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Preparing Bulbs for Winter Storage Cleaning – If your bulbs were dug up from the ground, gently brush off any excess dirt. Do not wash the bulbs as this can add excess water to the bulb and cause it to rot while you are storing bulbs for the winter. Packing – Remove the bulbs from any plastic bags or containers. One of the things to keep in mind when you are learning how to store bulbs for winter is that if you store your bulbs in a material that cannot “breathe,” the bulbs will rot....

Should I Mulch Around Plants in Winter? Ideally, you should mulch your plants when nighttime temperatures are consistently at or below freezing, regardless of the time of year. Mulching plants in winter temperatures helps insulate them from rapid freezing and thawing, which can cause shallow rooted plants and bulbs to heave out of the ground and may bust delicate grafts. Not all plants in all locations need to be mulched, however....

What are Yellow Rattle Plants? Yellow rattle plants are semi-parasitic weeds that survive by drawing nitrogen and other nutrients from nearby plants. The plant thrives in sunny, open locations. Although the plant attempts to tap into the roots of any type of nearby plant, it tends to parasitize grasses more than any other plant. Yellow rattle is especially problematic in hay and grass fields. What Does Yellow Rattle Look Like? Yellow rattle plants are recognized by the serrated, dark-veined leaves and its stems, which are marked with black spots....

Bamboo Plants for Zone 5 Gardens Here are some cold hardy bamboo plant varieties that will thrive in zone 5. Bissetii – One of the toughest bamboos around, it is hardy down to zone 4. It tends to grow to 12 feet (4 m.) in zone 5 and performs well in most soil conditions. Giant Leaf – This bamboo has the largest leaves of any bamboo grown in the U.S., with leaves reaching 2 feet (61 cm....

Evergreen Groundcover Varieties for Zone 8 Here are some of the best plants for evergreen groundcover in zone 8: Pachysandra – Pachysandra likes partial to full shade. Reaches 6 to 9 inches (15-23 cm.) in height. Prefers moist, fertile soil. Effectively crowds out weeds. Confederate Jasmine – Confederate jasmine likes partial shade. Produces fragrant white flowers in the spring. Reaches 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm.) in height. Drought tolerant and needs well-draining soil....

Can You Grow Hops in Zone 8? Yes, you can! As a rule, hops plants grow best in USDA zones 4 through 8. This means that in zone 8, you really don’t have to worry about your plants not making it through the winter. You should, however, make sure to get your rhizomes in the ground as early in the spring as possible before temperatures rise. Hops rhizomes are usually only available to purchase between March and May in the northern hemisphere, so buy them as early as possible and plant them as soon as you get them (some websites will allow you to pre-order)....

In zone 9, lavender may have trouble with excessive summer heat, especially if it is also humid. Many varieties of lavender do well in regions of zone 9 with hot, dry summers and mild winters, like much of southern California. Even in difficult areas like the American South, though, there are lavender varieties that do well. Lavender Varieties for Zone 9 One great variety of lavender for zone 9 is “Phenomenal” lavender....

Ajuga plant propagation is so easy that the plants easily become invasive, rambling across the lawn and into places in the garden reserved for other plants. Read on for information about propagating ajuga plants. Propagation of Ajuga Plants Growing ajuga is easier than getting rid of it, so take its rapid growth into account before you decide on ajuga plant propagation. You’ll first want to prepare a garden space to plant your new ajuga....

Feeding Alocasias Alocasia plants have the potential to become enormous. If overwintered successfully for multiple years, they can reach 10 feet (3 m.) in height and produce leaves that are 3 feet (1 m.) long. The key to growing such stunning plants is fertilizer. Alocasias are very heavy feeders, and fertilizing alocasia plants frequently is the only way to keep up with their appetite. Before planting your alocasias, mix 2 pounds (1 kg....

Symptoms of Apricots with Cotton Root Rot Apricot cotton root rot is caused by the soil-borne fungus Phymatotrichopsis omnivore, which exists in three distinct forms: rhizomorph, sclerotia and spore mats, and conidia. Symptoms of apricots with cotton root rot are most likely from June through September when soil temps are 82 F. (28 C.). Initial symptoms are yellowing or bronzing of foliage followed by rapid wilting of leaves. By the third day of infection, wilting is followed by leaf death and yet the leaves remain attached to the plant....

Indoor Pond Flowers Outdoor Pond Flowers If you’re wanting to incorporate flowering water plants into outdoor spaces, you should always consider the potential environmental impacts first. This includes potential for harm to native plant and animal species, as well as heeding local regulations related to invasive species or noxious weeds. Larger Pond Plants If you’re looking to increase visual interest around natural ponds, you may want to consider larger species of aquatic flowering plants....

Astilbe Bare Roots If you go out to buy astilbe in early spring, you may find nurseries selling it bare root. This means that it comes to you without the root ball, and that all the soil it was growing in has been cleaned off the plant. It is ready for astilbe bare root planting. A bare root plant may be sold with its roots wrapped in moist peat moss or shredded newspaper....

What Causes Cherry Black Leaf Spot? Cherry black leaf spot is a disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas arboricola var. pruni, also sometimes referred to as Xanthomonas pruni. It affects only stone fruits, and while it is most common on plums, nectarines, and peaches, it is also known to affect cherry trees. Symptoms of Shot Hole Disease on Cherries Cherry trees that fall victim to black leaf spot first exhibit symptoms as small, irregularly shaped spots of pale green or yellow on the undersides of leaves....

Blue Wonder Spruce Info The Blue Wonder cultivar of spruce is special in many ways, but mostly because its color persists. Other types of blue spruce will also produce the striking bluish gray needles, but the color tends to revert back to green as they grow. Blue Wonder was developed to maintain that special color as the tree ages. Blue Wonder is a cultivar of Picea glauca, a dwarf spruce that grows slowly and tops out around 6 feet (2 m....

About Blushingstar Peach Trees Blushingstar peaches are one of the classic examples of white-fleshed stone fruit. The trees are fairly unfussy provided the soil drains well and resistant to one of the most common fruit tree diseases – bacterial spot. Best of all, they can produce in just 2 to 3 years. Some tips on how to grow Blushingstar trees will send you on your way to enjoying this outstanding fruit....

What Causes Loose Leafed, Poorly Formed Heads? Loose leafed, poorly formed heads is directly related to when the heads form. If the heads form in the appropriate weather, which is cool weather, the heads will be firm. If the heads form in weather that is too warm, the plant will produce loose leafed, poorly formed heads. Brussels Sprouts Care to Prevent Loose Leafed, Poorly Formed Heads Since this issue is related to warm weather, if possible try to plant your Brussels sprouts earlier....

Different Types of Burning Bush Pruning Rejuvenation of a Burning Bush Burning bushes are notorious for slowly overgrowing their space. What started out as a lovely, well-shaped shrub can turn into a monster of a plant that is scruffy, leggy, and sparse. While your first reaction would be to remove it, you should consider instead rejuvenating your burning bush. Rejuvenation is simply severely cutting back the plant so that it can grow all new growth....

Can You Grow Broccoli in Pots? Broccoli is perfectly happy to be grown in pots. It does get a very wide spread, however, so plant only one per 5-gallon (19 L.) container. You can fit two to three plants in a 15-gallon (57 L.) container. If you’re planting in autumn, start your seeds about one month before the first average frost. Either plant them directly in your container or start them indoors – broccoli seeds germinate at 75-80 F....

Cape marigold propagation is easy if you can provide plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Let’s learn how to propagate African daisy! Propagating Cape Marigold Plants Cape marigold grows in most well-drained soils, but it prefers loose, dry, gritty, poor to average soil. Cape marigold propagation isn’t as effective in rich, damp soil. If the plants germinate at all, they may be floppy and leggy with minimal blooms. Full sunlight is also critical for healthy blooms....

Recognizing Septoria on Carnations Septoria on carnations is easy to spot by the development of pale brown patches with purple or violet edges. These show up first on the lower part of the plant. Most likely, you’ll also notice tiny black spores in the center of the rings. As the spots enlarge and grow together, the leaves may die. Carnation septoria symptoms may include leaves that bend downward or sideways....