Posts

What is a Callery Pear? Callery pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) from the family Rosaceae, were first brought to the United States from China in 1909 to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Callery pear was again introduced into the U.S. to help develop fire blight resistance in the common pear, which was devastating the pear industry. This is somewhat conflicting Calleryana information, as while all current cultivars are resistant to fire blight in northern regions, the disease can still be an issue in trees grown in humid southern climates....

Can a Cactus Plant Get Sunburned? Cacti come in a myriad of shapes and sizes and are almost irresistible to collect to the plant lover. When most of us think of cacti, we think of them thriving in scorching desert environments, so the natural conclusion is to provide them with conditions that mimic that setting, but the fact is that cacti are found in a variety of climates. Some species are found in tropical regions and every habitat in between....

About Gloriosa Climbing Lilies Gloriosa climbing lilies, also known as flame lilies and glory lilies, thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in full to partial sun. Hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they can be overwintered successfully in zone 9 with winter mulch. In cooler areas, climbing lilies can be grown successfully during the summer and lifted and stored for the winter. These exotic-looking lilies produce an abundance of yellow and red flowers with petals that curl backward to resemble a flash of brilliant flames....

Once you have the right plants, decorating your outdoor space is fun and creates a relaxing, living vision. Evergreen Plants for Patios in Winter It’s always hard to watch the trees lose their leaves and perennials die back. This obviously means winter is on its way and the landscape will have very little charm until spring. Using winter patio plants is a nice way of warming up the area near the home....

Common Houseplant Pests Let’s look at some of the most common houseplant pests. Most of these pests can be controlled with sprays of insecticidal soap or neem oil. Products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can help with worm or caterpillar problems. Aphids Commonly known as greenfly or blackfly, though they can be other colors such as pink and slate-blue, aphids are commonly found on indoor plants. Aphids are able to reproduce without fertilization and will start reproducing within a week of birth if the plant is kept in warm conditions, so you can see how easy it is for an aphid colony to build up....

My Crepe Myrtle Has No Leaves Crepe myrtles are one of the last plants to leaf out in spring. In fact, many gardeners worry that there is something seriously wrong when the only problem is that the tree’s time just hasn’t arrived. The time of year varies with the climate. If you don’t see leaves by mid spring, check the branches for tiny leaf buds. If the tree has healthy buds, you’ll soon have leaves....

White Spot Fungus This fungus is caused by a species of Cercospora and has become more common in recent years. White spot on leafy vegetables is one of several cruciferous fungal problems. It also goes by the name frogeye. White spot fungus presents as circular to irregular spots that range from ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.) across and scattered across the leaf. It begins as light tan, dry spots and soon turns to papery white lesions on the leaf surrounded by a halo of yellow or pale green....

How to Naturalize Daffodil Bulbs The proper soil is key to naturalizing daffodils. The bulbs do not perform well in heavy clay soils or in beds without excellent drainage. Amend the bed with leaf litter, compost, perlite or even a bit of sand to achieve good porosity and drainage. If the soil is just too soggy, build a raised bed for daffodil naturalizing. The soil should hold just enough moisture to keep the roots lightly moist but prevent a constant boggy mess around the bulbs which can cause rot....

Choosing the right plants will ensure that your landscape is healthy, easy to maintain, and conserves resources. All this can add up to big money savings and spare you from the headaches associated with incorrect plants and placement. How to Make a Desert Garden Desert soils are one of the biggest obstacles when planning a desert garden theme. They are generally highly alkaline with a pH of around eight or higher....

Root Rot Excessive moisture in the soil can easily cause a fungal infection known as root rot. Look for rot at the soil line that eventually works its way up the stem. If you look at the roots, they will be black and soft. The best way to avoid root rot is to prevent it. Use new soil when potting a plant. Make sure it drains well and avoid overwatering....

Duckweed Information Duckweed is most often found in nutrient rich ponds, those where a buildup of leaves on the bottom creates stratification. Black, smelly ooze is a primary source of food for duckweed. Older ponds and those in quiet, undisturbed areas are likely candidates to need duckweed killer, as this is where the invasive, nuisance weed prefers to grow. Duckweed is often accompanied by a similar, smaller plant called watermeal. The two work together to cover susceptible ponds quickly when proper conditions exist....

Dahlia Seeds vs. Bulbs Dahlia tubers are common in nurseries and seed catalogs. They are the fastest and most reliable way to grow big, boisterous blooms. Growing the flowers using dahlia seed vs. bulbs may take a little more time but is a great way to extend your crop of the dazzlers. Knowing how to plant dahlia seeds isn’t hard, but there are a few tips for guaranteed success and riots of colorful blooms....

What are Fall Flowering Bulbs I Can Plant? Here are some of the more common bulbs that flower in fall or late summer: Autumn Crocus – This beautiful flower can be pink, red, or purple and have very large leaves. It blooms in early fall and can reach a height of 8 inches (20 cm.). It prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. Calla Lilies – Calla lilies have green speckled pointed leaves and funnel-shaped flowers....

When to Fertilize Pears Fertilize pears prior to bud break if possible. If you have missed your window of opportunity, you can still fertilize until June. Don’t apply pear tree fertilizer in the late summer or fall. If you do, the tree will likely produce a whole bunch of new growth which will then be at risk of damage due to frost. Fertilizing a pear tree will result in increased vigor, higher yields, and an increased resistance to pest and diseases....

What Do Flower Types Mean? Flowering plants are one of the visual treats in the world. The sheer number of colors and forms make angiosperm one of the most diverse forms of life on our planet. All that diversity requires descriptions to help reference which species of plant is under study. There are so many flower types and inflorescences, specific categories need to be set up to discuss their unique traits....

Houseplants That Freshen the Air There are many houseplants that act as natural air fresheners. Among the most popular fragrant houseplants are the scented geraniums, perfume-leaved members of the genus Pelargonium. Varieties are available with fragrances reminiscent of apple, coconut, lemon, rose, cinnamon, and dozens of other scents. Scented geraniums also have attractive leaves with interesting shapes ranging from rounded to crinkled to deeply divided. Many people are familiar with the sweet-smelling blossoms of citrus trees, whose extracts are used in perfumes and confections....

Read on for free gardening ideas that can lead to low or no-cost gardening. How to Garden for Free While completely no-cost gardening may be a stretch, it is certainly possible to keep landscape costs down by working some free gardening ideas. Many of the tools and gadgets people buy for their gardens are totally unnecessary to growing flowers or crops. Identify what you truly need to get into gardening on a budget, starting with the basics....

What are Fungi? It might be surprising to know what common items and conditions are caused by fungi. The types of fungus range from dangerous to beneficial and they occur in all environments. Yeast is a fungus. Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus, and the lifesaving drug penicillin is made from a fungus. Mushrooms are a common fungus growth in gardens, but fungal byproducts are also found in some cheeses, beer, champagne, and bread....

Gardening Tasks for Western Regions “The West” can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, so it’s important to get on the right page. Here in the U.S., we classify California and Nevada as the West, leaving Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest region and Arizona in the Southwest. So, when we talk about gardening in the West, that’s what we mean. Wherever you live in California or Nevada, most of your August to-do list will involve irrigating and harvesting crops....

When to Harvest Grapes The precise time for picking grapes is dependent on the location, length of growing season, variety of grape, crop load and the intended use of the grape. Heavy crop loads take longer to mature. The optimum time for harvesting grapes will vary year to year as do environmental conditions — sometime after the berries turn color (veraison). Commercial grape growers rely on more scientific methods to determine when to harvest the grapes such as precise pH levels and sugar contents (Brix) that are established with testing....