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They’re not only easy to grow but are also quite hardy and resistant to most pests and diseases, making it even easier to care for hydrangeas. With numerous varieties to choose from, you’re certain to find one that’s right for you. Growing Hydrangeas Although there are many types of hydrangeas, most can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Keep in mind, however, that many hydrangeas do not like extremely hot conditions, so try to locate them in an area where they can enjoy some afternoon shade....

Borage Growing Conditions This beautiful herb definitely isn’t fussy. Borage prefers full sunlight but tolerates light shade. In the ground, borage thrives in rich, well-drained soil. However, potted borage plants do fine in any well-drained commercial potting soil. Growing Borage in Pots Borage reaches heights of 2 to 3 feet (0.5-1 m.) and the taproot is long and sturdy. Therefore, potted borage plants need a sturdy container with a depth and width of at least 12 inches (30....

Reasons for No Fruit on Pitaya Cactus There are a few possible reasons your pitaya won’t fruit. The most likely cause is inadequate growing conditions. The dragon fruit cactus is a tropical plant, which means it likes heat. If temperatures are below 65 degrees F. (18 C.), your plant is unlikely even to form flowers. If it’s cool out, bring your plant indoors or, better yet, move it to a greenhouse to try to induce flower and fruit production....

Growing a Passion Vine Outside Year Round The first step that you need to take is to make sure that where you are growing a passion vine outside is somewhere that the vine will be happy year-round. For most climates, you will want to make sure that the Passiflora vine is planted in a somewhat sheltered area. For cooler climates, plant your passion flower vine near a foundation on a building, near a large rock, or concrete surface....

Pruning Unruly Junipers Can you prune an overgrown juniper? Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t a definite yes. Juniper trees and bushes have something called a dead zone. This is a space toward the center of the plant that doesn’t produce new leafy growth. As the plant gets bigger and thicker, sunlight is unable to reach its interior, and the leaves in that space fall off. This is completely natural, and actually the sign of a healthy plant....

Lily of the Valley Disease Problems In many parts of the world, spring just isn’t spring without the delicate and fragrant notes of the ancient lily of the valley. These hardy plants can be used as small spotlights or huge mass plantings in your landscape; either will be completely show-stopping. That’s why it’s all the more upsetting when lily of the valley falls ill. Fortunately, there are very few diseases of lily of the valley that are of note, so you’ll know what to do if your plants do become suddenly ill if you read on....

About Hoya Wax Plants Among the picturesque names for Hoya are wax plant and porcelain flower. This is a tropical plant, best suited to indoor growing in all but the warmest climates. The flowers may be a rarity in home situations but, if you get lucky, the delicate flowers present a perfect display that almost looks too good to be real. Hoya is a terrific plant for a beginner gardener to learn indoor plant care....

Materials for Berm Edging Edging a berm is useful for more than just aesthetics; it can reduce spillage of mulch into the grass and catch any eroding soil that runs off the berm. An edge is not strictly necessary, though, and if you don’t overdo the angle of the berm and add plants that will hold in the soil erosion, this shouldn’t be a big issue. For tidiness and a neat look though, here are some materials to consider for edging a berm:...

Transplanting Indian Hawthorn If you want a low-maintenance evergreen shrub to form graceful mounds in your garden, consider Indian hawthorns (Rhaphiolepis species and hybrids). Their attractive, dense foliage and neat, mounded growth habit appeal to many gardeners. And they are ideal low-maintenance plants that don’t demand much to keep looking nice. In spring, Indian hawthorn shrubs offer fragrant pink or white flowers to ornament the garden. These are followed by dark purple berries eaten by wild birds....

What is Melampodium? Most of the plants in the species are native to tropical to sub-tropical regions from the Caribbean to South America, and in parts of Central America to the southwestern United States. They are not fussy plants and produce prolific blooms all season long. The majority of the species grow as bushes or small shrubs with thick almost twiggy stems. A few are lower and herbaceous, more suited as ground covers or in pots....

Anthurium Plant Pests Anthurium, or flamingo flowers, are from South America and there are over 100 commercial varieties of the plant. The unique flowering structure of this species makes it a curiosity plant and has also made it a popular indoor houseplant. Flamingo flower is a shade-loving plant that needs well-draining, highly organic rich soil. Infestations of pests generally start in summer when the weather is warm and the temperatures are hot....

What is a Jaboticaba Fruit Tree? As mentioned, the jaboticaba fruit tree bears its fruit along old growth branches and trunks rather than along new growth as in most other fruit trees. The 1 to 4 inch (2.5-10 cm.) long leaves of the jaboticaba begin as salmon colored when young and, upon maturity, deepen into a dark green. The young foliage and branchlets are lightly haired. Its flowers are a subtle white, resulting in dark, cherry-like fruit that can be eaten right off the tree or made into preserves or wine....

How to Prune Jacaranda Trees Jacaranda trees grow very quickly. Rapid growth may seem like an advantage, but the branches that result have soft, easily damaged wood. When done properly, jacaranda tree trimming strengthens the tree by limiting the growth to well-shaped side shoots on a single trunk. Examine young saplings to select a strong central leader. Leaders are stems that are growing up instead of out. On jacarandas, a main leader should have bark....

Japanese Maple Pests There are several possible insect problems with Japanese maples. The most common Japanese Maple pests are the Japanese beetles. These leaf feeders can destroy the looks of a tree in a matter of weeks. Other Japanese maple pests are scale, mealybug, and mites. While these Japanese maple pests can attack a tree of any age, they are usually found in young trees. All of these pests present as tiny bumps or cottony dots on twigs and on leaves....

Fertilizing Jasmines Jasmine fertilizing time is spring or late winter if you live in a mild climate. The goal is to give the plant the nutrients needed for foliar formation, healthy roots, and pest/disease resistance, and, of course, flowering. Phosphorus is the macro-nutrient responsible for fruiting and flowering production in plants. True jasmine, or Jasminum officinale, should not be confused with star jasmine. The true jasmines are the plants with the heavenly scent....

How to Care for a Jasmine Houseplant Indoor jasmine plants actually benefit from spending time outdoors. In summer, locate indoor jasmine plants in a partly sunny spot to encourage robust growth. Jasmine flowers are set during another outdoor stretch of six weeks in the cool of autumn. This encourages buds to form for the typical February bloom of jasmine flowers. If indoor jasmine plants don’t bloom, it may be they’ve not been exposed to cool enough temperatures....

What is a Jewish Garden? A Jewish garden is a collection of plants that hold meaning to people of the Jewish faith. It is a place for peaceful contemplation and meditation. The design should include seating and shady pathways where visitors can feel as though they are stepping back in history as they enjoy the surrounding beauty and symbolism. When you begin planning your garden, choose your plants carefully so they will have meaning rooted in the faith of the Jewish people....

Growing juniper trees or bushes is not difficult. Read on to learn about juniper tree varieties and juniper tree care. Juniper Tree Varieties If you are looking for a ground shrub with a flat or a mounded form, think juniper. If you want to create a hedge of upright evergreen bushes, think juniper. If you need a tall, evergreen tree in the sunny spot in your garden, think juniper. Juniper species come in all sizes and shapes, from low-lying shrubs that cover sand dunes to huge ancient trees in the high Sierras....

About Plants Ducks Can’t Eat Well-fed ducks aren’t likely to munch on plants that are dangerous to them. Most ducks can usually tell by the first taste which plants they shouldn’t eat, as the first bite tastes bitter. Many common ornamentals we grow in the landscape are actually bad for ducks to eat. Rhododendrons, yew, and wisteria are among a few plants harmful to ducks. Anything of the nightshade family is suspect, although in some cases it is just the leaves....

Kentucky Coffeetree Information The Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a unique deciduous tree, as you won’t find this combination of features on any other plant. It is because of this; you’ll make a statement if you plant Kentucky coffeetree in landscapes near your home. The new foliage of this tree grows in pinky-bronze in springtime, but the leaf tops turn blue-green as they mature. They blaze yellow in autumn, making a nice contrast with the dark seed pods....