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How to Avoid Leaf Spot on Chrysanthemum Leaf spot of chrysanthemum is caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas cichorii, which is sometimes carried on the leaves of the plant, so even healthy looking specimens may be susceptible when conditions are right. For this reason, it is important to provide the proper growing conditions and use the appropriate watering technique to avoid bacterial leaf spot on mums. Bacteria thrives in warm, moist environments, so when planting mums, always use adequate spacing between plants to ensure good air circulation....

Nemesia cutting propagation isn’t difficult if you know how to proceed. Read on for information about growing nemesia from cuttings. Nemesia Cutting Propagation Nemesia is the genus of a variety of pretty flowering plants including some perennials and some sub-shrubs. All feature flowers with two “lips” and simple, opposite leaves. These are easy plants to love, and many gardeners who have a few plants in the backyard decide that they would like more....

When Rhododendron Bushes Do Not Flower Like many plants in the landscape, rhododendrons have very specific needs that must be met before they will bloom freely. If your plant set buds, but didn’t bloom, the buds were probably frost-nipped or destroyed by cold, drying winds. More commonly, however, buds aren’t set at all, guaranteeing non-flowering rhododendrons the following spring. Among problems of rhododendron, not blooming is one of the easiest to cure....

Choosing Evergreen Shrubs for the Northwest Gardeners have a diverse selection when it comes to growing evergreen bushes in the Northwest, but it’s important to consider growing zones, as well as requirements for sun and soil conditions in your particular garden. Local nurseries and greenhouses usually offer the best choice of northwestern evergreen shrubs. Evergreen Shrubs for Northwest Gardens To ease the overwhelming choices of Pacific Northwest evergreens, here are a few ideas to pique your interest....

Planning Guide for Organic Gardens Everyone can benefit from a planning guide for organic gardens. For this reason, I’ve outlined ten organic gardening tips to get your organic garden off to the right start. Designing organic gardens is easy with a little planning. Follow these organic gardening tips and enjoy the bounty and benefits that go along with it. Organic gardening guarantees you healthier food than what is normally found in your local supermarket....

About Root Knot Nematodes of Peach Trees Peach root knot nematodes puncture cells and pump digestive enzymes into the cell. Once the contents of the cell are digested, they are drawn back into the nematode. When the contents of one cell are depleted, the nematode moves on to a new cell. Root knot nematodes aren’t visible above ground and symptoms of nematodes in peach trees, including stunted growth, wilting, and yellowing of leaves, may resemble dehydration or other problems that prevent the tree from taking up water and nutrients....

Are Pine Needles Bad for Compost? Many people avoid using pine needles in compost because they think it will make the compost more acidic. Even though pine needles have a pH between 3.2 and 3.8 when they fall from the tree, they have a nearly neutral pH after composting. You can safely add pine needles to compost without fear that the finished product will harm your plants or acidify the soil....

Zone 7 Plants That Grow in Full Sun Since there are way too many plants that can be grown in this climate, choosing a favorite plant that tolerates full sun can be difficult. For a more complete list of direct sun plants in your area, contact your local extension office for information. And with that, here are some of the more popular choices for zone 7 full sun plants: Crape Myrtle – Also called crepe myrtle, this beautiful, showy shrub or small tree is hardy down to zone 7 and produces stunning summer flowers, especially in full sun....

President Plum Tree Info President plum trees were bred in Hertfordshire, U.K. in 1901. This sturdy tree tends to be resistant to brown rot, bacterial leaf spot, and black knot. Mature size of President plum trees is 10 to 14 feet (3-4 m.), with a spread of 7 to 13 feet (2-4 m.). President plum trees bloom in late March and President plum fruit ripens late in the season, generally mid to late September....

What is Prairie Grass? Prairie bromegrass (Bromus willdenowii) is native to South America and has been in the United States for about 150 years. It’s also known as Bromus prairie grass, rescue grass, and matua. Found mainly along roadsides, hay meadows, or in pastures, this grass is a cool-season bunchgrass that matures at about 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 m.) in height. Although this grass is a perennial, it acts as an annual in parts of the southeast United States....

Why You Should Not Be Removing Squash Leaves The very short answer is no, do not cut off your squash leaves. There are many reasons why removing squash leaves on a plant is a bad idea. The first reason is that it opens the plant’s vascular system up to bacteria and viruses. The open wound where you cut the squash leaf off is like an open doorway to destructive viruses and bacteria....

Should I Bag My Fruit? When you installed those fruit trees in your backyard, you probably did not intend to start growing fruit in bags. But you may not have realized, either, just how much maintenance they would require. For example, commercial growers who want beautiful, blemish-free apples, spray the trees early and often with pesticides and fungicides. The spraying starts in late winter/early spring. It is repeated, often on a weekly basis, through harvest....

Should I Deadhead Lantana Plants? We get a lot of questions about deadheading lantana plants. While deadheading is sometimes a good idea, it can also get pretty tedious. The basic idea behind deadheading is that once a flower has faded, it’s replaced by seeds. The plant needs energy to make these seeds and, unless you’re planning on saving them, that energy could be better devoted to making more flowers. By cutting off the flower before the seeds start to form, you’re basically giving the plant extra energy for new flowers....

How to Prune New Zealand Flax Most commonly found in gardens within USDA growing zones 8 through 10, New Zealand flax is a robust plant which is known for its large spiky foliage. Forming a massive mound of leaves, overgrown New Zealand flax may frequently need to be shaped and pruned to the desired size. In general, the best time for pruning New Zealand flax occurs in fall. Growers can prepare for winter by removing any flower stalks from the plant, and by removing any brown leaves which have been damaged by the sun....

Silver Princess Gum Tree Info Silver princess eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus caesia) are native to western Australia, where they are also known as Gungurru. They are fast-growing trees that can grow up to 36 inches (91.5 cm.) in a single season, with a lifespan of 50 to 150 years. In the garden, the nectar-rich blooms attract bees and other pollinators, and they make a cozy home for songbirds. However, the fruit, while attractive, can be messy....

What is a Snakebush Plant? Native to Western Australia, snakebush bears the scientific name of Hemiandra pungens, and it’s also known as the snake plant. But the only thing snake-like about it is how it stays very close to the ground. Snakebush plant information tells you that this tiny plant offers dense, pointed foliage that looks like needles. Its mauve or light purple flowers arrive in spring and last much of the summer....

Sourwood Tree Facts It’s interesting to read up on sourwood tree facts. Sourwood tree growth is fairly rapid. The trees typically grow 25 feet (8 m.) tall in your backyard but can shoot up to 60 feet (18 m.) tall in the wild. The trunk of a sourwood tree is straight and slender, the bark fissured and gray, and the crown narrow. Sourwood tree facts tell you that the scientific name is Oxydendrum arboretum....

Spider Plant Propagation When you’re ready to propagate your spider plant babies, you have the option of rooting the plantlets by growing directly in soil or you can choose to root them in water. Growing Plantlets from Spider Plants There are a couple of ways to plant spider plant babies, and they’re both easy peasy. Look closely at the spiderettes dangling from your adult plant and you’ll see little knob-like protrusions and tiny roots on the bottom of each spiderette....

Growing Pipsissewa Plants Pipsissewa plants are often gathered in the wild. Do your research first; the plants are vulnerable in some areas and may be protected by law. If harvesting Pipsissewa in the wild is acceptable, dig the rhizomes carefully from a large, healthy population. Take care not to disturb or trample the plant. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend with extra plants, you can easily start your own plants without threatening the native population....

Swamp titi is native to the warm, tropical climates of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of Mexico and South America. Although bees love swamp titi’s fragrant, nectar-rich blooms, bees and swamp titi aren’t always a good combination. In some areas, the nectar causes a condition known as purple brood, which is toxic to bees. Read on for more summer titi information and learn about titi purple brood....