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What is Bull Thistle? Bull thistle plants are native to Western Asia, North America and parts of Europe. What is bull thistle? It’s a free-seeding weed with a prickly demeanor and rapid spread. The plant has the ability to produce around 5,000 seeds in a season. These bur-like seeds cling to animals, pant legs, machinery, etc. and get spread around with abandon. For this reason, bull thistle removal is a priority among farmers and meticulous gardeners....

What are White Bumps on Tomato Stems? If you are seeing white growths or bumps on the tomato plant stems, all you are probably seeing are roots. Really. Bumps start out as hundreds of tiny hairlets protruding up and down the length of the stalk. These hairlets can turn into roots if they are buried in the soil. Above ground, they become nodules. These nodules are called root initials, adventitious roots, or tomato stem primordial....

Fertilizer Content Information Fertilizer is good for plants. However, too much of the wrong nutrient can have adverse effects and too much fertilizer can burn roots and shoots. Reading the fertilizer content will give you a clue to how much of each macro-nutrient is contained in the formula as well as any other nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium. The analysis or grade on a fertilizer label gives the ratio of each macronutrient in the product, represented by a 3-number ratio (NPK)....

When to Divide Maiden Grass Miscanthus is a large family of grasses. There are many varieties of maiden grass in this group, most of which are excellent landscape plants and valued for their dramatic inflorescence and gaily waving foliage. Splitting ornamental grass plants should happen every three to four years. Can you divide maiden grass? Maiden grass responds favorably to division and will come back better than ever after a season....

Choosing Hedges for Zone 6 Gardens A hedge is a densely planted row or wall made of living plants. The plants in these living walls can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on your specific needs or preferences. Tall plants and evergreens are oftentimes used as windbreaks, noise barriers, and privacy hedges. Cold winter winds are usually what our yards or homes need protection from, so evergreens work best for this purpose too....

Growing Yuccas in Zone 4 Southwestern plants are appealing due to their diversity and adaptability. Yuccas are primarily found in the tropical to subtropical Americas and tend to prefer warm, dry regions. However, there are some cold-hardy yucca varieties that are suitable for extremely cold temperatures. In fact, even though we associate these relatives of Agave with desert heat and dryness, some forms have been found growing in the crisp region of the Rocky Mountains in winter....

Common Diseases of Almond Trees Most of the diseases that afflict almonds are fungal diseases, such as Botryosphaeria canker and Ceratocystis canker. Botryosphaeria canker – Botryosphaeria canker, or band canker, is a fungal disease that used to be fairly uncommon. Today, it hits commercial growers especially hard, showing its almond disease symptoms in natural openings on the tree and in pruning wounds on scaffold branches. These are most frequently seen after a rainfall when spores are spread not only on the wind, but through rain splash....

Recipes from the Vegetable Garden Naturally, some of it is canned, some of it is frozen, and some is given to friends and family. Of course, the rest is usually included and devoured in succulent recipes. Vegetables can be served in numerous ways– in salads or casseroles, fried, creamed, buttered, steamed, etc. Some of my all-time favorites include recipes from my southern roots. Although they may not always be deemed healthy by today’s standards, since southerners enjoy fried foods, they are sure to be quite tasty....

Although it does create a spreading mat of roots that holds soil, it is an invasive weed of turf grasses and open, exposed soils. Crowsfoot grass weed is considered a problem species for croplands and managed spaces. What is Crowsfoot Grass? Crowsfoot grass is not a true member of the grass family but does produce similar blade-like foliage covered in fine hairs. Blades are flat with rolled ligules. It is characterized by unique five-spiked flowers that resemble a crow’s foot....

What Are Shallots If you’ve seen shallots at your local market, you’ve likely noticed their resemblance to small onions. Yet unlike regular onions which produce one large bulb, each shallot plant grows a cluster of teardrop-shaped onions. For this reason, shallots are sometimes called multiplier onions.harvest As a member of the allium genus, shallots have the same basic growing requirements and cultivation issues as regular onions. Shallots enjoy full sun and a loose growing medium....

What is a Frost Versus Freeze Warning? Various factors affect the severity of cold weather. The dew point, wind chill, and other variations can send temperatures plummeting more than indicated. Many of our garden denizens are sensitive, and special steps need to be taken to protect plants from freeze. Frost protection for plants may also be necessary if the plant is not hardy to expected temperatures. Often our first cold spurt is in the form of a freeze....

What are Dudleya Plants? Dudleya succulents are a small genus; some look similar to the echeveria. The group includes 40 to 50 different types, with most native to Western U.S. states and Mexico. Some grow on the islands in those areas and possibly into S. America. Attractive, robust and long-lived, the Dudleya succulents often have a small, charming rosette. These occur on branches as they mature. This plant grows in a variety of shapes and has a range of habits....

Fittonia Nerve Houseplants The nerve plant, or Fittonia argyroneura, from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family, is a tropically found plant with striking leaves of pink and green, white and green, or green and red. Foliage is primarily olive green with veining taking on the alternate hue. For specific color characteristics, look for other Fittonia nerve houseplants, such as F. argyroneura with silver-white veins or F. pearcei, the carmine pink-veined beauty. Named for its 19th-century discoverers, the botanists Elizabeth and Sarah May Fitton, the Fittonia nerve plant does indeed flower....

How to Find a Trustworthy Bulb Supplier Online bulb retailers generally have the largest variety of plant types. Flower bulb suppliers provide wonderful descriptions and care for the plants and offer convenience with their easy to peruse and use cyber catalogs. The only problem with buying flower bulbs online is that you can’t pick each one yourself. Often, your bulbs will arrive and they will be shriveled, wizened, rotted or moldy and, therefore, unusable....

Gardening in Stone Walls Living stone walls are commonly seen throughout Europe. In England, stone walls are considered the bones of the garden and are built with planting nooks for herbs or other plants. Planting flowers in a wall is an easy way to bring life to cold, dead stone and many plants will thrive in the unique microclimates of the wall’s crevices. Plants growing in these planting nooks will appreciate the moisture and cool soil that stones can provide in the summer months....

Uses for Tree Bark You may be wondering why you should consider harvesting tree bark. There are several interesting uses for tree bark, and any one of them can lead you to tree bark harvesting. One use is culinary. While some bark, like pine, is edible, none is particularly delicious. But if you are in a life-and-death situation and must find a source of food in the wild, pine bark will keep you alive....

Graptopetalum Ghost Plant Information Thick, fleshy leaves and stems characterize most succulent plants. Ghost plants (Graptopetalum paraguayense) have thick leaves that hold excess moisture so the plant can withstand periods without rain. The silvery gray to bluish green foliage has a pinkish tinge to the edges of the leaves when they are young. Layers of leaves form the rosette, which range in size from less than an inch (2.5 cm.) across to several inches (7....

What are Brazilian Candles? Brightly colored, pink blooms with unique, long petals, or bracts, are vital characteristics of Pavonia Brazilian candles. What are Brazilian candles? They are a group of plants endemic to tropical South and Latin America. The exotic plants require warm temperatures and regular water. The intense flowers really bring the Brazilian feeling into a northern or western home where tropical touches evoke sultry hot nights and searing skies....

Growing Virginia Creeper Vine Virginia creeper produces one of the most spectacular color displays of fall. The five-pointed leaves are usually just an average green but turn a brilliant crimson once temperatures cool. Virginia creeper can grow in sun to full shade, where soils are soggy to dry and even in lightly alkaline soils. The adaptability of the plant makes it suited for any site but care should be taken to keep it off wood siding and gutters....

How to Grow an Indoor Salad Garden Lettuce and salad greens are some of the easiest vegetable plants to grow indoors. These leafy plants germinate quickly, grow fast in any sunny southern window, and reach maturity in about a month. Follow these steps to learn how to grow an indoor salad garden with your children: Make it fun – As with any kid-friendly project, encourage creativity by having your children decorate their own indoor salad-gardening planters....