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Do you ever see half moon-shaped notches that appear to have been cut out of the leaves on your rosebushes or shrubs? Well, if you do, your gardens may have been visited by what is known as the leaf cutter bee (Megachile spp). Information About Leaf Cutter Bees The leaf cutter bees are seen as pests by some gardeners, as they can make a mess of the foliage on a favorite rosebush or shrub by making their half moon shaped precision cuts out of the leaves....

What is Tomato Fusarium Wilt? Tomato plants can be susceptible to a few types of wilt, but fusarium wilt is fairly common among them. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The fungus infects the plants through the rootlets and is not spread through the above-ground portions of plants. Fusarium survives for a long time in the soil and overwinters there. The disease can be spread this way from year to year....

What is a Tosca Pear? As mentioned, Tosca pears are similar to Bartlett pears. Tosca pear trees are a hybrid between the early season Coscia and the Williams bon Cretien, aka the Bartlett pear. These pears were developed in Tuscany, Italy and, due to their Italian heritage, are thought to have been named after the infamous opera by Giacomo Puccini. The earliest pears to ripen (available in the late summer and early fall), Tosca pears are bell shaped with a greenish yellow skin and bright white, juicy flesh....

As a gardener, you may be wondering “Can I transplant peonies?” The answer is yes. Successfully moving established peonies is achievable. Knowing how and when to transplant peony is the key. How Do You Transplant a Peony? Choose the correct time of the year. Moving established peony plants should be done in the fall, at least six weeks before the ground freezes. This gives the plant time to recover before going dormant for the winter....

Information about garden snakes says this type is especially likely to be in your yard, or near your pond or stream. Often, several huddle together, under leaves or broken branches. Sometimes, you may see them sunning on rocks. Garden snakes are said to be the most primitive type. Keep reading to learn more about garden snakes. Garden Snake Identification It is important to be familiar with the appearance of a garden snake so that it doesn’t frighten you....

What is a Stenocereus Cactus? The world of cacti is a wondrous place filled with tiny to skyscraping plants in all shapes and colors. The many types of Stenocereus mostly fit the taller category, with vertical limbs that provide the main characteristic of the genera. Stenocereus cacti are native to the southwestern United States and northern parts of Mexico. One of the more impressive and commonly known plants in this family is the organ pipe cactus, which can grow up to 16 feet (4 m....

What Do They Use Bat Guano For? There are several uses for bat dung. It can be used as a soil conditioner, enriching the soil and improving drainage and texture. Bat guano is a suitable fertilizer for plants and lawns, making them healthy and green. It can be used as a natural fungicide, and it controls nematodes in the soil as well. In addition, bat guano makes an acceptable compost activator, speeding up the decomposition process....

What are Lenticels? Lenticels are special pores in plant tissues that allow oxygen exchange with the outside world. Similar to stomas, lenticels appear on woody tissues like stems and roots instead of along more tender leaf tissues. So, you may ask yourself, “What causes potato lenticels to swell?”. The answer is moisture and lots of it. Enlarged lenticels in potatoes can appear while the potatoes are still growing, or they can pop up when potatoes are in storage, giving a gardener a sudden surprise....

What are Tree Berms For? A berm is a sort of basin constructed of soil or mulch. It serves to keep water in the right place to drip down to the tree’s roots. Planting trees on berms makes it easier for the trees to get the water they need. If you are wondering how to make a berm, it isn’t difficult. To build a berm, you construct a circular wall of soil that goes all around the tree trunk....

What is a Heatmaster Tomato? Heatmaster tomatoes are determinate hybrid plants. The plants grow 3 to 4 feet (.91 to 1.2 m.) tall. Tomatoes are oblong, medium to large, firmly fleshed with thin skins. You can start picking fruit within 75 days. The tomatoes produced are at their best when eaten fresh but also make good sauce. Heatmaster is resistant to many common tomato diseases, among these are: alternaria stem canker tomato mosaic virus fusarium wilt verticillium wilt gray leaf spot southern root knot nematodes...

What is a Peruvian Daffodil? Hymenocallis narcissiflora is native to the Andes of Peru. It is not a true daffodil but is a member of the daffodil and amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, and its flowers resemble a “spidery” version of these flowers. The elongated, sometimes curved, petals have led to the plant’s alternate common names, “spider lily” and “basket flower.” The flowers have a pleasant fragrance and appear in early summer, with each plant producing two to five flower clusters....

The virus can affect more than 36 plant families, and cherry leaf roll symptoms and damage is different per group. Get some tips on recognizing and treating cherry leaf roll here. What is Cherry Leaf Roll? Cherry leaf roll virus differs by species in how they’re transmitted. For instance, birch and walnut trees may be infected through pollen whereas many other plants get the virus through infected seed. It first occurred in North America but is now widespread throughout the world....

What is Marseille Basil? Marseille is just one of many varieties of basil, and as the name suggests, it comes from France. It is sometimes called the ‘queen of fragrance’ because what it is most known for is its strong aroma. It smells sweet and slightly of licorice, much like other types of basil, but the fragrance is much more potent. Marseille basil is also notable for its small, compact size....

If you are wondering what trees bloom in the summer, read on. We’ll give you our picks for the best summer flowering trees. Trees That Flower in Summer What trees bloom in the summer? There are so many varieties! Let’s talk purple flowers first. The jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) offers ferny foliage all year long, but in summer, this is set off by gorgeous blooms of breathtaking purple flowers. Its layered canopy makes the jacaranda a great shade tree that will bloom and grow during the heat of summer....

When to Bring in Potted Plants Some especially hardy plants can spend the winter outdoors in containers. It’s important to remember, though, that containers raise a plant’s roots up out of the protective ground, where their roots are separated from the cold air by just the walls of the pot. USDA hardiness zones are meant for plants growing in the ground– if you’re planning on leaving container plants outside, they ought to be rated two whole zones colder than your local climate if you want them to survive....

Other info says they’re called Quaker lady bluets because the pale color of the flower is similar to the shades of fabric used in making dresses worn by Quaker ladies. Whatever the reason for the name, finding wildflower bluets in your yard or garden is a charming addition. Quaker Lady Bluets The common name of wildflower bluets, of course, refers to the color of the tiny, mounding clumps of flowers, interpreted from the Latin (caerulea, from caeruleus)....

Pomegranate Winter Care Dense, bushy, deciduous plants, pomegranates (Punica granatum) can grow up to 20 feet (6 m.) tall but can be trained as a smaller tree. Pomegranates produce their best fruit in regions of cool winters and hot, dry summers. While they are more cold hardy than citrus, similar rules apply and specific efforts should be made for pomegranate trees in the winter. Suitable for USDA zones 8 to 11, pomegranate tree care in winter means moving the plant indoors, especially if they grow in an area with poor cold air circulation or heavy soil....

What is Horticultural Therapy? Essentially, it is using gardens and plants to help with physical or emotional healing. The art of using plants as tools for healing is not a new practice. Ancient civilizations and various cultures throughout time have incorporated the use of horticultural therapy as part of a holistic healing regimen. Horticultural Therapeutic Benefits The horticulture therapeutic benefits for people with physical, emotional, mental and social challenges are numerous....

Acacia Wood Information Also known as the wattles, acacia is a large genus of trees and shrubs in the family Fabaceae, or pea family. In fact, there are over 1,000 varieties of acacia. Two are predominantly imported into the United States for wood use: acacia koa (or Hawaiian koa), and cacia blackwood (also known as Australian blackwood). Acacia trees are commonly found in temperate, tropical, and desert areas. Acacia is also varied in form....

Is AC Condensation for Plants Safe? During the use of an air conditioner, moisture forms and is usually removed by a drip line or hose outside the home. When temperatures are high, the condensate can amount to 5 to 20 gallons (23-91 L.) per day. This water is pure, pulled from the air, and contains none of the chemicals in municipal water. Combining air conditioner water and plants is a winning way to conserve this precious and expensive resource....