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Chinese Pistache Tree Trimming The mature Chinese pistache is a wonderful, medium sized, ornamental tree, perfect for southwest regions. It is both pest free and easy maintenance once it has attained its adult silhouette. This attractive tree can go through an awkward “teenage” stage, however. While it is young, it can look gangling and awkward, with a long gooseneck and few or unevenly spaced branches. This is the time for Chinese pistache tree trimming....

How Chinese Privet Weeds Affect Native Plants Native plants are particularly important to wildlife, as they provide food and shelter for them and support beneficial insects, pollinators, and birds. These plants adapt to extremes of heat and cold while performing important functions in the ecosystem. Invasive ornamentals can edge out native plants with their aggressive growth and multiplication. Privet often escapes into pastureland, where it shades out grass and other grazing crops....

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....

Xeriscape Plants for Zone 5 Gardens There are a few ways to conserve water in the garden besides just using drought tolerant plants. Hydro zoning is the grouping of plants based on their water needs. By grouping water-loving plants with other water-loving plants in one area and all drought tolerant plants in another area, water isn’t wasted on plants that do not need much. In zone 5, because we do have times of heavier precipitation and other times when conditions are dry, irrigation systems should be set according to seasonal needs....

What Do I Plant in a Fall Garden? There are a number of plants and flowers for fall gardening. Most autumn gardens are planted from September through October. However, you should always check your growing zone in order to choose the best plants for a fall garden in your area before planting anything. Many cool-season annuals work well in autumn gardens. In addition, various bulbs make ideal cold temperature plants. Many fall-blooming perennials can also provide interest throughout winter....

Companion Planting with Potatoes While there are good beneficial companion plants for potatoes, there are also plants that can cause disease and growth problems. Before planting potatoes, keep the following in mind: Raspberry, tomato, cucumber, squash, and pumpkin are more susceptible to developing blight if planted with potatoes. Carrots, asparagus, fennel, turnip, onions, and sunflowers can stunt the growth and development of potato tubers. Potato plants also should not be planted in the same spot where eggplant, tomatoes, and anything in the nightshade family has previously been planted....

Coneflower plants may actually display pink flowers, when the cultivar Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’ is planted. Growing Purple Coneflowers Purple coneflower plants grow best in poor or lean soil. Rich or heavily amended soil may result in lush foliage and poor flowering. When planting purple coneflower, locate them in a full sun area. Full sun is defined as at least six hours of sun each day. In more southern areas, morning sun may facilitate the best performance, with late afternoon shade protecting the plants from burning....

Crepe Myrtle with Yellow Leaves Yellowing crepe myrtle leaves are never a very good sign. You’re used to gorgeous dark foliage, exfoliating bark, and abundant blossoms on this usually trouble-free tree, so it’s alarming to see leaves on crepe myrtle turning yellow. What is causing the yellowing crepe myrtle leaves? It could have one of several causes, each requiring a slightly different remedy. Keep in mind that if this yellowing takes place in autumn, it is normal, as the foliage begins prepping for dormancy with leaf color changing yellow to orange or red....

What is Cucurbit Monosporascus Root Rot? Cucurbit root rot is a soil borne, root infecting fungal disease caused by the pathogen Monosporascus cannonballus that was first noted in Arizona in 1970. Since then, it has been found in Texas, Arizona, and California in the United States, and other countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Spain, Israel, Iran, Libya, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Taiwan. In all of these regions, the common factor is hot, arid conditions....

What Is Deep Watering? While it is certainly no secret that plants often need additional water to survive the warmest portions of the growing season, many gardeners are left to question exactly how much water is actually needed. General guidance can often be found, but ideal conditions may vary dramatically from one plant type to another. Many growers choose to maintain rain gauges to monitor plants and make better informed decisions regarding supplemental watering....

What Causes Deformed Parsnips? Deformed root crops are common in the home garden. Roots may become stunted, twisted, or knotty. Parsnip deformities can also produce forked roots or splits and may break when you try to pull them. The three most common reasons are improper soil preparation, over fertilizing, and root knot nematodes. Parsnips do best when direct seeded into fertile, well-worked soil. Garden beds full of rocks, clumps, and other debris aren’t suitable for growing parsnips....

If you are curious about which willow varieties might work well in your yard or garden, you’ll need to start by figuring out how much room you have and what growing conditions you can offer. Read on for an overview of popular varieties of willows. Identifying Different Willows It isn’t very difficult to identify a willow. Even children can pick out pussy willows on a tree or shrub in spring....

Common Nut Tree Diseases Although we don’t have enough space to cover all possible nut tree diseases and nut tree disease symptoms, we’ve picked out some common nut tree diseases to highlight in order to get you started on your nut tree care adventure. As your trees grow and mature, keep your eyes open for these common problems: Anthracnose. Wet weather in late spring and early summer make anthracnose better able to survive on nut trees....

Do Beets Get Big? Beets are cool-season veggies grown for both their roots and the tender young tops. They thrive in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall and are perfect for not only large gardens but for those with smaller spaces since they require little room – with a spread of only 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm.) up to 12 inches (30.5 cm.). Beets do not get big, as the roots only get about 1-3 inches (2....

Is Pond Fertilizer Bad for Fish? Aquatic plants may occasionally need feeding, but is pond fertilizer bad for fish? Fish-safe fertilizer may be purchased, or you can use your own organic methods to feed your water plants. A fertilizer for fishponds comes in tablets and will provide a slow release of nutrients that is gentle and easy on your pond’s citizens. Fish-safe fertilizer contains high levels of phosphorus. That is the middle number in a fertilizer ratio....

Keep reading for suitable choices and tips for successful gardening in Rockies and Plains areas. Conditions for West North Central Perennials The “Breadbasket of America” in the West North Central region of the country is known for its agriculture. Much of our corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, and barley are produced in the area. However, it is also known for blizzards, hot summers, and biting winds. These conditions can make perennial plants for northern regions hard to find....

Ginkgo Seed Propagation Ginkgo trees have elegant, unique leaves and are the source of important eastern medicine. Can you grow ginkgo trees from seed? You can, but you need to provide certain conditions to ensure germination. First, you need to source a female plant and gather some fruit. To increase the chances of success, acquire several. They look a bit like a small yellowish plum and, when ripe, will litter the ground around a mature female tree in October to November....

Juniper Trees Few trees are more versatile in the backyard than the juniper (Juniperus spp.). There are some 70 species in the genus Juniperus, all aromatic conifers. Junipers have juvenile leaves in the shape of needles and scale-like mature leaves; they also bear small seed cones called berries. Here are where the similarities end though. There are tall and short junipers, thin and spreading junipers, and even juniper groundcover. Their foliage is far from uniform, with specimens displaying needles in varying shades of green, blue, and yellow....

Steps to Starting Gladiolus Early Indoors You can start your gladiolus corms indoors about four weeks before your last frost date. Gladiolus can be started in either soil or water. Which method you use for starting your gladiolus early is up to you. Starting Gladiolus Early in Water Depending on how many gladiolus you have to start, choose either a shallow bowl or some other flat container that will hold a small amount of water and all of the gladiolus corms spread out....