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Most evergreen plants, both broadleaf and needle-like, make excellent frost plants. Frost tolerant fall vegetables will extend the growing season, especially with the help of cloches or row covers. Many frost tolerant flowers will enliven the dismal cold season landscape and produce the first hints of color in late winter or earliest spring as well. Frost Resistant Plants Resistant plants are indicated by their hardiness rating. This is a number found on the plant tag or in horticultural references as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) zone rating....

Human actions are a large reason for endangered plant species. Some of these plants may be commonly found in cultivated settings but are actually imperiled in their native regions. Many of these plants are indigenous to just a small area and their loss would change the fabric of nature. It is important to recognize endangered plants so we can prevent habitat loss and foster conservation. Endangered Plant Species Online Outside of natural causes and manmade perils, many endangered plants are harvested illegally and are found for sale on the internet....

Plumeria Care and Pruning Plumeria (common name frangipani) is a small tree that grows around 30 feet (9 m.) high. It is native to tropical America and is very common in Hawaii. The leaves are glossy and pale green, while flowers are pale-colored and form a pretty pinwheel shape. They can be white, red, yellow, or pink and are often used to make leis, keeping for days. This tree loves hot and dry locations, so full sun and well-draining soil is a must....

Can I Replant My Ponytail Palm? It is entirely possible to repot or transplant a ponytail palm, no matter how large it is. You can undertake ponytail palm replanting yourself, as long as you follow the general guidelines. Transplanting large ponytail palms, however, requires the assistance of many strong arms and even a tractor. If you have a potted ponytail palm, consider well before moving it to a bigger pot. Potted ponytail palms are happiest when root-bound....

Planting Around Pools Planting around pools raises some concerns and challenges. The first is concern about chlorinated water splashing on the plants. This, however, is actually not a problem for plants. In fact, you could even water them with the pool water if you wish with no health problems for the plant. The second concern is debris. Plant at least 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m.) away from the edge of the pool if specimens are low growing....

Vines of South Central areas provide nectar, seeds, and berries relished by wildlife. Hummingbirds are drawn to the nectar of crossvine, trumpet coral vine, trumpet creeper, and cypress vine. Below is a list of annual and perennial South Central vines for Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Vines for the Southern Region There are many South Central vines to choose from, annual and perennial, with different climbing habits which may determine the type of vine you need....

How to Grow Russian Sage in a Pot When it comes to growing Russian sage in containers, bigger is definitely better because a large pot provides ample space for the roots to develop. Russian sage is a tall plant, so use a pot with a sturdy base. Any pot is fine as long as it has at least one drainage hole in the bottom. A paper coffee filter or a piece of mesh screening will keep the potting mix from washing through the drainage hole....

Does Asparagus Need Winter Protection? In mild climates, the root crowns of asparagus need no special winter care, but in cooler regions, winterizing the asparagus bed is a must. Prepping asparagus beds for winter will protect the roots from the cold and encourage the plants to go dormant, allowing the plant to rest before its next growth phase in the spring. Overwintering Asparagus Plants In the fall, the leaves of asparagus begin to yellow and die back naturally....

Japanese Aucuba Propagation You can take aucuba cuttings almost any time of year, but you’ll get the best results from the fast-growing stem tips cut in spring or from semi-ripe stems cut in summer. Cut 4 inch (10 cm.) tips early in the day, before the sun has a chance to dry them out. Stick the cut stems in rooting medium or water following the directions below as soon as possible....

Propagating Impatiens by Seed Impatiens is a slow-growing plant, and you’ll need to start the seedlings about three months before your last spring frost. Impatiens seed germination can take up to 21 days, with most of the sprouting happening within the first two weeks. Some gardeners may try to save money by broadcasting the seeds over a tray, then transplanting the tiny seedlings once they grow leaves, but you’ll reduce the chance of transplant shock if you start the seeds off in individual small pots or six-pack cells of their own....

How Do I Prune My Guava Tree? Guava is a shrubby tree that grows densely and will attempt to spread horizontally along the ground. You can, therefore, choose to prune guavas into the shape of a tree or a bush, or even grow them as a hedge. If you prune your guava in bush form, branches will emerge from near the ground. If you train your guava into a tree shape by selecting a single trunk, the fruiting limbs will emerge from 2 feet (61 cm....

Troubleshooting Drooping Yucca Plants How to revive a droopy yucca plant depends on what is causing the issue. Here are some reasons for yucca drooping along with steps you can take to remedy the situation. Improper watering Yucca is a succulent plant, meaning that the fleshy leaves store water to sustain the plant when water is scarce. Like all succulent plants, yucca is prone to rot, a type of fungal disease that develops when conditions are too wet....

Cause of Dry Lime Fruit Trying to determine the cause of dry lime fruit can be overwhelming unless you know what to look for. There are several reasons why limes are dry and pulpy. Dry limes may be associated with lack of water, over maturity, young trees, nutrient deficiencies, or stress– due largely in part to improper fertilizing or planting– and extreme changes in temperature. Improper watering – Improper watering is one of the most common causes of dry limes....

About Avocado Fruit Thinning Columnar cultivars of avocado are pinched at an early age to attain a more rounded habit, but most other types of avocado require no training and little pruning. Any pruning of avocado that may be done is done so judiciously since avocado trees are susceptible to sunscald, which results in defoliation. Avocado fruit is also self-thinning, so thinning avocado fruit is generally not required. Should I Thin My Avocadoes?...

Cold Climate Rhododendrons The genus Rhododendron includes hundreds of species and many more named hybrids. Most are evergreen, holding onto their foliage all winter long. Some rhododendrons, including many azalea species, are deciduous, dropping their leaves in autumn. All require consistently moist soil rich in organic content. They like acidic soil and a sunny to semi-sunny location. Rhodie species thrive in a wide range of climates. The new varieties include rhododendrons for zones 3 and 4....

Identifying Root Maggots Root maggots get their name from the fact that they attack the roots of root vegetables such as: turnips rutabagas onions carrots radish They also like cole crops such as: cabbage cauliflower collards kale kohlrabi mustard broccoli The root maggots are the larva of several species of root maggot flies. Despite the fact that they are of different species, however, the root maggots look the same and are treated and controlled the same....

Can You Plant Cut Flowers? It’s always a little sad to cut flowers in the garden. A clip of the garden scissors transforms a rose or hydrangea blossom from a living plant into a short-lived (yet beautiful) indoor display. You may even feel a twinge of regret when someone brings you gorgeous cut flowers. Can you plant cut flowers? Not in the normal sense of the word, since sinking your bouquet into a garden bed won’t have a positive effect....

Types of Cuttings The time a cutting is taken depends upon what type of plant you are propagating. Most plants will root well from a softwood cutting, which is this season’s new growth. It hasn’t had time to harden and the interior cells are very active and generally easy to reproduce. Semi-softwood cuttings are taken in summer when the new growth is nearly mature and hardwood cuttings are very mature material and generally quite woody....

Saskatoon berries, with a flavor reminiscent of cherry with a hint of almond are rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Saskatoon bushes generally reach heights of 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), depending on the cultivar. Similarly, fall color may vary from red to bright yellow. Growing Saskatoon Bushes A type of serviceberry, Saskatoon shrubs are especially valued for their cold hardiness, as this tough plant can survive numbing temperatures of -60 degrees F....

Nicking Seeds Before Planting So, why should you nick seed coats? Nicking seeds before planting helps the seeds absorb water, which signals the plant embryo inside to begin the germination process. Nicking plant seeds and then soaking them in water will jump-start germination and get your garden growing faster. This technique is also known as scarification. Which seeds need to be nicked? Seeds with an impermeable (waterproof) seed coat can benefit the most from nicking....