What is a Sweet Lemon? Given that there are many citrus hybrids referred to as sweet lemon or sweet lime, what exactly is a sweet lemon? Sweet lemon (or sweet lime) is a generic catchall term used to describe citrus hybrids with low acid pulp and juice. Sweet lemon plants are not true lemons, but a lemon hybrid or a cross between two other types of citruses. In the case of Citrus ujukitsu, this sweet lemon fruit tree is thought to be a strain of tangelo, which is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine....

Winter Honeysuckle Propagation Winter honeysuckle is easy to propagate from seeds or cuttings. Purchase seeds or remove them from ripe berries. Softwood cuttings root well in plain water. Cut the tips of new growth under the second pair of leaves and follow these easy steps: Nip out the flower head from the top of the stem and remove the pair of leaves from the bottom of the cutting. New roots will grow from the nodes where these leaves were once attached....

Why Does My Wisteria Not Flower? There are a few common reasons why wisteria blooms don’t open, but they all point to the same thing — bud injury at critical development points. Severely damaged flower buds won’t open; instead, they usually dry up and fall off the plant. Damage can be caused by a variety of environmental problems or very tiny pests called thrips. If your wisteria has bloomed successfully in years past, thrips or uncontrollable weather patterns are most likely causing bud blast and your plant may perform just fine in future seasons....

Can You Grow Hydrangeas in Zone 8? Those who live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 may wonder about growing hydrangeas for zone 8. The answer is an unconditional yes. Each type of hydrangea shrub thrives in a range of hardiness zones. Most of those ranges include zone 8. However, some zone 8 hydrangea varieties are more likely to be trouble-free than others, so those are the best zone 8 hydrangeas for planting in this region....

Once the cool season arrives, our opportunities to grow narrow significantly. Certain must haves for houseplants will help assuage your growing dreams and keep you content until spring planting time. As an added bonus, greenery inside the home helps clean the air, adds life, and is a great stress reducer. According to some gardeners, there are some must have indoor plants that will enliven the indoors and provide eye catching displays....

Not only do acorns compost, but they add an important ingredient, protein or brown compost layers, to the complete compost mix. The secret to successfully composting acorns is in the way you prepare them ahead of time. Acorns in the Compost Pile In order for compost ingredients to completely decay into usable compost, the pile must contain four things: green ingredients, brown ingredients, soil, and water. Green ingredients are those with more moisture, such as grass clippings or kitchen waste....

Although most varieties are relatively well-behaved, Ajuga reptans is a rambunctious cultivar that spreads by long runners. It tends to escape its boundaries and invades flower beds and lawns if it isn’t carefully contained. Ajuga weed control is tricky, and tackling ajuga plants in lawns is especially challenging. Read on for more information about getting rid of bugleweed. How to Control Ajuga Below are the most effective methods for treating bugleweeds that have become invasive....

American Cranberry Viburnum Information The flavor and appearance of the fruit from highbush cranberry plants are a lot like true cranberries. The American cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum) has tart, acidic fruit that is best served in jellies, jams, sauces and relishes. It is not very tasty raw. The fruit ripens in fall—just in time for the fall and winter holidays. Highbush cranberry plants are showy in spring when the flowers bloom against a backdrop of lush, dark green foliage....

Angel Wing Begonia Flowers Learning how to grow an angel wing begonia indoors provides a houseplant with attractive year-round foliage. Speckled or streaked foliage appears on glossy green leaves with red tints or backing. An angel wing begonia houseplant blooms in pendulous clusters of flowers if located in the right area. Large clusters of flowers in a range of white, orange, pink, or red appear on the happy angel wing begonia houseplant....

Backyard Movie Theater Ideas Before you dig in and build your garden theater, take inspiration for your next backyard outdoor movie night: Build community by inviting neighbors over for a viewing. You could make it an ongoing event with a summer movie series. Ask neighbors to bring popcorn and other snacks to share. Have a late night picnic date in front of the big screen.Take family dinner outside for the night with a movie and a meal....

Fruit Tree Spray Schedule Tips on proper fruit tree spraying times are normally dependent on the types of sprays used. Here are the most common types for spraying fruit trees and the best time for spraying trees to prevent future issues. General-purpose spray – The easiest way to take care of all possible pests and problems with your fruit trees is by using a general-purpose spray mixture. You won’t need to identify every pest and disease that is bothering your tree, and it will cover those you might even miss....

Using Lobster Shells in the Garden A home garden’s compost pile will be localized and personalized by its gardener. In the Midwest, where everyone loves their lush green lawns, a gardener’s compost pile will probably contain a lot of grass clippings; but in arid desert-like areas, grass clippings can be sparse in a compost pile. Coffee lovers, like myself, will have plenty of coffee grounds and filters to compost; but if you start each day with a healthy, homemade smoothie, your compost bin may contain a lot of fruit and vegetable peels....

About Eating Japanese Knotweed If you’ve ever wondered, “is Japanese knotweed edible,” then you’re not alone. There are actually a number of “weeds” that can be useful in this way. The stems of Japanese knotweed have a tart, citrusy flavor, much akin to rhubarb. Better yet, it is a rich source of minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese as well as vitamins A and C. Before you gather an armload of Japanese knotweed, however, it’s important to know that only certain parts are safe to eat, and only during certain parts of the year....

Can You Overwinter Cuttings? Cuttings from many annual plants will keep over winter, sprout roots, and be ready for planting in spring. You may place them in pots or cups without drainage filled with moist perlite or vermiculite. Locate them at first in bright light, away from the sun. Move later to an area where they receive morning sun. Alternatively, you may allow the cuttings to callous by letting them lay for a couple of hours to a few days, depending on the type of plant....

Saving Dried Plants You may be able to revive dried-out plants if they aren’t too far gone or if the roots haven’t been affected. Drought is especially harmful when plants are actively growing early in the season. Plants stressed from drought generally show damage in older leaves first, then moving on to younger leaves as drought continues. The leaves typically turn yellow before they dry up and fall off the plant....

About Jack-in-the-Pulpits Jack-in-the-pulpit wildflower is native to the lower 48 states and parts of Canada. Native Americans harvested the roots for food, but they contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause blisters and painful irritations when eaten raw. To safely prepare the roots, first peel them and cut them into small pieces, then roast them at a low temperature for at least an hour. Growing jack-in-the-pulpit is easy in the right location....

Catnip Companion Plants and Insects If you have ever watched a feline near a catnip plant, it is obvious the attraction is very strong. Not only is catnip useful in kitty-friendly gardens, but it also combats several common insect pests. Collard greens, for example, are one of many companions for catnip. The oils in the herb repel flea beetles and keep the greens free of their feeding damage. There are many other plants to grow with catnip that benefit from the pungent scent....

What are Cicada Killer Wasps? Cicada killer wasps are a group of solitary wasps that feed on flower nectar while paralyzing live cicadas for their offspring. In a garden plagued by cicadas, these large wasps are both a blessing and a curse. This yellow banded wasp rarely bothers gardeners, but they can cause considerable damage to lawns and gardens while excavating the dens where they will lay their eggs. Females do the digging, preferring sandy or loose soils for her ½ inch (1 cm....

Problems with Growing Gladiolus If you have gladiolus that are already growing and they are showing signs of yellowing leaves or even have flowers that seem stunted without opening before they start turning brown, your gladiolus problem is probably a virus. This is the worst thing to deal with because the worst gladiola disease is a virus. You may have to dig up the gladiolus and start with fresh corms. Gladiola disease is not limited to viruses, however....

Common Radish Types Below are some of the most common types of radish: White Icicle – This pungent, white radish measures 5 to 8 inches (13-20 cm.) in length. Sparkler – A round, bright red radish with a distinctive white tip; all white inside. Cherry Belle – This round, red radish is a common variety often found in your local supermarket. It is delicious in salads. White Beauty – A small, round radish with a sweet, juicy flavor; white inside and out....