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Low Maintenance Perennial Plants Asters – Various species of aster are among the best perennial flowers for late season color in the ornamental garden. Highly attractive to bees each fall, autumn blooming asters are sure to offer growers a vibrant burst of color that lasts until the arrival of the first frost. Those in search of drought tolerant perennials will also appreciate aster’s ability to withstand difficult growing conditions, including poor soil....

Is Lantana a Good Ground Cover? Trailing lantana plants, native to Southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, work exceptionally well as a ground cover in warm climates. They grow fast, reaching heights of only 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38 cm.). Trailing lantana plants are extremely heat- and drought-tolerant. Even if the plants look a little worse for wear during hot, dry weather, a good watering will bring them back very quickly....

Mesquite Tree Diseases Your best bet for keeping your mesquite tree healthy is to provide it with an appropriate planting location and excellent cultural care. A strong, healthy plant won’t develop mesquite tree illnesses as readily as a stressed tree. Mesquite trees require soil with excellent drainage. They thrive in full sun, reflected sun, and also partial shade. They are native to North America, South America, Africa, India, and the Middle East....

Can All Bees Sting? Did you know that only half of the species of bees in the world can sting? Those that can sting will generally leave you alone unless you get too close to their hives, or they get tangled in your clothing. An example of a bee that cannot sting is the male carpenter bee. Often mistaken for bumblebees, the real issue with this species is that they can damage wood....

What are Cup Moths? The two most common types of cup moths are the mottled cup moth (Doratifera vulnerans) and the painted cup moth (Limacodes longerans). Cup moths usually produce two generations of offspring per year. The adult moths are brownish in color and emerge from their rounded or cup-shaped cocoons in late winter or summer. They soon set to work mating and laying eggs, and the caterpillars hatch in spring and fall....

Manfreda Plant Info Succulent lovers will adore Manfreda plants. They have an interesting form and unique foliage that makes for a great houseplant or outdoor plant in hot, dry areas. Some of the species even have quite spectacular flowers. Good drainage is essential for these succulents, but minimal care is required. Some growers refer to these plants as false agave due to their rosette form and thick, succulent leaves with gentle serration along the edges, which do, in fact, resemble agave plants....

About Barley Heads and Tillers To raise a good crop of barley, you need to understand how the cereal crop grows and the stages of barley development. The agricultural chemicals on the market today for barley only work if applied during specific barley growth stages. Both barley heads and tillers are parts of the barley plant. Their appearance signals new stages of barley plant growth. What are Barley Tillers? It is correct to say that tillers signal a stage of growth of the barley plant....

About Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ Leaves will first be green and darken as they mature. The center of the plant is usually green. A low grower, the Black Prince plant has a rosette that can reach 3 inches (8 cm.) across. It is attractive in mixed containers or planted together with a few of the same type. Black Prince succulent produces offsets, what we often call babies, that can fill your container and sometimes even spill over the sides....

What is a Cocoon Plant? The Senecio cocoon plant, botanically called Senecio haworthii, is a small shrub-like specimen, growing upright to 12 inches (30 cm.) in its native South African conditions. A perennial plant, this succulent has most appealing white foliage, making it a must-have in the serious collection. If you grow the woolly senecio in a container, keep in mind that potting up into larger containers allows it to get bigger over the years, although it is unlikely for the domesticated plant to reach the size of one growing in the wild....

What is a Cypress Tip Moth? This moth is a small, gray bug that reproduces damaging larvae. These larvae mine the foliage and twigs of evergreen trees and others, sometimes causing visible damage. Cypress tip moths include several species in the genus Argyresthia. A. cupressella is also called cypress tip miner, while A. thuiella is called the arborvitae leaf miner. They lay eggs in the foliage and on the tips of twigs so their larvae can further mine (burrow into) the leaves and twigs and eat them....

What is a Newport Plum? While Newport plum does produce some fruits, they are considered of minimal palatability to humans. However, birds, squirrels, and other animals utilize them as an important food source. It is a medium-sized tree useful in containers, as bonsai, or standalone specimens. The tree has a slow to moderate growth rate making it perfect as an urban shade plant. Newport plum trees are often used as ornamental shade plants....

What is a White Willow Tree? White willows are lovely, fast-growing trees that can shoot up to 70 feet (21 m.) in your garden. White willows are not native to this country. They grow wild in Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. White willow cultivation began in the United States in the 1700’s. Over the years, the tree has naturalized in many parts of the country. Once you read up on white willow information, you’ll know why the tree has many fans....

What is an Inchworm? The name inchworm refers to the larvae of moths in the Geometridae family. Derived from the way in which it moves, its namesake may be somewhat misleading. Although referred to as a “worm,” the larvae of these moths are actually caterpillars. The larvae feed on the leaves of various plants such as apple, oak, mulberry, and elm trees. Are Inchworms Bad? While the presence of a few caterpillars is usually not a cause for concern, severe infestations may be much more alarming....

The cabomba fanwort, for example, should be closely considered before its introduction into the environment. It may, however, be an option for controlled settings such as fish tanks. What is Carolina Cabomba? Cabomba fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), also known as Carolina cabomba, is native to much of the southeastern United States. This aquatic plant is most commonly found in ponds, streams, and lakes where water is frequently calm and still. These freshwater perennial plants send up stems from the bottom of the body of water....

What is Chet’s Italian Red? Chet’s Italian red garlic was first found growing on an abandoned farm in Washington State. Chet Stevenson selected the garlic for growth in his own garden. Chet’s Italian red garlic plants are prized for their consistent subtle taste when grown in the right conditions, most commonly those experienced by growers in the Pacific Northwest portion of the United States. Though Chet’s Italian red garlic uses are numerous, the mild winter temperatures in this region produces garlic of exceptional quality for fresh eating....

What is Lawn Netting? Erosion prone areas benefit from plant covers that help hold soil and preserve the landscape. Landscape netting for grass and other seeded plants safeguard the seeds as they germinate, increasing the number of plants that will grow. It is important to prepare the seed bed as the manufacturer recommends and provide adequate moisture, but all your hard work will be for naught if you don’t shield the seeds and they blow away or irrigation rinses them off....

Oleander Transplanting Gardeners choose to plant oleander for its showy blossoms and easy-going ways. It’s a tolerant, forgiving shrub, accepting many different types of soil and exposition. It is drought-tolerant but will drink a lot if given a choice. Transplanting oleanders is also an easy, uneventful process. It’s not difficult to learn how to transplant an oleander bush. When to Move an Oleander Don’t undertake a transplant in summer. Moving oleander shrubs is easiest on the plant if you do it in November....

If you notice your wildflowers falling over, however, you may be giving the plants a little too much tender loving care. Read on for helpful tips and learn how to keep wildflowers upright. Keeping Wildflowers from Drooping Wildflowers rarely need fertilizer and too much may be to blame for wildflowers falling over. Withholding fertilizer may help your plants develop stronger, sturdier stems. Keep in mind that if wildflowers are planted near your lawn, they are probably absorbing a bit of lawn fertilizer....

Growing Brugmansia in Cold Climates Overwintering brugmansia indoors is an important part of brugmansia maintenance in cold climates. To make this endeavor easier, it’s better to grow brugmansia plants in containers. Container grown plants can be easily moved indoors for brugmansia winter care. Brugmansia Winter Care Preparation Prior to bringing brugmansia indoors for winter dormancy, it’s a good idea to cut the plant back. Likewise, outdoor brugmansia plants in warmer climates should also be cut back to the ground and mulched generously....

Can You Grow Bananas in Zone 8? Amazingly enough, there are actually cold hardy banana trees! The most cold hardy banana is called the Japanese Fiber banana (Musa basjoo) and is said to be able to tolerate temperatures down to 18 degrees F. (-8 C.), a perfect banana tree for zone 8. Information on Banana Trees for Zone 8 As mentioned, the most cold hardy banana tree is Musa basjoo, the largest of the bananas which may attain heights of up to 20 feet (6 m....