What is Durian Fruit? Durian fruit (Durio zibethinus) is a member of the family Bombacacea, along with hibiscus and okra. Unlike the other members of Bombacaceae, which typically have showy blooms and woody pods filled with tiny seeds and cottony fibers, durian stands alone. Durian has large seeds surrounded by fleshy arils. The spiked husk may be green to brown, round to oblong, and filled with creamy to saffron-hued bulbs....
The flesh of watermelon is usually recognized as ruby red, but can be pink, orange, yellow, or white. The seeds are small and black or slightly mottled black/brown in color. There are between 300 and 500 seeds in a watermelon, depending upon the size of course. Although usually discarded, the seeds are edible and delicious when roasted. They are highly nutritious and high in fat as well. One cup (237 ml....
What are Eucalyptus Leaves Used For? As mentioned, eucalyptus foliage is a common ingredient in herbal cold and flu remedies. Other common eucalyptus leaf uses include massage oils, bath additives, as a tea, and in potpourri. While the wood has been used for centuries by aborigines for boats, boomerangs, and spears, the essential oils found in the foliage are prized for their antiseptic properties used to treat coughs, sore throats, and other infections....
What Causes White Spots on Jade? The few times I have discovered white spots on my jade plant, I simply rubbed them off lightly and the plant was no worse for wear. The actual cause of the white spots on jade leaves might be powdery mildew, or even a condition where the plant stores salts and “sweats” the excess out through its leaves. One cause has a quick fix and the other requires some cultural adjustment and treatment....
As a landscape designer and garden center worker, I often suggest smaller ornamentals for these situations. Newport plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Neportii’) is one of my first suggestions. Continue reading this article for Newport plum info and helpful tips on how to grow a Newport plum. What is a Newport Plum Tree? The Newport plum is a small, ornamental tree that grows 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m.) tall and wide....
What is Deutzia? Deutzia is a group of about 60 species, most of which are native to China and elsewhere in Asia, while a few originate from Europe and Central America. These mound-forming shrubs have long, arching branches that give them a weeping or cascading appearance. Deutzias are members of the hydrangea family, and like hydrangeas, they produce small flowers that grow abundantly in clusters. However, deutzia flowers look quite different, with the petals of some species elongated and gently drooping, and others bell-shaped or open....
What is Sedum acre? Sedum acre‘s common name, goldmoss, is about as explanative as you can get. It is a low-growing groundcover that tumbles gleefully over rocks and other objects in the garden. The European native has become popular in North America primarily for its adaptability and ease of care. Gardeners know that caring for Sedum acre is a breeze and the sweet little plant has the ability to accent many other types of flora....
The Best Herbs to Direct Sow The majority of herbs can be started from seeds, but the best herbs to direct sow are those which don’t transplant well. These can be started outdoors either in the garden or in large pots. Many of these herbs readily self-seed and only need to be planted one time. One of the alternatives to direct sowing is to start herb seeds indoors. These plants benefit from the headstart they receive in the protected environment inside the home or greenhouse....
Why Fertilizing in Summer Heat Is a Bad Idea When the temperature soars, your plants may suddenly lose their comfort zone. That’s when heat stress is likely to develop in the form of wilted, curled, or burnt leaves. You might think a little fertilizer would perk them up, but overfertilization results in excess salts near the roots of the plants, which can damage them, restricting the flow of water upwards. Salt also can affect plant tissues, causing dieback or brown edges on leaves....
How Do You Get Rid of Wild Strawberries Growing in a Lawn? So how do you get rid of wild strawberries? One of the best forms of wild strawberry control is prevention. A good, healthy lawn keeps weeds to a minimal. Wild strawberries thrive in moist soils. Therefore, improving any drainage issues and aerating the lawn when necessary will help reduce their appeal to your lawn. Watering infrequently will also help to slow its encroachment....
About Bushes for Zone 5 Climates Shrubs are an important feature in a landscape. Evergreen shrubs become anchors of permanence and deciduous shrubs add interest with their changing foliage and blossoms throughout the seasons. They add scale and structure to the garden in conjunction with trees and other perennials. Before planting zone 5 shrubs, do some research and carefully consider their requirements, ultimate size, adaptability, and seasons of interest. For instance, does the shrub have a creeping habit, is it mounded, and what is its overall spread?...
We kick off our series by exploring the 7 things you can do to help monarch butterfly migration. It’s fun and easy, all you have to do is remember M-O-N-A-R-C-H! Check it out: M is for Milkweed Milkweed is the monarch butterfly’s host plant, and is essential for its journey south. There are several types of milkweed, so click here to learn which variety will work best for you. O is for One Source It’s important to grow plants that are native to your area and likely to appeal to monarchs....
All About Sword Ferns The sword fern (Polystichum munitum) plant is a lush, evergreen groundcover known for its bright green, sword-shaped fronds. You’ll find the young fronds, or fiddleheads, appearing in early spring from their underground rhizomes with most plants eventually reaching 4 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) long. In addition to spreading through rhizomes, sword ferns will also reproduce via spores that are found along the backside of the fronds....
Ashmead’s Kernel Information When it comes to appearance, Ashmead’s Kernel apples aren’t impressive. In fact, these rather odd-looking apples are somewhat drab, tend to be lopsided, and are small to medium in size. The color is golden to greenish-brown with red highlights. The appearance of the apple, however, is unimportant when you consider that the distinctive flavor is crisp and juicy with a pleasant aroma and a flavor that is both sweet and tart....
Book Ideas for Gardeners Gardening books for nature lovers make excellent gifts for any occasion, and it’s never too early to start thinking about those gift lists. With so many options, choosing the best gardening books can be quite difficult. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of our favorites. The New Organic Grower (Eliot Coleman) – Eliot Coleman is well known in the gardening community for his many books regarding season extension and growing throughout all four seasons....
What is Bud Blast? Bud blast is a term used to describe flowers that have prematurely aborted before or soon after opening, such as with scape blasting in daylilies. Most often, flowers develop to a certain point and simply stop growing. Other bud blast symptoms may indicate the exact cause of flower bud blast. For example, flower buds that become paper-thin and dry may be suffering from botrytis blight, a common landscape fungus....
Best Plants for Attracting Butterflies To create a butterfly garden, you’ll need to select an area in full sun and sheltered from high winds. This area should be designated only for butterflies and should not have birdhouses, baths or feeders in it. However, butterflies do like to bathe themselves and drink from shallow puddles of water, so it helps to add a small shallow butterfly bath and feeder. This can be a small dish or a bowl shaped rock placed on the ground....
Bellflowers will bloom heaviest in June and July but can delight you with flowers all the way into October in some areas. Master how to grow campanula bellflowers for long-lasting alpine native flowers that will enliven the landscape in borders and rock gardens. Bellflower Plants Campanula is a group of over 300 annual, biennial and perennial plants that span several sizes and colors. The primary characteristic is the upturned, open cup-shaped flowers in hues of pink and white but primarily lavender or light blue....
Problems with Concrete Over Tree Roots Concrete workers are not arborists or landscapers. Their expertise is in laying concrete not growing trees. When a concrete worker is at your home giving you an estimate on a driveway, patio, or sidewalk, that is not the right time or the right person to ask how the concrete will affect trees near the project. Ideally, if you have large trees that you would like to keep safe and healthy, you should first call an arborist to come tell you the best location to place a concrete structure without damaging the tree roots....
How to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms Growing shiitake mushrooms for commercial production requires significant investment capital as well as very specific shiitake mushroom care. However, shiitake mushroom growing for the home gardener or hobbyist isn’t very difficult and can be very rewarding. Shiitakes are wood-decay fungi, meaning they grow on logs. Growing shiitake mushrooms takes place either on logs or in bags of nutrient-enriched sawdust or other organic material, called bag culture....
