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About Canary Creeper Vines The canary creeper plant is one pretty vine and a cousin of nasturtium. It has deeply lobed leaves a minty shade of green, and brilliant yellow flowers. The canary creeper flowers grow two big petals above and three smaller ones below. The upper petals look like the wings of tiny yellow birds, giving the plant its common name. The lower petals are spurred. The canary creeper flowers make their appearance in spring and continue to bloom and expand all summer long as long as the plant gets adequate water....

Caraway Plant Problems Caraway takes two growing seasons to produce seed, although there are a few varieties that when planted in the fall will produce seed the following summer. Caraway is easy to grow and is hardy to USDA zone 3. In the first year, caraway plant leaves may be harvested and the roots eaten much like parsnip. The plant will grow to around 8 inches (20 cm.) in height with a long taproot and will overwinter to produce blooms in May to August on 1 to 2 foot (31-61 cm....

Growing Muscadine Grapes Muscadine grapevine planting should take place in an area of full sun with well-draining soil. For maximum grape production, the vine should be in full sun for most of the day; shaded areas reduce fruit set. Well-draining soil is of paramount importance. Vines may die if they are in standing water for even a short period of time, such as after a heavy rainstorm. Muscadine grape care requires a soil pH of between 5....

Ornamental Grasses for Containers Ornamental grasses may be native or cultivated species that provide linear interest to the landscape. The most common species for use in containers are the true grasses and members of affiliated families such as sedge, rush, and bamboo. These vertical growers are easy to care for and need little supplemental maintenance. Caring for potted grasses is an excellent project for even novice gardeners. Choose grasses that are the appropriate size for your containers and suitable for your zone....

To get a basic understanding for children’s garden ideas, this quick kid’s guide to gardens can help. Basic Kid’s Garden Design It is important to involve children in garden planning from the very beginning. Teaching kids to design a garden is a great way to introduce basic gardening principles and also instills a sense of responsibility and ownership. Keep your garden design simple; consider planning an interesting shape for your garden such as a butterfly, triangle or circle....

Growing Shade Tolerant Wildflowers It’s important to remember that when growing wildflowers in shade they do need some sunlight. Flowers native to wooded areas don’t grow in deep shade. They grow on the edges of forests and under tall branching trees that allow for some sun to penetrate. So make sure you plant these flowers where they get partial shade and sun. Woodland wildflowers need well-drained soil, no standing water, and a good amount of moisture....

Potted mums are not the same as the hardy varieties that go into garden beds. They are more sensitive to cold and light changes, but you can find them any time of the year and bloom for several weeks in the home interior. Growing chrysanthemums indoors is easy and requires little special care beyond watering, good soil and drainage. Once the blooms are spent, you can keep the plant around for its deeply etched foliage....

Cobra Lily Information California pitcher plants (Darlingtonia californica) grow in distinctive groupings across the state’s countryside. Cobra lily pitcher plants are native to North America and found in nutrient-poor boggy areas. The plants spread asexually through runners and stolons and infrequently flower. They are inimitable plants, unmatched by most flora in exceptional structure and eccentric beauty. The cobra lily plant almost defies description. The main features of the plant are the modified leaves that rise from the base and terminate in hooded foliage....

USDA Zone 9 includes areas in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California, and even coastal Oregon. It includes both dry and wet regions and coastal and inland areas. Due to this geographic diversity, quite a large number of weed species can show up in zone 9 gardens. Consulting your state’s extension service or their website can be very helpful when you are trying to identify an unknown weed. Common Groups of Weeds That Grow in Zone 9 Identifying zone 9 weeds involves first learning how to recognize the major categories they fall under....

Artichoke Plant Companions Artichoke companion planting is not especially complicated. Artichokes don’t repel any pests, but at the same time, they’re not really bothered by any. Because of this, they don’t really benefit their neighbors, but neither do they need good neighbors. They are, however, very heavy feeders that require extra rich, slightly alkaline soil. The best companions for artichoke plants have similar soil requirements. Peas, in particular, are good artichoke plant companions because they exude nitrogen that artichokes will gladly leech up from the soil....

Growing Forest Grass in Containers Using ornamental grasses in pots allows the gardener to control where they grow and to preserve them if they are tender or half hardy. Pots can always be buried or brought indoors to help save the root system when temperatures get cold, but during the spring and summer the plants can be honored guests on the patio, lanai or other shady nook. Container grown forest grass is an excellent example of an ornamental plant that thrives in a pot....

What is Ascochyta Leaf Blight? Ascochyta leaf blight on lawns is caused by an infection by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta spp. Many grasses are susceptible, but Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass are the most common victims. Ascochyta leaf blight comes on quickly, causing large brown or bleached patches in lawns when the weather is quickly alternating between very wet and very dry, but the exact environmental trigger is unknown....

What are Carrot Weevils? Only about one-sixth of an inch (4 mm.) long, carrot weevils are snout beetles that love to dine on members of the carrot family. They feed during the warm months and then spend the winter hiding in the top layer of soil and in weeds, grass, or debris left in the garden. If you have them one year, you can count on their return the following year....

Cover Crop Advantages and Disadvantages As mentioned above, there are both cover crop advantages and disadvantages. More often, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, hence more farmers and home gardeners alike are turning to the use of cover cropping. First of all, the planting of dense cover crop stands slows down the velocity of rainfall, which prevents erosive runoff. Also, their interwoven root systems help anchor the soil and increase porosity, creating a welcoming habitat for soil macrofauna....

What Causes Turnips to Crack? Turnips prefer full sun exposure in fertile, deep, well drained soils. Turnips are started from seed two to three weeks before the last frost of the season. Soil temps should be at least 40 degrees F. (4 C.). Seeds will germinate best at 60 to 85 degrees F. (15-29 C.) and will take seven to ten days. If your soil is a heavy clay, it’s best to amend it with plenty of organic matter, 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm....

White Scale on Crepe Myrtles Adult white scale is a tiny gray or whitish pest easily identified by its waxy, crust-like covering. It can appear anywhere but is often seen on branch crotches or near pruning wounds. If you look closely under the waxy covering, you may notice clusters of pink eggs or tiny nymphs, which are known as “crawlers.” Female pests exude a pinkish liquid when crushed. How to Treat Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale Crepe myrtle bark scale treatment may require several different techniques, and management of the pest requires persistence....

Cushion Bush Information Cushion bush does produce small yellow flowers on the tips of its stems, but most gardeners grow the plant for its foliage. The stems grow thick and outward in a shape very much like a tumbleweed, and the soft leaves stay close to the stems. Both stems and leaves are a bright silver, almost white color that reflects light very well and makes for a spectacular contrast against neighboring green plants....

Medicinal Dandelion Uses Knowing how to use dandelion for medicinal purposes dates back millennia. Always check with your doctor before using an herbal or natural medicine, but generally, dandelions are considered safe to consume. Traditionally, dandelions have been used as a diuretic or even a laxative. The leaves may have a slight laxative effect and may also improve digestion. The roots of the dandelion may be used to treat issues associated with the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder....

Forsythia Winter Damage Since forsythia is a deciduous shrub, it loses its leaves and goes dormant in winter. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t suffer from winter cold. Forsythia shrubs are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. The shrubs can survive cold temperatures down to -20 degrees F. (-29 C.). Expect forsythia winter damage if zone 5 winters are colder than usual. Roots are not the first thing to be damaged, since they are insulated by snow....

Are There Any Zone 9 Plants Deer Won’t Eat? Deer are highly adaptive feeders. If their food of choice isn’t in season, they’ll just eat something else. This makes finding plants that deer won’t eat rather difficult. A better way of looking at tackling the problem is to find deer resistant plants for zone 9. This doesn’t mean they won’t nibble on them, but it does mean that they are less likely to....