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Let’s learn more about rice with straighthead disease. What is Rice Straighthead Disease? Rice straighthead disease may affect random spots scattered around a field. In this case, it is easy to spot because rice with straighthead disease is much darker green than unaffected rice plants. In some cases, however, straighthead disease of rice may affect entire crops. The disease is rarely found in clay soil, but is more common in sand or loam....

Tips for Smutgrass Control Controlling smutgrass begins in spring, as the invasive grass must be actively growing when treatments are applied. If smutgrass appears in your turf, natural area or flower bed, you’ll want to immediately get rid of smutgrass, but spraying is usually not effective until spring. If you can kill smutgrass before it reaches the ornamental areas of the landscape, this is the desired smutgrass control, but chemicals for controlling smutgrass can also kill other grasses that you wish to keep....

Grow the coral bean with other colorful plants, as the shiny leaves may become sparse during summer heat. Flowers are shaped like an arrowhead and blooms appear profusely on numerus annual stems. They are a magnet for hummingbirds. About Coral Bean Planting Also called the Cherokee bean, this family of plants grows in warm-season climates around the world. In most areas without freezing temperatures, the perennial remains or dies back to return in spring....

Common Cosmos Flower Types For home gardeners, the most common cosmos flower types are Cosmos bippanatus and Cosmos sulphureus. These varieties of cosmos flowers can be further broken down into specific types, or cultivars. Cosmos bippanatus Cosmos bippanatus cultivars display cheerful, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. The plants, native to Mexico, usually top out at 2 to 5 feet (61 cm. to 1.5 m.) but may attain heights of up to 8 feet (2 m....

What is Brain Cactus? Mammillaria elongata ‘Cristata’ is also colorfully named the brain cactus due to its convoluted and sinuous growth. One of the more bizarre pieces of Cristata information is how the shape occurs. The form is a result of damage to the plant when it is young. The cells at the injury site go crazy and multiply at a far faster rate than normal. This causes the twisted nature of the pads....

Pear Trees and Pollination Growing your own pears is a rewarding endeavor that provides you with a ready supply of these tantalizing fruits but successful pollination is the necessary catalyst that produces the succulent pomes. There are several pear tree pollination guides available but there are also some simple rules that will help you choose the best trees with the greatest chance of producing. Self-pollinating trees are those that do not strictly need another member of the family to set fruit....

What is Rose Crown Gall? Crown gall disease is a worldwide disease, first discovered in Europe in 1853. In addition to roses, the disease attacks many plants, shrubs, and trees including: Pecan Apple Walnut Willow Raspberries Daisies Grapes Wisteria It can be found attacking tomatoes, sunflowers, and conifers but is rare. The overgrowth or galls are usually found either at or just below the soil surface. In roses this is at the basal breaks or crown area, thus the name crown gall disease....

Wisteria Leaves are Curling When wisteria leaf curl becomes apparent in your garden, check the leaves carefully to determine what is causing the problem. Although you might get lucky applying garden chemicals willy-nilly, it’s never a good idea and more often than not will prolong the problem, possibly killing your plant in the process. Pest Problems Aphids – If you see small, seed-like insects that cluster on the undersides of leaves, along with a sticky, sap-like material on the leaves themselves, you’re probably dealing with aphids....

Damage from Growing Vines on Siding or Shingles The biggest question is how do vines damage siding or shingles. Most vines grow up surfaces either by sticky aerial roots or twining tendrils. Vines with twining tendrils can be damaging to gutters, roofs, and windows, as their small young tendrils will wrap around anything they can; but then as these tendrils age and grow bigger, they can actually distort and warp weak surfaces....

Learning more about this type of growing, specifically raised beds on casters, can help gardeners to better decide if this option is right for them. Raised Bed On Wheels DIY Raised bed gardening refers to growing flowers and/or vegetables in small garden boxes filled with soil. In general, these types of beds are considered to be easier to care for and more convenient for gardeners. Traditional raised beds gardens are generally built in a permanent location....

Do Eggplant Plants Need Support? Yes, it’s wise to create a support for eggplants. Staking eggplant keeps the fruit from touching the ground, which in turn, reduces the risk of disease and fosters fruit shape, especially for elongated eggplant varieties. Eggplants are also prone to falling over when heavily laden with fruit, so supporting your eggplants will protect them from potential damage and fruit loss. Staking eggplant also makes for easier harvesting....

Dragon Bone Euphorbia Gardeners with unusual taste will go nuts for dragon bone cactus (Euphorbia lactea). The triangular branches form an eclectic scaffold upon which tiny green heart-shaped leaves and numerous reddish pink spines occur. This succulent produces latex milky sap, which may be toxic to some gardeners, so it’s best to use gloves when handling broken stems. Here are a few tips on how to grow dragon bones as an in-ground plant or potted specimen for the home interior....

Dragonfly Information Dragonflies in the garden are harmless to people and do not sting or bite. They are elegant insects that keep the fly and mosquito population in check. They consume their own body weight in bugs each half hour, so having a few of these beautiful winged creatures around is a great help to outdoor enthusiasts. Attracting dragonflies to the garden can greatly decrease the number of pesky insects in the area....

How to Dry Hot Peppers Peppers can be dried without any previous treatment, but they increase in flavor and are safer if you give them a quick blanch before you dry them. Dip them into boiling water for four minutes and then quickly chill the fruit in an ice bath. Dry them off and you can begin whatever drying process you chose. You can also remove the skin if you wish, which will decrease the drying time....

About Earligrande Peach Trees Growing Earligrande peaches is ideal for anyone in a hot climate. This tree does especially well in desert environments like Arizona and southern California. The chill requirement is just 300 hours under 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 C.) and it will not tolerate very cold winters or even the hint of a late frost in spring. The Earligrande peach fruit is medium in size and semi-freestone. The flesh is yellow, firm, and sweet with the characteristic mild peachy tartness....

Why Teach Hydroponics for Kids? Homeschooling may be part of our regular lives, which means coming up with creative ways to demonstrate various ideas to our children. Teaching hydroponics provides a good lesson on where our food comes from as well as the botany of plants and the care for something living. There are many hydroponic activities for kids that don’t cost much and don’t need any special skills. Children enjoy learning about Mother Earth and all her mysteries....

Why Prune Elderberry Bush? Pruning of elderberries is important not only for the health aspect and overall appearance, but it’s necessary for ensuring the continual bearing of fruits. For the first two to three years of growth, let the elderberries grow wild with the exception of pruning out dead or damaged canes. Thereafter, prune elderberry bush regularly to make way for younger, vigorous canes. As the canes age, they lose their fruitfulness....

Pollinator gardens don’t stop being important when the flowers stop blooming. Did you know the hollow stems of many perennials serve as hotels and nurseries for bees and other beneficial insects throughout the winter? When you do your fall cleanup, go ahead and remove the leaves and spent flowers, but make sure to leave at least a foot of your flower stalks standing. Pollinators will lay their eggs in them, and even burrow inside themselves, to ride out the cold winter months....

When to Fertilize Kiwi Kiwi fruit is borne on fast-growing vines. Hardy kiwis are especially tolerant of almost any soil pH and any well-drained soil but benefit from the addition of large amounts of organic material. Training, pruning, mulching, and watering are key components of the vine’s care but feeding kiwi fruit vines will encourage better yield and bigger fruit. Knowing when to fertilize kiwi will assure big healthy plants with prolific flowers....

If you have space, a fig tree makes a delicious and attractive addition to any landscape. However, don’t fret if your garden is small. If you don’t have a large enough space but have a section of east or south-facing wall or fence, consider creating an espalier. Let’s find out more about fruit tree espalier and how to espalier figs. Can You Espalier a Fig Tree? Espaliers have been around for a very long time and are now experiencing a comeback with more people interested in sustainability....