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What is PTSL caused by? Read on for information on this problem and tips for preventing the disease. Note that there is no effective peach tree short life treatment for an affected tree. What is PTSL? Peach tree short life disease results from several different stresses on a young tree. Stress factors include external pests like the ring nematode and bacterial canker. However, when it comes to prevention, it’s important to remember that other environmental and cultural stresses can be involved....

There are both garden and house plants for Zodiac signs. Selecting plants by Zodiac sign connects your birth date to elemental conditions that are inspired in the plant. Choosing Zodiac Sign Plants When considering plant options, look at your sign and determine its key aspects. The fire elements are represented by Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius. They are bold and creative. Earth signs—Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus—are loyal and practical. The element of water is found in Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio....

In fact, many cultivars of this ornamental plant grow exceptionally well when potted into containers and grown outdoors. Though most azalea plants are hardy and robust, they will require some special care to survive from one season to the next. Becoming more familiar with winterizing outdoor potted azaleas will be key to growing this plant for years to come. Outdoor Winter Azalea Care Before planting azaleas in containers, growers will need to learn more about their own climate and growing zone....

Greenhouse conditions often facilitate the disease, making managing greenhouse powdery mildew a challenge. That said, powdery mildew greenhouse control is attainable. Powdery Mildew Greenhouse Conditions Powdery mildew affects many of the commonly cultivated ornamentals grown in greenhouses. It is a fungal disease that may be caused by different fungi such as Golovinomyces, Leveillula, Microsphaera, and Spaerotheca. Whichever fungi is the causal agent, the results are the same: a downy white growth on the plant’s surface which is actually a multitude of conidia (spores) that are easily spread from plant to plant....

How to Fix Wind Damaged Plants Garden plants whipped by strong winds often develop torn leaves and broken stems. Prompt pruning helps prevent diseases that enter through ragged breaks and gives the plant a chance to regrow. Snip broken stems below the damage and remove tattered leaves by pinching. When you tackle these tasks right away, the plant recovers quickly and more completely. Trees and woody shrubs with broken branches need special attention....

Many people leave their plant outside in the warmer months but bring them indoors when temperatures start to drop. To keep these plants thriving or simply start plants of your own, you can learn how to propagate birds of paradise. Propagating bird of paradise is a common practice that does not require any special skills or tools and may be helpful should the fear of winter survival be imminent....

Cassia Tree Propagation Golden shower trees only thrive in very warm temperatures like USDA plant hardiness zones 10b and 11. They do well in southern Florida, Central America, and the Caribbean. In toasty regions, these ornamentals grow quickly to their mature size. They can get as big as 40 feet (12 m.) tall and wide. The trees drop leaves in early spring to prepare for the flowers to come. The golden shower display is most gorgeous in late spring to early summer, when heavy clusters of showy golden blooms cover the branches....

What is a No-Dig Garden Bed? You hear everywhere that you need to till your earth before planting. The prevailing wisdom is that it loosens the soil and spreads the nutrients of compost and last year’s decomposing plants throughout. And this wisdom prevails because for the first year the plants do tend to grow at a faster rate. But in exchange for that faster rate, you throw off the delicate balance of the soil, encourage erosion, kill beneficial worms and nematodes, and unearth weed seeds....

Boronia Information Boronia is a genus of evergreen shrub that includes many varieties. The perennial species called Red Boronia, native to western Australia, is beloved by gardeners for its showy blossoms. The foliage is a deep green and the pink flowers are shaped like tulips. Red Boronia’s flowers are fragrant and sweet smelling. They make excellent cut flowers and the bell-shaped flowers bloom from spring through early summer, attracting butterflies and bees....

Read on for tips and suggestions on Northwest planting in May. If you aren’t sure about what to plant in May, your local cooperative extension can offer suggestions. What to Plant In May: Flowers For Planting In The Northwest May is ideal for planting annuals across most of the Northwest, but remember that nights may still be frosty in eastern Oregon and Washington. You can get a head start with small plants from a garden center or nursery, but several annuals, including zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, and asters can be direct-planted by seed....

Almost anyone with a feline friend is familiar with the signs of a cat damaged plant. Often they are just scratching on it, but be careful about a plant eaten by cats. Some plants are toxic to kitties and should be removed from temptation. Cat-chewed leaves will not heal themselves but you can take steps to repair the appearance of your houseplant. Can Chewed On Plants Be Fixed? A cat damaged plant will likely have torn or shredded leaves....

Daylily Rust Symptoms Daylily rust (Puccinia hemerocallidis) first appeared on select plants of the species in 2000 here in the U.S. By 2004, this affected half of the country. It has become a concern for many garden clubs who regularly sell and trade the plants, and promote them as pest and disease-free. Their advice is that selling plants with “no earth/no scapes” will prevent the spread. Today, info suggests some have managed to avoid rust by planting certain daylily types and others have learned to effectively treat rust on daylily plants....

Sharpshooter Pests in Gardens Sharpshooter pests in gardens are a real problem for fruit trees and a wide range of plants, including: Asparagus Grape Crepe myrtle Sunflower Blueberries Bougainvillea Peppers Other than the nasty liquid mentioned above, sharpshooter damage consists primarily of transmission of Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium that causes potentially deadly plant diseases, including several types of leaf scorch and Pierce’s disease of grapes. When a pest feeds on an affected plant, the bacterium multiplies in the pest’s mouth and is transferred when the sharpshooter moves on to feed on a different plant....

Growing Saw Palmetto Trees Although the slow-growing silver saw palmetto palms can spread 20 feet (6 m.) wide, the typical size is 6 feet by 8 feet (2 m. x 2.5 m.) They have stiff, 3 to 6-foot (1-2 m.) long, silvery-green, fan-shaped leaves. The stems and trunks often grow horizontally along the ground. Silver saw palmetto palms produce fragrant, yellowy-white flowers in the spring followed by berry-like fruit, which ripens into a blue-black color....

Where to Plant Snowberry Bushes Plant snowberries in full sun or partial shade. The shrubs are found naturally along stream banks and in swampy thickets, but they thrive in dry areas as well. They tolerate a wide range of soil types, and while they prefer clay, they also grow well in sandy and rocky soils. Snowberries are rated for USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 7. Snowberries are an asset in wildlife gardens where they provide food and shelter for birds and small mammals....

About South Central Fall Planting The U.S. has many gardening regions. What and when to plant for southern winter crops vary but typical fall crops for South Central U.S. include frost-tolerant vegetables such as: Beets Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Chard Collard Garlic Kale Lettuce Mustard Onion Parsley Spinach Turnip Frost-susceptible vegetables include: Beans Cantaloupe Corn Cucumber Eggplant Okra Peppers Irish potato Sweet potato Squash Tomato Watermelon Group those together so they can be removed easily after a killing frost....

Dormant oil sprays are used on fruit trees before the buds begin to swell and suffocate insects and their eggs nesting in branches. Using dormant oil on fruit trees doesn’t completely eliminate the problem with these pests, but it is the best way to cut off most of the population, leaving a simpler problem later in the season. Spraying of Dormant Oils What is dormant oil? It’s an oil based product, typically petroleum but can also be vegetable oil based, especially designed for use on fruit trees....

Strawberry Water Needs Strawberries tend to dry out fairly quickly because they are shallow-rooted plants with roots that exist mostly in the top 3 inches (8 cm.) of soil. Generally, there is no need to water strawberries if your climate receives around 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm.) of rainfall per week. In drier climates, you’ll have to provide supplemental moisture, especially during hot, dry weather. As a general rule, figure about an inch (2....

About Sun Loving Houseplants There are many houseplants for sunny windows, and it is important to understand where to place these within your home so that they can do their best. You’ll want to avoid northern exposure windows since these do not typically get any direct sun at all. Eastern and western exposure windows are good options, and southern-facing windows would be the best option for sun loving houseplants. Remember to place your houseplants right in front of the window for best results....

How to Make a Potato Bonsai For your bonsai potato project, you will need: a chitted (sprouting) potato pea gravel potting soil a shallow container, such as a margarine dish scissors First, you need to make a potato bonsai container. Use the shallow container and drill or cut small holes in the bottom for drainage. If you would like, you can paint the container as well. Next, take a look at your sprouted potato....