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What is Chinese Dregea? Not everybody has heard of Chinese dregea, which is one more reason to look into planting this attractive and unusual vine. Just don’t be too surprised when the neighbors ask: “What is Chinese dregea?”. Chinese dregea plants are vines that climb by twining. And they are about as romantic as vines can get, with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of sweet-smelling, ivory blossoms that some compare to hoya flowers....

Citrus Rust Mite Info What are citrus rust mites? The citrus rust mite (Phyllocoptruta oleivora) is a pest that feeds on citrus fruit, leaves, and stems. On oranges, it is commonly known as rust mite, while on lemons, it is called silver mite. Another species, called the pink rust mite (Aculops pelekassi) is also known to cause problems. The mites are too small to see with the naked eye, but with a magnifying glass, they can be seen as pink or yellow in color and wedge shaped....

The plants grew so well that, within five years, nearly all of oats planted in Iowa and half planted in North America were the Victoria strain. Although the plants were rust resistant, they were highly susceptible to Victoria blight in oats. The disease soon reached epidemic proportions. As a result, many oat cultivars that have proven to be resistant to crown rust are susceptible to Victoria blight of oats. Let’s learn about the signs and symptoms of oats with Victoria blight....

Growing a Dracaena Plant Stems of the houseplant dracaena are called canes and can be pruned at any point to keep plants under control. Dracaena houseplant varieties D. fragrans and D. deremensis have cultivars that can reach from 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), so height control by pruning canes of older plants is useful when growing a dracaena plant. New foliage will sprout just below the cut in a few weeks....

How to Build a Dry Creek Bed There is a myriad of dry creek bed ideas to be found, so finding something that suits your particular needs or interests shouldn’t be difficult. That said, a few basic guidelines will help make the process an easier one. First, map out your dry creek bed, making it follow an existing slope as it meanders through your landscape like a natural stream. Consider where the water flows during a heavy rainfall or snow melt and be sure not to direct the water to a street, toward your house, or onto your neighbor’s property....

About Signet Marigold Tagetes tenuifolia edible marigolds are native to North America. With the right signet marigold care, you can have blooms in the garden until autumn. When growing signet marigolds, you may choose from yellow, orange, golden, or bi-colored flowers. Hybrid types include the Gem series: ‘Tangerine Gem’ ‘Lemon Gem’ ‘Orange Gem’ ‘Red Gem’ An old-fashioned variety called ‘Paprika’ has maroon flowers with yellow edges. The fragrance of marigold signet flowers is more like citrus than the skunky scent of the American marigold....

Electric Fence Pest Control Using an electric fence around gardens is quicker and less expensive than building a deer-proof fence, and more effective than repellants. Unlike a tall fence, electric fence pest control won’t block your view. Still, when gardening with electric fencing, there are some things you need to consider. First, check with your city or county to make sure electric fences are permitted in your area. Some municipalities ban use of the fences due to safety concerns....

Using English Daisies for Lawns Consisting of small daisies that twinkle against deep green foliage, English daisies are available in a variety of colors, and in both single and double forms. However, familiar white English daisies with contrasting yellow centers tend to be sturdier and are usually used in lawns. English daisy is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. If you live south of zone 8, you may need a more heat-tolerant lawn alternative....

Does Epsom Salt Help Roses? Epsom salt is a form of the mineral magnesium sulfate. It’s a common product you’ll find in any drug store. Many people soak in it for relief from muscle aches and soreness. The name comes from the town of Epsom in England where the mineral was first found. As for gardening, Epsom salts may be beneficial to plants because magnesium and sulfur are both trace nutrients....

Gardening Tasks for The Northeast Here are some basic things to do in May: Plant hardy annuals that can tolerate cool weather or a light frost such as pansies, sweet alyssum, dianthus, or snapdragons. All do well in the ground or in containers. Your garden to-do list for May should include plant sales hosted by local gardening groups. You will find some great buys on locally grown plants and in the process, support a local organization in their effort to beautify the community....

Iris Companion Plants Companion planting is the practice of combining plants that benefit each other. Sometimes companion plants help each other resist diseases and pests. Some companion plants benefit the taste and scent of each other. Other plant companions simply benefit each other aesthetically. While irises won’t affect the flavor or pest resistance of their companions, they do fit beautifully into almost every garden. Iris tubers take up very little room in the garden and don’t compete with many plants for space or nutrients....

How to Hand Pollinate a Grapefruit Tree First and foremost when thinking about grapefruit tree pollination, grapefruits are self-pollinating. That said, some people enjoy pollinating grapefruit trees manually. Generally, hand pollinating grapefruit trees is done because the tree is grown indoors or in a greenhouse where there is a lack of natural pollinators. In a natural outdoor setting, the grapefruit depends on bees and other insects to pass the pollen from bloom to bloom....

Information about Acoma Crepe Myrtle Acoma crepe myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Acoma’) are hybrid trees with a semi-dwarf, semi-pendulous habit. They are filled with slightly drooping, snowy, showy flowers all summer long. These trees put on an attractive autumn display at the end of the summer. The foliage turns purple before it falls. Acoma only grows to about 9.5 feet (3 m.) tall and 11 feet (3 m.) wide....

How to Grow Gladiolus Gladiolus corms look like oversized crocus corms. They have a brown fiber wrapper with a small flat bottom. Sometimes they already have pointy shoots showing at the top. Follow these growing tips to help with care of gladiolus: Gladiolus prefer well-drained and even sandy soil. They also like sunny locations. You will want to plant the gladiolus deeper than usual because they have a tall sheaf of leaves....

What is Lapland Rhododendron? Lapland rhododendron, or Lapland rosebay, is a diminutive member of the Ericaceae family. Unlike more common garden rhododendrons, Lapland rhododendron in its native habitat exhibits itself as a sprawling ground cover. In fact, the plant may only reach about 6 inches (15 cm.) high at maturity. Found most commonly growing among rocky soils, Lapland rhododendron bushes produce an abundance of pink-purple flower clusters atop high-held foliage. Growing Lapland Rhododendron The thought of growing Lapland rhododendron may be appealing to home landscapers, but the plant is actually quite rare....

Are Mini Roses Indoor Plants? When it comes to a miniature rose, indoor care can be frustrating. Many growers have experienced the decline of these once beautiful potted plants. Like other types of rose, miniature roses will need a cool period that is similar to what they would experience naturally. In most cases, this is simply not achievable indoors. While growers are able to briefly enjoy the blooms of their mini rose houseplant, the best option is to transplant it into the flower garden....

How to Make White Oil So you’re likely asking, “How do I make my own insecticide?” It’s actually quite simple. While there are a number of homemade recipes to choose from, this popular white oil recipe for do-it-yourselfers seems to be one of the easiest: 1 cup (250 ml.) vegetable or white mineral oil 1/4 cup (60 ml.) dish soap (without bleach) or Murphy’s oil soap Mix the above ingredients in a jar, shaking well (should turn white color upon mixing)....

How Long Do Cucumbers Last? Fresh cucumbers can last about two weeks if stored properly. They can be very specific about storage temperature, lasting longest when stored at 55 degrees F. (13 C.). When storage temperatures are below 40 degrees F. (4 C.), pitting will develop on the cucumber skin and water-soaked spots may also form. Keeping cucumbers in perforated bags provide aeration to the fruits, keeping cucumbers fresher longer. Before storing fresh cucumbers, wash them thoroughly and remove any residual dirt or debris....

About Queen Anne’s Lace Flowers A member of the carrot family, Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) is also known as wild carrot. The lacy leaves resemble carrot tops and the plant smells like carrots when crushed. Queen Anne’s lace is native to Europe and Asia, but it has naturalized and grown across much of the United States. Because of its large size and fast growth habits, it poses a considerable threat to native plants....

These colorful blooms come in bright shades from lavender to orange, spanning the rainbow with a choice of bedding colors. Caring for New Guinea impatiens is no more difficult than any other flower, as long as you keep the plants well-watered throughout the hottest parts of the year. How to Grow New Guinea Impatiens The thing to remember about New Guinea impatiens is that, although it will tolerate moderate amounts of sunshine, it still thrives in light shade....