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Symptoms of Bacterial Speck on Tomatoes Tomato bacterial speck is one of three tomato diseases that have similar symptoms. The other two are bacterial spot and bacterial canker. Bacterial speck on tomatoes is caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. The symptoms of bacterial speck (as well as spot and canker) are small spots that appear on the leaves of the tomato plant. These spots will be brown in the center surrounded by a yellow ring....

You must know first when to move a passionflower vine and finally how to transplant a passion vine to ensure the plant’s continued health. Soil type, lighting, and vine protection are the final considerations. A step-by-step analysis of how to transplant a passion vine will have you on the road to success and see a future filled with juicy fruit. Can You Transplant Passion Vines? There are around 400 species of Passiflora, most of which are tropical to sub-tropical....

Trap Crop Info Interest in trap crop info has increased in recent years, along with the growth of interest in organic gardening and a growing concern over pesticide use, not only for its potential to harm animal life, including humans, but because spraying can destroy beneficial insects. Trap cropping is generally most useful in larger plantings, but can be scaled down depending on the crop and trap used. In order to learn how to use trap cops successfully, think in terms of a specific pest and learn its preferences for food sources....

Problems with Urban Gardens Most urban garden problems aren’t readily apparent when you first dig the soil, but they are very real. Here are some of the most common things to consider before you plant: Permits. Depending on where your garden is located, you may need a permit for tearing up the grass, building a fence, or keeping urban livestock like chickens, bees, and goats. Check with your local municipality before putting in the garden of your dreams to avoid finding out the hard way that it’s not allowed....

Can Urine Be Used as Fertilizer? Can urine be used as fertilizer without laboratory treatment? Scientists seeking to answer that question used cucumbers as their test subjects. The plants were chosen because they and their plant relatives are common, they’re easily contaminated with bacterial infections and are eaten raw. Cucumbers showed increases in both size and number after feeding the plants with urine, showed no difference in bacterial contaminants from their control counterparts, and were equally as tasty....

What Do Assassin Bugs Look Like? Assassin bugs occur in much of North America but also in Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There are several species of the insect, all of which are natural ambush hunters that inject a toxin into prey that dissolves their soft tissues. These bites are fatal to their insect victims but may also cause allergic reactions in humans, resulting in painful itching and burning at the injection site....

What is a Sweetgum Tree? Sweetgums are straight, tall trees with a single trunk that reaches a height of 75 feet (23 m.) or more. These handsome trees have a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes rounded with age. They make excellent lawn or shade trees in large landscapes. Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes, and their shape will remind you of a star. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm....

How do trees get hurt? There are many different types of tree wounds, each with its own causes. Read on for information about tree wounds, as well as how you can help a wounded tree. What Is a Tree Wound? Exactly what is a tree wound? It is any injury to the tree that breaks the bark. This break can be small, like when someone pounds a nail into a tree trunk, or it can be huge, like when a large branch cracks off in the wind....

Although shrubs with vivid flowers add drama to a garden, many gardeners opt for white flowering shrubs to bring in a sense of elegance and serenity. Whether you are looking to plant one bush with white flowers or several, it helps to have a shortlist of candidates. White Flowering Shrubs If you are looking to install white flowering shrubs in your landscape, you will find more than a few to choose from....

There are plants you just want to touch, and a woolly thyme plant (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) is one of them. Woolly thyme is a perennial herb, with medicinal and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use. Try growing woolly thyme in the cracks between paving stones, along a gravel path, or as part of a xeriscape or drought-tolerant garden. The herb doesn’t mind a bit of rough handling and can be trod upon with no ill effects....

What Causes Basil Leaves to Turn Yellow? There are a number of reasons for a basil plant turning yellow, and determining the reason isn’t always easy. Improper watering – Root rot, a result of too much water, is one of the most common reasons for yellow leaves on basil plants. Water basil only when the top 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) of soil is dry, and remember that slightly dry soil is healthier than soggy soil....

Tomato Mulch Options Mulching helps retain soil moisture, protect the plant, and keep weeds at bay. There are several options when it comes to tomato mulch, many of which are free or very low cost, but effective. The best mulch for tomatoes depends on many things including your budget and personal preferences. Shredded Leaves: Don’t bag up those fall leaves; compost them instead. Composted leaves provide valuable mulch for your entire vegetable garden, including your tomatoes....

Acacia Tree Facts Most acacia tree types are fast growers, but they usually live only 20 to 30 years. Many varieties are valued for their long roots which help stabilize the soil in areas threatened by erosion. The sturdy roots reach deep for underground water, which explains why the tree tolerates extreme drought conditions. Many types of acacia are protected by long, sharp thorns and an extremely unpleasant flavor that discourages animals from eating the leaves and bark....

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Roses In light cases, aphids on roses can be picked off by hand and squished or sometimes a quick tapping of the bloom or foliage will knock them to the ground. Once on the ground, they will be easier prey for the garden good guy insects. Also in the lighter cases of aphids on rose bushes, I have had some success with the strong water spray method....

How to Grow a Cucumber Plant in a Bag Follow these simple steps for your own bag-grown cucumbers: Choose a cucumber grow bag. You can purchase bags specially made for this purpose or reuse heavy-duty plastic bags. White potting soil bags work well and can be turned inside out to hide the printed label. Avoid black garbage bags as these absorb too much heat from the sun. Prepare the cucumber grow bag....

What is Ball Moss? Ball moss is gray-green and commonly found on tree branches and telephone wires. It grows in small clumps about 6-10 inches (15-25.5 cm.) across. The tiny seeds are blown on the wind until they land on a tree branch or other suitable area. They stick to the area and develop pseudo-roots that attach to the bark of the tree. Additional Ball Moss Information Ball moss is often mistaken for Spanish moss....

Easy to Find Gifts for New Gardeners As the following gifts will most likely be useful soon, you can impress your friends or family members with your knowledge and all the thought you’ve put into these gifts. Gardening Calendar: This is an easy garden gift, with more selections than you might imagine. You can purchase large print or small print with room for notes, including beautiful photos of plants, flowers, and gardens....

How to Grow Blueberries from Seeds First, is a blueberry a seed? No, the seeds are inside the fruit, and it takes a little work to separate them from the pulp. You can use fruit from an existing bush or from those purchased at the grocers, but the results may be poor or non-existent. Blueberries do not self pollinate, which means they are rather unpredictable and their offspring do not duplicate the parent....

Bok Choy Plant Bolt Bok choy (Brassica rapa) is an Asian vegetable that also goes by the names of Chinese white cabbage or Chinese mustard. It’s a member of the mustard family, and therefore, a cool season vegetable that should be grown in the spring or fall. It is a non-heading cabbage with dark green leaves and white leaf stalks and is grown as an annual. Horticulturally, in leafy greens such as bok choy, bolting is the premature growth of a long stalk carrying a flower head, so early flowering bok choy is a sure sign that your bok choy is bolting....

Romans of long ago used fir trees and live branches as decoration for the New Year. They believed hanging boughs of greenery protected them from evil spirits and demons. Many also used holly for indoor decorations. The first person known to bring a Christmas tree inside in Germany was the 16th century preacher, Martin Luther. Christians believed evergreens were a “sign of everlasting life with God.” Trees were decorated for a time with fresh fruit, pretzels and paper flowers....