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Loropetalum grows fast, often ending up as wide or wider as it is tall. This vibrant plant, also called Chinese witch hazel or Chinese fringe plant, thrives without pruning. However, if this shrub outgrows the space you have allotted for it in the garden, you may start asking how to prune a loropetalum. Pruning this plant is easy. Read on for tips on pruning a loropetalum. Loropetalum Pruning Tips Loropetalum plants generally range from 10 to 15 feet (3-4....

You might be asking yourself, “How do I grow potatoes in straw?” First, you start by picking a garden area that gets full sunlight. You want the soil to be loose, so turn it over once and work in some fertilizer to help the potatoes grow. Tips for Planting Potatoes in Straw To grow a potato plant in straw, be sure the seed pieces and rows are spaced the same way they would be if you were to cultivate your potatoes the conventional way....

Are Daylilies Edible? Can I eat daylilies? All of us can! If you have a plant you can harvest 4 daylily edible parts in different seasons of the year. Daylilies originated in Asia but have become naturalized in most of the US. In fact, they are noxious weeds in many states. Wild daylilies are a fortunate sight for serious foragers. You can eat the tubers, young shoots, flower buds, and flowers....

Growing Ixia Bulbs When growing Ixia bulbs, which are actually corms, you may be happily surprised to find they are shaped like chocolate kisses. Ixia plant info says to plant the corms 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) deep and 3 inches (8 cm.) apart into fertile, well-draining soil. Southern gardeners should plant them in fall, while those in USDA gardening zones 4 and 5 should plant in spring. Care of wand flowers includes a heavy layer of mulch for fall planted bulbs in zones 6 and 7....

What is a Lacecap Hydrangea? What is a lacecap hydrangea? It’s very similar to the mophead hydrangea plant. The big difference is that instead of growing round clusters of showy blossoms, this hydrangea grows flowers that resemble flat caps with frilly edges. The flower is a round disk of short flowers, edged with showier flowers. Lacecap Hydrangea Information A lacecap is a Hydrangea macrophylla like the mophead variety and its growing requirements are the same....

How to Use Rocks in the Garden Landscaping ideas using rocks abound, as there are different types of stone you can use and just as many different ways to use them. Use river rocks to line brick or flagstone paths. Smaller, round rocks contrast beautifully and soften the edges of square or rectangular paving stones. Create retaining walls with large, flat rocks. Retaining walls work especially well on sloped areas, keeping the soil in place and providing space for evergreens or other plants....

About Langley Bullace Trees In the U.K., growing Langley Bullace damson plants or any of the other damsons is quite common. These varieties of plum prefer temperate weather and have very hardy natures. They are also noted for their sharp flavor, and many damsons are too tart to eat out of hand, as is the case with Langley Bullace. Langley Bullace damson care is minimal once you start your tree off right....

Symptoms of Botrytis Leaf Blight on Onions Onions with botrytis leaf blight display whitish lesions on the leaves, usually surrounded by silver or greenish white halos. The centers of the lesions may turn yellow and take on a sunken, water-soaked appearance. Botrytis leaf blight on onions is most common on older leaves. Causes of Onion Botrytis Leaf Blight Botrytis leaf blight on onions is most likely to develop as a result of heavy rainfall, extended periods of relatively cool, damp weather, or overwatering....

What is Camassia? The Camassia lily bulb (Camassia quamash syn. Camassia esculenta) is a beautiful spring blooming, native North American plant that will grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-8. This pretty flowering bulb is a member of the asparagus family and was an important food staple for both Native Americans and early explorers to our country. The nutritious bulbs were commonly tossed into pits with wet grass and roasted for two nights....

Fountain grass is an attractive perennial grass with densely clumped growth. Blooming of its foxtail-looking flowers generally takes place from late summer through the fall. The small flowers of fountain grass are tan, pink or purple. During fall and throughout winter, this plant will also reward gardeners with spectacular foliage displays. Types of Fountain Grass There are different types of fountain grass to choose, ranging in size from 12 inches to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm....

Once the beetle starts chewing on the plant, the bacteria enter the plant and multiply very quickly in the plant’s vascular system. This starts producing blockages in the vascular system that causes cucumber wilt. Once the plant is infected, the beetles are even more attracted to the cucumber plants suffering from cucumber wilt. Stopping Bacterial Cucumber Wilt When you find your cucumber plants are wilting, investigate to see if you can find any of these beetles....

Leaf Spot Linden Tree Problems Leaf spots are common diseases of linden trees. You can recognize these linden tree diseases by circular or splotchy spots on the leaves. They grow larger and merge over time. These leaves fall prematurely. Leaf spot diseases of linden trees can be caused by many different fungi. These include an anthracnose fungus and the leaf spot fungus Cercospora microsera. Sick linden trees weaken because photosynthesis is interrupted....

Downy Mildew of Onion Crops Onions, garlic, chives, and shallots are all susceptible to being infected by the fungus that causes this type of downy mildew. The fungus overwinters in the soil in many locations, which means that it can become endemic in a garden or field, ruining crops year after year. The spores of the fungus spread and cause infection, especially in conditions that are cool, humid, and moist. Onions with downy mildew have leaves with irregular spots ranging from pale green to yellow to brown in color....

Drying Out Overwatered Soil Why is wet soil such an issue? If your indoor soil is too wet, this can be very problematic because it can cause root rot. Plants use their roots to take up moisture and also oxygen. If your soil is constantly wet, there won’t be enough air pockets for your plants and the roots will not be able to breathe properly. This can cause your roots to rot and, therefore, your plant will suffer....

Onion Diseases and Their Control It’s difficult to tell the difference between the many diseases affecting onion plants. Even the experts often have to rely on laboratory tests for a definitive diagnosis. Fortunately, you don’t have to know exactly which disease has infected your plants to take action. Onion plant diseases arise during warm, moist weather and most have similar symptoms, which include spots and lesions on leaves and bulbs, areas that look as though they are water-soaked, browning foliage, and toppling....

broccoli cauliflower cabbage beans carrots cucumbers tomatoes squash turnips garlic leeks You may also find thrips feeding on melons and some types of flowers. These insects are most active during spring but continue their damage throughout fall before overwintering in nearby debris. Onion Thrips Damage The trail of damage left by these pests can be easily seen as they can literally suck the life right of the plants. Typically, thrips prefer to feed on plant tissue from newly emerging leaves....

Oregano is hardy to USDA planting zone 5 and above or it can be grown indoors in cooler climates. It is easy to grow, and propagating oregano from cuttings couldn’t be simpler. Read on to learn how to plant oregano cuttings. Oregano Cutting Propagation When you take cuttings from oregano, use sharp scissors or pruning shears and cut stems 3 to 5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm.) long. The cuts should be diagonal, and each should be just above a node, the point where a leaf grows or is about to emerge....

About Pineapple Lily Cold Tolerance Pineapple lily is an Africa native, so it is not adapted to cold winters and is not cold hardy. This pretty plant is striking in the garden, with spikes of showy flowers that resemble pineapple fruits. It’s a great choice for warm climate gardens, but it can also be grown in colder regions with the right care. If you leave the bulbs out in the garden over the winter they may become injured....

Peacock Echeveria Info Found under the names Cotyledon peacockii or Echeveria desmetiana ‘Peacockii,’ this plant is advertised as rare. Some sell seeds online at the same price as most sell the plants, under $5. I personally have never grown a succulent from a seed but, as a horticulturist, I assume it is possible. All my young succulents are started from leaves or cuttings. Think it through before making any purchase online and always seek out reputable suppliers....

Perennial Pepperweed Information Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a long-lived herbaceous perennial that is invasive throughout the western United States. It is known by a number of other common names including tall whitetop, perennial peppercress, peppergrass, ironweed, and broad-leaved pepperweed. Peppergrass weeds establish quickly since they thrive in a wide range of environments. These include flood plains, pastures, wetlands, riparian areas, roadsides, and backyards of residential areas. This weed is a problem throughout California where agencies in charge identify it as a noxious weed of enormous ecological concern....