Information About Growing Mullein Common mullein plants are large, erect specimens with huge, furry leaves and tall stalks of yellow flower rosettes. The attractive foliage and flowers, as well as mullein uses, lead some to grow mullein in gardens. However, common mullein produces seeds prolifically, leaving them for decades before germination. Seeds often germinate in disturbed areas of roadways, fields, and riverbanks. This may lead the gardener to wonder, “What is mullein?...

Mulucca bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) add an interesting, upright touch to the colorful flower garden. If you grow a green-themed garden, bells of Ireland flowers will fit right in. Bells of Ireland facts indicate these flowers prefer dry and arid conditions, although they also perform well in cool summer conditions. Bells of Ireland Flowers While Mulucca bells of Ireland are native to the eastern Mediterranean region, the greenish blooms lead to their common name, having nothing to do with their place of origin....

Oleander Plant Cuttings Before doing anything with oleander, it is very important to know that it is a poisonous plant. Be sure to wear rubber gloves, long sleeves, and safety glasses when handling oleander. Keep all oleander plant cuttings out of reach from children and pets. Despite its toxicity, oleander is a much beloved and commonly grown plant in zones 8-11. The best way to quickly propagate it is from cuttings....

What is Onion Soft Rot? Soft rot in onions is a common disease caused by several types of bacteria. It most commonly affects onions while they are being stored, but contamination or the damage that leads to contamination often occurs during or around harvest. The disease can cause a lot of destruction and significantly diminish yields. Bacterial soft rot infections strike already mature onions. The signs of onion soft rot start with softness at the neck of the bulb....

Orange Flowering Plants In learning how to design an orange garden scheme you should incorporate many different shades and hues, from light orange to deep gold, so that your orange garden design doesn’t become monotonous. When choosing plants for an orange garden you should give careful consideration to form and shape as well. When you look at a garden with many different colors, your eyes jump rapidly from color to color....

Black Walnut and Pecan Tree Juglone The relationship between plants wherein one produces a substance such as juglone, which affects the growth of another is called allelopathy. Black walnut trees are fairly notorious for their toxic effects to surrounding juglone sensitive vegetation. Juglone doesn’t tend to leach out of the soil and may poison nearby foliage at the circumference of twice the radius of the tree’s canopy. Some plants are more susceptible to the toxin than others and include:...

Leaves Curling on Persimmon from Pests Persimmon psyllid – Persimmon psyllid is a tiny, aphid-like pest that feeds on leaves, causing rolled and curled persimmon leaves. The damage is generally cosmetic and damage isn’t severe, although new growth may be deformed and stunted. Application of dormant oil in late winter or early spring, applied just before new leaves appear, will help keep persimmon psyllids in check. The pests are found anywhere persimmons are grown, but they’re most common in the southeastern United States....

Broadleaf and Narrow Leaf Plantains The two types of plantains that are commonly found in lawns are broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) and narrow-leaf, or buckhorn plant (P. lanceolata). These two perennial weeds are easily differentiated by their leaves. Broadleaf plantains have smooth, oval leaves while buckhorn plantain has ribbed, lance-shaped leaves. Both types are found throughout the U.S. where they thrive in compacted soil. Preventing Plantain Lawn Weeds The best way to prevent plantains in the lawn is to keep the soil aerated and healthy....

Types of Dieffenbachia Here are some popular varieties of dieffenbachia houseplants, keep in mind though, there are many more types available. ‘Camille’ is a bushy dieffenbachia plant with broad, ivory to yellow leaves edged in dark green. ‘Camouflage’ is one of the more unusual types of dieffenbachia, with light green leaves and creamy veins that pop out in contrast with the green background. ‘Seguine’ displays large, dark green leaves with creamy white splashes....

Preventing Woody Lavender Prevention is always easier than cure. If you have young, healthy lavender plants, you can work at preventing woody lavender with appropriate planting and cultural care. The keys to lavender care are good drainage and minimal fertilizer. Plant your lavender in well-drained, rocky soil, on a slope (if possible) to ensure drainage. Fertilize them lightly the very first year after planting. After that, do not fertilize regularly. Prune lavender lightly to maintain the rounded shape....

Today, scientists have developed new strains of American chestnut that resist blight, and the species is making a comeback. You can propagate these trees for your backyard. If you want to learn about chestnut tree propagation, and how to grow chestnut tree cuttings, read on. Chestnut Tree Propagation Chestnut tree propagation is not difficult. In the wild, these trees reproduce readily from the abundant crop of nuts they produce. Each shiny nut grows in a spiky casing....

Garden sprays line the shelves of nurseries and big box stores. Many of these are broad spectrum, can get into our ground water and pollute it and have a tendency to drift, causing harm in areas that are not targets. If you must use insecticide, it should at least be safe enough to use around your family and not poison the water table. Pyola may be the product for you....

Whatever the reason you’ve decided to raise turkeys, there are a few things you’ll want to learn to keep them healthy and growing. How to Raise Turkeys at Home Raising turkeys is somewhat like raising chickens. Both need a brooder space when they are young, but size and diets of the two are different. Turkeys need a high-protein turkey starter food for the first six weeks. It is not acceptable to substitute chicken starter food....

Yes, I do know that I compromised my rhubarb harvest by diverting energy into producing flowers and seed rather than actual edible stalks. Hey, I enjoyed a splendid show of flowers though and now have a rhubarb seed collection for planting more rhubarb next year! So, if you’re feeling rebellious, read on to learn more about how to collect rhubarb seeds and when to harvest seeds from rhubarb! How to Collect Rhubarb Seeds You could always obtain rhubarb plant seeds from your local seed supplier but saving rhubarb seedpods from your garden is much more gratifying....

Botched Pruning in the Garden Gardeners prune for a variety of reasons. Pruning can train a plant, keep it healthy, help it to flower or fruit, and keep the foliage or stems strong and attractive. In order to help the pruning cuts heal over quickly, you have to prune at the right time and in the right way. Common pruning mistakes include inappropriate pruning, pruning too much, and pruning at the wrong time....

Starting Plants from Seed Some plants are best started indoors and grown for transplant and some can be sown directly outside. Most transplanted seeds grow faster and produce more quickly than those directly sown outside. For the most part, the early fall crops are suited to direct sowing, while the summer crops or those requiring a long growing season should be sown indoors. Seed starting times need to take into consideration maturity, length of growth season, variety, zone, and time of last expected frost....

What is a Snow Bush? Snow bush (Breynia disticha) is widely cultivated in tropical locales. It can be found from southeastern Asia through Malaysia, to Australia, New Caledonia, and New Hebrides. This tropical darling is often used as a colorful hedge, but it suckers profusely and must be maintained to keep it in a tidy habit. Southern gardeners can try growing this plant outdoors but northern gardeners will need to grow in containers and move indoors....

Are Sweet Pea Blossoms or Pods Edible? Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) reside in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae of legumes. They are native to Sicily, southern Italy, and the Aegean Island. The first written record of the sweet pea appeared in 1695 in the writings of Francisco Cupani. He later passed the seeds onto a botanist at the medical school in Amsterdam who later published a paper on sweet peas, including the first botanical illustration....

What is Tea Tree Mulch? Mulch is any product that you spread over the soil in your garden. The best kinds of mulch accomplish many good deeds in your backyard. What can mulch do? It regulates the temperature of the soil, keeping your plant roots cool in summer and warm in winter. It “locks” moisture into the soil, prevents weeds from sprouting up, and enriches the soil as it decomposes. Tea tree mulch is an excellent product....

While this notion may not be realistic for everyone, there are still several ways to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner outdoors. Learning more about the steps needed to curate a special backyard Thanksgiving dinner is certain to help party planners create an event that is sure to be remembered. Celebrating Thanksgiving Outside When it comes to Thanksgiving ideas, outdoors and the fall season can be a great source of inspiration. Before planning to have Thanksgiving dinner outdoors, consider climate....