Noble Fir Information Noble firs are tall, narrow evergreens with horizontal branches. According to noble fir information, they are popular Christmas trees and offer that lovely scent. However, only young noble firs are appropriate as holiday trees. Mature noble firs in landscapes can grow to 200 feet (61 m.) with a trunk diameter of 6 feet (2 m.). If you start noble fir growing, you’ll see that these trees have flat needles....
What is Southern Blight in Okra? Southern blight in okra, caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, was discovered in 1892 by Peter Henry in his Florida tomato fields. Okra and tomatoes are not the only plants to be susceptible to this fungus. It actually throws a wide net, encompassing at least 500 species in 100 families with curcurbits, crucifers, and legumes being its most common targets. Okra southern blight is most prevalent in the southern United states and tropical and subtropical regions....
Onion Black Mold Info Onion black mold most commonly occurs post-harvest, affecting bulbs in storage. It can also occur in the field, usually when bulbs are at or near maturity. The fungus enters the onion through wounds, either at the top, on the bulb, or in the roots, or it enters through the drying neck. Symptoms are most commonly seen at the top or neck and may move down. Sometimes black mold destroys the whole bulb....
Are Possums Good to Have Around? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Compared to other types of wildlife, they are very helpful. Opossums not only play an essential role in the ecosystem, but they can also be a valuable asset to your garden, in spite of the fact that most people are quick to control their numbers. Opossums, sometimes called possum, benefit your garden by ridding it of small insects and pests....
What is an Organic Garden? Organic gardening is a term used to designate that the flowers, herbs or vegetables have not been subjected to any chemical or synthetic fertilizers or herbicides. This distinction also includes the ground they were grown in and how they were treated while producing. An organic garden is one that uses nothing but natural methods of bug control and natural, organic means of fertilizing the soil. The belief is simply that organic food products are safer and healthier for us to eat....
The organic and natural gardener may wonder, “Where do I get earthworms for garden health?” Outdoor vermicomposting can produce some of these important creatures and scores more can be encouraged to make your garden their home with specific cultivation practices. Let’s learn more about adding worms to a compost pile. Where Do I Get Earthworms for Garden Use Unless your landscape is in a location devoid of organic matter or in sand or dense clay, you already have a supply of worms....
How to Plant Pachysandra There are several varieties of pachysandra available to choose from. The recommended pachysandra growing zone for U.S. Department of Agriculture is 4 through 7. Pachysandra is easily transplanted from garden flats or divisions in the spring. Space the plants 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm.) apart to accommodate their spread. Pachysandra prefers soil that is moist and amended with rich organic matter. Make sure the planting area is clear from debris before planting and that the soil is loose....
Papaya and Weed Killers Signs of papaya damage from herbicides may differ depending on stage of growth, plant size, temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and type of herbicide used. Papaya herbicide injury may affect blooms, leaves, stems, and fruit. Common symptoms of papaya herbicide injury include the following: Cupping or curling of lower leaves Mottled and discolored leaves Stem dieback Poor fruit quality Spots or freckles on fruit, sometimes with water-soaked appearance Reduced yield...
What Causes Pear Leaf Blight? Pear leaf blight and fruit spot is caused by Fabraea maculata, a fungus that infects all parts of the tree. The bacteria are carried to other trees by insects, wind, splashing water, and rain. Pear Fruit Spot Info Symptoms of pear leaf blight and fruit spot are fairly easy to discern. Fruit spots appear as small, purplish spots, generally on the younger, lower leaves. As the lesions mature, they become purplish black or brown with a small pimple in the center....
Peony Tulip Information What are peony tulips? Peony tulips are a type of double late tulip. As the name implies, the large double blooms resemble that of peony flowers. These double-petaled blooms are known to last much longer in the garden than their single flowered counterparts. Their size, in combination with their fragrance, makes peony tulip flowers excellent for use in both landscaping and for use in cut flower arrangements. Additionally, container planted peony tulips look stunning when grown near front porches and in window boxes....
Pepper Gender Myth It’s believed that the number of bell pepper lobes has something to do with its sex (gender). Females supposedly have four lobes, are full of seeds and sweeter tasting while males have three lobes and are less sweet. So is this a true indicator of pepper plant gender? Fact: It is the flower, not the fruit, which is the sexual organ in plants. Bell peppers produce flowers having both male and female parts (known as “perfect” flowers)....
Persimmon Fruit Tree Diseases Although persimmon trees are generally healthy, sometimes they do come down with persimmon tree diseases. Crown Gall One to keep your eye out for is crown gall. If your tree suffers from crown gall, you will see galls—rounded growths—on the persimmon’s branches. The roots will have similar galls or tumors and harden. Crown gall can infect a tree through cuts and wounds in its bark. Persimmon disease control in this case means taking good care of the tree....
Define Pinching Plants Pinching plants is a form of pruning that encourages branching on the plant. This means that when you pinch a plant, you are removing the main stem, forcing the plant to grow two new stems from the leaf nodes below the pinch or cut. Why Do You Pinch Plants? Many gardening experts have tips for pinching a plant, but few actually explain why. There are many reasons for pinching back a plant....
What is a Flag Iris? Flag irises are very hardy perennial plants that survive with minimal care and generally bloom in the spring and early summer. Flag irises are most often found in wet, low-lying areas and are suitable for similar conditions in the home garden. There are many varieties of flag irises, including dwarf and tall types. The most common types of flag iris plants familiar to most people include blue flag iris and yellow flag iris....
What to Plant with Rhododendron and Azaleas Light and pH compatibility are the keys to finding plants suitable as companions for azaleas and rhododendron. Like most members of this family, azaleas and rhododendron thrive in acidic soils. When choosing rhododendron and azalea companion plants, look for those that can tolerate a pH between 4.5 and 6. Additionally, both of these shrubs prefer filtered light or afternoon shade. Rhododendrons and azaleas can often be found growing under the canopy of oaks or in the shade of pine....
Sweet Potato Companions So what are some of the best companion plants for sweet potatoes? As a rule of thumb, root vegetables, such as parsnips and beets, are good sweet potato companions. Bush beans are good sweet potato companions, and certain varieties of pole beans can be trained to grow along the ground intermingled with sweet potato vines. Regular potatoes, though not actually closely related at all, are also good sweet potato companions....
Plants That Naturally Repel Aphids While some plants seem to draw aphids out of nowhere, there are plenty of plants that repel aphids. These include plants in the allium family, such as garlic, chives, and leeks. Marigolds, known for being able to drive away all kinds of pests, have a scent that keeps aphids far away. Catnip, known for attracting cats, also has a way of repelling most other pests, aphids included....
Where Did the Poinsettia Come From? In order to fully understand or appreciate this plant, it is helpful to take a look at where the poinsettia comes from. The poinsettia is native to Central America, near southern Mexico. It was introduced to the United States in 1828 and got its name from Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett was the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico with a passion for botany. Upon discovering this shrub, he became so enchanted with its bright red blooms that he sent some to his South Carolina home to be propagated....
The very act of carrying in your new poinsettia plant during the winter months can cause it to have foliar problems. Poinsettia leaves shrivel and die in incorrect temperatures. These cold-sensitive plants do not tolerate fluctuations in temperature and respond by shriveling and dropping leaves. Treating a shriveling poinsettia starts with the diagnosis of the problem, and then with methodical treatment measures and patience. Diagnosing a Poinsettia with Shriveled Leaves Cold damage, under watering, and changes in other site conditions will shock the plant, and poinsettia leaves shrivel and die....
Can You Grow Coneflowers in Containers? It is possible to grow coneflowers in a pot, as long as it’s a big one. Coneflowers are naturally drought tolerant, which is good news for containers since they dry out much more quickly than garden beds. That being said, you don’t want your container grown coneflowers to dry out too much. Never let the soil get soggy, but try to water them whenever the top of the soil dries out....
