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Peaches Cherries Apricots Plums Nectarines Leucostoma canker of stone fruits can be deadly to young trees and significantly decreases health and productivity of older trees, with a slow decline that often results in the demise of the tree. The disease also affects several types of hardwood trees, including willow and aspen. What is Leucostoma Canker? Leucostoma canker affects the bark through various types of injuries, including winter damage, dead branches, and improper pruning....

Live Oak Tree Facts If you are thinking of a live oak tree growing in your garden, consider the size, shape and other live oak tree facts before you jump in. With its deep, inviting shade, the live oak looks like it belongs in the Old South. It is, in fact, the state tree of Georgia. This mighty tree’s crown is symmetrical, rounded and dense. The leaves grow in thickly and hang on the tree until spring, when they yellow and fall....

About Seed Grown Lovage Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a hardy, long living perennial herb that is native to southern Europe. Steeped in historical reference, lovage could be found in most kitchen gardens during the Middle Ages for use in both cooking and for medicinal purposes. Today, lovage is most commonly used to season soups, stews, and other dishes. Lovage is hardy from USDA zone 3 and up. All parts of the plant – seeds, stems, leaves, and roots – are edible and taste like strongly flavored celery....

Growing Herbs in Low Light For most households, the easiest low-light indoor herbs to grow will be soft-leaved species that mature at shorter heights. These culinary herbs can comfortably sit in a windowsill or on a small table in a well-lit area: ChervilChivesCilantroLemon balmMintOreganoParsleySweet cicelyTarragonThyme In addition to culinary herbs, gardeners might wish to focus their indoor herb gardening experiences on scented plants, such as: Catmint – This mint family member is related to catnip, but catmint has a shorter, more compact stature making it better suited for indoor herb gardening....

What are Lygus Bugs? Lygus bugs are ¼-inch (6 mm.) long insects that are green or brown with yellow markings. Their nymphs are smaller than the adults and flightless. The insects produce three or more generations each year. The tarnished plant bug overwinters as adults in plant debris and weeds in areas adjacent to gardens and around fruit trees. The adult females lay their eggs on a number of broadleaf plants including many weeds....

If you plan to transplant a red maple tree, you’ll want to do it properly to make sure the tree survives the move. Read on for information on moving a red maple as well as tips on how to care for a maple tree transplant. Transplanting Maple Trees It’s possible to grow a red maple tree from seed if you are patient, but it will be years before your tree is big enough to make a statement in the landscape....

About Red-Veined Prayer Plants A tropical plant native to Brazil, red prayer plant is a popular and attractive houseplant. Its scientific name is Marantha and the variety is ‘Erythroneura,’ which means red veins in Latin. The red veins are in a herringbone pattern, giving rise to another of the plant’s names: herringbone plant. In warm climates, it forms a ground cover while in cooler regions it is best used as a hanging indoor plant....

Mediterranean Fan Palm Information The Mediterranean fan palm is great in a standalone planting or can be planted with other Mediterranean fan palm plants to create a unique looking hedge or privacy screen. This palm is native to the Mediterranean, Europe, and North Africa. Leaves will be in a color palette of blue-green, gray-green, and/or yellow-green, depending on which of those regions they originate from. Here’s a fact you might want to remember if you’re ever on the game show Jeopardy: The Mediterranean fan palm is the only palm native to Europe, which is probably why this tree is also referred to as the ‘European fan palm....

Growing Merryweather damsons isn’t difficult for gardeners in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 7. Read on and we’ll provide tips on how to grow Merryweather damsons. Growing Merryweather Damsons Merryweather damson plums are self-fertile, but a pollination partner nearby that flowers about the same time may improve quality and yield. Good candidates include Czar, Jubilee, Denniston’s Superb, Avalon, Herman, Jefferson, Farleigh, and many others. Grow damson trees in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil....

The Cost-Effective Garden When we identify veggies for a cost-effective garden, we aren’t necessarily discussing the cheapest vegetables to grow. Instead, we’re comparing cost of growing veggies at home to the price one would pay for the same produce at the local grocery store or farmer’s market. This is best illustrated by looking at a crop like peas. Most home gardeners would find it more economical to buy a bag of frozen peas at the supermarket than to purchase seed and spend the time growing, shelling and freezing garden peas....

What is Mosaic Virus of Okra? There is more than one type of mosaic virus, a viral disease that causes the leaves to develop a mottled, mosaic-like appearance. Strains with no known vectors have infected plants in Africa, but it is yellow vein mosaic virus that has been seen in U.S. crops in recent years. This virus is known to be transmitted by whiteflies. Okra with mosaic virus of this type first develops a mottled appearance on the leaves that is diffuse....

Symptoms of Cabbage Mosaic Virus So what does mosaic virus in cabbage look like exactly? Generally speaking, cabbage mosaic virus presents itself as follows: Yellow rings begin to form on the young leaves. As the cabbage head develops, you will notice that the head begins to take on a mottled or “mosaic-like” appearance with a smattering of various colored rings and blotches, which in some cases turn black and necrotic. The veins of the cabbage leaves could also show signs of chlorosis....

What is Mounding Roses? Mounding roses is the building up of soil or mulch around the base of a rose bush and up onto the canes to a height of 6 to 8 inches (15-20.5 cm.). These mounds of soil or mulch help to keep the rose bush cold once they have gone through some freezing cold days and nights that have caused them to go dormant. I like to think of it as a time when the rose bushes are taking their long winter nap to rest up for a glorious spring....

Moving Lilac Shrubs Lilac bushes are lovely, fragrant additions to any home garden. They are also versatile shrubs, filling in as border plants, specimen ornamentals or as part of flowering hedges. If you are thinking your lilac would look or grow better in another location, consider transplanting a root shoot instead of relocating a lilac bush. Many species of lilac, like the French lilac, propagate by producing shoots around the base of the shrub....

About Natural Lawn Care There are no official standards for what constitutes organic practices for managing a lawn. Generally, it means using methods that are more environmentally-friendly and sustainable. This might include choosing an organic fertilizer over a synthetic product, watering less often, choosing low-maintenance grass types, and limiting or avoiding pesticides. What organic or natural care does not mean is simply ignoring the lawn. Leaving it alone except to mow does not necessarily make your lawn better for the environment....

Pea Root Nematodes Nematodes are microscopic worms that infest the roots of plants. There are many different species that attack different types of plants and that cause varying degrees of damage. Nematodes complete most of their life cycle in roots of plants and survive in the soil as eggs ready to hatch the next year. Common Pea Nematodes There are a few nematodes of peas that are most common in gardens, and they all have the potential to cause a lot of damage....

What is Crown Rust in Oats? Crown rust on oats is caused by the fungus Puccinia coronata var. avenae. The amount and severity of the infection varies depending on weather conditions, number of spores present, and percentage of susceptible varieties planted. Symptoms of Oats with Crown Rust Crown rust in oats manifests as early as late April. The first symptoms are tiny, scattered, bright orange pustules on the leaves. These pustules may also appear on the leaf sheaths, stems and panicles....

Soil for orchids contains not actual soil, and is instead a mixture of chunky ingredients that mimic the environment the orchids use in the wild. You can buy commercial orchid potting mix, or have fun creating your own special blend. Types of Planting Mediums for Orchids The most important attributes for orchid soil are aeration and drainage. Orchids don’t have the same type of roots as other houseplants. If the roots are left in moisture for any length of time, they will rot....

Outdoor Jade Plant Care Native to South Africa, the most common variety of jade grown in the home or garden is Crassula ovata, commonly known as money tree. As container plants, they grow 2-5 feet (.5-1.5 m.) tall. Because jade plants are such slow growers, their size and shape can easily be controlled by keeping them in smaller pots and performing regular pruning and shaping. They can even be shaped easily into unique bonsai specimens....

Symptoms of Overwatering in Cactus Am I watering my cactus too much? Very possibly. Cacti aren’t just drought tolerant – they need some drought to survive. Their roots rot easily and too much water can kill them. Unfortunately, the symptoms of overwatering in cactus are very misleading. In the beginning, overwatered cactus plants actually show signs of health and happiness. They may plump up and put out new growth. Underground, however, the roots are suffering....