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Wasp Moth Identification Oleander wasp moths are quite striking insects and wasp moth identification is easy. They are deep blue with white polka dots and a fiery red abdomens, lending them the name Uncle Sam’s moth. These patriotic insects fly about during the day, making them easier to define than many other moths. The adults aren’t the source of drama, however. It is their larvae whose preferred feeding ground is oleander....

Is Peppermint Good for You? Peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and watermint (Mentha aquatic). The benefits of peppermint have been hyped for centuries for everything from gastrointestinal distress to relaxation. While some ancient remedies utilizing peppermint for health may be questionable, modern science has proven that, yes, peppermint is good for you, although there are some cautions to that statement. Read on to learn about the benefits of peppermint as well as its limitations....

What is a Stumpery? Stumperies take advantage of the ease with which downed trees shelter animals and provide nutrition for new plants. The appeal is also visual, with a finished stumpery garden appearing to blend into surrounding woodlands. Making this type of garden area takes a little time and patience for everything to settle and take root, but it’s well worth the effort and what doesn’t take a little time? A stumpery is a planned area which incorporates logs, stumps, root wads, bark, and other common sights of a forest floor....

Types of Fertilizer for Vegetables Gardens Plants are composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. These nutrients are absorbed from the air and water, but a fertile garden must have fourteen additional macro- and micro- nutrients for healthiest growth. A soil test will help determine which, if any, additional nutrients need to be supplemented to the plants in the form of vegetable garden fertilizers. Basically, there are two types of fertilizer for veggie gardens: inorganic (synthetic) and organic fertilizer for vegetable gardens....

There are in fact a plethora of fruit and vegetable peel uses. Some of the things to do with peels will surprise you, while other uses for old peels are fairly common sense. Keep reading to find out what to do with peelings. Things to Do with Peels As you prepare salad, soup, or stew, fill a container with the peelings and other discarded produce; you will be surprised at the volume of wasted food....

Wasp Deterrent The best way to deal with wasps is to minimize their numbers by deterring them from the area. Do not keep any food (including your pet’s) lying around. Keep drinks covered when outdoors and always ensure that garbage cans are tightly sealed. Also, keep any fallen fruits from nearby trees or shrubs, as well as in the garden, picked up as their sweet juices attract the wasps. How to Get Rid of Wasps If you already have a wasp problem and you need to know how to kill wasps, then it helps to understand what type you are dealing with and their particular nesting habits....

Chimeral Variegation in Plants There are several ways variegation may occur in plants. Plants, just like humans, contain stem cells. In the case of plants, the stem cell is called a meristem. In variegated plants the meristem is a combination of green and albino cells that result in green and white striping or variegation. The albino cells do not make chlorophyll, while the green cells do. If the meristem is variegated, the plant is genetically normal and is referred to as chimeral variegation....

About Bare Root Planting When shopping online, what you see is not always what you get. Online nurseries and plant catalogs display pictures of full, established plants, but in the product or shipping details it will usually state if these plants are shipped bare root or in containers with soil. Low shipping costs usually indicate that the plants are bare root because these are much less expensive to ship. Bare root plants are dormant perennials, shrubs, or trees....

What is a Succulent? Oddly, some botanists and horticultural experts differ on which plants are technically succulents. Their appearance differs from species to species, but one common characteristic is swollen leaves, pads, or stems. The exact classification of a certain plant will have to go to the experts, but whatever the case, all types of succulents or those that appear to be succulents are pleasing to the eye, minimal regarding care and produce delightful little surprises during their life cycle....

Tree Rose Info A hardy rootstock such as Dr. Huey is trained up to provide the “tree trunk” for the tree rose. A rose bush of the desired variety is grafted to the top of the cane. The David Austin tree roses are created using Dr. Huey rootstock with three of the desired rose bush buds grafted onto each 3-foot (1 m.) cane stem. The folks at Jackson & Perkins tell me that they use an aggressive fibrous rootstock for their tree roses that they developed, and it is called “RW....

What is Cermai Fruit? Otaheite gooseberry trees are a familiar sight in villages and farms in Guam, throughout South Vietnam and Laos, and into northern Malaya and India. This specimen was introduced into Jamaica in 1793 and has spread throughout the Caribbean, to the Bahamas and Bermuda. Naturalized in southern Mexico and parts of Central America, it can also more rarely be found in Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, Peru, and Brazil. This unusual ornamental shrub or tree grows to 6 ½ to 30 ft (2-9 m....

What is Ergot Fungus? Ergot is a fungus that has lived side by side with mankind for hundreds of years. In fact, the first documented case of ergotism occurred in 857 A.D. in the Rhine Valley in Europe. Ergot fungus history is long and complicated. At one time, ergot fungus disease was a very serious problem among populations who lived off of grain products, especially rye. Today, we’ve tamed ergot commercially, but you may still encounter this fungal pathogen if you raise livestock or have decided to try your hand at a small stand of grain....

What is Fertigation? The name might give a clue as to the definition of fertigation. Simply put, fertigation is a process that combines fertilization and irrigation. Fertilizer is added to an irrigation system. It is most commonly used by commercial growers. Fertigation rather than traditional fertilization approaches is purported to target the plant’s nutrient deficiencies more effectively. It also reduces soil erosion and water consumption, reduces the amount of fertilizer utilized, and controls the time and rate it is released....

Vehicle Injury to Trees It could happen to anyone on an icy street. Lose control of your vehicle and, wham, you’ve hit a tree. These incidents are more common in winter or, unfortunately, during holiday revelry when the operator has had too much to drink. Large trees that overhang streets are also victims of large trucks that smash into the branches and break and distort them. Whatever the cause, accident damage to trees can be a simple fix of pruning off the remaining damaged portion or the entire trunk may be crushed....

About Zone 7 Wildflowers Most wildflowers grow easily from seed and wildflower seed mixes are readily available. If seed mixes are the route you plan to take, it’s a good idea to do a little research on each wildflower that is listed on the package. One region’s wildflower can be another region’s invasive weed. Wildflowers can quickly spread by self-seeding, naturalizing, or forming colonies through vast root structures. Wildflowers can also be annual, biennial, or perennial, and this can depend on what zone you’re in....

Help, There are Green Worms on Mint Plants! Mint should be grown in partial shade to full sun and is extremely hardy. It can survive temperatures down to -29 degrees F. (-33 C.). Believe me when I say that it can overtake a garden space unless it is controlled. Plant this aromatic herb in soil that is slightly acidic with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Even though it’s a tough plant, like all plants it may become afflicted with some sort of disease or pest....

Common Yellow Lawn Problems Yellow lawn problems could stem from a host of conditions. The most common is dryness but excess nitrogen is another. This is most frequently from dog urine but can also come from over fertilizing. Nitrogen is the first number in a fertilizer ratio. It enhances green, leafy growth and is a necessary nutrient for a healthy lawn. However, too much nitrogen can cause a lawn to yellow....

Hardy Ground Cover Plants Ground cover choices must take into account the site drainage, exposure, soil type, and, of course, the USDA hardiness zone. Other options such as deciduous vs. evergreen, woody vs. herbaceous, and flowering or fruiting are also part of the equation as you assess your ground cover choices. Finding the perfect ground cover for zone 5 must take all these into consideration while providing outstanding cold hardiness. Luckily, there are a host of wonderful plants that can provide varying functions and eye appeal that thrive in chilly winter climates....

Choosing Ornamental Grass for Zone 8 Using ornamental grasses has become something of a rage lately. Their visual impact paired with their ability to fit into many landscape situations has made them a popular garden addition. Zone 8 ornamental grasses may experience temperatures as low as 10 to 20 degrees F. (-12 to -7 C.). Such chilly conditions can be detrimental for the tropical grasses, but there is still a wide variety from which to choose....

About Aloe Plant Propagation Many people ask, “Can I grow an aloe plant from a leaf cutting?” You can, but the most successful method of aloe plant propagation is from offsets or “pups” with resulting plants almost immediately. Aloe vera is a succulent and as such, is related to the cactus. Cacti are fairly easy to propagate from cuttings, but aloe vera cuttings, with their high moisture content, rarely become viable plants....