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Naturally Yellowing Bleeding Hearts Bleeding hearts may be one of the first flowers peeking out of your woodland garden. The plant is found wild in forest edges, dappled glades and shady meadows with organic rich soil and consistent moisture. Bleeding heart plants can perform well in full sun locations too, but they will die back quickly when summer temperatures arrive. Those that are located in shadier spaces hold onto their green foliage a bit longer, but even these will enter a dormant period called senescence....

A shiny gold bottle with the image of a large, bright red hibiscus flower on it makes the consumer think of the shining sun and a tropical paradise. Hibiscus flowers are often used as a symbol of an exotic, tropical place even though plenty of hibiscus varieties are hardy in northern climates. No one ever looks at a suntan bottle with a large image of a hibiscus flower and thinks of Iowa, Illinois, or the like....

Gardeners can create a longer growing season by maintaining a warmer environment around their veggies, particularly when outdoor temperatures are too cold for plant survival. Doing so allows gardeners to plant earlier in the spring and harvest from their garden later in the fall. Here are five inexpensive and easy methods gardeners can use to extend the growing season. How to Extend the Growing Season Plastic Sheeting – Plant earlier in the spring by covering the ground with black plastic mulch....

Almond Tree Insects There are quite a few bugs that eat almonds, or rather more commonly the tree’s foliage. Ants, specifically southern fire ants and pavement ants, love almonds as much as you do. Large colonies of these can decimate a nut harvest but are not usually a huge problem. Aphids and scales, tiny sap sucking vampires, feed in colonies and cause yellow leaf spots and deformity in leaves and flowers....

Picking Aloe Vera Juices and smoothies are all the rage with suggestions of supplements and additives to enhance their healthful properties. Aloe has many healthful benefits, but you should be cautious when ingesting it. Even a small dose can cause diarrhea, nausea, dry mouth, and other complications in sensitive individuals. For stouter people, aloe harvesting can provide a ready source of the nutritious and healthful aloe gel. It is best to pick aloe from mature plants, preferably those planted in the ground....

These plants can’t overwinter in cold climates but in warm to temperate regions they will thrive and come back the following year with even more elegant lily flowers. Keep reading for some tips on the care of outdoor Easter lilies. Are Easter Lilies Outdoor Plants? Growing Easter lilies in the garden allows you to preserve the plant and its bulbs. The plant will gather more solar energy outdoors to fuel a future bloom and you can enjoy the attractive foliage....

About Aucuba japonica Aucuba is not native to North America but does perform well in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. This ornamental shrub can be used singly as a focal point for the landscape, planted in groups as a hedge, or used in containers when young. Japanese aucuba plants are also sometimes referred to as Japanese laurel because of the similar shiny, waxy leaves. There are many surprising cultivars available, which delight with a host of variances in pigment and texture....

South Central Gardening Tasks for August Ready to get those garden chores done? Here are some things that require attention right now. Lawn There’s no doubt that maintaining a healthy, green August lawn in the South-Central region requires supplemental water. Set the irrigation system to apply one to one and a half inches (2.5-4 cm.) of water per week. Follow local water restrictions to conserve this precious resource. Consider these additional August garden tasks for the lawn:...

Protecting Cucumbers from Cold Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are tender annuals that thrive in warm temperatures of between 65 and 75 degrees F. (18-23 C.). Even prolonged exposure to temperatures below 55 degrees F. (13 C.) can cause decay, pitting, and water-soaked areas on fruit. Sudden cold snaps can cause cucumber plant damage on leaves, stems, and fruit or even kill the plants. Frost damage is seen as shriveled, dark brown to black foliage....

What is Balanced Fertilizer? Fertilizers are an essential part of gardening. You can fertilize with synthetic or natural products. Synthetic fertilizers are found in many different strengths and the amount of nutrients are indicated by the 3-number ratio on the product. Balanced fertilizer information is represented in identical numbers, such as 10-10-10. The amounts of each macro-nutrient are identical in the formula which may sound like a perfect fit for all around plant feeding but actually may contain too much of one of the nutrients for individual plants....

What Animals are Good for Gardens? Just as there are good and bad insects and pathogens in the garden landscape, there are also a number of beneficial wildlife vertebrates that can be lured into the garden via the provision of shelter, food and water sources. One such example is incorporating a pond into the garden, which will encourage frog habitation as well as providing a drinking water source for all other creatures....

Growing Sun King Broccoli Before getting this broccoli started, choose a planting spot with sun most of the day. Prepare the ground so it is well-draining with rich soil. Turn soil 8 inches down (20.5 cm.), removing any rocks. Work in compost or a thin layer of well-rotted manure to add organic goodness to the growing bed. A pH of 6.5 to 6.8 is desirable when growing Sun King. If you don’t know your soil pH, it is time to take a soil test....

Let’s take a closer look at some of the many available cape marigold varieties. About Cape Marigold Plants Cape marigolds are daisy-like plants in the Dimorphotheca family. They may be found in garden centers or online nurseries labeled as Dimorphotheca, Cape Marigold, African Daisy, or Osteospermum. Their preferred common name is usually a regional matter. They are half-hardy perennials in zones 9-10 but are generally grown as annuals. True Osteospermum plant types, however, are considered perennials....

Squash, Melon, and Cucumber Stem Split Several circumstances can cause stems to split on maturing cucurbit crops. These plants often have long, hollow stems that can be easily damaged by the weight of the foliage or fruit. Splits, tears, and twisted stems can be especially problematic after a windy storm. If this happens frequently, try locating the cucurbits in a sheltered location against a wall or solid fence. Damage can also occur when animals, such as deer or the neighborhood dog, decide to walk through the garden....

Cold Climate Succulent Gardening In colder climates, succulent lovers have the following options for growing succulents in the cold: Plant them and cross your fingers. Plant all succulents, both soft and hardy in the ground, in appropriate soil, and see how long they last. When planting, you should consider current fluctuations in the weather patterns and when you’re likely to see the last frost. Late winter to late spring, depending on your climate, is the optimum time for planting the majority of succulents....

Treating Sick Pindo Palm Trees Most often, pindos that appear sick are actually suffering from nutritional deficiencies of some sort. Should this not be the case, your next culprit is fungus. Additional disease issues may come from bacterial infections. Nutrient Deficiency A pindo palm that exhibits extensive leaf drop may be deficient in potassium. This shows up as gray, necrotic tips on leaflets and progresses to orange-yellow speckling. Primarily, the newest leaflets are affected....

A common definition of a weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it. This oversimplified designation should go further to explain that many garden weeds are actually noxious and invasive. There are many basic weeds familiar to your landscape, many of which are complete nuisances. These common weeds need to be recognized and have their control recognized. Some tips on how to identify and eradicate weeds in the garden will keep your beds free of these pests....

Coreopsis Plant Varieties There are many types of coreopsis available in shades of gold or yellow as well as orange, pink, and red. Approximately 10 varieties of coreopsis are native to North and South America, and an estimated 33 coreopsis cultivars hale from the United States. Some types of coreopsis are annual, but many coreopsis cultivars are perennial in warmer climates. Here are a few of the all-time favorite varieties of coreopsis:...

Can You Hand Pollinate an Eggplant? Just as it may be difficult to explain how babies are made to your child, understanding the exact mechanics required to produce fruit on an eggplant can be complex. Basically, there are two types of plants– those that need both male and female blossoms to produce and those that have only one type of flower that contains everything it needs to bloom. The latter are referred to as “perfect,” “bisexual,” or “complete” flowers....

What Does Quackgrass Look Like? Quackgrass identification is pretty easy. As suggested by its name, quackgrass is a grass. The leaves will be broader than lawn type grasses and the grass blades will also have a rough, almost burr-like feel to them when you run your fingers along the blade. The roots will be thick and white. If the quackgrass is pulled out of the ground, you may notice that the roots break easily and often pieces of the roots will stay in the soil after the plant is removed....