What is Witchgrass? Witchgrass is considered a weed in most parts of the eastern United States. It takes over in disturbed areas, dry ditches, fields and almost any under grown soil area. The grass can get 30 inches tall with a bunching habit. The plant has a shallow fibrous root system that anchors it in dry or wet soils. The stems are hairy and erect with a large panicle produced in summer....
What Herbs Become Invasive? What herbs become invasive? Herbs that spread through runners, suckers, or rhizomes and even herbs that become so large they’ve taken over more than their share of space are the ones to look out for. Then there are the herbs that produce prodigious amounts of seeds as well. Probably the most notorious of the herbs that spread is mint. Everything in the mint family, from peppermint to spearmint, doesn’t just seem to spread but has a rather diabolical desire to take over the world through underground runners....
Cutting back a firebush needs to be done at the right time in order to preserve the next year’s flowers. Learn when to trim a firebush so you can keep it tidy and still enjoy a lushly blooming plant. When to Trim a Firebush Firebush blooms throughout the year in its natural habitat. The brightly colored, tubular flowers come in orange, red and yellow, a veritable sunset of colors. The fruit that forms has a slightly acidic taste and is actually made into a fruit drink in Mexico....
About Swamp Cottonwood Trees According to swamp cottonwood information, these trees are relatively tall, reaching some 100 feet (30 m.) at maturity. They have a single stout trunk that can get to 3 feet (1 m.) across. Young branches and trunks of swamp cottonwood are smooth and pale gray. However, as the trees age, their bark darkens and becomes deeply furrowed. Swamp cottonwood trees bear dark green leaves that are lighter underneath....
Learn what can and what shouldn’t be planted with wormwood here. Using Wormwood for Pests Wormwood is an herb which is most noted for providing the classic flavor of vermouth. Its silvery gray leaves make an impressive impact against green foliage and bright flowers. The plant contains absinthin, which was once used to make a beverage by a similar name. There are many plants that grow well with wormwood but it should be avoided in the edible garden and among certain herbs....
Trees That Turn Yellow in Autumn While there are a number of trees that can provide wonderful yellow fall foliage, these are some of the most common trees seen in home landscapes and some good ones to start with. Nothing is more exhilarating than enjoying these beautiful yellow and golden tones on a crisp fall day. Big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) – Big-leaf maple is a large tree with huge leaves that turn a rich shade of yellow in autumn, sometimes with a hint of orange....
Cold Hardy Vines for Zone 4 Ivy – Especially popular in New England, where these cold hardy vines climb up the buildings to give the Ivy League schools their name, Boston ivy, Engleman ivy, Virginia creeper, and English ivy are all hardy to zone 4. Grapes – A huge number of grapevine varieties are hardy to zone 4. Before planting grapes, ask yourself what you want to do with them. Do you want to make jam?...
Common Zoysia Grass Problems Although relatively free from most pests and diseases, zoysia grass isn’t without its faults. One of the most common zoysia grass problems is the buildup of thatch, which is caused from undecomposed organic matter. This buildup forms just above the soil line. While raking can sometimes alleviate the problem, regular mowing helps to prevent thatch from accumulating throughout the lawn. It also helps to limit the amount of fertilizer used on zoysia grass....
When to Prune an Almond Tree There are two basic types of pruning cuts, thinning cuts and heading cuts. Thinning cuts severe limbs at the point of origin from the parent limb while heading cuts remove just a portion of an existing branch. Thinning cuts open and thin out tree canopies and control the height of the tree. Heading cuts remove buds concentrated at shoot tips which, in turn, stimulates other buds....
Varieties of Almond For those growing almond tree varieties commercially, the considerations for selecting trees include the size and quality of the nut harvest. As a home gardener, you may be more interested in obtaining easy-care almond tree cultivars that will thrive in your climate. Although a few self-fertile varieties of almonds are available, they are not problem free. You are better off selecting compatible combinations of almond tree cultivars than individual trees....
Black-Eyed Susan Spots Black spots on Rudbeckia, also known as black-eyed Susan, are very common and occur in a large percentage of the population each year. There are many causes, but the most common by far is the fungal disease called Septoria leaf spot, a common disease of tomatoes. The symptoms of common Rudbeckia leaf spot diseases are so similar though, that it’s hard to distinguish between them without a microscope....
Will Plants Survive in Cars? Plants in a vehicle can definitely survive if you are aware of a few simple things: During summer months, your car can get too hot. One thing that you can do to control this is to keep your windows cracked and avoid parking your car in areas that get a lot of sun. Likewise, your car can get too cold during the winter. You may need to bring your plants indoors or choose a plant that will survive the colder conditions....
Feeding Cape Marigolds Also known as Dimorphotheca, cape marigolds are small and brightly colored annual flowers. Low growing, these flowers are perfect for planting in areas which receive little rainfall. Due to their adaptability to various soil conditions, cape marigolds often spread when planted in locations with ideal growing conditions. As one may imagine, this too, means that the fertilizing needs of this plant will vary from location to location. For the most part, cape marigold plants don’t need much in the way of fertilizer....
Am I Allergic to My Christmas Tree? If you’ve never heard of Christmas tree allergies, you are not alone. Many of our readers have never seen information about this type of holiday issue. Yet, it may be partially responsible for the bouts of colds and flu reported around the holidays. Can you be allergic to Christmas trees? The simple answer is you may or may not be, but lots of people out there react to the mold, dust, and dust mites found on or near cut evergreens which can cause allergies....
What is a Columnar Tree? The American Conifer Association designates eight forms of conifers, “columnar conifers” being one of them. These are defined as trees that are much taller than they are wide and include those designated as fastigiate, columnar, narrowly pyramidal, or narrowly conical. Narrow, upright tree species, conifers or not, are useful as trees for small spaces since they don’t require much elbow room. Planted in a tight line they also work nicely as hedges and privacy screens....
Companion Planting with Impatiens Before getting into what to plant with impatiens, let me tell you what impatiens bring to the table as companion plants. Impatiens attract beneficial insects. As stated above, they add long-lasting, vibrant color to dark shady areas, and make excellent borders. Impatiens’ fleshy, succulent-like stems store water and make them drought-resistant, so they do not compete with other plants for water and can be used in dry shade beds....
Cotton Root Rot Symptoms Ornamental, fruit and nut trees, cotton, and alfalfa are among the plants susceptible to cotton root rot. Fortunately for northern gardeners, the fungus that causes the disease is limited to the southwestern regions of the United States. Sadly for these gardeners, the fungus lives for years in soil and has the ability to kill even tall trees. It is important to recognize cotton root rot symptoms since correct identification of the disease is key to control....
What is Culantro Used For? Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) is a biennial herb common throughout the Caribbean and Central America. We don’t see it much in the United States unless, of course, you are eating cuisine from one of these areas. It is sometimes called Puerto Rican coriander, Black Benny, saw leaf herb, Mexican coriander, spiny coriander, fitweed, and spiritweed. In Puerto Rico where it is a staple, it is called recao....
Making a Grapevine Wreath If you need to cut back your grapevines, why not use the discarded cuttings for a natural grapevine wreath. Grapevine wreath ideas are sweeping the internet. They aren’t just for the holidays anymore. For instance, some crafters add living succulents while others cover the vine frame in burlap or other material and affix decorating touches. Learn how to make grapevine wreaths from your leftover vines and grab onto this trendy craft....
Microclimates and Trees There isn’t much one can do about the climate. If you live in a desert, the climate is virtually certain to remain hot and dry during your lifetime. That doesn’t apply to microclimates, however. While climate affects an entire region, a microclimate is local. The term “microclimate” refers to atmospheric conditions that are different in one area from those in surrounding areas. It can mean areas as small as a few square feet (meters) or it can refer to larger areas of many square miles (kilometers)....
