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Why Do Strawberries Rot in the Garden? There are a few different diseases that can cause rotting strawberries, and if you understand how these develop, you can take steps to prevent them: Gray mold. Gray mold looks just like it sounds: gray, fuzzy mold growing on your berries. It can begin early, before any berries develop, causing the flowers and stems to brown and even die. As the berries form, they get moldy and rot....

Read on for information about what steps to take when you see your kiwi leaves turning yellow or brown during growing season. Why are My Kiwi Leaves Turning Brown? When you see the edges of kiwi leaves turn brown, check the planting location. Kiwis need sun to thrive and produce fruit, but if the sunshine is too hot for too long, it may scorch the edges of the leaves. This condition is known as leaf scorch....

About Cherry Trees for Zone 3 Before you dive in and buy a cold hardy zone 3 cherry tree, there are a few things to consider. First of all, make sure you are identifying your correct USDA zone. USDA zone 3 has minimum temperatures that reach between 30-40 degrees F. (-34 to -40 C.) on average. These conditions are found in the far northern hemisphere and the tip of South America....

Hardy Holly Varieties You’ll find over 400 species of holly in the world. Many are broadleaf evergreens and offer glossy leaves and bright, bird-pleasing berries. The species range in zone, shape, and cold hardiness. Hollies are not demanding or difficult plants to grow. However, before you start growing holly plants in zone 5, you’ll want to check their cold hardiness. Chinese, English, and Japanese holly shrubs are not hardy holly varieties....

Can Japanese Maples Grow in Zone 5 Climates? There are many popular varieties of zone 5 Japanese maples. However, in the northern parts of zone 5, they may need a little extra winter protection, especially against harsh winter winds. Wrapping sensitive Japanese maples with burlap in early winter can give them that added protection. While Japanese maples are not too picky about soil, they cannot tolerate salt, so do not plant them in areas where they will be exposed to salt injury in the winter....

Evergreen Shrubs for Zone 7 Since there are a number of evergreen shrubs that can fit the bill for planting in zone 7, naming them all would be far too difficult. That said, here are some of the more commonly seen evergreen shrub choices for inclusion: Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei), zones 5-9 Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), zones 7-10 Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), zones 6-9 Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica), zones 7-9 Dwarf mugo pine (Pinus mugo ‘compacta’), zones 6-8 Dwarf English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), zones 6-8 Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), zones 5-9 Japanese/wax privet (Ligustrom japonicum), zones 7-10 Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’), zones 4-9 Boxwood (Buxus), zones 5-8 Chinese fringe-flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Rubrum’), zones 7-10 Winter daphne (Daphne odora), zones 6-8 Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium), zones 5-9...

Zone 9 Cactus Info Cactus and other succulents are easy to maintain and have few special care requirements once established. They perform beautifully either in the ground in warmer climates, in containers outdoors in summer, or indoors year-round. Using cactus for zone 9 can provides a desert themed landscape with drought tolerance and often brightly colored flowers and fruits. Most specimens suited for the region are smaller plants but mixed with yucca or agave for vertical appeal, they can bring a note of Saharan splendor to your backyard....

Previously, the ZZ plant would only be found in planters in malls and large office buildings where they would frequently be mistaken for fake plants, partially because they needed so little care and always looked healthy. But in recent years, they have found their way onto the shelves of both big box and hardware stores where anyone can purchase one. This has led to many people wondering how to grow ZZ plants....

White Berry Bushes A bush with white berries is not that common, but you can find a few types with this unusual fruit color: Beautyberry. This shrub describes a family of multiple varieties native to Asia, Central America, and southeastern North America. American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, is known for its striking, bright purple berries, but you can also find white cultivars of a few species. These include the C. dichotoma cultivar ‘Albifructus’ and the C....

About Planting Almond Nuts A little nugget of information that you may not know; almonds, although referred to as nuts, are actually a type of stone fruit. Almond trees bloom in February or March, leaf out and produce a greenish fruit that looks quite a bit like a peach, only green. The fruit hardens and splits, revealing the almond shell in the core of the fruit hull. If you want to try almond germination from seed, steer clear of processed almonds....

Almond Propagation Methods Most almond cultivars cannot be propagated by seed. The seeds of some hybrids are sterile, while other almond cultivar seeds may be viable but will not produce true to type plants. The plants that result from seed may revert to an original parent plant, which though related, might not even be an almond plant. Therefore, the most common almond propagation methods are softwood cuttings or bud grafting....

What is Amethyst Basil? There is something about the pairing of a fresh, vine ripe tomato and basil. Use Amethyst basil and you have a powerful color combination as well. What is Amethyst basil? Amethyst basil info lists it as having the same flavor as a regular sweet basil but the color precludes it from being used cooked or in pesto. Use it fresh to retain the beautiful color. The best Genovese basil is said to grow in Italy, but you can grow this Amethyst variety in USDA zones 9-11 year round, or as an annual elsewhere....

What is Applegate Garlic? Applegate garlic plants are of the softneck variety of garlic, specifically artichoke. They feature multiple layers of even sized cloves, about 12-18 per large bulb. Each clove is individually covered with a light yellow to white paper splashed with purple. The cloves are off-white with a mild, creamy flavor perfect for use in recipes that require fresh garlic without giving that pungent, ‘knock your socks off’ finish of most other garlic varieties....

Plant Growth in Compacted Soil Many plants are not able to grow in hard, compacted soils. These soils do not drain well, so plants that need well-draining soil may rot and die. Plants with delicate, non-aggressive roots can have a hard time establishing in compacted soil. When proper root development doesn’t happen, plants can become stunted, not produce flowers or fruit, and eventually die. Hard, compacted, clay soils can be amended by tilling in organic materials such as peat moss, worm castings, leaf compost, or mushroom compost....

Types of Smart Garden Technology Robotic mowers, automatic sprinklers, robotic cultivators, and even smart weeders have the potential to make your life a whole lot easier. Robotic Lawn Mowers Robotic vacuum cleaners have gradually caught on with homeowners, and they’ve paved the way for robotic lawn mowers. Maintaining gardens by using robotic lawn mowers can be done from your smartphone, Bluetooth, or Wi-fi. So far, they tend to be most effective in relatively small, smooth yards....

What is Replant Disease? Replant disease does not impact all new plants in old spaces, but it can cause problems when you are planting the same species back in the old space. For some reason, that is not well understood, some plants and trees are very sensitive to replant disease. Replant disease is caused by lingering soil bacteria, which stunts growth and can kill plants, trees, and shrubs. Here are some plants that are especially sensitive to replant disease:...

What is a Bird Blind? A bird blind is a structure that lets you watch birds without being seen. When you use a bird blind, you’ll be able to get better photos because you can get closer to the birds, and they will behave naturally. A simple bird blind that requires no construction skills is a length of canvas draped over shrubs or a low-hanging tree branch. An A-frame bird blind is the most flexible because you can set it up anywhere....

Composting on Balconies The same principles of composting apply whether you have acres of land or a concrete balcony. Kitchen scraps are considered the green component of compost and are layered with browns. Suitable greens for a balcony compost bin include vegetable peels, discarded produce, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Landowners usually have access to leaves, pine needles, and shredded wood which typically make up the brown layers. These materials may be in short supply for balcony composting projects....

Why Control Pigeons? Controlling pigeons is important unless you are fond of pigeon manure being left all over your balcony furniture and railings. Pigeons have also been found to carry several diseases including encephalitis and salmonella (common with food poisoning). Pigeons can also transport fleas, ticks, and mites, which are prone to biting humans and will catch a ride on your dogs and cats. How to Stop Pigeons on My Balcony Depending on where you live and how severe of a pigeon problem you are having, there are several pigeon balcony deterrent options available....

Do Banana Trees Die After Harvest? The simple answer is yes. Banana trees do die after harvest. Banana plants take around nine months to grow up and produce banana tree fruit, and then once the bananas have been harvested, the plant dies. It sounds almost sad, but that isn’t the entire story. Reasons for Banana Tree Dying After Bearing Fruit Banana trees, actually perennial herbs, are comprised of a succulent, juicy “pseudostem” that is actually a cylinder of leaf sheaths which can grow up to 20-25 feet (6 to 7....