What is a Japanese Red Pine? Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) is an evergreen conifer native to Japan. In the wild, it can reach up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) in height, but in landscapes, it tends to top out between 30 and 50 feet (9-15 m.). Its dark green needles measure 3 to 5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm.) and grow up out of the branches in tufts. In the spring, male flowers are yellow and female flowers are yellow to purple....
What is Lily Mosaic Virus? Plants in the Lillium genus have several potential viral issues but the mosaic virus is extremely contagious and common. It stems from those pesky aphids, whose sucking feeding behavior passes the virus from plant to plant. Lily mosaic virus affects some lilies more than others, and breeding programs have helped to develop resistant varieties. Viruses are mutating simple organisms. They are very hardy and adaptable and can be found in some form in almost every plant and animal on earth....
What is Radicchio? Radicchio is a member of the Chicory family (Asteraceae), commonly found and utilized in many areas of Europe. Radicchio’s popularity has more recently crossed the pond and is now commonly utilized in restaurants in salads, sautéed, and often used as a garnish due to its ruby hue. Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) can now be found at farmers markets and even the local grocery produce department. Radicchio has burgundy colored leaves with white ribs, resembling a small cabbage head, and is not to be confused with radichetta, another chicory type with the red coloration but lacking the heading form....
For home gardeners and commercial growers alike, catching and combating the problem in the early stages of infestation is recommended. What is White Peach Scale White peach scale insects (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) are tiny armored bugs which consume sap and infest the bark, leaves, and fruit of trees such as peach, cherry and persimmon. These insects can inhabit over 100 species of plants and have worldwide distribution. These insects are very small, with adult females averaging 3/64 to 3/32 of an inch (1 to 2....
Wild Millet Plant Info Wild proso millet is a reseeding annual grass that can reach heights of 6 feet (2 m.) tall. It has a hollow stem with long, thin leaves and looks very similar to young corn plants. Wild millet grass produces a 16-inch (40.5 cm.) seed head and it readily self-seeds. Here are a few reasons why farmers consider wild millet grass to be a weed: Causes reduced crop yields which results in the loss of income for farmersResistant to many herbicidesAdaptive seed-producing strategy, which produces seeds even in poor growing conditionsSpreads rapidly due to prolific seed production...
There are two reasons that squash plants abort their fruit. These reasons are either poor growing conditions or poor pollination. Squash Falling Off Due to Poor Growing Conditions In the case of poor growing conditions, this is normally too much heat or not enough water or even a combination of both. Examine the ground around your squash plant. Does the ground appear to be overly dry, even cracked? Dig down a few inches (8 cm....
What is Flame Weeding? Flame weeding entails passing a flame over a weed briefly to heat the plant tissues just enough to kill them. The goal is not to burn up the weed, but to destroy plant tissue so that the weed dies. Flame weeding kills the above ground portion of the weed, but it doesn’t kill the roots. Flame weeding kills some annual weeds for good, but perennial weeds often regrow from the roots left in the soil....
Picking Indigo for Dye Indigo plants have lovely flowers, but it is the leaves and branches that are used for dye. Although there are many varieties of indigo, it is true indigo (Indigifera tinctoria) that has traditionally been used for dye. Note that neither the leaves nor the stems are blue. The blue dye comes out after the leaves are treated. When to Pick Indigo Before you jump into harvesting indigo, you have to figure out when to pick indigo plants....
How to Plant Eggplants Like their close cousins, tomatoes, eggplants (Solanum melongena) are hot weather vegetables. They grow during short, hot seasons, so be aware of soil and air temperatures as you plan how and when to get eggplants started: If starting from seeds, make sure the soil is between 75- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 30 Celsius). Use a heating mat if necessary. They’ll need these warm temperatures and two to three weeks to germinate....
Growing White Petunia Plants Petunias are one of the most popular garden annuals. They can be used in beds, borders, containers and hanging basket. They’re low maintenance, heat tolerant and most varieties bloom from spring to fall. Petunias also attract helpful pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In mild weather locations, petunias may even self-sow, providing an abundance of blooms year after year. Because of their vast color varieties, petunias are also excellent for seasonal/holiday displays, such as patriotic red, white and blue beds or pots....
Why is My Pomegranate Tree Turning Yellow? Pomegranates are trees that thrive on neglect, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely indestructible. Yellow leaves can give you hints about what might be wrong with your tree if you listen to them carefully. Watch for these common causes of yellowing leaves on pomegranates: Cooling temperatures. Do pomegranate trees lose their leaves? Even though it might not happen until later in the fall than most of your deciduous plants, pomegranates follow the same seasonal pattern as their cousins....
What is Horticultural Sand? Horticultural sand is very gritty sand made from substances such as crushed granite, quartz, or sandstone. Horticultural sand for plants is often known as sharp sand, coarse sand, or quartz sand. Usually when used for plants, sand consists of both large and small particles. If you have difficulty finding horticultural sand, you can substitute horticultural grit or builders’ sand. Although the substances may not be exactly the same, all can be used to improve soil drainage....
Why Won’t My Nectarine Tree Fruit? The most obvious starting point is looking at the age of the tree. Most stone fruit trees don’t bear fruit until year two or three and, in fact, it’s a good idea to remove the fruit if they do to allow the tree to put all its energy into forming solid bearing branches for future crops. Since your tree is five years of age, this probably isn’t why the nectarine tree isn’t fruiting....
Planting wildlife container habitats is an excellent way for those with little space to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. You’ll be helping other small wildlife creatures too. Wildlife Habitat in Pots In planting a wildlife container habitat, consider the selection of your container. By selecting plants of various sizes and bloom periods, you can craft unique and visually appealing pots. Potted wildlife gardens are only limited by your imagination....
Let’s take a look at how wind affects plant size, plant wind protection for your garden, and plants that do well in windy places. How Does Wind Affect Plant Size? Wind affects the growth and development of plants in many ways. Shorter growth and abnormal development results from excessive movement caused by wind. This is a common occurrence seen in plants grown in windy areas. In addition to disrupting the root-soil relationship, the combination of wind and sun affects plant size....
Bulbs are storage organs that hold short-term supplies of fuel for leaf production and the embryonic flowers that will soon grace your space. Most bulbs require some sort of specific temperature change to force them out of dormancy. Forced bulbs in pots have been exposed to the chilling requirements necessary to get the bulb to grow leaves and flowers. This is generally three months at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 C....
Reasons for a Yellow Bay Laurel Plant Bay Laurel is native to the Mediterranean region. A sweet bay leaf tree (Laurus nobilis) can grow 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m.) and is considered one of the oldest cultivated species of trees. If you’re noticing any yellow leaves on bay laurel plants that you may be growing, here are the most common causes. Soil conditions Bay laurel trees demand well-draining soil....
Choosing Hardy Rosemary Plants Rosemary is an evergreen perennial in zones 9 or higher native to the Mediterranean. Upright varieties of rosemary are considered more cold hardy than prostrate varieties. Rosemary prefers to grow in hot, arid climates with intense sunlight. They cannot tolerate wet feet, so proper drainage is essential. In cooler zones, rosemary is usually grown as an annual or in a container that can be moved outdoors in summer and taken indoors for winter....
A List of Basil Types Lettuce Leaf Basil Dark Opal Basil Lemon Basil Licorice Basil Cinnamon Basil French Basil American Basil Egyptian Basil Bush Basil Thai Basil Red Basil Genovese Basil Magical Michael Basil Holy Basil Nufar Basil Purple Ruffles Basil Red Rubin Basil Siam Queen Basil Spicy Globe Basil Sweet Dani Basil Amethyst Improved Basil Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Basil Pistou Basil Lime Basil Superbo Basil Queenette Basil Napoletano Basil Serata Basil Blue Spice Basil Osmin Purple Basil Fino Verde Basil Marseille Basil Minette Basil Queen Of Sheba Basil Greek Basil...
Variegated Abelia “Miss Lemon’ Reaching upwards of 4 feet (1 m.) in height, abelia shrubs make a stunning addition to sidewalk borders and plantings near foundations. Abelia plants thrive in full sun to part shade locations in USDA zones 6 through 9. While the plants may keep their foliage in warmer regions, plants grown in cooler zones may completely lose their leaves during cold winter temperatures. Luckily, growth quickly resumes each spring and rewards gardeners with beautiful foliage....
