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What are Caulotops Barberi Pests? In the landscape, agave plants can potentially grow to a height and spread of 20 feet (6 m.). However, these landscape grown agaves can be susceptible to the Caulotops barberi pest, resulting in stunted or irregular growth. If you notice stunted or distorted growth, speckled or spotted foliage, or what appears to be scabs or chew marks on your agave plants, you may wonder, “Are bugs on my agave?...

Growing Vines in Central U.S. States and the Ohio Valley Too often vines are overlooked and underused in modern landscaping designs. Yet, these simple plants can add the finishing touch to a pagoda or gazebo. Flowering vines can bring a splash of color to a drab wall or fence. Leafy vines bring a dignified look to older architecture. Additionally, dense matting vines can be used as a weed stopping groundcover. When selecting a vine for climbing, the key is to match the vine’s climbing ability with the type of vertical surface provided....

About Chickens in the Garden There are a number of reasons to allow the chickens to forage in the garden. It keeps them happy certainly, but chickens also control insects, keep down weeds, and improve the soil with their pecking and manure; and eating a variety of food makes for better tasting eggs. The downside to free range chickens is that they tend to get into areas you may not want them....

What Do Potatoes Need to Sprout? Potatoes are a little like seedlings in that they need light to grow. But, unlike seedlings, they do not need a growing medium like soil to sprout. All you will need for sprouting seed potatoes is the seed potatoes and a bright window or a fluorescent lamp. Steps for How to Sprout a Potato Before You Plant It You will start sprouting potatoes three to four weeks before you will be able to plant your potatoes out in the garden....

Chocolate Chip False Agave Manfreda plants are closely related to the agave family, which explains why this variety of manfreda is sometimes called the chocolate chip false agave. Like many varieties of manfreda, chocolate chip doesn’t die after blooming as do agave plants. Planted outdoors, it blooms during June in the Northern Hemisphere or December south of the equator. The buds form on tall stalks in late spring, followed by fascinating wiry type blossoms....

Am I Allergic to My Christmas Tree? If you’ve never heard of Christmas tree allergies, you are not alone. Many of our readers have never seen information about this type of holiday issue. Yet, it may be partially responsible for the bouts of colds and flu reported around the holidays. Can you be allergic to Christmas trees? The simple answer is you may or may not be, but lots of people out there react to the mold, dust, and dust mites found on or near cut evergreens which can cause allergies....

Claret Ash Tree Information Claret ash trees are compact, fast growing, and their deep green leaves have a finer, more delicate look than other ash trees. The trees also offer a terrific autumn display, since the leaves turn maroon or crimson in fall. Claret ash growing conditions influence the ultimate height of the tree, and cultivated trees rarely exceed 40 feet (12 m.) in height. Generally, the tree’s roots are shallow and do not turn into problems for foundations or sidewalks....

Alternatives to Grass Groundcovers and other lawn alternatives in cold climates are easier to care for and more environmentally friendly than traditional lawns. When you replace your lawn with plants that don’t need mowing, you eliminate the exhaust that your lawnmower and string trimmer produce. In addition, you won’t need the lawn chemicals that can seep into groundwater and runoff. Here are some cold hardy plants for lawns: Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)- Pussytoes are sturdy plants that grow well in poor soil and never need watering....

Tropical Plants for Cold Climates The following somewhat cold hardy tropicals can offer lush foliage growth in the garden just where you need it: Japanese Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys veticillata) – This tropical looking, low-maintenance tree displays lush, thick needles and attractive, reddish brown bark. Japanese umbrella pine requires a location where it will be protected from cold, harsh winds. Brown Turkey fig (Ficus carica) – Brown turkey fig needs a thick layer of mulch in zone 5 to protect it from chilly temperatures....

About Cold Tolerant Avocado Trees Avocados have been cultivated in the tropical Americas since pre-Columbian times and were first brought to Florida in 1833 and California in 1856. Generally, the avocado tree is classified as an evergreen, although some varietals lose their leaves for a brief period prior to and during blooming. As mentioned, avocados thrive in warm temperatures and are, thus, cultivated along the southeast and southwest coast of Florida and southern California....

Sotol Plant Information An almost ferocious-looking plant, sotol is drought tolerant and a wild desert treasure. It has traditional uses as a fermented drink, building material, fabric, and cattle fodder. The plant can also be tamed and used to elegant effect in the garden as part of a xeriscape or desert-themed landscape. Dasylirion can grow 7 feet tall (2 m.) with a flowering spike an astounding 15 feet (4.5 m.) in height....

Common Viburnum Diseases Viburnum shrubs are very adaptable plants. That means they rarely have any disease issues. Common viburnum bush diseases encompass those caused by fungus, while other disease issues are rare. In most cases, correct siting of plants, adequate air circulation, and good watering practices can prevent these soil or air borne problems. Plants under stress are most prone to lasting damage from these types of illnesses. Foliage The most prevalent diseases affecting viburnums are fungal diseases of the foliage....

Potted Olive Tree Care Can you grow olive trees in containers? Absolutely. The trees are very adaptable and drought-tolerant, which makes them ideal for container life. The best time to start growing olive trees in containers is in spring after all threat of frost has passed. Olive trees like extremely well-draining, rocky soil. Plant your tree in a mix of potting soil and perlite or small rocks. When selecting a container, opt for clay or wood....

Will Rhubarb Grow in Containers? Yes indeed, it is possible to grow rhubarb plants in containers. Almost any plant can be container grown; sometimes it just requires a pot large enough to accommodate it. In the case of rhubarb grown in containers, it’s not necessarily the width of the plant (although that is a consideration too), but the depth is of primary importance, as rhubarb has a large root system. If you are going to try container grown rhubarb, use a sturdy container that is at least 20 inches (50....

It is important to detect and treat a beet armyworm infestation early because these older caterpillars are resistant to most insecticides. Keep reading to learn more on identifying a beet armyworm infestation and preventing armyworms in the garden. What are Beet Armyworms? Beet armyworms (Spodoptera exigua) are caterpillars that feed on tender vegetable crops and a few ornamentals. They are normally found only in southern states and warm, coastal climates where the host plants survive through the winter....

Quince is fairly inedible raw but, once cooked, a treasure trove of flavors are released. This ancient, but worthy, fruit deserves to come back out of the shadows. Learn some tips for cooking with quince and enjoy the heady sweet taste and aroma of properly prepared quince. What to Do With Quince? Foods can fall in and out of fad like everything else, but quince is simply a forgotten food....

Copper Deficiency in Plant Growth On average, the two factors that commonly influence copper are the soil pH and organic matter. Peaty and acidic soils are most likely to be deficient in copper. Soils that already have high alkaline content (above 7.5), as well as soils that have had pH levels increased, result in lower copper availability. Copper levels also drop as the amount of organic matter is increased, which usually hampers the availability of copper by reducing soil mineral fixation and leaching....

Corn Borer Life Cycle Also known as the corn root borer, these destructive pests do their damage as larva. Young larvae eat leaves and munch on corn tassels. Once they are done eating leaves and tassels, they tunnel their way into all parts of the stalk and ear. The 1 inch (2.5 cm.) long, fully mature larvae are flesh colored caterpillars with a red or dark brown head and distinct spots on each body segment....

Growing Pig’s Ear Plants Often known simply as a cotyledon pig’s ear plant, it is well suited for nearly any dry area of the garden, including rock gardens, succulent beds, hanging baskets or window boxes. Pig’s ear succulent plant is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 12. If you live in a cool climate north of zone 9, cotyledon plant does just fine indoors. Cotyledon pig’s ear prefers a sunny location, but tolerates partial shade....

Screening Considerations Ask yourself questions to solve your particular screening problem. Do you want to screen an unsightly view? Are you looking for a little privacy? Do you need year-round interest, or are you simply creating a boundary between particular areas of the garden? Is it a large area or a small one? Is the area in question shady, or is shade what you need? Make a sketch of the area, jotting down important notes regarding growing requirements and preferences....