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Plant Disease: Fire Blight The plant disease fire blight is oftentimes influenced by seasonal weather and generally attacks the plant’s blossoms, gradually moving to the twigs and then the branches. Fire blight gets its name from the burnt appearance of affected blossoms and twigs. Fire Blight Symptoms The symptoms of fire blight can appear as soon as trees and shrubs begin their active growth. The first sign of fire blight is a light tan to reddish, watery ooze coming from the infected branch, twig, or trunk cankers....

Can You Reattach a Severed Plant Stem? Once a stem or branch has broken off of the main plant, the vascular system that feeds and waters that limb is cut off. This would mean the material would die in most cases. However, if you catch it quickly, you can sometimes splice it back onto the plant and save the piece. Splice grafting broken plants is a method that will attach the main body back onto the broken stem, allowing the exchange of important moisture and nutrients to sustain the damaged stem....

Finding plants that perform well in all that sun takes patience and sometimes lots of research. When we find flowering plants that can survive these conditions of drought and summer heat, we tend to keep planting them. Sometimes, a change is nice for a new look. Try some of the following alternatives. Perennial Border Full Sun Flowers These are largely drought tolerant and bloom at various times of year. One option for the border is to have blooms consistently....

A Responsible Frog Pond in the Garden It is illegal to release non-native frogs in many areas, and there is good reason for this. Non-native species can take over an area, killing and crowding out native species. In some cases, releasing non-natives leads to disappointment because they may not survive in your area. Just as it is illegal to release frogs from another area into your garden, it is also illegal to remove frogs from national parks and protected areas....

When to Harvest Leeks Most leeks mature 100 to 120 days after sowing the seeds, but a few varieties mature in as few as 60 days. Begin the harvest when the stalks are about an inch (2.5 cm.) across. Depending upon your climate, you could be harvesting leek plants from late summer until early spring. Picking leek plants that mature at different times of the year lets you extend the harvest....

Tips for Planting a Football Garden Before you can grow colors for your team, you’ll need to find plants that produce the correct color of flowers or foliage. Ideally, these flowering plants will bloom in late summer and early fall to coincide with football season. Here are examples of garden plants to represent your team’s colors: Black: Yes, there are dark foliage or nearly black flowers that can include varieties of hollyhock, petunia, bugleweed, and hibiscus....

Vegetable Gardening To-Do List for September This is one of the best months of the year in the upper Midwest for vegetable gardeners. You’ve been harvesting all summer, but now is the big payoff. Here’s what to do now to harvest, extend, and prepare for winter: Thin any seedlings you started last month for a fall harvest.Early in the month you can still get away with starting some cool weather veggies like chard, kale, spinach, and radishes....

About Ghost Pepper Plants Ghost pepper plants, otherwise known as Bhut Jolokia, are a type of hot pepper plant grown in India. I used to think that habanero peppers were spicy at a Scoville heat unit measure of 250,000 units, but now that I know of the ghost pepper and its Scoville rating of 1,001,304 units, I shudder to think what it might do to my gastric system. In fact, the fruit from a ghost chili pepper variety called Trinidad Moruga Scorpion has been recorded as the world’s hottest pepper in the Guinness Book of World Records....

What is Giant Hogweed? Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is native to Asia and was introduced as an ornamental plant. The weed’s massive size and huge 5 foot (1.5 m.) compound leaves make it an impressive specimen. Add to that over 2 foot (61 cm.) wide umbels of white flowers and characteristic purple mottled stems, and you have a plant that just begs to be viewed. However, giant hogweed information tells us that the plant is not only a rampantly spreading invasive species but a potentially dangerous plant too....

What is Armillaria Root Rot of Grapes? Armillaria mellea is a fungus that is naturally found in trees in California and that is commonly called oak root fungus. It can be a real problem for vineyards in California, attacking and killing vines from the roots up. Although native to California, this fungus has also been found in vines in the southeastern U.S., Australia, and Europe. Grape Armillaria Symptoms Armillaria on grapes can be very destructive, so it is important to know the signs of an infection and to recognize them as early on as possible:...

How to Grow Begonias in the Annual Garden Known as wax begonias or bedding begonias, annual begonia plants (Begonia semperflorens) grow quickly, and easily fill in spaces in the garden that will benefit from attractive foliage and frilly flowers. They can be a focal point when planted in mass and are excellent specimens for container combinations. Annual begonia plants are also deer resistant, so keep them in mind for trouble spots in the landscape....

Growing Catnip from Seed Like many other members of the mint family, catnip is fairly easy to grow. It does so well, even in locations with poor soil, that catnip is considered invasive in some places, so always make certain to do thorough research before deciding to plant this herb in the garden. Here are some common methods of catnip seed propagation. Catnip Seed Sowing Indoors Catnip plants are commonly found at garden centers and plant nurseries in early summer....

How to Grow Columbines Columbine plants aren’t too particular about soil as long it’s well-draining and not too dry. While they enjoy full sun in most areas, they don’t like it very hot, especially during summer. Therefore, in warmer areas like the south, grow them in partial shade and give them plenty of mulch to help keep the soil moist. Mulch will also help insulate and protect these plants during winter in other regions....

About the Curry Leaf Herb The curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii) is a small bush or tree that only grows 13 to just under 20 feet (4 to just under 6 m.) in height. The plant is tropical to sub-tropical and produces small, fragrant, white flowers that become small, black, berry-like fruits. The fruit is edible, but the seed is poisonous and must be removed prior to use. The foliage is the real standout; it’s arranged alternately on the stem and pinnate and is comprised of many leaflets....

French Herb Varieties The first things you will want to do are to look at a list and obtain the most common herb varieties necessary for replicating French dishes. Some “must-have” French herb plants include: Thyme Rosemary Basil Tarragon Marjoram Lavender Summer and winter savory Chives Parsley Chervil Bay leaf is also a nice addition to the French herb garden. Most of these herbs are native to the Mediterranean and are used in combinations to create three classic herb blends....

How to Propagate Gooseberry Cuttings When you are propagating gooseberry cuttings, you cut off a piece of the plant’s stem—a cutting—and encourage it to root. It’s important to take the cutting at the correct time of the year when you go about rooting gooseberry cuttings. By propagating gooseberry cuttings, you are creating clones of the parent plant. You can create one or many new plants each season. Taking Cuttings from Gooseberry Bushes When you are taking cuttings from gooseberry bushes, be sure that they are hardwood cuttings....

Help, My Lettuce is Not Forming Heads Lettuce is a cool season crop that will bolt or fail to fix heads when daytime temperatures are higher than 70 degrees F. (21 C.) Although relatively easy to grow, head lettuce problems may range from slug and snail damage to loose heads. Pest problems are easy to deal with, but only climactic conditions can ensure head formation. Fixing no head formation on your lettuce crop means providing temperatures and site conditions that encourage formation....

What is Lapland Rhododendron? Lapland rhododendron, or Lapland rosebay, is a diminutive member of the Ericaceae family. Unlike more common garden rhododendrons, Lapland rhododendron in its native habitat exhibits itself as a sprawling ground cover. In fact, the plant may only reach about 6 inches (15 cm.) high at maturity. Found most commonly growing among rocky soils, Lapland rhododendron bushes produce an abundance of pink-purple flower clusters atop high-held foliage. Growing Lapland Rhododendron The thought of growing Lapland rhododendron may be appealing to home landscapers, but the plant is actually quite rare....

How to Grow Lilies Before placing bulbs in the ground, it’s important to use a garden tool to loosen the soil. Because lilies need good drainage, it helps to mix compost throughout the soil. Dig a hole about 6 inches (15 cm.) deep and place the bulb inside with the flat part down and the pointed end up. Space the bulbs about 8 inches (20 cm.) apart. Fill each hole with the soil and press it gently down....

Why Should You Be Growing Orange Fruit? The plant pigments that color orange fruit varieties are called carotenoids. These same orange colored fruit contain beta-carotene which is converted in the body into vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a large part in helping to maintain vision and healthy mucous membranes. It also elicits cell growth, and promotes a healthy immune system. Orange Fruit Varieties When discussing orange colored fruit, the primary candidate is of course the orange, but there are plenty of other orange colored citrus fruit that will give your body a healthful boost: mandarins, satsumas, kumquats, tangelo, clementine and tangerines for example....