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What is a Pomander Ball? Cloves are rather synonymous with the holidays (pumpkin pie!) and the aroma of cloves combined with oranges is sublime. This particular combo creates the quintessential pomander ball. A pomander ball is a whole citrus fruit, usually an orange, that has been studded with cloves. The cloves can be grouped or inserted in the fruit in a pattern. The DIY pomander balls can then be hung as ornaments, used in wreaths, or just grouped in a pretty bowl or basket....

When is the Best Time to Transplant a Holly? The best time to transplant a holly bush is in early spring. Transplanting in early spring helps to keep the plant from losing its leaves due to the shock of being moved. This is because the extra rain in the spring and cool temperatures helps the plant retain moisture and this prevents it from shedding leaves as a way to retain moisture....

How to Make Dye from Henna Trees In many parts of the world, such as North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, henna leaves are ground into a green powder and mixed with an acid like lemon juice or even highly acidic tea. This concoction releases the dye molecules, lawsone, from the plants cells. The powder resulting from the dried leaves can be found at specialty shops that cater to people from these regions....

Why is My Croton Dropping Leaves? Change can be difficult for a croton plant. A croton plant dropping leaves is often a new plant’s response to being transplanted or transported from the greenhouse to your home. It’s natural for a croton to drop leaves as it adjusts to environmental changes. Once settled, in three or four weeks, your plant will begin to produce new growth. If you haven’t changed the plant’s location recently and your croton leaves fall off, then it’s time to look at other possibilities....

What is a Soilless Mix? Gardening with soilless potting mix does not include the use of soil. Instead, plants are grown in a variety of organic and inorganic materials. Using these materials rather than soil allows gardeners to grow healthier plants without the threat of soil-borne diseases. Plants grown in soilless mixes are also less likely to be bothered by pests. Types of Soilless Growing Mediums Some of the most common soilless growing mediums include perlite, vermiculite, and sand....

Mandrake Plants and Cold Tolerance Historical references to mandrake go back as far as the Old Testament. Many ancient cultures had myths surrounding the plant, including that it was a lucky talisman and that it was bad luck and a manifestation of the devil. Its medicinal properties have also been long known, most notably that it has narcotic effects. Up until medieval times, people still believed the root, which vaguely resembles the human form, emits a fatal scream when pulled from the earth....

Symptoms of Cabbage Mosaic Virus So what does mosaic virus in cabbage look like exactly? Generally speaking, cabbage mosaic virus presents itself as follows: Yellow rings begin to form on the young leaves. As the cabbage head develops, you will notice that the head begins to take on a mottled or “mosaic-like” appearance with a smattering of various colored rings and blotches, which in some cases turn black and necrotic. The veins of the cabbage leaves could also show signs of chlorosis....

Oleander Watering Requirements Oleanders grow anywhere from 6-12 feet (2 to 3.5 m.) tall and wide and some up to 20 feet (6 m.) tall. They are suited to the west coast, southern states, Florida and Texas. As mentioned, they tolerate dry conditions as well as wind and salty or marshy soils. They bloom from summer through to fall, punctuating the landscape with their colorful blossoms and heavenly scent. They are cold hardy down to 15-20 degrees F....

Panama Berry Plant Info Fruit of the Old World Americas are often brought into the warmer regions of the New World and such is the case with Jamaican cherry trees. While the plant is indigenous to warm areas of Central and South America, it has been introduced to other tropical climes such as Florida, Hawaii, and farther afield, the Philippines and India. It has a lovely hibiscus-looking bloom and produces musky, fig noted fruits....

When to Dig up Peanuts Peanut harvest time is 90 to 110 days after planting for boiling types and 130 to 150 days after planting for roasting varieties. Normally, you can harvest peanuts in fall when the leaves begin to yellow. Pull a plant and check the pods before harvesting the entire crop though to be certain about the peanut harvest time. The pods are the best indication of when to dig up peanuts....

About Growing Pink Peony Plants Peonies are large and showy flowers that grow on small shrubs with attractive green foliage. There are two main types: an herbaceous peony dies back each year, while a tree peony has woody stems that remain even while the leaves drop in the fall. Both types produce similar flowers, with many varieties in pink. To grow peonies in the garden, make sure they get about six hours of sunlight per day and soil that is neutral to slightly acidic....

How to Grow Cantaloupe Anyone growing cucurbits (squash, cucumber, pumpkin, etc.) can grow cantaloupes. When planting cantaloupe, wait until the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed in spring. You can either sow seeds directly in the garden or in flats inside (do this well before their initial planting outdoors), or you can use transplants purchased from reputable nurseries or garden centers. These plants need plenty of sun with warm, well-draining soil—preferably with pH levels between 6....

Marigolds have been a garden staple for decades. If you need a shorter variety, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are not as upright as the African types (Tagetes erecta) and are very aromatic. They will brighten up any garden with their bright yellow, orange, and red shades. Read on to learn more about the planting and care of French marigolds. How to Plant French Marigolds French marigolds can be easily grown from seed or purchased as bedding plants....

When to Trim Azaleas The best time to trim azaleas is after the blossoms have faded, but before the new blossom buds have started. The next year’s blossoms typically start forming at the beginning of July, so you must prune an azalea bush before then. If you prune azaleas after the beginning of July, you may not get any flowers on the bush next year. Tips for Pruning Azaleas So, how do you prune an azalea?...

In this article we will take a look at rose midges. The rose midge, also known as Dasineura rhodophaga, loves to attack the new rose buds or the new growth where the buds would normally form. Identifying Rose Midges and Rose Midge Damage Rose midges are similar to a mosquito in shape, emerging from pupae in the soil, typically in the spring. The timing of their emergence is nearly perfect to the timing of the onset of new plant growth and flower bud formation....

When to Prune Rosemary Rosemary pruning can be done anytime during the spring or summer up until four to six weeks before the first frost. Pruning rosemary after this time, or in the fall and winter, can cause the rosemary shrub to focus on growing new, tender growth rather than hardening off and protecting the growth that it has. If a rosemary bush does not harden itself off, it will be more susceptible to winter damage which can kill it....

Rusty fern leaves, often the result of normal growth and development, aren’t always an issue. However, in some cases, rust colored ferns may indicate a more serious problem. Rust on Back of Fern Fronds Ferns are ancient plants that propagate themselves in ways that are very different from most plants. One way new ferns are propagated is through the development of millions of tiny spores that fall to the ground where they eventually grow into tiny plants....

Sequoia Strawberry Information Fragaria ananassa ‘Sequoia’ is a hybrid berry developed for coastal California. Plants are set in the early spring except when growing Sequoia strawberries in USDA zones 7 and 8 where they should be planted in the fall. They are grown as perennials in zones 4-8 and grown as annuals elsewhere. Widely adapted to most any region, Sequoia strawberry plants yield large, sweet, juicy berries from the 6- to 8-inch (15 to 20....

Now, before you get too excited, please understand that no plant can survive without some light. No matter what the claims, there’s no such thing as no-light-ever, deep shade grass. But there are things you can do to achieve a decent lawn in areas that receive some indirect light, and the first thing to do is look at what’s the best grass for high shade and work from there....

But hedges and even individual evergreen bushes need to be maintained, and if left to their own devices they can look sloppy. You can remedy that situation quickly with an electric hedge trimmer. If you are new to this tool, you may have questions. What are hedge trimmers for? Should I use an electric hedge trimmer? When to use hedge trimmers? Read on for the answers you need. Should I Use an Electric Hedge Trimmer?...