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What is Hypoxylon Canker Disease? This is a disease caused by the Hypoxylon canker fungus, actually a group of fungi species in the Hypoxylon genus. Infection by these fungi causes the canker disease, a common issue in hardwood trees. The fungi are generally opportunistic, meaning that they tend to attack trees that are already weakened or diseased. The disease is not a major problem for healthy trees. The damage caused by Hypoxylon canker disease is usually extensive....

Disease in Jasmine Plants Jasmine plant problems do not occur very frequently, and the plant thrives if it receives attention that mimics its tropical to sub-tropical native region. Jasmine diseases can threaten the foliage, roots, flowers and overall health of the plant. Sometimes they are the result of excess moisture in overly warm conditions; sometimes an insect vector is the cause. The variety of common diseases of jasmine is as broad as it is in any plant, but the first step to diagnosis is to ensure you are giving proper care....

Lady Slipper Seed Germination Lady Slipper orchids are terrestrial plants native to the eastern United States and Canada. This is one of the largest orchids and it grows wild in dry woods, especially pine forests. The orchid blooms April through May and produces large seed pods filled with 10,000 to 20,000 seeds. Growing Lady Slippers from seed can pose a problem due to its need for a symbiotic relationship with Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae, a natural soil-borne fungus....

Magnolia Tree Diseases The stately and ancient magnolia is a tree beloved by people everywhere, not just those native to the southern United States. Magnolias are so tough that many tree owners will never notice any real problems throughout their tree’s life, but when a sick magnolia tree is identified, the causal agent may be serious. There are several common magnolia diseases that you should be aware of, even if you’re lucky enough to never have to do anything with that information....

About Making Olive Oil at Home Commercially produced olive oil requires large, customized equipment but with a few investments, making olive oil at home is possible. There are a couple of ways of going about making oil from olives at home, but the basics of extracting olive oil remain the same. First you need to obtain fresh olives whether this is from your own olive trees or from purchased olives. Just be sure not to use canned olives....

The nutrients in stinging nettle fertilizer are those same nutrients the plant contains which are beneficial to the human body such as many minerals, flavonoids, essential amino acids, proteins, and vitamins. A nettle leaf plant food will have: Chlorophyll Nitrogen Iron Potassium Copper Zinc Magnesium Calcium These nutrients, along with Vitamins A, B1, B5, C, D, E, and K, combine together to create a tonic and immune builder for both the garden and the body....

How to Care for Oriental Poppies When asked how to care for oriental poppies, the rules are few. Careful placement is essential. Once planted, these beauties don’t like to move. Don’t plant them in soggy ground. They hate wet feet. Do fertilize them, but only once a year. Do plant them with favorites whose growth habits will cover the garden bald spots when your poppies go dormant in the heat. Oriental poppies relish the cool temperatures of early spring and fall....

When to Harvest Blueberry Bushes Blueberry bushes are suited to USDA hardiness zones 3-7. The blueberries we eat today are a more or less recent invention. Prior to the 1900’s, only North American natives utilized the berry, which, of course, was only found in the wild. There are three types of blueberry: highbush, lowbush and hybrid half-high. Regardless of the type of blueberry, combine their nutrition aspects with ease of growing and minimal diseases or pests (except the birds!...

Colorful Container Grown Portulaca Flowering in a wide range of colors, portulaca comes in white and warm colors. Flower colors include pink, peach, yellow, orange, red, fuchsia, magenta, lavender, and purple. Standard plant blooms open in full sunlight, closing at night and on clouded days. Some new cultivars; however, now have blooms that will open slightly during cloudy conditions. Newer cultivars have spotted or striped blooms in various contrasting shades. There is a color to match or complement any outdoor design on the patio or deck....

About Storing and Handling Pears In the commercial market, pears are harvested before the fruit is ripe. This is because unripe fruit is less susceptible to damage during transport and storage. Also, when pears are harvested less than ripe, they have a longer storage life and, with proper post-harvest pear handling, the fruit can be sold on the market for up to six to eight months. The same rules apply for the home grower....

A wonderful and simple idea for the holiday is growing your own herbs for Thanksgiving dinner. If you have a garden plot, of course, the herbs may be planted there. An alternate idea is using potted herbs for your holiday dishes. Not only can many common Thanksgiving herbs be grown indoors in containers, but doing so allows them to be grown and accessed for year round cooking. Additionally, common Thanksgiving herbs grown in pots make lovely centerpieces for the holiday table or buffet....

Protecting Tulips from Deer You carefully plant your tulip bulbs in the fall and then wait all winter for the first tender green tips to poke out. Brilliantly colored flowers are the next anticipation, and you eagerly check the bed daily for the first buds. Oh, what have we here? The delicate green leaves have been shorn off at nearly ground level. The likely culprits are deer. Nursing has deprived them all winter and they are eating like lumberjacks trying to put the weight back on that they lost....

Why are My Banana Peppers Turning Brown? There is a difference between the fruit turning brown and the plant turning brown, first of all. When Banana Peppers Turn Brown A common affliction of peppers, as well as tomatoes and eggplant, is called blossom end rot or BER. This happened to me in my container grown peppers, which were otherwise gloriously healthy and abundant until one day I noticed a dark lesion at the blossom end of some developing fruit....

Swiss Cheese Vine Plant Info The Swiss cheese vine plant prefers full sun but will adapt to partial shade. It also enjoys moist, well-drained soil. This plant grows best in warm conditions and requires high humidity. The Swiss cheese vine plant does not tolerate frost, so this should be considered before planting. Most often the plant can be grown as a container plant indoors and performs well when grown on poles or in baskets....

Regional Gardening To-Do List Knowing what to do in the garden in April can be confusing. Use this basic guide based on location to jump-start the growing season. Western Region This region covers California and Nevada, so there is a range of appropriate chores. For northern, cooler areas: Start planting warm-season plants Fertilize your perennials Maintain or add mulch In sunny, warm southern California: Add mulch if needed Move or plant tropical plants outside...

When a plant is dying from this kind of neglect, it needs some immediate TLC of another kind to bring the plant back. Let’s look at how to revive a plant and how to how to replant a potted plant. Strategic Pruning One of the first steps you need to take for reviving plants is to prune both the top and the roots of the plant. Pruning roots If an overgrown plant is failing, there is a good chance that the plant is suffering from being root-bound....

About Mounting Staghorn Ferns It is a wonderful surprise to find a plant hanging on a wall or living in an unexpected place. Mounts for staghorn ferns provide the perfect opportunity to create just such unexpected delights. Can staghorn ferns grow on stones? Yes. Not only can they grow on stones, but they can be mounted on a myriad of objects. All you need is a little imagination, sphagnum moss, and some wire....

Herbal Companion Plants for Rosemary Rosemary is good for more than the occasional chicken or potato dish. It has powerful scented oil which can attract or repel certain insects. Rosemary also keeps away some animal pests. It is even said to improve the flavor of sage when planted in proximity. So, the benefits to rosemary plant companions are numerous, plus you have another attractive herb that performs with honors in the kitchen....

Southwest Gardening in September September in the Southwest is a beautiful time of year. Temperatures during the day are no longer in the triple digits and the evenings are delightful and cooler. Most gardens are still in full swing, and it is a good time to plant cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale. Harvesting on many vegetables is in full swing and crops like persimmons and citrus are beginning to ripen....

Creating Ghostly Gardens You don’t have to connect with your inner goth to enjoy the magic and mystery of ghost-like plants and dark, spiritual spaces. Gothic garden plant varieties are abundant and when mixed with previously used items, religious icons, or even just found relics, the effect can be both welcoming and eerily romantic. Learn how to create a ghost garden so you can enjoy the peace and reflection brought in by gently creepy items and darkly beautiful plants....