangea in winter by making a frame around the plant using stakes....

Making a ditch for drainage can enhance the appearance of your yard, even when your ditch is nothing more than a dry creek bed. Drainage Ditch Plans Check permit requirements in your city and county; there may be rules about redirecting water, especially if you live near a creek, stream, or lake. Make sure your drainage ditch won’t cause problems for neighboring properties. Plan the course of the ditch, following the natural flow of water....

Tips for Passion Flower Care Their vibrant colors and heady fragrance make the passion flower a welcome addition to any garden. Unfortunately, because of its origins, most species of passion flower can’t overwinter in many gardens in the United States, although there are a few that will survive up to USDA plant hardiness zone 5. Most varieties will grow in Zones 7-10. Because they are vines, the best place for growing passion flowers is along a trellis or fence....

Why A Pear Tree Has Yellow Leaves The most obvious cause of pear tree leaves turning yellow is, of course, autumn. If your days are getting shorter and nights are getting colder, that may be all there is to it. There are plenty of more troublesome causes though. Your tree could be suffering from pear scab, a bacterial disease that manifests itself in the spring with yellow spots that darken to brown or olive green....

Plane trees are easy to propagate by taking cuttings, but if you’re patient, you can try growing plane trees from seed. Read on to learn how to plant plane tree seeds. How to Plant Plane Tree Seeds When preparing for plane tree seed propagation, start a planting bed in spring or summer, in advance of planting in fall. The site should be protected from wind by a wall, hedge, or artificial windbreak....

Planting Flowers in Fall In planning a flower garden, possible choices can greatly be impacted by weather. Knowing the difference between cool season and warm season blooms will be essential to success. Many choose to sow perennial plants in the fall, as this allows for a longer establishment period and accounts for any vernalization or stratification that may be needed for germination. This method is especially effective for those planting native wildflowers....

Companion Planting with Mint Companion planting is when different crops are planted near each other to control pests, aid in pollination, and to harbor beneficial insects. The byproducts of companion planting maximize garden space and increases healthy crop yields. Mint is no exception to this practice. The aromatic aroma of mint isn’t as pleasing to many crop pests, so planting crops next to mint can deter these plant nemeses. So, what plants grow well with mint?...

Jacaranda Tree Problems Problems with jacaranda trees are generally minor, ranging from a few insect issues to cultural problems. However, the tree is also susceptible to a serious jacaranda tree disease, a lethal bacterial infection. The jacaranda tree can get aphids and scale, just like many other garden plants. Another insect pest, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, can also infest its leaves. Get rid of these pests by spraying with insecticidal soap or neem oil....

How to Propagate Butterfly Bushes from Seed One method for propagating butterfly bush is by growing seeds. You can grow butterfly bushes from seed, but it’s usually quicker and easier to propagate butterfly bush cuttings. Seeds need to be pre-chilled for up to four weeks prior to planting. Since butterfly bush seeds require plenty of light to germinate, the seeds only need to be lightly covered with soil. Once sown, keep the seeds moist....

Red Leaf Palm Information Chambeyronia macrocarpa is a feathery palm tree that is native to New Caledonia, an island near Australia and New Zealand. These extremely attractive and ornamental trees grow to 25 feet (8 m.) tall with leathery leaves some 12 feet (5 m.) long. The claim to fame of this exotic palm is its eccentric coloration. The new leaves on many specimens grows in vivid red, remaining red for up to ten days or longer as the trees get older....

How Much to Water Roses During Droughts These readings will give me a good indication of whether I really need to water the rose bushes then, or if the watering can wait a few days. By conducting the moisture meter tests, I am making sure the rose bushes have good soil moisture down in their root system zones, thus not watering when the need really is not quite there yet. Such a method conserves the precious (and at such drought times high priced!...

How Can You Tell Plants Have Too Much Water? The signs of an overwatered plant are: Lower leaves are yellow Plant looks wilted Roots will be rotting or stunted No new growth Young leaves will turn brown Soil will appear green (which is algae) The signs of plants affected by too much water are very similar to plants that have too little water. Why are Plants Affected by Too Much Water?...

Standard Plant Guidelines Can you make a plant into a standard? Yes, you can as long as you learn the basics of standard plant training. Training shrubs to a standard plant shape is a formal way of growing ornamental shrubs. The idea of standard plant training is to bring the bulk of the ornamental growth into the line of vision, most commonly by creating balls on sticks. Not every plant can get standard plant training....

What are Stinkhorns? Stinkhorn fungi are smelly, reddish orange mushrooms that may resemble a wiffle ball, an octopus, or a straight stem up to 8 inches (20 cm.) high. They don’t harm plants or cause disease. In fact, plants benefit from the presence of stinkhorn mushrooms because they break down rotting material into a form plants can use for nourishment. If it weren’t for their horrible smell, gardeners would welcome their brief visit in the garden....

Sunrise Succulent Info Anacampseros telephiastrum ‘Variegata’ succulents, more commonly called sunrise succulents, are small plants native to South Africa that grow in a dense mat of rosettes. They can grow to a height of 6 inches (15 cm.) tall, though they usually tip over before reaching their full height and grow in a more horizontal, sweeping pattern. This creates an attractive spread of individual structures that is as wide as it is tall....

When to Water Watermelons Watermelons need water throughout the season, but a particularly important time to water watermelons is while they are setting and growing fruit. The reason for this is that watermelon fruit is made up of 92 percent water. This means that the plant must take up an enormous amount of water while the fruit is developing. If enough water is not available to the plant during this time, the fruit will not be able to grow to its full potential and may become stunted or fall off the vine....

Water Requirements for Citrus Trees Watering your lemon trees or other citrus trees is tricky. Too little water and the tree will die. Too much and the tree will die. This can leave even an experienced gardener asking, “How often do I water a citrus tree?” With ground-planted citrus trees, watering should happen about once a week, whether from rainfall or manually. Be sure the area has excellent drainage and that you soak the ground deeply at each watering....

What is Titan Parsley? Titan parsley is a neat, compact plant with small leaves packed with flavor. This adaptable parsley is a biennial and will need to be sown every two years for a consistent supply. It is easy to grow and has low maintenance needs and few disease or pest issues. Learning how to grow Titan parsley will make it easier to add this herb to your culinary cupboard. The delicately noded leaves of Titan parsley almost resemble coriander (cilantro) but have a deeper green hue....